Housing & planning · Burwood Council
Burwood authorises staged VPA amendment retaining $8m contribution
The authorised amendment covers 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, providing for staged payments and land-title releases without changing the approved development.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
A developer linked to three Burwood addresses must still pay an $8 million public-purpose contribution, but the payments may be made in stages under an amended voluntary planning agreement that Burwood Council authorised its General Manager to enter into.
The agreement covers 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street. The approved development adds four to five storeys to each building and provides 29 additional dwellings in a mixed-use building under construction, according to the draft council minutes.
The staged arrangement also provides for the corresponding release of land titles. The report says the variation does not change the approved development or reduce the total contribution, which may fund open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council.
A draft deed of variation was exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission. The submission raised concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit. The report said those issues had been addressed through the development assessment process and that the variation was limited to administrative and payment arrangements.
Resolution 104/26 delegated authority to the General Manager to enter into and sign the amended agreement and make necessary amendments. It also required the developer to pay the contribution under the updated schedule. It does not establish that the deed has already been signed or that any part of the contribution has been paid.
The resolution passed with five councillors voting for and none against. Mayor John Faker had declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest, left the chamber for the item and did not participate in the decision.
What deserves a closer look
The draft minutes establish authorisation to enter into and sign the amended agreement, but do not establish that execution has occurred or that any contribution has been paid.
The updated payment schedule and detailed title-release conditions are not reproduced in the supplied minutes.
The supplied minutes state that they will be submitted for confirmation on 27 October 2026.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What are the payment dates and detailed title-release conditions in the updated schedule?
When will the amended VPA be executed, and when is the first payment due?
How will Council allocate the contribution once it is received?
What happens next
The General Manager is authorised to enter into the amended VPA, make necessary amendments and sign the agreement and associated documentation under Council's power of attorney.
The developer is required to pay the monetary contribution in accordance with the updated schedule in the amended VPA; the draft minutes do not confirm any payment.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The approved development at 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood, added four to five storeys to each building and provided 29 additional dwellings to a mixed-use building under construction.
66/2025 for 17 and 21 George Street and 28–34 Victoria Street, Burwood under report item 94/25. The approved development added four to five storeys to each building and provided 29 additional dwellings to a mixed use building currently under construction.
Item 68/26 — development background
Open original minutes ↗The VPA provides for an $8 million contribution toward open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council. In July 2026, the proponent requested staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles without changing the approved development or reducing the total contribution.
Under the VPA, the developer will contribute $8million toward open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council. In July 2026, the proponent requested a variation to allow staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles, without changing the approved development or reducing the total contribution.
Item 68/26 — contribution and requested variation
Open original minutes ↗The draft deed of variation was publicly exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission raising concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit.
A draft Deed of Variation was publicly exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission raising concerns about density, traffic, infrastructure, local character, transparency and public benefit.
Item 68/26 — public exhibition
Open original minutes ↗The report says the matters were addressed through the development assessment process, describes the variation as limited to administrative and payment arrangements, and states that Council considers the VPA to remain in the public interest.
As these matters were addressed through the development assessment process and the variation is limited to administrative and payment arrangements, Council considers that the VPA remains in the public interest and recommends delegating authority to the General Manager to finalise and execute it.
Item 68/26 — report assessment
Open original minutes ↗Resolution 104/26 delegated authority to the General Manager to enter into the amended VPA for 17 George Street, 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood, make necessary amendments and sign the VPA and associated documentation under Council's power of attorney. It also required the developer to pay the contribution in accordance with the updated schedule.
Operational Plan Objective C.1.1 Support and deliver initiatives that encourage social inclusion and community connections. 104/26 RESOLVED 1. That Council grant delegation to the General Manager to enter into the amended Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA), for 17 George Street, 21 George Street, and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood, as per Attachment 1 of this report. 2. That Council authorise the General Manager to make any necessary amendments to the amended VPA documentation in Attachment 1 of this report as necessary to bring the documentation into effect and to sign the VPA and any associated documentation under the Council's Power of Attorney. 3. That the Developer pay the monetary contribution to Council in accordance with the updated schedule outlined in the amended VPA. Minutes of Burwood Council Meeting 22 September 2026 This is page 4 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Burwood Council Meeting held on 22 September 2026 For: Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) Mayor Faker returned to the meeting and assumed the role of Chair, the time being 6:12 pm (Item NM4/26) Supporting Nepal and Burwood's Nepali Community Following Devastating Floods File No: 26/45280 Summary The recent
Resolution 104/26, clauses 1–3
Open original minutes ↗Five councillors were listed as voting for and none against. Mayor Faker then returned to the meeting and resumed the chair at 6:12 pm.
3. That the Developer pay the monetary contribution to Council in accordance with the updated schedule outlined in the amended VPA. Minutes of Burwood Council Meeting 22 September 2026 This is page 4 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Burwood Council Meeting held on 22 September 2026 For: Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) Mayor Faker returned to the meeting and assumed the role of Chair, the time being 6:12 pm (Item NM4/26) Supporting Nepal and Burwood's Nepali Community Following Devastating Floods File No: 26/45280 Summary The recent
Resolution 104/26 — vote
Open original minutes ↗Mayor Faker declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest in Item 68/26, removed himself from the chair and chamber for the item, and did not participate in the discussion or decision.
Apologies 100/26 RESOLVED That the apology from Councillor George Mannah be accepted and leave of absence from the meeting be granted. For: Cr Faker, Cr Esber, Cr Hull, Cr Bhatta, Cr Wu-Coshott, Cr Yang Against: Nil (Moved Councillor Pascale Esber/Seconded Councillor Sukirti Bhatta) Declarations of Interest Mayor Faker declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest in Item 68/26 due to a relative being employed by a company that may have a commercial arrangement for the supply of energy to the building upon completion. Based on a possible perceived conflict of interest, the Mayor removed himself from the Chair and the chamber for that item and did not participate in the discussion or decision. Declarations of Political Donations There were no declarations of political interests by Councillors.
Declarations of interest
Open original minutes ↗Mayor Faker left the meeting at 6:07 pm, and Deputy Mayor Pascale Esber assumed the chair before Item 68/26.
Item 68/26 be dealt with first before any other remaining business 2. Item NM4/26 be dealt with immediately following Item 68/26 (Moved Councillor Sukirti Bhatta/Seconded Councillor De Yi Wu-Coshott) Mayor Faker left the meeting, the time being 6:07 pm Deputy Mayor Pascale Esber assumed the role of Chair (Item 68/26) Amended Voluntary Planning Agreement – 17 George Street, 21 George Street, and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood.
Procedural motion and commencement of Item 68/26
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the draft minutes of Burwood Council’s meeting held on 22 September 2026, due to be submitted for confirmation on 27 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The agreement covers 17 and 21 George Street and 28-34 Victoria Street, Burwood.
- The developer contribution is $8 million and may fund open space, community facilities, public infrastructure or other public purposes determined by Council.
- The authorised amendment provides for staged payments and corresponding staged release of land titles without changing the approved development or reducing the total contribution.
- The draft deed of variation was publicly exhibited from 19 August to 16 September 2026 and received one submission.
- Council authorised the General Manager to enter into and sign the amended agreement; the resolution passed five votes to nil among participating councillors.
- The supplied minutes were awaiting submission for confirmation at the next council meeting on 27 October 2026.
Why it matters
- The authorised amendment preserves the $8 million contribution while providing for staged payments and related land-title releases. The draft minutes do not specify the individual payment dates or confirm when the agreement will be signed.