Waterloo

Renewal of the Waterloo Estate

NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) is working across government and with the community to renew Waterloo’s essential social housing infrastructure, and deliver housing supply in a vibrant place to live, work and visit that is close to jobs and transport.

The Waterloo Renewal Project will enhance the strength and diversity of Waterloo, a unique urban village on Gadigal Land.

The renewal will deliver new homes, community places, and green spaces that prioritise the health and wellbeing of social housing residents and more sustainable mixed communities.

The project is underpinned by the following objectives:

• More and better homes: build more and better social housing in mixed communities to meet the needs of residents now and in the future.
• Positive social outcomes for residents: create a place that supports residents’ health and wellbeing, and sensitively manages impacts on existing residents.
• Aboriginal outcomes: support and enhance positive outcomes for the local Aboriginal community through planning, delivery and operations.
• An authentic sense of place: building on Waterloo's past and current strengths to create an authentic, distinctive and welcoming place.
• Sustainability: supporting an inclusive and welcoming community that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
• Strong partnerships: collaborate with the community, not-for-profit and private sectors to deliver great housing, place and social outcomes.

Modern new housing

LAHC is renewing the Waterloo Estate to increase and accelerate the supply of new social, affordable and private housing, to give more people access to a place to call home.

The future social homes will be modern and well-designed, and replace the existing older social housing located on the site.

At around 40-70 years old, the current homes and facilities are nearing the end of their intended lifespan and are also increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.

Many of the homes in Waterloo do not meet contemporary accessibility and sustainability standards and many residents have specific needs that can’t be met with current housing.

More open space, shops and community facilities

The community also wants more open space, better facilities and shops that suit their needs – all important elements of a vibrant community.

The renewal of the estate will be staged over the next 30 years to enable a coordinated approach that minimises disruption for existing residents.

The project is made up of three related stages: Waterloo South, Waterloo Central and Waterloo North.

Waterloo South

Waterloo South covers about 65 per cent of the Waterloo Estate and is the first stage of the renewal.

The project will deliver around 3,000 new homes, made up of social, affordable and private housing as well as new and improved parks, open spaces and retail and community facilities.

The new social housing will meet modern accessibility and sustainability standards, including a minimum ‘Silver Level’ Liveable Communities Design Standard and some ‘Gold Level’ standards.

Buildings and outdoor spaces will be designed to minimise energy, water, waste and urban heat effects, achieving a minimum 6-star green star communities rating accreditation for the precinct.

We are creating mixed housing communities - where social housing blends with private and affordable housing, with better access to transport and employment, improved community facilities and open spaces.

Renewal Partner Shortlist

The search for a renewal partner consortium is getting closer with the shortlist announced in November 2022.

Four potential renewal partners will progress to the next stage, and the successful consortium is expected to be appointed by the end of 2023.

Waterloo South – rezoning finalised

Waterloo South, the first stage of the Waterloo Renewal Project has been rezoned and the new planning controls are in effect.

These planning changes support the delivery of new social housing, affordable housing, and private homes with access to improved community facilities, parks, shops and transport.

The planning controls were finalised in November 2022, with a deferred start date of 27 February 2023 to ensure renewal is supported by infrastructure.

All future development will go through the development application process, including consultation with the community, before delivery can begin.

The renewal of Waterloo South is a long-term project that will take place over the next 15 – 20 years.  This is the next step in the process of delivering more and better homes, open space and infrastructure for the people of Waterloo.

The department and LAHC are committed to keeping residents informed throughout the life of the project.

Waterloo Central and Waterloo North

LAHC will continue working with the Department of Planning and Environment and the City of Sydney on plans for Waterloo Central and Waterloo North.