A planning milestone for the future of Mortdale hs been reached with the final version of the Mortdale Local Centre Planning Proposal expected to be sent to the state government for Gateway Determination once it is endorsed by the council.

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Indicative building envelopes, Mortdale Local Centre Master Plan. Picture, Georges River Council.

"This is the result of years of anticipation, planning, and community engagement," Mortdale Ward councillor, Christina Jamieson said.

"This proposal represents an important and necessary step in planning for the future of Mortdale - one that recognises both the pressures of growth and our responsibility to shape that growth thoughtfully," she said.

"The scale and form of this Masterplan is now far more aligned with community expectations, shaped by the hundreds of submissions we received. It reflects a more balanced and considered approach than what was originally proposed.

"This is about ensuring that Mortdale evolves in a way that remains recognisable, liveable and Vibrant," Cr Jamieson said.

The Mortdale Local Centre Master Plan seeks to meet state government targets for more housing close to public transport infrastructure and services.

The planning proposal will create capacity for 773 new dwellings and 27,685 sqm of employment floorspace in the town centre.

The first version of the Draft Master Plan was exhibited in 2021 and received significant community opposition concerning the proposed scale of development.

In response, two revised options were exhibited in 2023, accompanied by further community consultation.

The adopted 2023 Master Plan proposes a modest expansion of the E1 Local Centre zone with maximum building heights of four storeys with a two-storey street wall along Morts Road.

Closer to Mortdale Station, along Pitt Street and part of Morts Road, maximum building heights are six storeys with a four-storey street wall. The minimum non-residential floor space ratio is proposed to be increased from 0.5:1 to 0.75:1.

Surrounding residential areas are upzoned to provide height transitions and housing diversity, including R4 High Density zones (maximum 13m / 4 storeys), R3 Medium Density (maximum 9m / 2.5 storeys) and with lower heights along Victoria Avenue.

The 2023 Master Plan focuses redevelopment within 400 metrs of Mortdale Station, creating theoretical maximum capacity for an estimated 578 additional dwellings and approximately 27,685sqm of non-residential gross floor area.

In February 2025, the Department of Planning introduced the state government's 'Low and Mid-Rise Housing' to produce an increase in housing capacity throughout NSW.

The Low and Mid-rise Housing Policy (LMR) permits residential flat buildings up to six storeys within 400 metres of stations or centres, and up to four storeys within 800 metres of the station or centres in the R3 Medium Density Residential and the R4 High Density Residential zones.

The LMR also provides an increase in height and FSR to the R2 Low Density Residential Zone, allowing a residential flat building with a maximum of three storeys.

In response to the LMR's commencement, Georges River Council resolved in April 2025 to amend the implementation of the 2023 Master Plan as follows: Delete the proposed R3 zone fronting Newman St, Cross Street, Victoria Avenue and Cooks Lane, Mortdale retaining these areas as R2 zone; and Increase the Floor Space Ratio (FSR) and building height of the proposed R4 zoned area from 1:1 FSR and 15m to 2.2:1 FSR and 22m, producing apacity for 773 new dwellings.

A draft amendment to Georges River Development Control Plan 2021 (DCP) has been prepared to support the planning proposal.

The draft DCP amendment provides the following design and planning guidelines for future developments: . Establishing the existing local character of Mortdale Local Centre, including identifying community appreciated structures with local character, . Setting the desired future character in the Mortdale Local Centre, . Design guidance on building envelopes such as street wall heights and setbacks, and . Locations for active transport network including street hierarchy and pedestrian links.

Should the Planning Proposal be supported, it will be forwarded to the DPHI requesting a Gateway Determination.

If a Gateway Determination is issued, the Planning Proposal and the draft amendment to the GRDCP will exhibited for 28 days.