Crime rates are growing in ‘developer’s paradise’ Ryde
IT’S been dubbed a “developer’s Disneyland” — but in the shadows of the towering new unit blocks crime rates are soaring in the once middle-class haven of Ryde.
NSW
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IT’S been dubbed a “developer’s Disneyland” — but in the shadows of the towering new unit blocks crime rates are soaring in the once middle-class haven of Ryde.
And a state government MP warns against the “develop at all costs” approach.
In a stark example of what might happen to other growth areas, criminals have turned up the heat in the Ryde local government area where an extra 13,000 people have been jammed in over five years, the most recent data shows.
Latest police figures reveal cases of sexual assaults have risen 42.2 per cent, indecent assault and other sexual offences up 46.6 per cent, break-and-enter offences have jumped 34.7 per cent, non-dwelling has jumped 48 per cent and shoplifting has increased 64.7 per cent in the past two years.
The police union says at least 500 more officers are needed statewide to keep up with the population boom across NSW. Ryde mayor Jerome Laxale said the government was “turning Ryde into a developer’s Disneyland” through rezoning.
Some would argue it’s already there.
Newly added to the clutter on Ryde’s residential skyline is the Chinese-built, three-tower, 830-unit Ryde Garden now under construction.
A massive development under way at Shepherds Bay near Ryde Bridge will bring another 1988 dwellings to the area, with the possibility of more on the way.
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Meanwhile, Ivanhoe Estate at Macquarie Park will also add another 3000 over the next decade.
It will include at least 950 social housing units, adding to the current stock of about 1836 social housing dwellings — a number that jumped almost a quarter between 2001 and 2011.
And then there are the boarding houses — there are two more in the pipeline, one 15 storeys with 774 rooms, while another application is for six storeys with 26 rooms.
With Ryde’s population due to jump 20 per cent to 135, 508 in just 13 years, after already skyrocketing by more than 13,000 from 2011-2016, Mr Laxale is pleading for the NSW government to step in.
“Schools are overcrowded, hospital waiting lists are long, and now police on the ground are under-resourced,” he said.
“Our Local Area Command goes from Eastwood all the way up to Dural, a massive area that LAC has to patrol.
“With percentages jumping as significantly … you would expect the government to address it proactively, not wait.”
Even Ryde’s own Liberal MP Victor Dominello said development had gone too far.
“I have been a vocal opponent against overdevelopment in my community. Development is necessary but overdevelopment is unacceptable. We have won many fights and lost a few,” Mr Dominello said.
The state government has set Ryde a housing target of 7600 new dwellings between 2016 and 2021. Next-door at up-market Hunters Hill the target is just 150.
Local police attributed rising crime rates to work in encouraging victims to come forward and catching repeat home-invaders and other crooks.
“For example, one man is alleged to be responsible for 30 offences, while another is alleged to have committed more than a dozen,” a police statement said.
But Police Association president Scott Weber said Ryde was one of the state’s biggest local area commands.
“The tyranny of distance and lack of numbers means response times will be delayed and we don’t want to put people’s lives at risk,” Mr Weber said. Meanwhile, Ryde businesses told The Daily Telegraph they were fed up.
West Ryde’s Star Discount Chemist owner Azzam Elasmar said crime had risen dramatically with the population boom and when he reported it “nothing happens”.
Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research executive director Dr Don Weatherburn could not pinpoint the precise reason for rising crime in Ryde but said it correlated to the explosion in development.
“There has been a rapid growth in apartment numbers with the crime hot spots on our map showing those areas in particularity are down on the waterfront and near Macquarie University,’’ Dr Weatherburn said.
Police Minister Troy Grant argued police numbers were at a record high at 16,795, and the government had exceeded its commitment. He said it was Commissioner Mick Fuller’s decision where they went.
A spokesman from NSW Police said A spokesman from NSW Police said the rise in certain statistics could be attributed to a number of factors.
“For instance, the statistics for sexual assaults are based on the date the offences were reported, not the date they were committed. The command has recently actively promoted the reporting of sexual assaults, in particular encouraging people to report historic assaults, leading to a significant increase in reports received,” he said.
“A large proportion of the reports also stemmed from referrals from the Royal Commission.
“The BOCSAR data also showed an increased in break and enter offences. The command has a large proactive crime team that saw an increase in individuals responsible for committing a significant number of break and enters. For example, one man is alleged to be responsible for 30 offences while another is alleged to have committed more than a dozen.
The spokesman said it should be noted that Ryde had seen a reduction in break and enter offences overall since 2013, despite the substantial increase in property development in the area.
“The proactive crime team has a large prosecution rate and will continue to actively investigate all reported incidents of break and enters.”