Telopea: Public housing units planned for 18-22 Sophie St

Another affordable housing block is planned for a western Sydney suburb known for its public homes but opponents say there are not enough services to cope with more high-density developments.

NSW Land and Housing Corporation has submitted plans for a four-storey, 21-unit development, which it says would respond to the need for affordable rental housing in the Parramatta area “as well as the broader Sydney region”.

The Sydney Central City Planning Panel will determine the application, which will comprise seven one-bedroom flats, 14 two-bedroom units and basement parking for 16 cars where three detached houses currently stand.

Concerns have been raised that there are no three-bedroom dwellings planned but a LAHC response in a report said the dwelling mix “best met the needs of applicants on the waiting list in the area”.

“Smaller dwellings located close to services and facilities has been identified as a priority

form of development for LAHC in the Parramatta LGA,’’ the report said.

As at June 2020, about 1900 applicants were on the waiting list for social housing in the Parramatta-Baulkham Hills zone.

A total of 21 units will be built over the four-storey complex.

From December 2020, in the Parramatta council area, 81 per cent of applicants were on the waiting list for studio, or one- and two-bedroom dwellings, in comparison to about 11 per cent of applicants on the waiting list for three-bedroom homes.

The Sophie St block plans three adaptable units for people with disabilities including wheelchair-friendly passages, passenger lifts, handrails on stairs and ramps at the DEM Architects-designed 1708sq m block.

Another concern identified the unit block’s height of 12m, exceeding the 11m Parramatta Council limit for that zone but it was deemed acceptable because it would not create adverse impacts on neighbours.

A Morris Goding Access Consulting report said the proposal met affordable housing requirements to ensure comfort and suitability for occupants.

The proposal is in an R4-zoned patch, which allows high-density development and will be 700m to the new Telopea stop on the 12km Parramatta light rail line, which will connect Carlingford to Westmead when it opens in 2023.

Telopea’s population explosion is set to boom.

It is expected to “result in a minor increase in daily traffic flows” on local roads.

Elsewhere in Telopea, bulkier developments are reshaping the suburb, which will be home to 4700 dwellings — mostly apartments — under the State Government’s $100 million masterplan to feature 22-storey towers.

An influx of 10,000 residents are expected to move to Telopea, where 1000 of the 4700 units are earmarked for social and affordable housing.

However, fears have emerged Telopea was struggling to cope with the increase in development.

Parramatta councillor Michelle Garrard, who has spoken out against overdevelopment of Telopea, said it could not sustain more people.

“Anywhere in Telopea I wouldn’t be supporting any additional density on top of the masterplan,’’ she said.

“I don’t believe the current masterplan is addressing the needs of the community in that space. “We’re not getting extra primary schools or a high school. If you’re going to have social housing … you should make sure you’ve got appropriate facilities to service the needs of people who are in social housing and that’s the need of aged people and single mums, and other people that need help.’’

The Waratah shops at Telopea.

However, the project is in the government’s control.

Supporters who have backed the Telopea masterplan endorsed the infrastructure it will deliver — the light rail, a supermarket in the 7000sq m retail precinct, a childcare centre, library, a church, community centre, a rail plaza, 2500sq park at Polding Place, road upgrades and an aged care facility.

The Sophie Street proposal is also close to the Telopea neighbourhood centre, including Waratah shopping centre, which includes and IGA supermarket and medical centre.

“The proposed redevelopment represents an appropriate outcome for the site which is located within a short walk of the Telopea neighbourhood centre and convenient public transport services,’’ a LAHC report said.

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