Planning panel approves $247m development for Rhodes
THE Rhodes skyline is set to rise once again with the approval of the suburb’s next – and second tallest – major development.
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THE Rhodes skyline is set to rise once again with the approval of the suburb’s next – and second tallest – major development.
The Sydney Eastern Planning Panel has given the green light to a 400-unit building at 34 Walker St that will have two towers standing 19 and 34-storeys tall opposite Rhodes Station.
The $247 million development by Billbergia Group includes a shopping complex, a three-storey recreational centre, childcare facilities and community centre.
The development is part of the Rhodes Station Precinct which houses the suburb’s tallest building at 6-14 Walker St, also by Billbergia.
The company’s development director Rik Graff said the aim of the precinct was to balance increased density with new community spaces.
“Over the next two years there’ll be a new shopping centre, a $60-65 million recreational centre that we’re delivering for the council, a childcare centre and medical facilities,” he said.
“I don’t know if (including these facilities) makes it easier to get a project approved, but it makes it a more balanced proposal. We’re not just building houses and walking away.”
The approved plans show the 34 storey tower will stand at the corner of Walker and Gauthorpe St, and the 19-storey tower at the corner of Gauthorpe and Marquet streets. There will be 594 underground parking spaces, 340 of them for residents.
Public feedback had been mixed, with concerns raised about traffic congestion and train station capacity.
Already running at 136 per cent capacity, the station is set to come under further pressure from the 3600 units planned for Rhodes East which includes multiple sites owned by Billbergia.
Mr Graff said the company has approached Transport for NSW with a voluntary planning agreement to contribute funds for a station upgrade.
The additional trains running through the station, a by-product of the Epping to Chatswood line closure, had alleviated some pressure but there was more work to do.
“Part of the success of Rhodes in terms of population growth has been the switch to public transport rather than cars but in order for continued growth we’d like to have the upgrades done first. We don’t think the community should have to wait.”
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Mr Graff said Billbergia was “well aware of changes” in the Sydney’s housing market, which has seen property values drop 6.1 per cent in a year according to CoreLogic.
“Rhodes is a high value suburb and we have confidence in quality buildings close to the water,” he said.
“We’ll be keen to see how the market responds over the next couple of months.”