Bushells Factory redevelopment: Residents raise concerns with density and height of amended proposal

The contentious Bushells Factory redevelopment is back on public exhibition, but residents fear the density and size of the proposals are still too large, affecting traffic in the area.

The long-running Bushells Factory redevelopment has gone on show to the public, but the proposals have copped a blow from concerned residents who fear the size and density is still too large.

Current plans include increasing the height of buildings from 12 metres to a range of heights up to 21 metres (six storeys), rezoning the site from industrial to neighbourhood, and list the factory building as a local heritage site, among others.

“The objective of the planning proposal is to facilitate the urban renewal of this industrial site to become a riverside village that offers a mix of land uses that are more suited and complementary to the local area,” the planning proposal said.

Bushells Factory redevelopment proposal, on public exhibition until July 8 2022.

The area would see an immense increase in flats, people and vehicles.

“This includes retail, commercial, community, recreational and urban support service uses.”

The planning proposal also includes “a new public road” and “8900 square metres of new public open space”.

The latest proposals remain on public exhibition until July 8, but concerned residents have yet to have their fears eased about the size and density of the development.

There is also opposition to taking land from a heritage-listed area to extend an access road to the site.

“The amended proposal doesn’t pass the mustard test, the sniff test or the pub test,” John McKeon said.

“The impact the proposal could have on local residents is totally unacceptable.”

The location of the Bushells Factory in Concord.

Mr McKeon has been a resident of Concord for 60 years, is a member of the Bayview Action Group and lives on Sanders Pde, a street away from the factory.

Mr McKeon cited the immense size and density of the proposals, and the effect that would have on local streets.

“Nothing’s really changed (in the latest proposals) – the size would be totally out of character with the area,” he said.

The latest proposal reduces the amount of apartments from 500 to 384.

“It’s still huge and would be massive,” Mr McKeon said.

“As a community we are not against development, but we just want something in keeping with what’s around here and doesn’t create transport problems.”

NewsLocal previously reported on concerns that there’d be rat-runs across the area with the huge influx of people and vehicles.

“The proposal says the streets can cope with an influx of vehicles, but that’s total garbage,” Mr McKeon said.

Concerns were also raised about the extension of a road into heritage-listed land at Massey Park Golf Club, on Zoeller St.

“They’re proposing to extend Zoeller St into heritage-listed land to allow for better access to the site,” Mr McKeon said.

Design proposals for the development of Bushells Factory.

A resolution from the City of Canada Bay Council at an October 15 2019 meeting committed to limiting access and egress to Zoeller St, “to minimise encroachment within the heritage-listed park”.

Plans for the former coffee factory in Concord hark back five years and the latest proposals, which went on public exhibition on June 10, are a rezoning application through a state government Gateway Determination.

It was previously announced in 2017 that the factory – situated at 160 Burwood Rd, on the foreshore of the Parramatta River – would close within five years, with owners Freshfood Sydney eager to convert the structure into a high-rise residential precinct.

The existing Bushells Factory in Concord. Picture: Simon Chillingworth

The initial plans for the 3.9 hectare site, lodged to Canada Bay council in June 2017, included almost 700 apartments in five towers up to 31-storeys tall.

These plans were rejected by the council.

Colliers International, the proposal’s applicant, then deferred talks in 2019 after citing concerns with Canada Bay council’s management of the application, submitting the proposal to the state government directly.

Residents have until July 8 to raise any concerns with the current planning proposal.