Rhodes to cop 75 per cent increase in dwellings
Rhodes will be more densely populated than some of the world’s biggest cities when 4200 more dwellings are jammed into the suburb over the next 20 years.
Inner West
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Rhodes will be more densely populated than some of the world’s biggest cities including Delhi, Manila and Singapore when 4200 more dwellings are jammed into the suburb over the next 20 years.
A revised plan, which is out for public comment until February 3, cements Rhodes as one of four “metroplitan centres” spanning the CBD, eastern suburbs, inner west and Kogarah.
A 1ha stand-alone school for up to 1000 students will be built over four to five storeys with outdoor space on the corner of Leeds St and Blaxland Rd after a backlash over plans to build a high rise school for just 600 students.
Other changes include a revised location for the new ferry wharf, an expansion of the Leeds St foreshore to provide 7800sq m of open space and more commercial space to create up to 1200 new jobs near the train station.
Canada Bay Council deputy mayor Charles Jago, who is the Greens candidate for Drummoyne, said the plan would increase the number of dwellings by 75 per cent in Rhodes, making it larger than Bondi Junction and Burwood.
“The plan does not include a strategy to ensure the trains and roads will cope with such a massive increase,” Mr Jago said.
“During peak hour the trains already run at full capacity, with Concord Rd frequently a parking lot.
“The Government’s proposed light rail from Parramatta to Wentworth Point and the Sydney West Metro would still leave Rhodes under pressure; these won’t be completed until 2025 at the earliest.
“The community wants transport solutions. The government’s plan will give them chaos.”
About 10,080 new residents will move into 3600 dwellings in Rhodes east and 600 dwellings in Rhodes west, causing the suburb’s population to soar to about 22,860.
That would make Rhodes’ population density per square km rival Hong Kong’s (25,900 people/sqkm) while exceeding Singapore (11,400), Delhi (12,400), Manila (13,600) and Pyongyang (16,400), according to this year’s edition of Demographia World Urban Areas.
Drummoyne state Liberal MP John Sidoti said the new school, wharf, road and station and upgrades would be completed before the new apartments go in.
“This will be the first of its kind because there will be no development until the infrastructure goes in,” Mr Sidoti said.
“We are not going to make the same mistake that the council and the previous government did in Rhodes west.”
He accused Canada Bay Council of allowing too much density in exchange for cash which was not always quarantined for Rhodes.
Mr Sidoti said the government were “open to the idea” of building a high school rather than a primary school as stated in the documents.
A $22,000 “state infrastructure charge” for each new apartment could fund $70 million in upgrades to Rhodes station which could get a new northern concourse.
The new wharf will not be delivered in time for the State election as promised after rowers opposed the original location.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said consultation with landowners is ongoing.
“The preferred location is midway between the John Whitton Rail Bridge and Ryde Bridge on the Southern Rhodes East foreshore,” she said.
A council spokeswoman encouraged residents to comment on the plan online: planning.nsw.gov.au.
“Council is focused on improving the area for our residents,” she said.
“Contributions that were received from development in Rhodes have been fed back into our Rhodes community.
“A great example of this is The Connection, a thriving multi-use community facility providing a variety of spaces for our residents to use.”
KEY FACTS
-A total of 4200 new dwellings planned in four character areas; Station Gateway East, Station Gateway West, Leeds Street foreshore and Cavell Avenue.
-A local school for up to 1000 students is proposed on the corner of Leeds St and Blaxland Rd with 10,800sq m of outdoor space
-At least 1.77ha of open space on Leeds St foreshore including 7800sq m public park
-Target of between 6300 and 8300 new jobs on Rhodes peninsula with commercial core to create 1200 new jobs near train station
-Options include upgrading existing station and/or providing a new northern entry.
-Minor road upgrades including the intersection of Averill St and Concord Rd, which will be spruced up as a “Greenway Boulevard”
-Pedestrian bridge over Concord Rd will connect Rhodes to McIlwaine Park, where “river pool” is proposed
-Improving connectivity between east and west Rhodes