Meriton’s Macquarie Park homes plan divides opinion
A 60-storey unit building, flanked by three others, is proposed for Macquarie Park and Ryde Council is defending backing it.
Northern District Times
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A 60-storey unit building, flanked by three others, is proposed for Macquarie Park and Ryde Council is defending backing it.
Harry Triguboff’s Meriton Group is behind the plans, which would put four towers of 27, 30, 45 and 60 storeys at 112 Talavera Rd.
The developer currently provides offices and warehouse space for lease at the site.
Its proposal would see 1,256 homes, up to two childcare centres, shops, parking and a pedestrian link.
Planning laws allow 45 storeys at the site, but Meriton has convinced the council to support 60.
The two parties have negotiated Meriton providing affordable and key worker housing, as well as funding for nearby Christie Park.
State Liberal MP for Ryde Victor Dominello has attacked the council’s support of 60 storeys.
“This is a council screaming about overdevelopment, and now they are asking for it,” he said.
“It’s hypocrisy.”
The council and Meriton had agreed only one of the four buildings need be of `design excellence’.
The Department of Planning, in its early examining of the proposal, has said this should apply to all four.
This was another example of the council being out of line on this project, according to Mr Dominello.
He criticised the limited open space proposed, and traffic impacts.
However Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale — one of those who voted in favour — said the council got the best deal for ratepayers it could manage.
“The choice we had was between a rock and a hard place,” Cr Laxale said.
“But we do the best we can to get the most for residents out of these developers.”
He said the 45 storey proposal would have delivered little public benefit, as opposed to the 60 storey one.
The latter would provide affordable housing of 27 homes, while the number of key worker homes are yet to be decided.
The pedestrian link, and $8.2 million for the Christie Park soccer fields were the other benefits.
Cr Laxale said the state government’s finalising of the Macquarie University Station priority precinct in 2015 — which rezoned the area — paved the way for residential units.
All councillors voted for the deal, except for Trenton Brown, Jordan Lane and Sarkis Yedelian who left the room.
The Department of Planning has recommended the proposal continue to community consultation.
However there is a long way to go before the plans are approved.
A Meriton spokeswoman said planning was in its early stages, and the proposal would provide site linkages, open space and pedestrian frontages.
The height was consistent with other development in the area, she said.
Meriton is working closely with the council and leading architects to ensure a high quality residential development is created that not only serves future residents but also the surrounding community, according to the spokeswoman.
She said the development will have a significant amount of green space. Each tower will have its podium gardens, which will be private spaces for its residents.