Politicians plead to “freeze” high rise growth in Ryde
THE fight is on to determine the right way to develop Ryde. One politician wants to put a freeze on development while another wants to change State Government plans.
Northern District Times
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THE fight is on to determine the right way to develop Ryde.
One politician wants to put a freeze on development indefinitely while Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale is appealing to the State Government to change its plans to fast-track low-rise, medium-density housing.
As many as 15,000 lots in Ryde could be made available for two-storey developments, including duplexes, townhouses and villas, when the low-rise, medium-density code comes into effect on July 6.
The code changes were announced in early April as a way of easing the development of dual occupancies under a fast-tracked approval process.
The justification comes as Sydney will need another 725,000 homes by 2036 to accommodate an anticipated 1.7 million extra people.
Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said the code changes would provide more diverse housing options that “respect existing neighbourhoods”.
But Cr Laxale, who is also Labor’s state candidate for Ryde, is not keen on the changes. He said allowing thousands of lots to be developed would send developers into quiet streets across Ryde “building blocks of flats”.
His greatest concern is the addition of the term “manor house” — a two-storey, three- to four-unit building.
Mr Roberts said there was a need for more of a variety of living and faster approvals of low-rise developments would address supply and affordability.
But Ryde state Liberal MP Victor Dominello is vehemently against the changes and has written to Mr Roberts and the Greater Sydney Commission to express his concern.
“Anyone that is familiar with Ryde knows that overdevelopment is hurting our community,” he said.
He said because the council’s Local Environment Plan had not been updated since 2014 it was resulting in overdevelopment.
“In order to protect our community against rampant overdevelopment, Ryde Council’s LEP must change,” he said.
He wants the low-rise code to be paused until the council consults with the community and updates its LEP. He also wants any further high- density to be halted until an independent assessment has been undertaken to determine the community impact.
“Enough is enough,” Mr Dominello said.
“We need to review the laws so we keep the area between Epping Rd and Victoria Rd as low-density suburban.”
Meanwhile, councillors voted at their April 24 meeting to investigate Liberal councillor Jordan Lane over a leaked document. The document claims the council has the power to change the LEP and could go against the State Government’s plans to focus on building manor houses in the area.