Ryde MP calls for Greater Sydney Commission to focus on key planning areas

Ryde State Liberal MP Victor Dominello has targeted three key areas for the Greater Sydney Commission to focus its planning review into his embattled electorate.

Development in Ryde has been running hot over the past decade. Picture: Nick Cubbin

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Ryde State Liberal MP Victor Dominello has revealed a three-point plan to helping solve the “enormous” growing pains in his embattled electorate.

The Finance Minister has urged the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) to focus its Ryde planning review on a masterplan for Macquarie Park; easing congestion for “middle suburban Ryde”; and zoning for a “jobs park” in the Meadowbank precinct.

In a letter to GSC CEO Sarah Hill on Friday, Mr Dominello says Macquarie Park should “fundamentally remain a commercial hub”.

Victor Dominello is taking a major stand against overdevelopment in Ryde.

“There are already residential buildings in Macquarie Park to ensure that there is vitality in the precinct after work hours,” he said.

Mr Dominello is also calling for Ryde Council to update its Local Environment Plan (LEP) to be more in line with Lane Cove and Hunters Hill councils.

“When a property developer buys two blocks of land and replaces two houses with five villas, in essence they are replacing four cars with 10 cars,” he said.

“Our local streets are already under enormous strain. Ryde Council’s LEP has the highest area zoned for medium density housing in Sydney (for which there is now a two-year approvals freeze in place).”

He then outlines a plan for an additional jobs boost in the Meadowbank precinct.

“We are building the Meadowbank Education Precinct,” he said. “This includes a new primary school and high school, and major revamp of TAFE.

Plans for a new “nation-leading” Meadowbank TAFE were unveiled last month.

“We need to link the MEP with the creation and zoning of a jobs park (between the TAFE and Victoria Road).

“Traffic movement in and out of the MEP needs to be carefully planned given the increased activity in the area.”

There was a “major opportunity”, he wrote, to rezone around the jobs park to widen a “pinch point” on Victoria Road, under the bridge in West Ryde, to provide parking for both it and the nearby train station.

This is the latest move by Mr Dominello to quell growing anger in the Ryde community on overdevelopment.

Greater Sydney Commission chief commissioner Lucy Turnbull. Picture: Britta Campion

And it follows council’s rejection of Meriton’s scaled-down 42-storey towers proposal for Macquarie Park at an extraordinary meeting last Tuesday.

It came a day after the GSC announced an “assurance review” — which will be headed by Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull — into all Ryde planning matters.

Ryde Labor Mayor Jerome Laxale said he had “no idea” what an assurance review was.

“This is just policy on the run and an election stunt by Mr Dominello to blame everyone else but himself for Ryde’s planning woes,” said Cr Laxale, who will challenge Mr Dominello at the state poll on March 23.

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“There are a few things to point out here. The Macquarie Park masterplan is long overdue from the State Government. It was started back in 2016.

“Also, all high-rise development proposals valued at over $20 million have gone to a State Government planning panel since 2011, so councils don’t have the power to approve them.

“The real story behind getting the commission involved is the Premier (Gladys Berejiklian) is trying to save Victor’s skin. It’s as simple as that.”