The Roxy site could change under Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal
Heritage advocates are concerned a controversial planning document could lead to another “abomination’’ jeopardising the vintage value of one of Parramatta’s favourite landmarks.
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Heritage advocates are concerned a controversial planning document could lead to another “abomination’’ jeopardising the vintage value of one of Parramatta’s favourite landmarks.
The Land and Environment Court rejected designs for the $96 million tower redevelopment of the Roxy in 2019, citing it would harm its heritage value.
Film buffs — including Toongabbie boy turned Hollywood filmmaker Bruce Beresford — want to restore the imposing cinema to its former glory and use it for theatre and music but David Kingston wants to convert the Spanish-style building into a “premier pub, pokies and entertainment venue’’.
And if the Planning Department ticks off the CBD proposal, the tower could return to loom over the George St cinema.
National Trust's NSW Parramatta branch president Cheryl Batesmade a submission objecting to unlimited heights surrounding the Roxy and wanted it to remain at 18m.
“The previous height resulted in a development abomination rejected by council, the community and ultimately the Land and Environment Court,'' she said.
Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger's submission called for the council to use a funds scheme that would allow the conservation of the Roxy.
Hypothetically, under a "transfer development rights scheme'' a developer would buy the building's space and transfer that space, for example 10,000sq m, to develop another project that is not on a heritage listed site. The funds would also be used to restore the cinema.
"Such a system would allow the periodic sale of unusable development rights above heritage buildings to less constrained sites and provide the opportunity to fund the creative reuse of these buildings to the benefit of our communities in Parramatta,'' Mr Borger said.
After a public feedback between September and November, the CBD Planning Proposal returned to the council on Monday but it was deferred before it proceeded to the Planning Department for determination.
Under the planning proposal, which has been drafted since 2013, building heights up to 243m or 75 storeys, are proposed.
Auto Alley will be transformed into a commercial precinct with office towers up to 115 metres (28 storeys) and the precinct will host more than 20,000 new workers and an extra 2000 dwellings.
Planner Peter Lee, who represented several car dealerships at Church St, called for the area to be zoned mixed use instead of just commercial.
“To have the area zoned as fully commercial does not give the opportunity for redevelopment that is envisaged to take place to encourage the auto dealers and owners to redevelop these properties,'' he said.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at Parramatta CBD to get the Auto Alley gateway redeveloped, which has been waiting for many years and it’s been lost in these controls. Don’t defer it, let’s put it together now.''
At a council meeting this week, the document was deferred so councillor Lorraine Wearne, who was hospitalised recently, could further assess it.
A “perplexed” Steve Issa said it was an indictment on the council that it had not been approved more quickly after eight years and two workshops in the past month.
“Wars have been resolved quicker than this PP (planning proposal),’’ the Liberal councillor said.
“The Cold War was resolved quicker than this PP. It’s a joke. What else do you need? It’s probably the longest planning proposal in the history of the state government.”
Greens councillor Phil Bradley said too many questions remained unanswered.
“We have a crazy situation where this proposal, if it was carried now, would actually be turning the city of Parramatta into a city of wind tunnels and shadows.’’
Benjamin Barrak slammed the proposal for failing to incorporate balconies, carparking and green space.
“Where’s our parks on Parramatta River? Not only parks for people to have their lunch in sunshine but for kids to enjoy, hopefully,’’ he said.
“There are high-rise schools nearby. Where’s our parks adjacent to the river where people can actually access the river, have a sandwich, play with their kids, schoolchildren — there’s nothing.
“We should be building a world class city and this document is absolutely critical to the building of world class cities.’’
The document will be deferred for another two weeks.
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