Toongabbie: Tucks Rd units could be for affordable housing
The developer of a maligned western Sydney redevelopment says his project for a gym and affordable housing was his way of giving back to the community.
Parramatta
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The long-running development battle over a proposals for a multi-storey Toongabbie complex and gym overhaul has taken another turn after the developer lodged plans for affordable housing to “give back to the community”.
After Parramatta Council again rejected plans for 82 units at 21-21A Tucks Rd this month, developer Ray Touma has scaled back plans to 68 units — including 34 for affordable housing on the TLC Health and Fitness gym site.
“A lot of people say they’re against affordable housing,’’ Mr Touma, who owns TLC, said.
“The truth is a lot of people need it. What I feel at the moment is we’re neglecting the youth, we’re neglecting the poor.
“There’s nothing wrong with social housing, giving back to the poor and people that can’t afford extreme rents. Social housing is nothing to be scared of.”
Plans to redevelop TLC across three street frontages were first submitted in 2015 and features four-storeys, an indoor swimming pool, a community centre, cafe, squash and tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool and aerobics facilities.
A roundabout at Tucks and Fitzwilliam roads, and a pedestrians link between Rausch St and Tucks Rd were part of the plans.
But the units faced fierce community opposition and plans were deemed out of character for the neighbourhood that mainly has low-rise houses, is not in a rail corridor and in an area the SES deemed flood prone.
Stop Tucks Road Committee spokesman Paul Battersby said the “B4 mixed use’’ project was inappropriate for the neighbourhood.
“The majority of B4 land uses, such as entertainment facilities, function centres, hotels, hotels, clubs, restricted premises and residential flat development are completely out of character and
incompatible with established and expected development in the neighbourhood,’’ he said.
“This site is isolated in a sea of low density housing, 1.1km walking distance from Toongabbie railway station and the northwestern T-way.
“It is not a high activity area that would maximise public transport patronage or encourage walking and cycling, a principal objective of the B4 mixed use zone.”
But Mr Touma said TLC was the only family gym in the neighbourhood.
“These days they’ve got Anytime Fitness but there’s nowhere for the children,’’ he said.
“All the public schools depend on us.
“What’s the use of building another block of units or development with no infrastructure in the community? It’s an opportunity to create something. It ticks all the boxes.
“I want to build something special for that community.’’
Parramatta Council staff recently recommended the plans be approved but most councillors rejected them.
Deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Garrard backed the development
“I know a lot of people that actively move into areas for a lifestyle where they can actually go across the road and utilise the gym, have an indoor swimming pool, have all the other community facilities and to me (that’s) what that offers,’’ she said.
But councillor Martin Zaiter supported residents’ plea to block the units.
“As someone who was brought up close by in Pendle Hill I agree with the concerns of the community and this planning proposal is out of character with the area,’’ he said.
The Planning Department is assessing an application for affordable housing. It is reviewing a Site Compatibility Certificate to determine whether the proposal is suitable.
If granted, it will need to be lodged with the council.
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