Rydalmere: $74m upgrade planned for Mitsubishi Electronics

A multinational electrical equipment company’s hub in western Sydney is set for a major $74m upgrade for its workforce of engineers, IT and commercial professionals. See what’s planned.

Artist's impression of upgrade plans for Mitsubishi Electric on Victoria Rd at Rydalmere. Picture: Nettleton Tribe Architects

Mitsubishi Electric’s operations hub at Rydalmere is set for a $74m redevelopment that could lead to the construction of a building double the height of the existing base.

Under plans lodged with Parramatta Council, the existing double-storey building at 348 Victoria Rd will be demolished to make way for a modern four-storey hub with a multistorey carpark containing 285 vehicles.

A total of 297 car spaces are proposed for the site spanning more than 28,700sq m – eclipsing the factory and two-storey administration block that exists there now and sits on 17,230sq m.

Perched on the edge of an industrial precinct, Mitsubishi’s neighbouring properties include St Mary’s Primary School and the Holy Name of Mary Church to the east and Subiaco Creek and adjoining bushland to the north.

Manufacturing is not conducted on the site which is used for warranty and repair functions, customer support and installer training, minor assembly works, maintenance, fault investigation, repair of heavy engineering equipment and software design.

The existing Mitsubishi Electric building is only two storeys and is proposed to double in height.

Engineers, project managers, sales and warranty support, commercial, legal, management, finance and IT professionals work at the site.

The front building will house administration offices on the ground and third levels, with carparking planned for the first and second storeys.

A large warehouse-style building with loading bays is slated to stand behind the administration block.

A statement of environmental effects outlined how the development had the potential to adversely impact the neighbouring residential properties through privacy breaches, noise impacts from the additional car movements and construction.

To offset that concern, the proposal includes relocating the main Victoria Rd driveway access from the southeast corner to the southwest of the site away from residential development to the east.

Criticism over the size of the bulky carpark was also raised. The proposed design has been modified to place the parking at the front of the building closer to Victoria Rd, with loading to be on the western side of the building further from homes.

An aerial view of the site which is surrounded by a creek, homes and other industrial businesses. Picture: Nearmaps

Seven trees will be removed to make way for a 1.4m high Mitsubishi sign.

Vegetation management will take place at the back of the site along Subiaco Creek.

The planning document said the proposal was “worthy of approval”.

“The proposal is considered unlikely to result in significant adverse environmental impacts and

will enable the continued use of the site for industrial purposes which will have positive

economic and social impacts,’’ it read.

The development application has been lodged with the council but the state government’s Sydney Central City Planning Panel will decide the project’s fate.

If approved, it will operate 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to noon on Saturday.

Originally published as Rydalmere: $74m upgrade planned for Mitsubishi Electronics