Opposition persists despite concessions to North Rocks Village development plan
THE proposed North Rocks Village development at the former 12.67 hectare site of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children continues to face community opposition despite revisions to its Master Plan.
The quiet, leafy suburb was identified by EG Funds Management (EG) for potential upzoning based on the site’s proximity to the local shopping centre, taking up the need to address the housing supply crisis.
The plan was originally rejected by Parramatta City Council.
EG, who paid $200M for the site, has since amended their application to downgrade their initial proposal from a maximum of seven stories to six, and reduce the number of dwellings from 1080 to 925.
EG’s development focus is on sustainable urban development and cohesive urban spaces.
Their current proposal includes a new sports field, village square, and increasing the tree canopy from 23 to 40%.
But residents remain concerned that the proposed development is inconsistent with the character of the suburb and will worsen existing local infrastructure problems.
Former Parramatta City Councilor Ange Humphries who voted against the original proposal when it came to Council said: “Anyone who has driven on North Rocks Road or Barclay Road during peak hour knows they can not support any more traffic”.
Both are sub-arterial roads connecting Pennant Hills Road to the east and Windsor Road to the west, slowed by school zones from two nearby schools (North Rocks Public School and Muirfield High School) and traffic to the M2 bus stop which provides services to the City, North Sydney, Macquarie, the Hills and Blacktown.
The proposal acknowledges the eventual necessity of upgrades to these roads regardless of any additional traffic generated from the development.
The State Government’s Planning Panel is still considering the proposal to amend the site’s planning controls.
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