#Projects/Proposed: Inner West

[Fabian]

We need a place to discuss projects going on in the Inner West!!! There is some activity going on in this area, particularly in relation to highrise development in suburbs such as Strathfield, Burwood, Ashfield and on former industrial sites along the Parramatta River.

I thought I would kick off the thread by announcing a 10 storey residential tower was proposed for the site of the Ashfield RSL club was rejected by Ashfield Council :bash: This was to include a larger clubhouse. This was despite pleas from the RSL, that it could go bankrupt if it didn't get the green light. The council rejected it because it could cause problems with traffic on Norton Street (Ashfield has one too).

[CULWULLA]

wow, off to a good start already!lol

[Brizer]

There is a block of apartments going up beside the railway just west of the station at Burwood. This proposal has been on and off for so many years I have forgotten how many storeys it is to be now that construction has actually begun. I think it is 12 but it might be 8 or 9 by now.

[Muse]

This thread is full of "pizzaz", ain't it?

[Fabian]

There is a block of apartments going up beside the railway just west of the station at Burwood. This proposal has been on and off for so many years I have forgotten how many storeys it is to be now that construction has actually begun. I think it is 12 but it might be 8 or 9 by now.

I've seen that one just to the west of the station. It's a very small site too and I was wondering what they were doing there. It's only one storey tall at present. I'll keep you posted on it.

[Muse]

It's only one storey tall at present.Hrmmm, pizzaz.

[Fabian]

I've seen that one just to the west of the station. It's a very small site too and I was wondering what they were doing there. It's only one storey tall at present. I'll keep you posted on it.

It's gone up another floor to level one.

[Brizer]

Yes, it is quite a narrow building. The views in all directions will be great from the upper floors and it certainly is close to transport, but you would need to be deaf and enjoy having yourself and your furniture rock'n'rollin' on a frequent basis.

[Fabian]

Yes, it is quite a narrow building. The views in all directions will be great from the upper floors and it certainly is close to transport, but you would need to be deaf and enjoy having yourself and your furniture rock'n'rollin' on a frequent basis.

I went to a school that was directly on the Illawarra rail line and the trains weren't too annoying when I was there even though many windows weren't insulated from the noise. It is likely the apartments will be insulated to minimise the noise.

[Fabian]

Burwood Station is set to have a major upgrade!!!!

From The Inner West Courier (innerwesterncourier.com.au)
Grand plan for Burwood
Plans for a major Burwood station upgrade may be the most significant development in Burwood for 50 years.
Report EMILY O'KEEFE
Date: August 31

An artist's impression released by Burwood Council last week shows what Burwood station would look like after proposed plans for a major upgrade, estimated to cost in excess of $35 million, are completed.

Under the plans, the station exterior would be revamped and an extra entrance built in Dean Street to feed passengers onto the centre of the platform. Multiple lifts and disabled access points would be installed to all station areas to reverse the current situation where there is no disabled access at all. Help points, cameras and street lighting would also be added for tightened security.

"We are going to go the whole way and we're going to do it right so that this will last for the 50 years before another major upgrade is done," Burwood mayor David Weiley said. The upgrade plans were outlined in a Burwood Council Vision document released last March, which highlighted future planning priorities and development work needed.

The upgrade would be part of a broader infrastructure scheme that would see more open space around the station area and added greenery. One building that the council was looking at buying to earmark for open space was the Westpac Bank on the corner of Railway Parade and Burwood Road, Cr Weiley said.

The council was in discussions with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning to develop an infrastructure scheme to fund the project. "What we hope to do is introduce a developer levy, so that developers wanting to build in the town centre will need to pay a significant amount of money that will then go towards these infrastructure plans," he said.

Cr Weiley said the council's planners had conducted an economic feasibility study which suggested the developer levy could be capable of raising the $100 million needed to pay for the station upgrade and further plans outlined in the Vision document for the area around Burwood railway and the town centre. So far the State Government had shown "a strong level of support" for the project and talks were going very well, Cr Weiley said. But Cr Weiley was reluctant to give an estimate on when the station upgrade was likely to start or be completed.

"What we are doing here at Burwood is groundbreaking stuff that will take time. But it is also something that could be the blueprint for other councils to follow," he said. Doug Sutherland, president of Burwood Chamber of Commerce, said the station upgrade could only mean positive things for Burwood business. "Expenditure of this magnitude will be the most significant improvement and development we've seen in Burwood for the last 50 years," Mr Sutherland said.

"I think it would be welcomed by every business in Burwood because it will make Burwood a more friendly place to travel to." The executive officer of the Physical Disability Council of NSW, Dougie Herd, said he was happy to hear that easy access would be made available at Burwood station and that it was long overdue. "It will not only help people like me in a wheelchair but also parents with prams," he said.

[James Saito]

Yay!! :)
Can't wait to see the artist's impression.

[AltiusAltiusAltius]

Finally!!

Increased height limit and a few skyscrapers would be a nice bonus....

[Muse]

Burwood will eventaully become a true satellite CBD for Sydney.

ATM The churches, groundscrapers, Westfield and a couple of apartment buildings are the most prominent in the area.

Aerials of Burwood:

________http://www.skycam.com.au/stock/NSW/Burwood1765-0702.JPG_http://www.skycam.com.au/stock/NSW/Burwood1767-0702.JPG

[Brizer]

the artist's impression shows only the new entrance to the railway station at the corner of Burwood Road and Dean Street. Mind you, it will be a bloody sight of an improvement on what is there now. A part building which is cut off at about 8 storeys, is shown on Dean Street. The impression is indicative not concrete. We live in hope.

[James]

The apartment building next to the railway building is progressing allong nicely - now at the stanchions. Still, its very close. Looks good though.

[Fabian]

Burwood to get a Scraper!!!!

A 15 storey residential tower is being built at 3 Railway Pde along with a smaller nine storey tower. The development is known as Gateway and should be completed by the end of next year!!!! :) It should be the tallest in the suburb and I'm pretty sure it's the first scraper being built out there. :okay: I'm also sure it's the project that I saw on the train while travelling to and from uni which was also discussed a few posts up.

Lets throw a party for this one :cheers:

:pepper::cucumber::pepper:

It's about time Burwood got something tall.

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5722/102095722ml1103245677.jpg

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5722/102095722al1103245678.jpg

[Muse]

Great renders Fabian. :okay:

So they're already under construction?

[Fabian]

So they're already under construction?

I'm sure it is. There is a construction site at the moment on Railway Pde just to the west of Burwood Plaza that also backs onto the rail line. As already stated I've noticed the site while travelling on the train through Burwood.

From what I've seen so far, the towers in the renders appear larger & bulkier than they should be. The actual site is very small and I've questioned how they could fit such a tower/s on the site. :?

[climbing_crane]

Cool Bananas

[SinCity]

Burwood to get a Scraper!!!!

A 15 storey residential tower is being built at 3 Railway Pde along with a smaller nine storey tower. The development is known as Gateway and should be completed by the end of next year!!!! :) It should be the tallest in the suburb and I'm pretty sure it's the first scraper being built out there. :okay: I'm also sure it's the project that I saw on the train while travelling to and from uni which was also discussed a few posts up.

Lets throw a party for this one :cheers:

:pepper::cucumber::pepper:

It's about time Burwood got something tall.

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5722/102095722ml1103245677.jpg

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5722/102095722al1103245678.jpg

This complex is fast topping out and it really looks good.

[CULWULLA]

thanks fab. ill add to ss.com! its under the metro city of Strathfield. closest i could do.
heres the Strathfield list atm>

bldg/height/storeys/year
1. Regal Court Apartments 50 m /16 /1996
2. Plaza Tower 50 m /17 /1982
3. Sandalwood Apartments 45 m /16 /1990
4. Gateway 45 m /15 /2005 UC
5. Stratford Apartments 40 m /15/ 1999
6. Boronia Tower 36 m /12 /2003
7. Camellia Tower 36 m /12/ 2003
8. Alrose Apartments 36 m /12/ 1990

[Blue_Copper]

pictures? or will i have to do the dirty work?

[Muse]

pictures? or will i have to do the dirty work?

Yes! Do it!

[finn]

Ok, so Auburn is more "Mid-West" than "Inner West", but I wasn't sure where to put this! I found these cool pitcures of the almost completed Auburn Central development on realestate.com and thought they should be posted! :)

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5144/102085144ml1104881333.jpg

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/8001/101978001ml1098767371.jpg

[CULWULLA]

you could put them here in official compelted thread>>

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=99569

if you want to find it on ss.com its under metro section of Homebush bay.
cheers

[Muse]

Fairfield is hardly inner-west either but ironically this was in the latest copy of The Inner City Courier that was delivered (there's no general western suburbs thread).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/fairfieldtower.jpg

[Fabian]

A recent shot of progress on the Breakfast Point development on the former AGL Gasworks site on the shores of the Parramatta River at Mortlake.

http://img284.echo.cx/img284/4576/breakfastpoint3zn.jpg

More info >>> http://www.breakfastpoint.com

[papervagina]

Breakfast Point is scary... all the houses look the same (and white), there are picket fences and an American style 'Town Hall'.

[lennyr]

I got some photos around the inner west recently. Rhodes waterside parking roof is nine stories which made for some good pics.

Concord Hospital
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9844/concord12kg.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3213/concord28bh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Liberty Grove
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6753/llibertygrove3ej.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Homebush Bay Waterside, with Parramatta behind
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6708/homebushbay2at.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Some buildings in Rhodes
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1960/rhodes16ei.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6674/rhodes27ux.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/7018/rhodes36md.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

And Strathfield from the Plaza roof
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6672/strathfield10fx.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

[mutzdeputz]

FWIW Fitness First Carlingford has awesome 270 degree view over the inner west. From Parra all the way around to Pennant Hills. I would take some pics but my camera is shite.

[Fabian]

The Gateway - taken yesterday. Not far from being done :)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid178/pa39ccb6af4e403a2b4946dee3c29a10f/f3256718.jpg

[lennyr]

Does anyone have any information regarding the C1? I've seen a render of it and it is listed as propsed in the emporis database. At 90m it would be absolutely huge for little Concord, it would stick out like the Novotel but without Telstra Stadium to balance it. I think it was proposed for the area near the end of the M4, which wouldn't be too bad as that area has some high rise along the road already and is slated for development.

[Westonian]

Balmain Leagues Club (On Victoria Rd, Rozelle) is undergoing a TOTAL re-development which will feature new HUGE supermarkets, an out-door plaza and community center, cafe's, shops, Balmain Tigers Leagues Club, a Victoria Rd pedestrian overpass, possibility of an underground tram station and housing for 175 people (Inlcuing two towers to be built ontop of it). The total height of the building will be 19m above the current height of the club and it will totally re-invigerate that part of Darling St.
The best part it, all the profit goes straight to the best Rugby League Club in the world: The Wests Tigers (via Balmain Tigers)

[lennyr]

Go the Tigers!!

There seem to be a few projects involving footy teams starting now, especially in Penrith.

Can't wait for the finals this year, got my ticket and know the tigers will be there.

[Westonian]

Go the Tigers!!

There seem to be a few projects involving footy teams starting now, especially in Penrith.

Can't wait for the finals this year, got my ticket and know the tigers will be there.
If Tigers get a top 4 spot, Telstra Stadium will get over 50,000 showing up to watch the game!
Bloody greatest club ever!
This re-development will see the foundation clubs get a firm footing and that only means better things for the Wests Tigers.

Are you on the official tigers forum?

[lennyr]

No. I'm more into cricket and tennis, but find plenty of time to watch the tigers. Unfortunately I'm moving to Wollongong this weekend, so will be a little harder to follow them. Good to hear about the bright future of the club, I think now is a great time to be fan

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwood.jpg

[James Saito]

Gateway is soooo close to the rail track!
I think you can touch the train from the room in Gateway.

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burw.jpg

[lennyr]

Thanks for the picture. I was expecting the building to be looking more finished now. It doesn't seem to have changed much for months. It's a little bit of a pity that area wasn't saved for more commercial development like across the road and across the train tracks.

I hope Burwood comes out with a development strategy including lots of tall buildings.

[Muse]

..and it's so scabby around many parts of the perimeter of Burwood station, which needs an overhaul to boot.

[lennyr]

Some Burwood info.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/ICAC-turns-spotlight-on-towering-plans/2005/03/04/1109700681989.html

ICAC turns spotlight on towering plans
By Anne Davies, State Political Editor
March 5, 2005

Page Tools
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The Independent Commission Against Corruption's investigations into inner west councils have spread to neighbouring Burwood Council, where a trip by the Labor mayor, David Weiley, and the deputy mayor, John Faker, to Lebanon at the same time as several local developers is being investigated.

The trip, which was endorsed by the council and later partly reimbursed by Burwood's ratepayers, was to establish a sister-city relationship with Imar, a picturesque village some 80 kilometres north of Beirut. It has a population of a little more than 1000.

ICAC is also looking at the timing of purchases by several local developers of blocks surrounding Burwood station.

Burwood is about to become another development hot spot. A 20-year vision document, released last year, outlined plans for residential development up to 25 storeys high around the station. Under the plan, residential development of between 15 and 25 storeys will be allowed around the station, adding 10,000 new units to the municipality. The value of land around the station has skyrocketed.

Advertisement
AdvertisementThe council's general manager, Pat Romano, said the vision document was not yet a legal planning document. It aimed to accommodate the community's two main concerns, he said: keeping the suburbs intact as well as creating more employment in the Burwood business district.

The residential development around the station was a consequence of that, he said.

ICAC has requested access to council files relating to the Lebanon trip. Mr Romano said he was not aware of a formal investigation into Burwood Council.

Cr Weiley has been interviewed, in private session, by ICAC in the past fortnight after the Labor councillor at the centre of the Strathfield scandal, John Abi-Saab, said he had shown Cr Weiley a DVD of the now-disgraced Unity councillor, Alfred Tsang, taking cash from a developer.

Counsel assisting the Strathfield inquiry, Michael King, SC, has since recommended that Mr Abi-Saab be found to have engaged in blackmail and with attempting to remove a public official from office.

Cr Weiley told the Herald that he had not been interviewed about any matters concerning Burwood Council, but the Herald understands that ICAC is examining activities in Burwood municipality because several developers that are involved in Strathfield are active in Burwood.

For example, George Elias, who bought land in the redevelopment strip in South Strathfield that was at the centre of the Strathfield inquiry, was one of the early investors in the area around Burwood station.

ICAC did not recommend any adverse findings on Mr Elias in relation to the Strathfield inquiry.

Mr Elias has since sold most of his interests to Nati Stoliar, a much larger developer whose company, Kimberley Securities, is focusing on development around train stations.

The trip to Lebanon has interested ICAC because an independent councillor, Teresa West, said she was not notified of an extraordinary meeting of the council to endorse the trip.

Cr Weiley and Cr Faker travelled to Lebanon in August 2004, at the invitation of the mayor of Imar, Ghassan Mouawad, for the feast day of St John. Several hundred Maronite Catholics from Imar and surrounding villages have settled in Croydon, including Cr Faker's family. "It was council-endorsed. I paid for myself but I was told it was reimbursable by council," Cr Faker said. Cr Weiley said he had paid for the trip himself.

As for the presence of local developers, Cr Weiley said there were almost 500 expatriates in Imar at the time.

[lennyr]

I also the Burwood vision document

http://www.burwood.nsw.gov.au/upload/jygot21969/BurwoodVision.pdf

which has some proposed building heights near the station

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1684/burheights8xu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And here is there aerial view over the station

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1825/buraerial7ll.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[lennyr]

For Olympic Park, there is a video with an artist impression of the future town centre. Pretty big, ~7mb.

http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/__data/assets/file/258/sop_new_town_flythru.wmv

[lennyr]

Here's some articles on Ashfield and the Olympic site.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/4987/innerwest9sv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[lennyr]

I'll try the ashfield one again.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/4337/ash0oi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

two 15 story towers proposed above the shopping centre.

[demanjo]

Gosh

I feel sorry for the people living at Olympic Park!!!
So beautiful surroundings, but the noise at concert times for example the Big Day Out would be intollerable (if you did not like the music). Some of the buildings are basically right ontop of the "dome", but this is the main dance arena! It gets cranking in there!

[SinCity]

Guys, theres a render in this weeks Parramatta Sun of the new proposed highrise hotel for Olympic Park. Looks great.

Its about 20 stories high. It will be the new Sofitel. The good thing is that its located adjacent to the existing Novotel which is roughly the same height.

Consider it a new mini skyline. I'll scan the render and post it here in a day ot two when I have time.

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/bu.jpg

[Cee_em_bee]

looks like it's on an angle.

[lennyr]

looks like it's on an angle.

The leaning tower of Burwood

[CULWULLA]

not sure if this is right thread. story in todays tele about Epping getting 3 new stations with 10storey commercial towers.

[christarrant]

Yeah Cul I heard on the radio this morning that Sartor has signed off on the Macquarie Park /Ryde LEP which allows for the additon of another 900,000+ sqm of commercial space to be built there !!!!!!!! Ranges from 10 stories around the station to 4 stories elsewhere.
The place already has something like 700,000 sqm of space, another 900,000 will make it almost as big as Brisbanes CBD !

[christarrant]

Another question - where does the INNER WEST officially end i.e Strathfield in the west and the airport to the south ??????

[Fabian]

And to add to that, Macquarie University has been deemed a site of state significance by Sartor so the government now has control of development on the university grounds.

Another question - where does the INNER WEST officially end i.e Strathfield in the west and the airport to the south ??????

On the ball there. The Inner West encompasses the Leichhardt, Marrickville, Ashfield, Burwood, Strathfield and Canada Bay local government areas.

[James Saito]

not sure if this is right thread. story in todays tele about Epping getting 3 new stations with 10storey commercial towers.


Epping is going to BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/gatwa4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/bur.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/bur5656565.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/breakfastpointtttp.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/breakfastppp.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/IMG_0031.jpg

[CULWULLA]

thanks for pix citiboy

[lennyr]

Nice pix citiboy. Are you from around the area?

[citiboy]

yes used to live in croydon sold out at peak of property boom .

[lennyr]

I visited Rozelle today and got some pics from the intersection of the City Westlink and Victoria road.

I love old buildings, they remind me of horror movies. I love to explore them. I worked at the Sydney uni college of arts for awhile in the old Rozelle mental hospital, beautiful place that. The large industrial buildings in Pyrmont and Rozelle stick out very strongly in my memory from childhood, reminding me of an older Sydney.

Who has more info on the industrial history of Rozelle, particularly the power station. I hope that something good comes from it, whether it is refurbished and opened to public tours, used for some other purpose or demolished. Buildings don't stand forever. The whole "White Bay" area that has been earmarked for development when the car imports move out of Sydney Harbour is perfect I reckon for really tall towers, theres nothing to block the view of that isn't already blocked by the current buildings. Its on the water, theres a major road and a train line running through and a light rail nearbye. It's got everything.

The circle marks where I was.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/162/rozellevs9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



The stacks
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8736/rozelle001vd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Towards the city
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/373/rozelle004ww8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The White Bay Hotel and NSW Power Station
http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/2272/rozelle005gr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking back towards the power station and stacks
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/364/rozelle010as7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

North east, North Sydney in background
http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/2757/rozelle011ey2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Towards the Anzac bridge and the city
http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/5494/rozelle013hm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Towards Glebe to the south
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1148/rozelle017zd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Front door of the power station
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5626/rozelle020cf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking over the roof to the stacks
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8558/rozelle025wb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



This place could become anything

[Muse]

Cool shots. I love that area.

...but why have you stuck them in here? I thought the "City Images, Architecture, Historic Themes" section would be more appropriate. More forumers would see & perhpas respond.

Thanks for sharing.

[lennyr]

I figure Roselle to be part of the inner west, wanted to share this with NSW people. I might post the pics in the other section, or if a moderator could do it :master:

[CULWULLA]

copied rozelle post here>
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=9846608#post9846608

[lennyr]

Thanks Cul

[Fabian]

I've noticed a crane just a block north of the railway line in Burwood while passing through the area on the train over the past week or so where many of the office buildings are. Will be interesting to find out whats being built. :) Might be commercial.

[CULWULLA]

its not Gateway is it fab?
http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/9052/5159052ml1141169506.jpg

[James Saito]

:)

[Fabian]

its not Gateway is it fab?
http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/9052/5159052ml1141169506.jpg

That was completed months ago, and is located on the southern side of the railway line. This crane is for another project.

[James Saito]

:cheers:

[lennyr]

I took some photos from Rhodes waterside recently to see how it compared with last year. Don't think the photos show the changes, but it is quite noticeable just walking around. Pretty nice view from up there.

Liberty Grove
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5465/img7322es2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Olympics
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8049/img7325el3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nestle building(?) with Concord Hospital behind
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/6361/img7326ps5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Three more to the east of the shopping centre. They show there is still a fair bit of land to use.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6238/img7328zn2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8454/img7330wb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1355/img7333mj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The apartments to the west
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6279/img7336ax5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2949/img7337da1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And looking over the bay to Homebush
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5662/img7339li9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4264/img7340yo1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[CULWULLA]

wow, looking good out there. a real buzz around Rhodes and Homebush bay.i really like the are. i drive through it once every few months when i do the rel visits from sydney to newcastle run.the view from Ryde is awesome.
cheers

[DBM]

Anyone seen this?

http://www.hivecollective.com.au/

It's a really cool looking refurb of an old warehouse on Erskineville Road for "creative office space" -- ie architects and designers. (used to be where they made the floats for the Mardi Gras)

Last time I walked past it hadn't commenced -- if anyone is going past have a look and report back . I can't, I'm stuck in America until the end of the year!

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwood999999.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwood0000000000.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwwod5454545455.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/IMG_0122.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/IMG_0123.jpg

[auscritic]

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3498/cimg5658br3.jpg

I visited this development in Newtown last year. A fanastic adaptive reuse of a group of old wheat silos.

[auscritic]

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6072/cimg5659xm6.jpg

[auscritic]

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/962/cimg5661hk6.jpg

[auscritic]

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6435/cimg5662pv7.jpg

[CULWULLA]

anyone been out west lately

[Fabian]

Apart from the commercial development at Burwood, there's very little happening.

There was a recent announcement about the long anticipated Burwood Railway Station upgrade with money being allocated towards it. :)

I will visit Homebush for the show, so I can post any developments there when I go.

[LanceDriver]

i like the silo refurb!

[LanceDriver]

i'm glad i found this thread, i was going to create a new thread for the stuff i'm posting here but it probably best fits in this thread. i haven't been able to find anything else about this development in the forums so here we go ...

when i was taking photos of "evolve" in jacksons landing i crossed the anzac bridge to take some photos of a massive several hectare+ site in rozelle bay. i'd been seeing lots of ground work happening but had no idea what was going on there and thought i'd take some photos and ask the forums if they knew. i have done my own searching and found out what the deal is.

below are a couple of shots of the site. it is in rozelle bay and is diagonally across the anzac bridge from jackons landing in pyrmont. you can see a whole new road being built on the north side alined with the western distributor. when i first saw it i thought that it would have been perfect for 4 to 6 20+ storey apartments, it's in no ones way at all ! the site would have been excellent with great views across rozelle bay to bicentennial park and glebe. that's what i thought the new road might be for, ie, an apartment access road.

as it turns out the site is proposed to be australias biggest BOAT SHED, well two of them anyway. they are massive and one of only 9 dry boat storage facilities in the country. it's all part of the "working harbour" ideal.

here's the proposal summary -

* a dry boat storage facility accommodated within two buildings for up to 670 boats;
* a two level commercial maritime building;
* a multi storey (5 levels) car park building providing parking for approximately 255 vehicles;
* two at grade car parks, providing a total of 107 spaces;
* four 25,000 litre underground fuel storage tanks;
* a marina comprising 32 formal layover berths, 4 informal layover berths and 24 layover brokerage berths; and
* a boat in/out feed system used for moving boats between the dry boat stores and the water.

here's the site photos, you can see the re-alignment uc of james craig road from the south harbour fronting area to the north western distributor end. i'll post the renders and diagrams shortly -

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/453242497_a8b61430b3_o.jpg


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/453242521_928324c22a_o.jpg

[Lord_Bertrum]

Earlwood/Bardwell Park RSL (EBP RSL) next to Bardwell Park Train Station is currently having an extension.

[LanceDriver]

Here's the location of the proposed dry storage boat shed for 670 boats in Rozelle Bay
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/453281457_9a66271dd7_o.jpg

Here's a shot of boats at the current marina that was created to birth luxury boats during the Olympics. It is still a mooring spot for some very expensive boats and the "Liquidity" restaurant is also there
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/453258170_62346f4ad0_o.jpg

Here's an early model showing just one massive shed
http://www.waterways.nsw.gov.au/images/rozellebay.gif

This shows the 2 shed proposal, these are several hundred metres long and about 30m or more high
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/244/453258178_7d4283d419_o.jpg

Here's a diagram of the site
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/453258184_04328941f2_o.jpg

[LanceDriver]

I was also curious about this spot in Rozelle Bay, just around the corner from the proposed boat shed, past the NSW Maritime building and under ANZAC bridge in the gap between the ANZAC bridge and the old Glebe Island Bridge -

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/254/453242559_df46f52465_o.jpg


It looked like another great spot for some real action, being over 2 hectares in size, but it's going to be the Sydney Slipways Marine Maintenance Facility, another part of the "working harbour" ideal as shown in the area under, and next to, ANZAC bridge -

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/457241082_0672b21219_o.jpg

Here's it's location -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/198/457241094_c51d3a7eeb_o.jpg

Here's the view of the current site looking west -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/457241092_b100f316a0_o.jpg

And looking east -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/457241088_94cedc36c0_o.jpg


It seems that this will be going ahead soon, it was recently approved. More info here - http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/pdf/05_0187_director-generals_report.pdf

[LanceDriver]

Looks like there is concern that the boats using the proposed boat storage facility will force dragon boating and rowing out of Rozelle and Blackwattle bays -

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/fears-boatshed-will-spell-end-of-harbours-dragons/2007/01/07/1168104868005.html

DRAGON boat racing is a Chinese tradition with ancient rhythms and rules, but progress may soon trump history in Sydney: racers fear they and other rowers will be forced off the harbour by the impact of a development planned for Rozelle Bay.

The James Craig Road building, to cover an area the size of four football fields, will have berths for 670 boats and include a five-storey car park, four 25,000-litre underground fuel storage tanks and a marina. It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The president of Dragon Boats NSW, Melanie Cantwell, said increased powerboat traffic would drive passive water craft out of the area.

"If the Government goes ahead with it, it's sounding the death knell for rowers in that bay. They will not go out and put their paddlers at risk of being run over," she said yesterday. "There's nowhere else for us to go. We have looked for years but there is no land with water access available to us."

The Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, has the final say over the development, with some Glebe residents suggesting a decision will be made this week. Other stakeholders said the Government would rather leave it until after the March election.

Inner west residents concerned about noise, visual pollution and increased traffic are lobbying candidates for Balmain, a seat the Labor Party is concerned about losing.

"It's become an election issue, whether [the ALP] like it or not," the Greens candidate, Rochelle Porteous, said. "If it's approved, there will be a serious backlash."

Ms Porteous and the Liberal candidate, Peter Shmigel, have advocated a master plan for development taking in White Bay, Rozelle Bay, Blackwattle Bay, Johnstons Bay, Camerons Cove, Mort Bay, and Snails Bay.

"I have a problem with these hodge podge applications," Mr Shmigel said.

The ALP candidate, Verity Firth, said she was most concerned about the rights of the rowers and dragon boat racers.

"I have already made those arguments to minister Sartor," she said yesterday.

The president of the Boat Owners Association of NSW, Michael Chapman, said the storage shed was badly needed and would ease parking and traffic congestion all over the city.

He said most boats in Sydney were trailer craft and were kept in the western suburbs.

Justin James, a director of the developer, Rozelle Bay Proprietary Limited, said any rise in motorised craft in Rozelle Bay would be confined to a small area not suitable for passive boating.

[Fabian]

In regards to the project at Burwood (Citiboy), I cannot still see anything from the train as yet. Taking their time, I guess.

[LanceDriver]

Probably the best place to put this -

http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070424/NWS07/704240309/-1/nws/Crime+drops+in+Inner+West

Crime Drops in Inner West

Source: Inner West Courier
Author: Joseph Sumegi Posted:
Tue 24 Apr, 2007

Crime levels in Ashfield and Burwood have dropped by 40 per cent in some categories and the local government areas have become much safer places to live, according to figures released last week.

The report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research said the Ashfield municipality had recorded a 30 per cent drop in assaults and a 38 per cent drop in break and enters at the end of last year compared with the start of 2005.

Break and enters of commercial properties in Burwood dropped by 34 per cent, robberies by 38 per cent and muggings by 43 per cent. Strathfield reported a reduction of 34 per cent in mugging attacks.

Burwood local area commander Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, whose division covers Burwood, Strathfield and Canada Bay, said the drop in crime in the past 24 months was a result of the police department taking offenders off the street.

"By arresting offenders and placing them in custody, obviously they're no longer in a position to commit any further offences," he said.

"One of the formulas we use is that 20 per cent of people are usually responsible for about 80 per cent of the crime, so once we identify those who are responsible and lawfully and actively target them and then arrest and charge them and take them off the street, it obviously has a huge impact on the reduction of offences."

Strathfield MP Virginia Judge, whose electorate covers Burwood and much of the Ashfield LAC, said she was pleased with the figures.

"This proves that our front-line police, local detectives and support staff in my LACs are doing a fabulous job in investigating, tracking down and locking up those who break the law," she said.

Inner West areas, including the Marrickville and Leichhardt LGAs, reported the biggest drop in break and enters of commercial properties, muggings and robberies with a weapon other than a firearm, which all fell by 30 per cent or more.

But despite the decline, a spokesman for Insurance Australia Group, which is the parent company of insurer NRMA, said claims for home theft in the Inner West had remained stable over the past 24 months.

Premiums had also remained stable, but the spokesman said there were factors other than home theft which impacted on prices, including storm frequency, level of home security and the age of a home.

[sydney_lad]

^^^^^

Good to hear.

Crime in Burwood was pretty bad a few years ago.

Myself and a couple of mates got bashed by a group of about 20 blokes (I was actually put in hospital and still have scars on my head from it), we didn't have a fucking chance against a group that size with all kinds of weapons.

[Westonian]

the skyscraper at TIGERS (Balmain Leagues Club) is going before a open meeting with the council next week! If the council likes the proposed plan, it will be given the green light for a DA to be submitted

From what I understand, the "ifs and buts" would have already been worked out and the DA will just be a formality!

With any luck, the Balmain peninsula will have its first scrapers in a few years time and the future of Balmain/Wests Tigers will be secure!!!!

not to mention that strip of Darling St/Victoria Rd will be markably improved!

[Fabian]

In regards to the project at Burwood (Citiboy), I cannot still see anything from the train as yet. Taking their time, I guess.

Good news, it's one or two floors above ground now.

[reusachtige]

That Dry Storage Boat Shed development sounds like something similar to what they've got at Akuna Bay on The Hawkesbury but much much bigger (and the one at Akuna Bay is big). Only a very small percentage of the boats ever come down at the same time at Akuna Bay so I don't know if this Rozelle Bay one would get even close to half at busy times but you never know considering it will be on the harbour and not the hawkesbury. I suppose that area could get very busy with powerboats. They would all have to pass the Jacksons Landing development to go anywhere so it could get noisy around there at times.

[Fabian]

Some good news on Burwood. Burwood Council is going to build a new $45 million library and cultural. According to the Inner West Courier it will have 8000 sq/m of space. It will be located where council offices are at present.

If approved work will begin next year :)

[LanceDriver]

For lack of a better place to put this (technically it is in the inner west) -

From http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070410/NWS09/704100329/-1/nws/Cinema+screen+test

The former Valhalla cinema screen will be replaced by computer screens after the City of Sydney voted in favour of converting the space into offices.

A spokesperson for the council said that only one councillor had opposed the proposal to convert the space into 38 strata-titled office suites.

Glebe Society president Jan Macindoe said while the society would have preferred the building to be retained as a cinema, the new proposal was the best outcome it could have hoped for. "At least this refurbishment will retain the building's exterior and foyer, allowing the structure to be reverted back to a cinema," she said.

However, National Trust conservation director Jacqui Goddard was less hopeful and said she doubted it would ever return to being a cinema because of the strata titles.

"What are the chances of someone buying it all up [strata] and turning it back into the cinema?" she said.

The Valhalla was built in 1937 and thrived as an avant-garde cinema for film buffs in the 80s, filling up to 300 seats for its regular double features.

[Muse]

^^ Not completely sure what is meant by "replaced by computer screens." Where & how?

The Valhalla just wasn't surviving as a cinema complex anymore (it has been twined), due to a 13-screen Hoyts complex opening in 1998 just down the road @ The Broadway Shopping Centre, a mulit-screen Dendy in nearby Newtown & a Palace complex in Leichhardt. The only true arthouse cinema left in Sydney is the twin-screen Chauvel @ Paddington Town Hall.

The biggest competition though came from the growing poplarity of home entertainment systems and the growth of the DVD market.

[Lord_Bertrum]

^^ Not completely sure what is meant by "replaced by computer screens." Where & how?

I think it means the office workers computer screens as the building will become strata office, that or they're going to hoist some big computer screen onto the front, which would be good but out of place.

[CULWULLA]

2 new projects under construction on Sydney University's campus.

First is The Faculty of Law Building, designed by FJMT Architects (of John Boyd Tower infamy) & being built by Baulderstone Hornibrook. Set back from Eastern Avenue & next to The Fisher Library Building, it's two 7-level blocks joined by a multi-storey glass-enclosed bridge & canopies atop. The project, worth $84m, is due for completion in December 2008.

More info HERE (http://www.facilities.usyd.edu.au/projects/capital/law.shtml)

http://www.law.usyd.edu.au/images/content/about_us/new_law_building/newlawbuilding1.jpg

http://www.law.usyd.edu.au/images/content/about_us/new_law_building/newlawbuilding2.jpg

A very sculptural forecourt:

http://www.law.usyd.edu.au/images/content/about_us/new_law_building/newlawbuilding3.jpg


The other is The USYD Central Building by John Wardle Architects. It will front City Road & is adjacent to The Wentworth Building. Being constructed by The Abi Group, it is already 1 level above ground.

Information on its useage, can be read HERE (http://www.facilities.usyd.edu.au/projects/capital/usyd.shtml)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/usyd_central_building.jpg

http://www.johnwardle.com/images/0324%20USYD/USYDCentral_01.jpg__http://www.johnwardle.com/images/0324%20USYD/USYDCentral_02.jpg

http://www.johnwardle.com/images/0324%20USYD/USYDCentral_09.jpg


This map shows the exact locations of the sites. The construction zone outlined in white & next to Victoria Park, is The Faculty of Law Building site. The one a little further towards the bottom right-hand corner is where The USYD Central Building is rising:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/SydneyUniMapA.jpg

[CULWULLA]

The Biscuit Factory Stage 1 in Camperdown has been completed.

http://www.thebiscuitfactory.com.au

http://www.southerncrossgroup.net

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/biscuitfactoryA.jpg

http://www.southerncrossgroup.net/SiteMedia/w3svc328/Uploads/Images/cecc4d00-5748-4180-acba-bea276e3114c.jpg

http://www.southerncrossgroup.net/SiteMedia/w3svc328/Uploads/Images/8594637f-af28-4105-8a35-dc870e064af7.jpg

http://www.southerncrossgroup.net/SiteMedia/w3svc328/Uploads/Images/e5673b4b-ec09-4879-af81-bc7b07699623.jpg

http://www.southerncrossgroup.net/SiteMedia/w3svc328/Uploads/Images/a28ea4e3-971a-4317-b632-13f2df1ade7c.jpg


To come will be 2 x 5, 6 & 7-levels, designed by Marchese & Partners (they love huge expanses of glass). Site fencing has already gone up for the 5-storey job fronting Parra Rd. The 7-level building will be a refurb of the office building that currently stands there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/biscuitfactory2.jpg

[MILIUX]

anyone know the project happening in Burwood? I saw a big yellow crane near Burwood Westfield?

[Muse]

Here's the location of the proposed dry storage boat shed for 670 boats in Rozelle Bay
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/453281457_9a66271dd7_o.jpgFrom today's Fin Rev, Thurs 24 May '07:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/Rozelle_Bay_Marina_Project_Render.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/Rozelle_Bay_Marina_Project_AA.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/Rozelle_Bay_Marina_Project_BB.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/Rozelle_Bay_Marina_Project_C.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/Rozelle_Bay_Marina_Project_DD.jpg

[LanceDriver]

^ although i still reckon this location would have been ideal for a cluster of tallies i like this development because it is a little different and will bring lots of life into that area and will probably be visited by non-boaties aswell. the harbour needs boat storage and that spot has great access, ie, the western distributor and james craig road.

it will also bring some atmosphere to the water out the front of all those pyrmont parks and jacksons landing, but they may not like the noise of powerboats hurtling by. it won't make up for the eventual loss of the giant car ships though, i love watching them drift by slowly, especially while sitting in cafes/restaurants like sugar room and flying fish.

i just hope that all efforts will be made to not affect the rowers and dragon boaters too much. they really rely on using blackwattle and rozelle bay, and the stretch infront of jacksons landing.

[Muse]

The Harbour & its inlets should be for everyone, even the nouveau riche ;)

[Tony P]

Thanks Muse for the heads up regarding the Rozelle Marina article in the AFR. Looks quite nice from the pic provided. I scanned the article when I was at work today, so if you want to see the same pic of the Rozelle Marina, but larger, click here (http://img459.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rozellemarinahf4.jpg).

[LanceDriver]

as far as boat sheds go, it is a nice looking boat shed!

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwood-1.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwood-2.jpg

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/burwood-3.jpg

[Muse]

^^ It's a very long site. Thnaks :)

The USYD Central building re post #105 is going to be a stunning low-rise. Can juuust see by the renders, there are a lot of different vertical angles jutting in & out towards City Road.

With the addition at the back on top, it will be 9 floors. Also there will be an extension or complete rebuild of the pedestrian bridge over City Road, joining it and The Wentworth Building...makes sense.

Speaking of, this new one is going to really show The Wentworth up for sure.

[Fabian]

Thats a mammoth site. I get a one second window on the train each morning and I haven't seen any noticable change for a few weeks now.

[citiboy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/citiboy/IMG_0234.jpg

[LanceDriver]

Inner West tops investment list
Source: Inner West Courier
Author: Menios Constantinou Posted:
Tue 12 Jun, 2007

http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070612/NWS06/706120329/Inner+West+tops+investment+list

A combination of proximity to the city, cafe lifestyle and terrific night-life has helped Leichhardt be ranked among the best suburbs in Sydney for property investors. Photo: Aaron Brown

Five out of the six best Sydney suburbs for property investors are in the Inner West, according to a study that combined the principles of location and capital growth and applied them to the residential market to identify high performing areas.

Analysis conducted by university lecturer and property expert Peter Koulizos showed the best investment suburbs in Sydney were located close to the city or the sea.

Erskineville topped the list of the best suburbs for investors, followed by Leichhardt, Surry Hills, Newtown, Annandale and Stanmore.

As is always the case with property, the most important factor is "location, location", Mr Koulizos said.

"In a large metropolis like Sydney, being close to the city is very important because it can take a long time to get into the CBD," he said.

Cafe precincts in Erskineville Road, King Street in Newtown, and Norton Street in Leichhardt add value to the suburbs. Planned infrastructure such as freeways and light rail were also taken into account in the study.

"The other good things in these suburbs is their proximity to the university and hospital," Mr Koulizos said.

"It means that university accommodation is one opportunity, and you can also get doctors and/or nurses renting out your property."

Good areas to invest in must be reasonably priced, cancelling out expensive suburbs like Mosman on the North Shore and Double Bay in the Eastern Suburbs, Mr Koulizos said.

While the suburbs in the list were expected to be the "standouts" in terms of capital growth, homeowners whose property had lost value were advised wait out the slump in the Sydney residential market.

"The best advice I can give is 'don't panic'. In property, time heals all wounds," Mr Koulizos said.

Based on Mr Koulizos's analysis, the next major property boom will begin in 2010.

[LanceDriver]

Road upgrade 'will kill' local trade
Source: Inner West Courier
Author: Menios Constantinou
Posted: Fri 15 Jun, 2007
Your voice: 185 member comments

http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070615/NWS10/706120336/Road+upgrade++will+kill++local+trade

http://fvimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Avis=FV&Dato=20070615&Kategori=NWS10&Lopenr=706120336&Ref=AR&maxw=435&maxh=290&border=0
Shop owner Menios Koumbaros fears the State Government's $100 million plan to upgrade Victoria Road will devastate local businesses. Photo: Phil Rogers

It resembles a car park during peak hour and something needs to be done to ease traffic congestion, but if the State Government's $100 million plan to upgrade Victoria Road goes ahead, the future of small business in the area could be summed up in two words: "We're finished."

That's the opinion of Menios Koumbaros, the owner of a delicatessen in Drummoyne, who relies on passing trade to keep his business afloat. And he's not alone.

The Courier took to the streets of Drummoyne last week to speak to shop owners on the arterial road, which will be revamped between Gladesville and Rozelle to include a bus lane and three lanes of traffic in the direction of peak flow.

If the plan gets the green light, the bus lane clearway will operate in the morning and afternoon peak periods, and local shop owners are anxious about the effect this would have on parking in the area.

Mr Koumbaros, who has owned The Golden Deli Cafe for 25 years, said the majority of his customers were passers-by who parked on Victoria Road and dropped in to his store.

"Small businesses like mine survive on passing trade and without it, we're gone," he said. "It will absolutely kill the business. Customers won't bother setting down here because it would take the convenience out of it. We may as well shut the doors and walk out."

Elisabeth Cattoen, of patisserie Struden Baron, is another of the many local shop owners whose fears have been mounting since the key features of the proposal were made public.

"Customers don't bother to look for parking these days - it's all about convenience," she said.

"If parking on Victoria Road is taken away my first thought would be to sell the business, and even that would be difficult because it would drastically reduce my goodwill and my prospects of selling would halve."

Apart from the effect the upgrade would have on small business in the area, the general feeling of shop owners in Drummoyne is that the plan would not ease congestion. Instead they labelled it "a quick-fix" and "a Band-Aid solution".

However, commuters who commonly spend their mornings and afternoons marooned in buses between Gladesville and the CBD have a different point of view.

Chris Siepen, of Drummoyne, said he was in favour of the RTA's plan as it would be "a good way to encourage people to use public transport and get cars off the road".

"I travel to the city by bus and it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over half and hour to get there - it gets extremely congested at times," he said. "It would be good if you could guarantee getting to the city in 15 minutes all the time, and I think a bus lane would go a long way to doing that."

[Muse]

The Valhalla in Glebe was originally constructed as The Astor in 1938. It's a nice enough deco structure. They're still working on the interiors & it will consist of 4 shops "refurbished to original entry detail" and 38 office studios.

http://www.valhallaglebe.com.au for more info & pics.

...

[LanceDriver]

Welcome to 'Trashfield'
Source: Inner West Courier
Author: Menios Constantinou & Joseph Sumegi
Posted: Tue 19 Jun, 2007

http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070619/NWS03/706190310/Welcome+to++Trashfield+

Ashfield Chamber of Commerce president Gulian Vaccari (outside the former post office on Hercules Street) says that while Ashfield Council is pro-business, it is also anti-development.

The decaying state of Ashfield's town centre, described variously as "filthy, grimy, stinky and terrible", could be blamed on the propensity of councillors to reject any substantial development proposal in the area, local businesses have claimed.

The state of the suburb has earned it the embarrassing nickname "Trashfield". But Ashfield councillors seem reluctant to support major developments which could help it shrug off its shabby image.

The situation has angered local developers, who are frustrated after failed attempts to gain council approval on projects they believe would improve the commercial centre.

A group representing local businesses last week described the council as "anti-development", saying there was no incentive for businesses or developers to "take a risk" in the area.

"There's no doubt that the chamber is a little bit frustrated with the lack of development in Ashfield," Ashfield Chamber of Commerce president, Gulian Vaccari, said.

"If you do buy a building and try to get it redeveloped it could take you years because the council is of that persuasion. We accept that, it's what the people voted for and we have to acknowledge that's the way it is."

While council experts have in recent years recommended several major development applications for approval, councillors have in many cases ignored their advice and rejected the proposals following outcries from sections of the community.

A development application (DA) for Ashfield Mall, which has long been earmarked for a major upgrade, is at present being assessed by an independent consultant at the council.

The developers Abacus previously planned to turn the centre into a modern shopping centre below high-rise towers. The proposal was knocked back, but last year Abacus submitted revised plans for a $61 million commercial/residential project.

A resident group last week released a statement with the slogan "stop overdevelopment", detailing its opposition to the proposal.

The group's spokeswoman, Fiona Bathgate, said the development would worsen traffic, noise, pollution and overcrowding problems.

Meanwhile, it has been rumoured that a group of local clubs, developers and ratepayers has threatened to try to oust Ashfield councillors at the next election, citing their overriding tendency to knock back major developments.

The Ashfield RSL club, which had its DA rejected by council in 2005 but later won approval in the Land Environment Court, last week denied any knowledge of the group.

The sole Liberal councillor at Ashfield, Nick Adams, labelled the suburb "Trashfield" and said that anyone who had observed the council in recent years would know that development in Ashfield is "not an option".

"I wouldn't describe Ashfield Council as being anti-development, it's worse than that - it's anti- improvement and anti-progress," Cr Adams said.

Mayor Ted Cassidy acknowledged the perception among many local businesses that the council is anti-development.

"But the fact is a large number of DAs get approved, and those that don't are deemed to either have a detrimental impact on residents or the heritage aspects of Liverpool Road," he said.

The mayor pointed to council's own $10 million proposal to redevelop the council's civic centre, which fronts Liverpool Road.

"We are trying to lead by example and the civic centre is a start," Cr Cassidy said. "We have some nice areas in Ashfield - Liverpool Road is one that's changed and we're doing our best to do something about that."

Mr Vaccari stressed that the council was "pro business", citing the lack of parking meters in the municipality a proof.

"I don't want people to think the chamber has a disastrous relationship with council," he said.

[Muse]

From Fin Rev, Thurs 12 July '07

Burwood office expansion

Tina Perinotto

Burwood Council in Sydney's inner west will become a major commercial office developer following a deal struck with NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor that will install an independent panel to process the town centre's local environment plan.

Burwood Mayor John Faker said the LEP would enable development of a building on council owned land next to its existing chambers to house a library, 1000-seat auditorium and up to 7000 sq m of commercial space which could be leased for up to $2 million a year in income.

Another site next to Burwood Court, currently a car park at 1-17 Elsie Street would be redeveloped as a $50 million legal premises for barristers and solicitors.

Mr Sartor said he had taken control of the approval process for this project under the controversial Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act as it would have constituted a conflict of interest for the council to assess its own application.

Mr Faker said the LEP was part of a "20-year vision" and the council's development project would increase Burwood's commercial rental income from $1 million to $10 million over 10 years, "so we don't have to rely on rates".

Appointment of the panel would overcome internal and political issues.

"We only have seven councillors and three declared an interest because they either lived in the town or owned an investment in it and one would walk out [when a quorom of four was needed]...playing politics I think."

The LEP would open the way for much more intensive commercial development in the Burwood centre without rezoning "one square inch" of residential land. It will allow for buildings in the commercial centre with floor space ratios of 5:1, with a maximum of 17-storeys permitted, provided they also contained a 70% commercial component.

"One of the agreements was that we don't lose the commercial character of Burwood, that the character wasn't purely residential," Mr Faker said.

Part of the deal with Mr Sartor was that the minister would use Part 3A provisions to take control of an upgrade of the railway station, after negotiations with Railcorp foundered.

[James Saito]

^^
Great news for Burwood!!!

[Muse]

It's not the first time Burwood Council has given a press release as such. It has been proclaiming itself as the next major Sydney satellite CBD for a couple of years now.

There is really nothing major between the CBD and Parramatta. Ashfield seems in conflict with itself (as per Lance's article), Strathfield is mainly residential in its core, so Burwood seems like the obvious choice. If successful in its endeavours, Burwood will be more akin to somewhere like St Leos but it will take a lot more than the announcement of 2 or 3 projects to achieve that status...and yes, tend to that frikken station already!

Come back in 20 years for Burwood's LEP "vision".

[James Saito]

There is really nothing major between the CBD and Parramatta.

I think Olympic Park wants to become a major centre.
Rhodes is doing pretty good too.

[Fabian]

Burwood Station is a disaster. Steep stairs and tiny concourse. Bad facilities. The local press keep talking about the upgrade but years later nil progress. Not even a concept.

Also the news of commercial expansion is promising. It's well located on the western line and not too far from town. The inner west needs a major commercial centre and Burwood is up to it. I'd rather compare it to Chatswood as it is a major retail centre with Westfield, Burwood Plaza and Burwood Rd.

[Muse]

Olympic Park vs Burwood..hrmm. Office & residential-wise, surely. Would take a fair while before we see any retail on the same scale as Burwood though...speaking of...

Also the news of commercial expansion is promising. It's well located on the western line and not too far from town. The inner west needs a major commercial centre and Burwood is up to it. I'd rather compare it to Chatswood as it is a major retail centre with Westfield, Burwood Plaza and Burwood Rd.Perhaps retail-wise, but certainly not with office space nor residential projects. It's still nowhere near even St Leos in this sense, but then deep St Leos lacks in the retail sector. The Pacific Hwy & Nearby Crows Nest picks up that tab.

...

[Brizer]

Only problem with Burwood town centre is that there are a lot of REALLY fine Federation/1920s/1930s houses surrounding it, and as much as I love to see a fine contemporary building, I would hate to see any of these older gems sacrificed, especially as most of the new buildings in the area are, at best, mundane in design. "Go Vertical" should be the cry especially for the sites along the business strip.

[Muse]

Totally Brizer. Hopefully Burwood Coucil will concentrate on sites that have been hit with the "ugly stick" to develop as there are plenty of those in & surrounding the centre as well. I highly doubt Burwood will get an FK or a DCM. It's generic all the way babeeee! It would be a good strategy to get 1 or 2 funky designs up to get people yappin' about the joint but alas, they'll keep it "safe" for sure. It's hard enough for us to see risk-takers in the major centres let alone lil ole Burwood.

[Brizer]

A few years ago there was a 6 storey office building designed by Stanisic Associates on the carpark to the west of Burwood Road but it seems to have died in the bum. Pity, as it promised to be rather better than anything else in Burwood town.

[Fabian]

The masterplan for Burwood will involve preserving older homes and streetscapes to preserve the heritage. Same with the shopfronts along Burwood Rd. Highrise will rise in the blocks behind either side of the street.

[Brizer]

Good, b/c the heritage buildings of Burwood are its greatest asset while there are a few isolated nasty bits in the back streets that are crying out for redevelopment and that's where the new stuff should go. I just worry when money enters the equation as fine old houses have been known to mysteriously self-destruct overnight in that area. I lived in Croydon for some time.

[papervagina]

A few years ago there was a 6 storey office building designed by Stanisic Associates on the carpark to the west of Burwood Road but it seems to have died in the bum.

Is this the building of which you speak, Cap'n?

http://www.stanisic.com.au/images/work/elsie/main/elsie_08.jpg
Elsie (http://www.stanisic.com.au/html/elsie.php)

It is a handsome building, to be sure.

[LanceDriver]

Divisions remain as Tigers plan nears exhibition
Source: Village Voice Balmain
Author: Ben Douglas
Posted: Mon 6 Aug, 2007

http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070806/NWS09/708030305/Divisions+remain+as+Tigers+plan+nears+exhibition

Traffic, retail impact and building density continue to divide opinion on the proposed redevelopment of Rozelle's Tigers club, with Leichhardt Council to decide whether the plans are ready to go on public exhibition this month.

Greens Cr Rochelle Porteous said the retail component of the proposal would put pressure on the existing businesses in Rozelle,.

Cr Porteous also said that traffic impacts were being understated and that the Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 4.8:1 sought by Tigers was excessive.

"Council has developed proposals that have been submitted to Tigers with reduced FSR, but Tigers, in their plans, have consistently avoided any significant FSR reduction," Cr Porteous said.

"It is unethical to put a plan on public exhibition with such a high FSR. The impact of such a proposal going ahead is untenable in terms of the traffic impact on Rozelle and Balmain," she said.

"We also have the duplication of the Iron Cove Bridge and extra lanes on Victoria Road to consider, which the RTA is not telling us much about."

Tigers development manager David Hynes said concerns about FSR were not warranted.

"People cling onto things like the FSR, because it is an easy figure to throw around," Mr Hynes said.

"But we do have a business to run, and this is the only density that is suitable for us to make the development worthwhile," he said.

Mr Hynes said that the three main areas of community concern were retail impact, traffic and overshadowing.

"We have addressed overshadowing by reducing the western tower from six to two storeys, which should please residents in Waterloo Street. We have changed our plans to reduce traffic impact, and so has Multiplex," Mr Hynes said.

"We have gone from 570 traffic movements in the afternoon peak to 520, and they have gone from 1410 to 740," he said.

"That is quite a concession on both sides, and will have significant impact on the network.

"In terms of the retail impact, the situation we have now is that we have one Woolworths in Balmain that is half the size of a normal supermarket and services three times as many people.

"So we've got people leaving the peninsula to go to Birkenhead Point or Broadway, and there is a massive leakage of retail spending on the peninsula.

"With this development, there is going to be less traffic movements off the peninsula, and people will be able to get a park and then go for a wander and spend money in the local area."

Council will consider the revised masterplan on August 14.

[LanceDriver]

Ballast Point park on horizon after lengthy remediation
Source: Village Voice
Balmain Author: Ashlee Betteridge
Posted: Mon 6 Aug, 2007

http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070806/NWS10/708030325&SearchID=73289652763542/Ballast+Point+park+on+horizon+after+lengthy+remediation

Remediation works at the former Caltex site at Ballast Point in Birchgrove are nearing completion, and construction could soon begin on the public park planned for the site, according to a spokesman from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA).

The 2007 State Budget set aside $10 million for the construction of the park, which was supposed to be completed this year.

The project has been delayed because former owner Caltex underestimated the extent of remediation work required at the site.

The remediation works were expected to be completed by July 2006.

There have also been protracted legal battles over compensation between the Walker Corporation, who had planned to build residential buildings on the site, and SHFA.

Ballast Point was returned to public ownership in 2002 after it was acquired from Caltex by the State Government.

Leichhardt Council rezoned the land as open space, and a masterplan was drawn up for the site, including the planned 2.6 ha foreshore park.

The park will contain a children's playground and walking and bike paths.

Fergus Fricke from the Ballast Point Campaign Committee said the group had been holding regular meetings with SHFA every two to three months to stay up to date on the project.

"SHFA have told us that they are pretty close to finishing the remediation of the site now, but the time scale for the project has been going back and back," Mr Fricke said.

"I don't think they had a good idea of how much remediation needed to be done," he said.

"It's a pity it hasn't been [finished] before now, but I really don't have any doubt that it will get done in the end."

SHFA spokesman Graeme Stevens said Ballast Point will be handed to SHFA by Caltex once the remediation work is complete, and construction of the park will then begin.

Mr Stevens did not answer the Village Voice's questions about when construction of the park was expected to be complete.

Mr Fricke said SHFA had indicated in discussions with the Ballast Point Campaign Committee that the park could be finished by August next year, with construction taking approximately eight months.

[Westonian]

the TIGERS development passed a council extraordinary meeting last week (7-3(greens)) and will now go onto public display

now its really just a matter of when, not if

[Brizer]

Papervagina: that's the one. Could be the best building in Burwood...

[Fabian]

Todays SMH Commercial Property section has a render of a 17 storey residential tower proposed for Burwood. A D/A for the tower is being put up for sale by Savillis. I couldnt find anything on their website to post.

I think it's proposed for Railway Pde, next door to Gateway. Design is fab :)

[Brizer]

I spotted that one, too, Fabian, and agree that the site appears to be along the rail line toward Burwood Rd opposite Burwood Plaza on Railway Pd. It's a pretty amazing design even allowing for artistic licence of the drawing so I do hope it isn't dumbed down in the approval process and financial to-ing and fro-ing.

[CULWULLA]

theres a small render in todays finrev. so small render. but love the design! real landmark. i also cant find jack on savilles.

[Fabian]

I still have the weekend editions of the SMH, so I can scan it. It's been playing up a bit though at home.

[LanceDriver]

Clock ticking on plans for Tigers home
Source: Inner West Courier
Author: Isaac Wilson
http://www.villagevoice.com.au/article/20070911/NWS09/709110332/Clock+ticking+on+plans+for+Tigers+home

Inner West residents now have 39 days to have their say on the Tigers draft master plan after the 40-day exhibition period began yesterday.

The club's vision for its next 100 years in Balmain/Rozelle follows almost three years of design and development. The plan features a new club, supermarket and retail shops, cafes and restaurants, gymnasium, a 2000sq m public plaza, residential terraces and apartments, public car parking and a pedestrian bridge over Victoria Road.

Tigers chairman David Trodden said the club and Leichhardt Council wanted to hear the views of the community toward the development.

"We've been part of Balmain and the Leichhardt area for 100 years and this is a bold and exciting plan to secure our future for the next 100 years," Mr Trodden said.

"We believe in the Tigers' Rozelle Village master plan and there are strong indications that the community and our members share our passion and optimism for the proposal."

For more information and to have your say, visit http://masterplan.tigers.org.au/.

[Fabian]

It's a good proposal and locals will benefit from it. The towers look good. The public square is a fab idea. Will be a good meeting place for locals and for parties after tigers games :)

[CULWULLA]

heres the 18storey tower planned for burwood.this would easily reach 60m high.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1167/1403607767_908eb2101a_b.jpg

[Muse]

...and here is the www.savills.com.au stint on it, for 3 towers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/1BurwoodRd.jpg

DA Approved by the Land and Environment Court of NSW in November 2006, for 233 apartments (within three towers) plus 2,220sqm of Retail/Commercial floor area. Furthermore, the proposal for a Section 96 Variation was lodged with Burwood Council in August 2007, which would increase the project to 282 Apartments (within three towers) plus in excess of 4,570sqm of Retail/Commercial floor area. Situated on the northern alignment of Railway Parade, immediately to the west of the intersection between Railway Parade and Burwood Road, the Site is in very close proximity to Burwood Railway Station. The Site measures approximately 3,840m2 in area and is situated directly opposite Burwood Plaza (a sub-regional chopping centre), with Westfield Burwood only 300 metres approx. to the north of the site.

[Fabian]

Thanks for scanning it Cul. My scanner has been playing up :bash: It looks good.

And Muse, the link to the proposal on the Savills site isnt working :bash:

[Muse]

Thanks for scanning it Cul. My scanner has been playing up :bash: It looks good.

And Muse, the link to the proposal on the Savills site isnt working :bash:Hrmm, I'll just upload the pic. See previous post.

[lennyr]

This should be happening at all major stations.

I use to go to school across the road from the site. It will be bloody busy in the future.

[CULWULLA]

fab- thats not a scan. would you believe i took a pic of paper at newsagent.

[CULWULLA]

theres a 10storey unit block going up near Strathfield station. heres a crappy pic i took last week.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2036/2132133397_70a6832e1a_b.jpg

[Fabian]

Looks like that is being built in 'The Golden Triangle' but are you sure it will rise to 10 storeys? The tallest buildings I've heard for that area will be 4-5 storeys tall.

[CULWULLA]

after i took p[ic i got a clearer view and i counted 10 floors. and i think its topped out.

[Fabian]

The SMH is reporting today that a proposed Meriton development at Rhodes will be built next to a site that is still yet to be remediated. Owners will move in while the chemcials are still there. The site used to contain a factory producing Ancient Orange.

[LanceDriver]

^ that site is claimed to be the most toxic and polluted site in the southern hemisphere! scientists have warned that letting the developers move in before it is remediated could be disastorous for new residents. it was home to union carbide, that says it all...

[Brizer]

Fabian: Agent Orange - very 'popular' during the Vietnam War for destroying crops and forests and, hideously, people. It was definitely disastrous for the Vietnamese people, and for Australian and American service men who were also affected - it tends to drift - and are paying a painful price, as are some of their off-spring, decades later.
This is when that chilling military phrase 'collateral damage' first appeared.
Along with the appalling burning, skin-sticking napalm, it did not do anything to improve the US cause.
Way to go, Meriton!

[LanceDriver]

I think I found a couple of articles about this, one quite old but still relevant years later. I can see a possible class action in the future, and not against the evil union carbide (they always get out of the mess they cause) but possibly meriton. It's a pity we don't have a forumer from out there to take photos of the mass of rising resi going on here and around homebush bay.

Approved: waterfront homes next to toxic site
December 28, 2007
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/approved-waterfront-homes-next-to-toxic-site/2007/12/27/1198345162026.html

WATERFRONT apartments next door to a former Agent Orange manufacturing site will be built and sold before the neighbouring toxic waste has been cleaned up, sparking concern from two government departments.

In October the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, allowed the property developer Meriton to proceed with 47 apartments on Rhodes Peninsula in an area known as the Allied Feeds site, a contaminated spot that is being remediated.

His approval goes against the advice of two departments.

The Allied Feeds site adjoins the similarly contaminated former Union Carbide site, a block of land one chemical waste expert has called the most toxic plot in the southern hemisphere. While Meriton has promised to finish remediating the Allied Feeds site before selling the units, remediation of the neighbouring Union Carbide will still be under way when the new apartment owners move in.

Mr Sartor approved the application to build and sell the apartments despite advice from the Department of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change that "it would be preferable that that no occupation occurs until all remediation works in the entirety of Rhodes Peninsula and in the sediments of Homebush Bay are carried out".

NSW Health also raised the alarm, warning of "significant risks for residents of this development should occupation occur while remediation is continuing either in [the Allied Feeds site] or adjoining [the Allied Feeds site]. It is preferable to delay occupation of this site until all remaining remediation is completed."

However, Mr Sartor followed advice from the Department of Planning that "such an imposition upon the proponent [Meriton] is considered unreasonable as the proponent does not have control over remediation throughout the entire peninsula and may be prevented from occupation for an indefinite period of time."

To avoid delay for Meriton, people will be allowed to occupy the new units on the condition the developer submit a report showing there is no risk from the untreated toxic waste at the neighbouring Union Carbide site. The new apartment dwellers will also be warned of the remediation next door before they buy.

However, Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, of the National Toxics Network, said a "buyer beware" clause was not enough.

"The most offensive thing about 'buyer beware' is you assume the buyer has a level of technical understanding of the issue to make an informed decision.

"These are highly toxic sites, definitely the most toxic sites we have in the southern hemisphere. The idea that you can continue the treatment of contaminated sites with people living directly adjacent seems to me to be quite foolish."

Dr Lloyd-Smith said the Government should wait until all of Homebush Bay was remediated before allowing developers to sell units there.

"The developer knew this was going to be a difficult and lengthy remediation that would affect their economic returns in the short term. Talk about 'buyer beware'. The responsibility of the NSW Government is to protect the health of residents."


AND


New colossus at Rhodes
June 4 2002
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/06/03/1022982671118.html

A former chemical waste dump alongside the Parramatta River will become a "waterfront utopia" for more than 7000 Sydneysiders if developers get their way. But, as Anne Davies reports, the clean-up technology is suspect, as is the role of the State Government.

IT USED to be home to Union Carbide, where, among other things, the defoliant Agent Orange was manufactured during the Vietnam War. It remains one of the most contaminated sites in Sydney. But over the next decade, Rhodes Peninsula will be reborn as home to 7300 people.

According to the public relations spin, the western side of this little-known peninsula alongside Concord Bridge will be converted to a waterfront utopia. It will be a showpiece in urban renewal, offering an enviable lifestyle just a few kilometres from the facilities of Olympic Park. That's if - and in some experts' minds it's a big one - it can be cleaned up and made suitable for human habitation.

Serious questions have been raised about whether it can be adequately returned to a standard that will make it safe for future residential use.

In 1988, a risk assessment for the Department of Planning concluded the site could only be remediated for industrial use and was not suitable for housing. Technology has moved on, but the doubts remain.

Second, there are the potentially conflicting roles of the State Government in the project.

The 1500-odd residents in old Rhodes on the other side of the peninsula are asking whether the high density planned for their once-sleepy little suburb can be supported by the infrastructure.

They are questioning the appropriateness of the Government's role as both the planning and consent authority responsible for setting heights and densities, as landowner of one of the problem sites and as protector of the environment.

"The reason why there are such high densities is to enable the developers to pay for the clean-up," says resident activist Paul Hanly. "But why should one small group of residents be made to pay that cost through overcrowding, when the contamination is a wider community problem?"

Later this month an upper house committee of the NSW Parliament is due to report on its investigations into the development. All the signs are that it will be a split report.

It is little wonder. The evidence to the committee has been disturbing and has scraped some of the gloss away from the PlanningNSW hype about urban renewal.

First there is the issue of whether the clean-up can be successfully accomplished.

Tests on the bay have revealed that sediments are heavily contaminated to a depth of one metre and stretch well out into the bay, as a result of years of leaching. Greenpeace sampling of fish from the bay has found 10-15 times more dioxin than the US standard for edible fish, and the Government has acknowledged the problem by placing a total ban on fishing in Homebush Bay as well as a ban on commercial fishing west of Gladesville Bridge.

So who's responsible? The obvious answer is Union Carbide. But it is long gone from the site. Instead, through a complicated series of land deals during the 1990s, the Government bought the site for a peppercorn and assumed responsibility for the clean-up.

Now its agencies must judge whether the clean-up method proposed by the prospective buyers of the site, Trafalgar Properties and Theiss Environmental Services (and that proposed by Meriton, the owner of the adjoining Allied Feeds site), is up to scratch.

If the government agencies find the clean-up plans lacking, the sale is likely to fall through, leaving the Government with ownership of a festering problem. Its answer has been to grant development approval for higher-than-normal densities, in return for the developers footing most of the bill for the $90 million clean-up.

In evidence to the inquiry, development partner Theiss canvassed using either direct or indirect thermal desorption to treat the dioxin-laden soil. In the indirect method soil is heated in a kiln to evaporate the dioxin and the gas is then cooled to produce about 1000 tonnes of highly toxic concentrate, which would be taken away by one to two trucks a week to a chemical processing centre in Brisbane.

The cheaper and quicker method involves applying direct flame to the soil which burns off the dioxin and releases an allegedly harmless gas into the atmosphere.

Despite claims by Theiss that either method will work, there remain doubters. Giving evidence to a parliamentary committee in February, an environmental engineer, Mark McNamara, described the developers' favoured direct method as "insane" and cast doubt on the efficacy of the other.

McNamara, say his critics, has an axe to grind. He worked for eight years on plans for cleaning the former Union Carbide site and the heavily contaminated bed of Homebush Bay on behalf of former owner Lednez. In the end his firm, Clough Engineering, missed out on the contract and he ceased working for it. On the other hand, experts in this field are few on the ground, particularly those with intimate knowledge of Rhodes.

"I think there are question marks on its ability to deliver a safe and efficient result for the project in remediation terms," McNamara told the inquiry.

He said the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which developed the technology to be used on the site, had advised him that it was totally unsuitable for cleaning up high concentrations of dioxin, and that several attempts to use it on similar contamination in the US had failed.

Theiss has also acknowledged before the committee that the clean-up poses some challenges.

Asked about any US sites that had been cleaned of dioxin and used for housing, a Theiss executive, John Hunt, replied that there was "no direct analogy for this project".

"Most of the sites cleaned up there have been industrial areas returning to industrial use. Our sites are industrial areas going to residential use.

"There is no direct experience with dioxins, but there is experience with other chemicals with similar boiling points and similar properties for residential land use."

Surprisingly, green groups are supporting remediation, on the basis that it is better to clean up the site rather than leave it for future generations, but they are yet to be convinced of the technology. Dr Don Watt, of the Nature Conservation Council, says we should be asking when it will be safe to fish in Homebush Bay.

However, an upper house Green, Ian Cohen, who led the charge for an inquiry, says he's concerned about the potential for cost-cutting. He wants to ensure that state-of-the-art remediation is used. "Given that the NSW Government stands to gain in this, cost should not be a factor, especially given the highly toxic nature of the site," he says.

"We don't want to come back in 20 years' time to find a whole generation with problems."

For the residents of original Rhodes, there are other concerns of a more pedestrian nature - overcrowding on the roads and in the local school.

The Government took over planning control of Rhodes in 2000 and has signed off on a development control plan which allows densities almost twice that allowed by Concord Council at the nearby Breakfast Point development at the AGL site.

Rhodes is on a train line, which has been used to justify the higher densities, but from the tip of the peninsula it is an 800-metre walk to the station, well beyond the 400 metres which studies show causes people to opt for their cars.

The school in Rhodes closed several years ago and has been partly redeveloped into a nursing home, which means children will need to travel to Concord West Primary School. The nearest high school is in Concord, which is not on the train line.

Public open space is one-third the normal amount and limited to a strip along the foreshore and two parks.

"There's no football fields, golf courses, netball or even public pools planned," says Hanly. "It's a planning disaster."

McNamara, who has viewed the Rhodes saga from the beginning, believes the project is being development-driven rather than remediation-driven.

"The whole thing is being determined by how much a person can get per square metre of land, how much they can put on it and what it will cost them to get the land into a condition to accept that development."

The findings of the parliamentary inquiry are unlikely to change those dynamics, particularly since by signing off on the development control plan for Rhodes, the Government has created binding rights for the developers.

But it has at least aired some of the concerns about the remediation and will ensure close scrutiny by environmental and residents' groups.

[Lord_Bertrum]

Arhh, Union Carbide. Also responsible for the Bhopal (India) disaster in 1984.

A Union Carbide subsidiary pesticide plant released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, killing between 2500 and 5000 people in what is frequently cited as one of the world's worst industrial disasters.
On the morning of December 3, 1984, a holding tank with 43 tonnes of stored MIC from the Union Carbide factory, overheated and released toxic MIC gas mixture, which, being heavier than air, rolled along the ground through the surrounding streets. The transportation system in the city collapsed and many people were trampled trying to escape. According to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, around 500,000 people were exposed to the leaking tables. Approximately 20,000 to this date are believed to have died as a result; on average, roughly one person dies every day from the effects. Over 120,000 continue to suffer the effects of the disaster, such as breathing difficulties, cancer, serious birth-defects, blindness, gynecological complications and other related problems

The majority of deaths and serious injuries were related to pulmonary edema, but the gas caused a wide variety of other ailments. Signs and symptoms of methyl isocyanate exposure normally include coughing, dyspnea, chest pain, lacrimation, eyelid edema, and unconsciousness. These effects tend to progress over 24 to 72 hours following exposure to include acute lung injury, cardiac arrest, and death. Because of the hypothesized reactions that took place within the storage tank and in the surrounding atmosphere, it is thought that apart from MIC, phosgene, and hydrogen cyanide along with other poisonous gases all played a significant role in this disaster.

Interesting reading at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_Disaster

From what I can gather, Union Carbide got of pretty lightly.

[Fabian]

I noticed on the train yesterday that construction of the new library at Burwood has begun. :)

[Fabian]

The podium is almost done on the three tower residential tower development in Burwood. Passed by today

Render

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/27/burwood_wideweb__470x403,0.jpg

Hopefully the towers start construction soon, at least one of them

[James Saito]

^^
Fabian, where exactly is this development?

[Fabian]

The Block bounded by George, Elise, Victoria St's and Gloucester Avenue

And this gets better - the new library development. It's actually a new civic precient with a 1000 seat capacity performance venue, library and an office tower. Burwood Council took out a two page ad in this weeks Inner West Weekly.

Nine storeys this baby will be. According to this and taking into account RL heights (site is 21 metres above sea level) it will rise to 62 metres RL or 41 metres above the street.

http://www.burwood.nsw.gov.au/upload/ymngf86424/Masterplan%20Document.pdf

As pointed out it is under construction :D

Also height limits for the CBD have been reduced to 70 metres. :(

[LanceDriver]

I wish they would tax the hell out of the vacant buildings in Pyrmont that are going to waste ...

Squatters out as bulldozers start engines
Sunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter
May 5, 2008
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/squatters-out-as-bulldozers-start-engines/2008/05/04/1209839456289.html

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/05/04/squatters_wideweb__470x313,0.jpg
The last days … squatters Amy Rush, her daughter, Lundja, with Martin Gozdz and Jon Wah in Iceland, their now former home.
Photo: Ben Rushton

FOR the residents of Iceland, a five-year-old Balmain squat with waterfront views, a vacant building is a house waiting to become a home.

"Unused buildings not being occupied are such a waste," said one of the squatters, Jon Wah, 28. "Derelict buildings attract derelict people but if they are occupied, they become a home. The people look after the property."

By today, Iceland - one of Sydney's longest-running squats - will be a soulless, empty building again as residents vacate on the order of Leichhardt Council, which will bulldoze the Weston Street office block to make way for a park.

It will be the end of an era, those in Sydney's squatter scene say.

"It will be sad to see this place go," said Amy Rush, who has lived in Iceland on and off since 2003 and named the house after her favourite holiday destination.

"About 20 people have lived here over the years and it's been a place for band rehearsals, art projects, people practising dance routines, bike workshops. Squatting gives you a chance to think about things other than how you are going to pay the rent and ways to contribute to the world."

Ms Rush moved into the squat shortly after it was abandoned by its former users, a tugboat company that used it as an office.

"It was pretty easy just to walk in and start using it. The owners had just had a party so there were balloons and champagne glasses and glitter. It was magical to walk into this deserted party scene," she said.

In February last year council officers recommended Iceland's residents be evicted after noise complaints from neighbours but the council voted to allow them to stay until work began on the park.

A leading housing academic has called on the City of Sydney, Leichhardt, Marrickville and Waverley councils to charge higher rates on vacant properties to encourage the owners to let squatters live in empty houses.

The director of the I.B. Fell Housing Research Centre at the University of Sydney, and the leader of a training program for squatters, Col James, said: "Rubbish gets left on a vacant property if it's not occupied.

"There are 120,000 vacant properties in t