Rhodes Development Project
The Rhodes Redevelopment Project was a multi-billion dollar infrastructure and development project centred around a major town centre and public domain (20,000 sqm shops; 15,000 bulky goods retailing), office developments >20,000 and 1,500 residential units integrated with major highway improvements (Homebush Drive) and the Railway Line and Station upgrades. The site was a former industrial development and the land contaminated. The statutes governing the use of that land were for industrial development. The traffic impacts with industrial use on the road network were significantly greater than the alternative use of the land for an integrated live, work, shop community. Similarly, increasing the density of development within the vicinity of the railway station was desirable from a public policy perspective.
As a consequence of initiatives from Walker Corp and then Bankers Trust, Planning Workshop Australia prepared planning approval strategies for both sites and included – seeking amendments to the relevant statutes with the preparation of a Regional Environmental Plan; preparing urban design and development master plans to form the basis for negotiation with the then Department of Planning and Environment.
A comprehensive staged development plan was prepared for the 250,000 sqm of development with Planning Workshop Australia undertaking the environmental assessment for the ‘State Significant Project” and managing the entire planning approval process including rezoning, development controls, infrastructure contributions, environmental assessment, consultation with government stakeholders including Concord Council and relevant infrastructure and environmental Agencies.
Extensive information and consultation programs were undertaken including establishment of web sites; focus workshops; releases and consultation with owners on adjoining areas.
The town centre has been completed and significant stages of the residential development have been completed.