A proposal for a new aged care centre and community hub in North Rocks has again been hit with criticism, with Council the latest to reject the plans.
A planning proposal that aims to deliver “genuine housing diversity” by providing over 1,000 new homes has faced another bump in the road after the City of Parramatta unanimously rejected it.
The development intends to sit on the former site of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) – now known as NextSense – at 361-365 North Rocks Road and occupy a massive total area of 12.67 hectares.
The plan proposes to create a community hub and library, as well as a diverse mix of public open spaces including a full-size oval and village square. Minor commercial and retail offerings such as cafes, a childcare centre and medical centre could also be on the cards.
When it comes to housing, the development would provide 236 townhouses, 690 apartments, nine detached dwellings, as well as approximately 145 independent living units and an aged care centre, with 60-80 beds.
If approved, the land at North Rocks would be rezoned to allow building heights to increase from three to seven storeys.
North Rocks resident Declan Murphy, who has lived in the area since 1971, urged the Council to reject the plans.
“It is inconsistent with the current human environment and character of the suburb. There are no tower blocks nor the infrastructure required,” he said.
Mr Murphy said the strong lack of public transport is a problem and that the plans would cause even more traffic.
“Bus services are sporadic, the traffic lights will need to be reconfigured causing more backups for cars and trucks accessing or exiting the shops,” he said.
“There is already a problem of cars doing ‘rat runs’ along North Rocks Road to avoid the existing traffic lights and the lights at the Barcley Road intersection… these rat runs result in frequent accidents.”
Also opposing the North Rocks Village development, Councillor for the North Rocks Ward Georgina Valjak presented a petition signed by over 600 people who are against the plans.
“The proposal seeks to develop 1080 dwellings on this site including R4 High Density residential, which is completely out of character for the area,” she said.
“The petition tabled earlier this evening and the residents who spoke are indicative of the community’s view.”
The Department of Planning will have the ultimate say on whether the plans proceed.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.