Document Name Name Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan
Owner City of Canada Bay Council
This Place Plan has been prepared to guide place making in Rhodes Peninsula (encompassing Rhodes and Liberty Grove) from 2012 -2022. The Plan incorporates:
A community profile for Rhodes Peninsula informed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 Census of Population and Housing
• Outcomes of the community and stakeholder engagement activities undertaken as part of the process of developing the Place Plan
• An Action Plan developed by the City of Canada Bay and key stakeholders including delivery partners.
The Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan is a strategic document which presents community aspirations for the Peninsula and related actions, for consideration by the City of Canada Bay and potential delivery partners, as the Peninsula continues to grow and evolve. It provides a framework for community facilities, functions, activities and programs encompassing social and physical infrastructure to meet the community development, recreational, cultural, economic and community services needs of residents of the Rhodes Peninsula. In order to ensure the plan remains relevant it will be updated and reviewed by Council, key partners and the community.
The Plan draws together the social and physical elements of place and in particular provides base information to inform future planning of:
• The Community Precinct
• Recreation and open space
• Cultural planning and development (including identification of public art opportunities)
• Economic development
• Place activation strategies
• Community development initiatives relating to the provision of health and other human services
• Communication and engagement strategies.
The Place Plan has been developed using a placemaking model which incorporates five important elements of place: social and cultural life; connectivity; comfort and image; uses and activities; and voice and influence. The placemaking model has been tested and refined through a robust process of community consultation. For further detail see Section 2 ‘Introduction’.
Resourcing of the actions identified in this strategic document is a key consideration for Council and delivery partners. When reviewing the outcome areas and actions identified in the Action Plan to address current and future community needs, it should be noted that broad brush resourcing opportunities have been identified. However, more detailed investigation and cost estimates would be prepared where Council should decide to implement a recommendation.
Funding sources for Council actions may include:
• Section 94 contributions and developer contributions / Voluntary Planning Agreements (where there is demand and capacity for new development);
• Federal and State government grant programs;
• funds from the rationalisation of existing underutilised or poorly located facilities;
• commercial opportunities (such as providing income-generating space for complementary services to assist in offsetting management and maintenance costs of community facilities); and balanced business models that include the full range of community facilities and a range of financing strategies (where some community facilities are cost neutral and costs for others are recovered across the portfolio of facilities).
Many of the actions will involve stakeholders from within State Government, business and the community, as the lead agency or potential partners for delivering actions.
The Place Plan considers relevant policies, plans and research relating to planning and development of social and physical aspects of Rhodes Peninsula, as well as key projects proposed for the Peninsula and surrounds.
The Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 29 – Rhodes Peninsula (SREP29) and Rhodes West Master Plan create the major opportunity for place making in Rhodes Peninsula. The Rhodes West Master Plan sets out a vision for Rhodes West as:
• a thriving mixed use centre incorporating high density housing;
• an integrated and accessible place;
• a community with a sense of place, incorporating a high quality public domain and architectural design that delivers sustainability.
Importantly, the City of Canada Bay’s FuturesPlan20 sets out a sustainable direction for the City, for the next 20 years – as an engaged, green, healthy, liveable, moving, prosperous and vibrant place. Other relevant strategies relate to the public domain, community facilities, public art, open space, community harmony and employment. Key projects within Rhodes Peninsula considered as part of the Place Plan are the Community Precinct, Open Space Master Plan and Plan of Management, Arts Plan, Station Precinct, Town Square and Central Park. For further detail see Section 3 ‘Context for the Place Plan’.
In 2011 Rhodes Peninsula had a resident population of approximately 7,727 people, just over double its 3,713 residents in 2006. The Peninsula is characterised by a predominance of high density apartment living with some lower density housing in Rhodes East. By 2016, the Peninsula is expected to have a population of approximately 14,000 residents. An estimated 8,000 jobs are provided by Rhodes Waterside shopping centre, Rhodes corporate park and smaller businesses.
• large working age population with a relatively high income profile
• very high proportion of tertiary students
• predominance of couple families – including a mix of couples without children (including empty nesters) and couples with children
• very high proportion of group households
• very high proportion of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – with very high proportions of people who were born overseas, and who speak a language other than English at home. The most commonly spoken languages other than English were Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hindi.
• relatively low proportion of people who own their home outright, and a very high proportion who are renting their home
• comparable rate of people who are purchasing their home (to the City of Canada Bay and wider areas), however a considerably higher rate of households whose mortgage repayments are more than 30% of their household income
• high rate of internet connectivity.
In addition to the residential community within Rhodes Peninsula, it is important to consider the potential impact of the growing communities of Sydney Olympic Park and Wentworth Point in neighbouring Auburn local government area, which would be connected to Rhodes by the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge, if developed. In 2011 the population of Wentworth Point was 2,759 people in 1,192 dwellings (with more than 99% living in apartments) and as it was still in development there were approximately 65 people living in Sydney Olympic Park. Population projections indicate the Wentworth Point and Sydney Olympic Park communities will increase significantly – to approximately 16,092 people in 11,898 homes by 2020, and more than 22,000 people by 2030.
Key implications and challenges for the Place Plan include:
• Rapid population growth within Rhodes Peninsula and neighbouring Sydney Olympic Park and Wentworth Point – with particular implications for increased access to and use of transport and social infrastructure in Rhodes (trains, buses and potentially, light rail)
• Managing existing needs for community facilities, services and open space (such as transport, schools, community centre / spaces, health services, parks and recreational facilities), and likely future needs in line with increasing housing and population density. This includes addressing the needs of smaller households and lone person households which are set to rise, as well as families with children living in higher density housing.
• Managing the needs of longer term residents and more recent arrivals – with a focus on social inclusion and celebrating age and cultural diversity. Among longer term residents there may be pockets of disadvantage, while a considerable proportion of more recent movers have high mortgage repayments – making access to low cost and free activities important.
• Increasing proportions of renters and group households – with implications for residents’ sense of belonging, ownership and stewardship. Community education, community events and opportunities for social interaction will play an important role in bringing people together.
• An increasing residential population and potential shifting dynamics between the residential community, and working / visitor populations – with residential amenity and opportunities for positive interaction between these communities important.
For further detail see Section 4 ‘Rhodes Peninsula – the place and its community’.
More than 800 stakeholders and members of the community participated in the community consultation process for the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan. The consultation process was used to test and refine the placemaking model and to provide input to placemaking for Rhodes Peninsula, including key projects. Consultation activities included:
• RhodesPeninsulaCommunitySurvey– a total of 245 residents, business people and visitors took part in this survey which was available online, in paper based format and was also conducted face-to-face. The survey was made available in English, Chinese and Korean
• Focusgroups– a series of focus groups were held with 52 local residents and business people to introduce the Place Plan and obtain community input. Discussions were held with:
Chinese community members
Korean community members
Liberty Grove Executive Committee
–
Rhodes Community Reference Group
Strata Residents’ Representatives
Rhodes Mums and Bubs Group, Rhodes Shopping Centre
• NeighbourDayEvent– this large scale community event involved a series of consultation activities focusing on the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan and key projects for the Peninsula. More than 400 people took part in Neighbour Day, and almost half of these (approximately 178 members of the community) participated in the consultation activities in the Community and Culture marquee. Community input to the Place Plan was sought through a range of interactive activities with comments captured on feedback forms, post-it notes and interactive map and flags. A further 30 people took part in a short face-to-face intercept survey to inform the Place Plan.
• Stakeholderworkshop- 45 representatives of Local and State Government, business and the community sector were invited to participate in a Workshop held on Monday 28 May 2012. The purpose of the workshop was to explore opportunities to address community feedback obtained as part of the placemaking process to assist in the development of an Action Plan.
• Researchanddemographicanalysis- Background research and analysis of current and trends based demographic date was undertaken to ensure the Plan reflects both the current and future population needs.
• ProfessionalknowledgeandinternalCouncilworkinggroups- A multidisciplinary team provided knowledge, advice and input to the development of the Plan, including consideration of influences, constraints and opportunities for the Peninsula.
• The need for infrastructure to accompany development and population growth – Numerous participants identified current infrastructure needs, particularly focusing on public transport services, traffic, parking, and schools. Many expressed concern about how existing infrastructure would cope with increased demand as the residential population of Rhodes Peninsula continues to grow, and as the commuter population increases to accommodate residents from nearby Wentworth Point.
• The need for Council, other local stakeholders and the community to work together to ensure the public domain within the Peninsula is clean, tidy and well maintained – Rhodes Peninsula was described as having a mix of very well maintained and poorly maintained areas.
• The desire for Rhodes Peninsula to be a more active and vibrant place – Some described the Peninsula as being exciting and youthful, while others expressed a desire for a greater level of amenity and liveliness within the Peninsula. Many members of the community commented that while the shopping centre works well, more places are needed throughout the Peninsula – to meet, shop, eat and socialise. Several commented on the current limited scope for going out at night, and the need for more restaurants, bars and buzz.
Community aspirations for Rhodes Peninsula are assisted in refining the placemaking diagram – grouped under each of the five elements of place. Community aspirations were identified through the survey, focus group discussions and Neighbour Day consultation activities, and have been used to guide suggestions and ideas for inclusion in the Place Plan and current Council projects. This place making framework is based on the work of the international place making organisation Project for Public Spaces, and has been adapted and applied to Rhodes Peninsula based on community feedback obtained through the Place Plan consultation process.
The Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan contains 5 year actions as well as strategic directions. It is a strategic document which presents community aspirations which will assist to shape the area now and as the Peninsula continues to grow and evolve.
The Place Plan identifies a series of recommended actions for implementation by Council, key stakeholders and the community. The Action Plan is framed around Peninsula wide and location specific recommendations; these include actions arranged by the key elements of place shown below.
The Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan provides a holistic and integrated framework for action in the next 5 years as well as longer term strategic directions. The successful delivery of the Plan relies on the continued collaborative efforts between local residents, key stakeholders, government and non government agencies and the City of Canada Bay.
The Place Plan identifies and analyses the things that make Rhodes and Liberty Grove a great place to live, both now and in the future. Community members have spoken about the Peninsula as a:
• vibrant, interesting and dynamic community
• place with quality open space and a range of community facilities
• connected area with good access to jobs, services and infrastructure
• riverfront community that respects its unique setting.
In understanding what ‘place’ means for its residents, the development of this Plan has considered placemaking and community building leading practice. This research has been applied, grounded and adapted to the unique circumstances of the Rhodes Peninsula through a comprehensive process of community engagement involving a range of stakeholders including community members, businesses, local community organisations, State Government and the City of Canada Bay. The delivery of the Place Plan will require that same partnership approach and a collaborative effort among those key stakeholders.
Implementation and resourcing of the Place Plan will be subject to fluctuations in funding available and changing priorities of Council and other key stakeholders.
The Place Plan is as an ‘evolving’ document recognizing that priorities may change as the area continues to grow and develop. In response to this regular updates with key stakeholders will be held to ensure that the Place Plan priorities remain relevant and responsive.
Specific actions within the Place Plan are focussed on the next 5 years, beyond this timeframe Strategic Directions have been identified. This is in anticipation of continued significant changes in the Peninsula to the community, as we have seen over the last 5 year period.
The Place Plan seeks to foster a community that is well connected with their place and feel a sense of belonging.
The actions in the Plan aim to facilitate a series of desirable and connected spaces within the community that are well used and sustainable. This includes community facilities which are multipurpose and adaptable, recreational facilities which meet the needs of community members, and community supports and services which are easily accessible and address local community needs.
Strategies for activating the public realm during the day and night contribute to community safety and are important in creating a sense of place and belonging in Rhodes Peninsula.
More than 800 members of the community participated in the community consultation process for the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan which was undertaken to engage with the community about future ideas for Rhodes Peninsula. Consultation activities conducted as part of the Place Plan included:
• Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey – a total of 245 residents, business people and visitors took part in this survey which was available online, in paper based format and was also conducted face-to-face. Community feedback was invited from Monday 13 February to Saturday 24 March, with the closing date for the survey extended to coincide with Council’s Neighbour Day community event. The survey was made available in English, Chinese and Korean.
• Focus groups – a series of focus group discussions were held with 52 local residents and business people to introduce the Place Plan and obtain community input. Discussions were held with:
Businesses
Chinese community members
Korean community members
Liberty Grove Executive Committee
Rhodes Community Reference Group
Strata Residents’ Representatives
Rhodes Mums and Bubs Group, Rhodes Shopping Centre.
• Neighbour Day Event (24 March 2012) – this large scale community event involved a series of consultation activities focusing on the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan and key projects for the Peninsula. More than 400 people took part in Neighbour Day, and almost half of these (approximately 178 members of the community) participated in the consultation activities in the Community and Culture marquee. Community input to the Place Plan was sought through a range of interactive activities – with comments captured on feedback forms, post-it notes and flags. A further 30 people took part in a short face-to-face intercept survey to inform the Place Plan.
• Stakeholder workshop - 45 representatives of Local and State Government, business and the community sector were invited to participate in a Workshop held on Monday 28 May 2012. The purpose of the workshop was to explore opportunities to address community feedback obtained as part of the placemaking process to assist in the development of an Action Plan.
• Research and demographic analysis - Background research and analysis of current and trends based demographic date was undertaken to ensure the Plan reflects both the current and future population needs.
• Professional knowledge and internal Council working groups - A multidisciplinary team provided knowledge, advice and input to the development of the Plan, including consideration of influences, constraints and opportunities for the Peninsula.
• Draft Plan consultations – the Draft Plan was put on exhibition from 9 October – 2 November 2012 utilising the following engagement platforms:
A consultation ‘Bang the Table’ website www.yourrhodes.com.au was set up to assist in consultation. The website used a variety of methods to assist participants provide feedback on the plan:
o Survey
o Email the project team
o Download the draft Plan
o Projects map
o FAQs
o QR code to drive participants to the website using their android and iphones. An ipad competition was held to assist in encouraging involvement and feedback.
Promotional businesses cards were distributed through partner contacts including; Rhodes Shopping Centre, Concord Library, Community Organisations and Council’s Rhodes Office
Promotion of the consultation process was distributed through Council’s @rhodes newsletter – sent to all properties in postcode 2138 (Rhodes, Liberty Grove and Concord West)
Promotion of the consultation process was distributed to all properties in postcode 2138 through a Mayoral letter inviting participation
Additional promotion included, media releases, Council’s website ‘have your say page’ and spotlight information, Council’s Twitter and Facebook, posters in Concord Library, Council’s Rhodes office and Customer Service Centre, Mayoral column information in local papers.
Rhodes Shopping Centre public exhibition display of the Plan from 15 October – 2 November 2012. Council staff engaged with residents and visitors utilising hard copies, fact sheets and ipads to assist completion of surveys and provision of feedback.
The exhibition period was promoted through the following email networks:
Stakeholder workshop invitees
Businesses through constant contact
Your say Canada Bay data base
Community services networks
Community Survey participants
Neighbour Day participants
Strata Managers
Liberty Grove executive committee
Rhodes Community Reference Group
Rhodes Shopping Centre networks – mums & bubs, Seniors and Shoppers
Individual Partners and Stakeholder meetings were held in October and November including:
Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre
NSW Department of Education
NSW Department of Health
NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure
NSW Roads and Maritime Services
Transport for NSW
Concord Hospital
Sydney Olympic Park Authority
Metro Migrant Resource Centre
Burwood Local Area Command (NSW Police)
Liberty Grove Executive Committee
Rhodes Community Reference Group
Internal Council Divisions
Rhodes and Liberty Grove which make up the Rhodes Peninsula are two suburbs of inner western Sydney, situated 16 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD. Situated on the southern edge of the Parramatta River, Rhodes and Liberty Grove are located on a Peninsula between Homebush Bay (to the west) and Brays Bay (to the east). Concord Road, passing through the area, is a key north-south road connection and river crossing linking to the Ryde Local Government Area in the north and via Homebush Bay Drive to Strathfield, Bankstown and Auburn local government areas to the south. The Rhodes Peninsula is also serviced by public transport with Rhodes Railway Station, on the City’s Northern Line, located in a central location on the Peninsula. It is important to note that whilst the focus on actions within the Place Plan is on the Peninsula and Liberty Grove, that Rhodes is well connected to Sydney Olympic Park, providing access to major metropolitan sporting, recreation and entertainment venues. It is also located near significant regional open space including Bicentennial Park and Millennium Parklands and one of Sydney’s important natural environments – the Badu Mangrove area.
The past two decades have brought about significant physical and social changes to the Rhodes Peninsula. In the 1970’s Rhodes consisted of two distinct areas – an industrial precinct to the west of the railway line and the southern section of the peninsula and a
predominately residential area to the north-east. The eastern residential section of the Peninsula remains relatively unchanged, consisting of predominately detached residential dwellings. An industrial area to the Peninsula’s north east (Leeds Street Industrial Precinct) also remains. Remediation and redevelopment of Rhodes West industrial areas have transformed the Peninsula. Industrial sites have been replaced with a mix of retail, commercial and residential developments. These include the Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre and Rhodes Corporate Park to the south and the current redevelopment of Rhodes West which consists of high density, transport oriented, mixed use development. Redevelopment of the Rhodes Peninsula has and continues to include the introduction of open space and community assets with a focus on improving public access to the foreshore.
Pre1788 Pre1788 Pre1788 Pre1788
Prior to the arrival of the British in 1788, the Rhodes peninsula was part of the traditional lands of the Wangal Clan, one of 29 tribes of the Eora nation. The Wangal are believed to have inhabited the area for at least 15, 000 years. 1794 1794–– 1910 1910
In 1794 the first land grants on the Rhodes peninsula were made to John Bray, Frederick Meredith and Simon Donally. This set the pattern for much of the nineteenth century with the peninsula essentially being divided between these three estates.
John Bray and his wife Mary settled on the land and by 1800 the first stage of their home Braygrove had been built. This was the first house on the Rhodes peninsula and in the Concord area. It was later extensively extended and remodelled by their descendants Thomas and Alfred Bray. The property remained in the Bray family until 1914 when it was purchased by Tulloch’s Phoenix Ironworks.
In 1819 Thomas Walker (1791-1861) purchased the land at Rhodes from Meredith and following his marriage to Anna Elizabeth Blaxland in 1823 built Rhodes House. The house was named after Rhodes Hall, his mother’s ancestral home near Leeds in Britain and, in turn, gave its name to the peninsula. The estate remained in the Walker family until 1913 although sections of the estate were subdivided in 1895 and 1910. In 1918 the house was demolished to make way for the John Darling & Son flour mill.
In the 1840s George Richard Uhr, Sheriff of NSW purchased the land granted to Simon Donally and built Llewellyn House. Uhrs Point is named after him.
In 1886 the Northern Rail line between Strathfield and Hornsby was opened with a railway station at Rhodes. This provided a necessary transport link which gave impetus to industrial development along the rail line.
The landscape of the Rhodes was dominated throughout much of the twentieth century by increasing industrialisation.
In the early 1900s the NSW State Sawmill was established at Rhodes. This was later purchased by H. McKenzie, timber merchants and joiners who continued on the site until 1969.
G. & C. Hoskins established a pipeworks on the western side of the railway at Rhodes in 1911. CSR Chemicals Ltd purchased the site from Hoskins in 1943 and produced acetic anhydride and cellulose acetate developed in response to war needs.
Tulloch’s Phoenix Ironworks was established in 1914, between the railway and Concord Road. Initially Tulloch’s manufactured a wide range of engineered goods including railway bridges, viaducts, locomotives and rolling stock. The company also produced a range of more modest foundry goods such as wrought iron tubes and garden tools. During World War II various industries along the Parramatta River were diverted to war time production. Tulloch’s and part of the Phillip’s site became the Commonwealth Shipbuilding Yard No. 4.
For several years from 1974, Philips Industries, manufactured Malvern Star and Speedwell bicycles across the road from the Tulloch’s site, on the eastern side of Concord Road. Another engineering manufacturer, Rider and Bell Pty Ltd, started operations in Rhodes in 1920 and produced a range of automotive components, fishing and gardening equipment. It was notable as Australia’s only producer of Brass firemen’s helmets.
The silos of Allied Feed Mills Pty Ltd which dominated Rhodes Point were located on the earlier site of John Darling’s flour mill established in 1919. Allied Mills, with its subsidiary, Allied Feeds, took over the flour mill in 1963. Further down the street, Timbrol Limited, a timber preservative manufacturer, was established in 1928. In 1957 Timbrol merged with the giant US Union Carbide organisation to form Union Carbide Australia Limited. Union Carbide became a major producer of chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, as well as extruded polyethylene film at Rhodes.
Lewis Berger & Sons (Australia) Pty Ltd was a major industry which began production in Alfred Street Rhodes in 1917. Production included white lead, linseed oil and paint. Berger’s supplied the 272, 762 litres of paint required for the Sydney Harbour Bridge which opened in 1932.
Industry dominated the Rhodes landscape up until the 1980s when changing industrial needs led to industries moving away from the Peninsula. The large industrial sites were identified as prime locations for residential development. Several sites required remediation to remove contaminants to make them acceptable for residential development. In 2004 the Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre was completed while in 2009 the Rhodes West Master Plan was released.
The Place Plan considers relevant policies, plans and research relating to planning and development of social and physical aspects of Rhodes Peninsula, as well as key projects proposed for the Peninsula and surrounds. This section of the report presents an overview of key documents of particular relevance to development of the Community Profile and Place Plan for Rhodes Peninsula.
The City of Canada Bay’s FuturesPlan20 sets out a sustainable direction for the City of Canada Bay for the next 20 years. This long term strategic plan is built around seven closely connected themes, each supported by a number of desired outcomes. FuturesPlan20 is a whole of community plan which recognises that a vast number of stakeholders have an interest in and the ability to influence the City of Canada Bay.
FuturesPlan20 is supported by a four year delivery plan which outlines strategies, to be undertaken to achieve FuturesPlan20.
The annual budget and operating plan contains the details of what Council will do in a given year as part of its current Delivery Plan, including projects and ongoing services and programs. FuturesPlan20 provides seven, interconnected themes of:
An Engaged City
A Green City
A Healthy City
A Liveable City
A Moving City
A Prosperous City
A Vibrant City
In 1999-2000 the NSW State Government prepared Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 29 – Rhodes Peninsula (SREP29) to set the framework for future development of Rhodes Peninsula. The principles and objectives of SREP29 and the Renewing Rhodes Development Control Plan (DCP) sought to provide an opportunity for place making and quality urban design within the Peninsula, and have been largely preserved within the Rhodes West Development Control Plan (DCP) and Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2011.
Specifically, the aims of SREP 29 were to:
• Establish planning principles for development within the Rhodes Peninsula
• Rezone land in the Rhodes Peninsula
• Promote the orderly and ecologically sustainable use and development of land
• Identify appropriate levels of retail and commercial floor space
• Promote the orderly and economic use and development of land within Rhodes Peninsula.
The Regional Environmental Plan set out a number of principles for development in Rhodes Peninsula, as follows:
• Roleandlanduseactivities Roleandlanduseactivities– development of the Peninsula which provides for a significant increase in the residential population, open space and limited commercial and retail uses. The principles of ecologically sustainable development, walkability, access to public transport, a vibrant community and safe public domain were emphasised.
• Builtform Builtform– location of lower buildings at the foreshore and greatest building heights and densities adjacent to the railway line, with key considerations including visual impact, solar access, wind impact and residential amenity. Design should promote high level amenity – including high quality landscaping of the public domain and heritage interpretation.
• Publicdomain Publicdomain Publicdomain Publicdomain– foreshore areas are to be publically accessible and continuous. The public domain should provide a range of recreational opportunities, gathering points including along the water’s edge, coordinated pedestrian and cycling networks with links to Homebush Bay and Bicentennial Park, and publically accessible streets.
• Accessibility,movem Accessibility,movem Accessibility,movem Accessibility,movementandparking entandparking entandparking– a comprehensive plan for transport and traffic should be used to guide infrastructure provision. Accessibility, access to transport and walkability should be maximised.
• Ecologicalissues Ecologicalissues– development should make a significant contribution to ecological sustainability through water and energy efficiency and waste reduction. Development should not impact adversely on water quality in Homebush Bay or the Parramatta River.
The amount of funds potentially generated by an increase in development density for the purposes of open space embellishment and community facilities was significantly reduced. However this was the only means for funding urban renewal of the area at that time. SREP29 which has now been superseded by Council’s local plans provided a means to fund the significant costs of remediating the Rhodes precinct.
In 2007 Council set upon the task of reviewing the outcomes of SREP29 to explore opportunities to improve planning and community outcomes for the Peninsula. The Rhodes West Master Plan sought to build on and refine the planning principles identified in SREP29 for the local level. Once the important task of remediating the site had been addressed, Council continued to build on the vision set out in SREP29, turning its focus towards achieving more open space and improved provision of community
facilities and other infrastructure to serve the needs of the Rhodes Peninsula community. The Contributions Planning Framework refers to an initial dedicated open space area of 61,500 sqm, which Council increased by approximately 30%.
The Rhodes West Master Plan sets out a vision for Rhodes West to:
• Create a diverse and visually interesting commercial centre supported by a high density residential community
• Integrate the new community of Rhodes West with the existing community east of the northern railway line through pedestrian and cycle connections and provision of new community facilities which are accessible to all
• Engender a meaningful sense of place and community with a network of activity areas that combine neighbourhood shops, recreation opportunities and public open space with residential dwellings
• Create a range of high quality public open spaces and community facilities
• Ensure a high quality architectural design that contributes positively to the role of Rhodes as a Specialised Centre in Sydney
• Demonstrate leadership in ESD initiatives.
The Rhodes West Master Plan comprises a package of documents including:
• Planning Proposal and Local Environmental Plan (LEP)
• Development Control Plan (DCP)
• Four Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs).
• Public open space of 23,000 square metres. This is in addition to the 61,500 square metres of public open space delivered under SREP29, through a change in building forms on remaining development sites.
• Provision of new public toilets
• Extension of the park into the area under the John Whitton / Meadowbank Bridge
• Improvements to cycle ways in Rhodes East and West
• Additional landscaping, bus shelters and bicycle storage facilities in new public areas and developments along Walker Street and Foreshore Drive
• Upgrade to Walker Street including landscaping of the areas between the kerb and the railway fence
• Provision of a multipurpose community centre within the Community Precinct
• Provision of web based historical information about the remediation and redevelopment of Rhodes Peninsula.
The Rhodes development area is planned to be a Transport Oriented Development. Parking policies in Rhodes are designed to encourage low car ownership and use. Rhodes railway station was upgraded to support increased use of public transport, and the area was planned with a mix of residential, retail and office developments to provide opportunities for residents to live, shop and work in Rhodes, thus reducing traffic generation.
Providing more parking would encourage greater car ownership and use, adding to traffic congestion and accessibility issues to and from the area. Consequently, there is no resident parking scheme in operation or planned for Rhodes, as such as scheme would be counterproductive and against the planning strategy
Resident parking schemes were developed by the RTA for older inner-city areas where many properties had little or no off-street parking, due to the areas being developed prior to general car ownership. Resident parking schemes are not intended for newly developed areas where most properties do have an off-street parking space, and where the planning principles are intended to produce lower car ownership.
The Plan of Management and Master Plan will set out how open space within the Peninsula will be used, improved, maintained and managed into the future. Key to this will be how open space reflects the values and expectations of the local community and all other users who will use and enjoy the Peninsula. The Arts Plan will intersect with the Open Space Plan.
The urban environment should be a place of lively, representative cultural identity. A key way to achieve this is through the provision of Public Art. Through the Arts Plan the Rhodes Peninsula will have a site specific estate of artworks appropriate for its community places and commercial buildings, town square and public domain.
The Arts Plan navigates a unique cultural map of the Rhodes Peninsula for the unfolding community. It is responsive to the cultural diversity of Rhodes and the level of urban consolidation that is shaping the built form. While the urban environment underpins the location of public art, the Arts Plan embeds a cultural layer that engages people as part of a place-making process.
This will result in art that interprets and energises the public domain, recalls local heritage, connects with the river and its moods and is an integral part of design, offering opportunities for collaboration between artist, community, architect and engineer. Art that resonates with people of all ages, encourages an engaged interest in people and place and becomes, over time, a marker of community life.
This section of the report provides the context for understanding the Peninsula’s social and cultural life, connectivity, uses and activities, as well as the elements of comfort and image, and voice and influence. Rhodes Peninsula has experienced significant change since its industrial past, and continues to grow and evolve – in terms of its physical uses, and housing and population profiles.
This Place Plan relates to the suburbs of Rhodes and Liberty Grove. The past two decades have brought about significant physical and social changes.
In the 1970’s Rhodes consisted of two distinct areas – an industrial precinct to the west of the railway line and the southern section of the Peninsula and a predominately residential area to the north-east. The eastern residential section of the Peninsula remains relatively unchanged, consisting of predominately detached residential dwellings. An industrial area to the Peninsula’s north east (Leeds Street Industrial Precinct) also remains.
Remediation and redevelopment of the former Rhodes West industrial areas have transformed the Peninsula. Industrial sites have been replaced with a mix of retail, commercial and residential developments. These include the Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre and Rhodes Corporate Park to the south and the current redevelopment of Rhodes West which consists of high density, transport oriented, mixed use development.
Redevelopment of the Rhodes Peninsula has and continues to include the introduction of open space and community assets with a focus on improving public access to the foreshore.
The following community profile provides a summary of the key demographic characteristics of the existing resident population in Rhodes Peninsula (Rhodes and Liberty Grove suburbs). Data for the City of Canada Bay Local Government Area (LGA), Inner Western Sydney (Statistical Subdivision) and Sydney (Greater Sydney Statistical Division) is also presented for comparative purposes. Further detailed demographic data is included in Appendix B.
The community profile focuses on the main demographic factors which are likely to influence future demand for social infrastructure, including age and lifecycle stage, family / household composition, cultural diversity, income, employment and travel to work. The profile is based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 Census of Population and Housing and will be updated to include additional data from subsequent releases (such as the release of SEIFA data in March 2013).
In 2011 Rhodes Peninsula had an estimated resident population of approximately 7,727 people, just over double its 3,713 residents in 2006. The Peninsula is characterised by a predominance of high density apartment living with some lower density housing in Rhodes East. When fully developed, it is expected to have a population of approximately 14,000 residents (Profile id 2012). Rhodes is a specialised centre which provided an estimated 8,000 jobs in 2009, in Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre, Rhodes Corporate Park and smaller businesses located around the Peninsula (Rhodes to Employment Program 2010+).
Rhodes Peninsula is characterised by a:
• large working age population with a relatively high income profile
• very high proportion of tertiary students
• predominance of couple families – including a mix of couples without children (including empty nesters) and couples with children
• very high proportion of group households
• very high proportion of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – with very high proportions of people who were born overseas, and who speak a language other than English at home. The most commonly spoken languages other than English were Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hindi.
• relatively low proportion of people who own their home outright, and a very high proportion who are renting their home.
• comparable rate of home purchase to the City of Canada Bay and wider areas, however a considerably higher rate of households whose mortgage repayments are more than 30% of their household income.
• very high rate of internet connectivity.
Table 1: Rhodes Peninsula Community Profile at a glance comparison with City of Canada Bay, Inner West, and Sydney (2011)
Age: Age: Household size/typeHousehold size/type
0-4 year olds Couple families with children
year olds Couple families without children
year olds
factors:
Rental
and
Key: Higher
households
person households =
Group households
household size =
study:
force
Table 2: Age profile – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Rhodes Liberty Grove
Rhodes Rhodes Rhodes Rhodes Peninsula Peninsula City of Canada
=
Inner Western Sydney Sydney
Population (No.)Population (No.)Population (No.)Population (No.) 5,679 2,048 7,727 7,727 75,763 263,560 4,391,674 Age Groups (%):Age (%): 0 4 years 6.7 9.0 7.2 7.27.2 6.9 6.5 6.8 5 14 years 4.2 11.1 6.0 6.06.0 10.0 9.7 12.4 15 24 years 22.1 11.4 19.2 19.2 20.3 12.1 13.3 25-54 years 58.6 55.6 57.7 57.7 57.7 57.7 47.1 48.4 43.8 55 64 years 4.7 8.1 5.6 5.65.6 10.7 10.4 10.8 65+ years 3.7 4.7 4.0 4.04.0 4.0 14 12.9 12.9
Median Age (years)Median Age (years)Median Median 28 32 30 37 36 36
Source: ABS Census
In 2011 the residential community in Rhodes Peninsula was characterised by a:
• considerably younger age profile than the wider LGA, Inner West and Sydney, with a median age of 30 years.considerably younger age profile than the wider LGA, Inner West and Sydney, with a median age of 30 years.considerably age LGA, Sydney, median ageconsiderably age LGA, Sydney, median age
• higher proportion of very young children (0higher proportion of very young children (0higher very young (0higher very young (0--4 years) (7.2%),4 years) (7.2%),4 4 compared with the City of Canada Bay, Inner Western Sydney and Sydney as a whole.
• lower proportion of 5lower 5 5--14 year olds (6.0%)14 year olds (6.0%)14 than in the wider LGA, Inner West and Sydney.in the Inner West and Sydney. Rhodes Peninsula had a smaller proportion of children in the 5-14 year old age group in 2011, when compared to the rest of the LGA and the Inner West. However, the suburb of Liberty Grove had a higher proportion of children (both in the 0-4 and 5-14 year old age groups), with just over 20% of the suburb’s population being aged 14 or younger. This age group will require access to activities for teens and tweens, as well as primary and secondary schools.
• consistent proportion of 15consistent proportion of 15consistent ofconsistent of 15--24 year olds (19.2%) to the wider LGA, but higher than in the Inner West and Sydney.24 year olds (19.2%) to the wider LGA, but higher than in the Inner West and Sydney.year olds wider LGA, but than in the Inner West and Sydney.24 year olds wider LGA, but than in the Inner West and Sydney. This group will require access to tertiary study, and for some, employment.
• higher proportion of people in the middle age groups (25higher people in the middle age groups (25--54 years), compared with all other comparison areas.54 years), compared with all other areas54 areas This cohort of working age residents, including some who are nearing retirement, makes up approximately 57.7% of people living within the Peninsula. Commuter transport, family services, accessible retail and recreation are all required by this population group.
• much lower proportion of people aged 55+ years, than acrossmuch lower proportion of aged across across all other comparison areas.all other comparison areas. This group comprises around 9.6% of residents in Rhodes Peninsula, which is less than half the proportion of 55+ year olds in all other comparison areas. Health, transport, retail and leisure services and social activities and supports, are all important for people in this age group.
Single or lone person households
households
Average people per householdAverage people per household (No.) (No.) (No.)
Average bedrooms per dwellingAverage dwelling (No.) (No.)
Source:
In 2011 the residential community in Rhodes Peninsula was characterised by:
• Slightly larger households than those in the wider City of Canada Bay and Inner West, but slightly smaller than those in SydnSlightly households than in of and Inner slightly smaller than Sydn Sydney ey ey as asas as a whole.a whole. The average household size ranged in size from 2.8 persons in Rhodes to 2.3 persons in Liberty Grove, with an average household size across the Peninsula of 2.6 persons. This compares with 2.5, 2.5 and 2.7 persons per household respectively, in the City of Canada Bay, Inner Western Sydney and Sydney.
• A comparable proportion of family households and a slightly lower proportion of lone person households,A comparable of family households and a slightly lower proportion lone person households, when compared to the City of Canada Bay and Inner West, and slightly lower than in wider Sydney. Rhodes and Liberty Grove are characterised by a mix of household types (69.3% families, 20.4% lone person, 10.2% group). In 2011, couples without children were the dominant household type in Rhodes Peninsula making up approximately 48.1% of all households, but closely followed by 37.4% couples with children (with another 10.2% one parent families, and 4% other households). In addition:
o Couples withchildrenrepresented more than half of all families in Liberty Grove (52.8%), compared with 31.4% in Rhodes. Whereas, couples withoutchildrenmade up over half of all family types in Rhodes (55.1%), and 30.8% in Liberty Grove.
o There was a larger proportion of one parent families in Liberty Grove (13.5%) compared to Rhodes (9.0%).
o Other families made up 4.5% of all families in Rhodes, around double the rate in the City of Canada Bay, and higher than in the other comparison locations.
o There was a much higher proportion of group households (10.2%) in the Peninsula, compared with the City of Canada Bay (5.3%) and Inner Western Sydney (6.4%).
Employment:
Unemployed
In 2011 the residential community in Rhodes Peninsula was characterised by:
• Much higher proportions of tertiary students,Much higher of tertiary students, compared with all other comparison areascompared –– and almost double the proportion ofand almost double proportion of tertiary students in wider Sydney.tertiary students in wider Sydney. Tertiary students made up 52.6% of people aged 15 years and over who were attending a tertiary or further educational institution, and 31.6% of those in Liberty Grove. By contrast this group made up only 30.6% in the City of Canada Bay, 34.1% in the Inner West and 26.8% in wider Sydney.
• Much higher proportions of residents with university qualifications than in Sydney Statistical Division
Much higher of residents university than in Sydney Division (basedon2006Census data).Specifically:
o 40% of people living in Rhodes Peninsula hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, consistent with the Local Government Area and higher than in wider Sydney (35%).
o Liberty Grove residents are twice as likely to hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher than Sydney residents, with 61% having tertiary qualifications.
o 44% of Rhodes residents hold higher educational qualifications.
• Much higher labour force participation rates compared with the City of Canada Bay and Sydney
Much higher rates comparedMuch higher rates compared (basedon2006Censusdata). These were 62% in Rhodes and 76% in Liberty Grove, compared to 53% in Canada Bay and 49% in wider Sydney. Rates of unemployment were delineated by suburb:
Much higher labour force participation rates compared with the City of Canada Bay and Sydney
o In 2006 Rhodes had an unemployment rate of 6.4%, higher than the City of Canada Bay (3.3%), Inner West (4.8%) and Sydney (5.3%).
o Liberty Grove experienced a 3.9% unemployment rate, lower than in the Inner West and Sydney.
• A slightly lower proportion of high income households (32.6% earning $2,500+ per week), compared with the City
A slightly lower proportion high income households (32.6% earning $2,500+ per week), compared with thehouseholds earning $2,500+ compared withhouseholds earning $2,500+ compared with of Canadaof Canadaof Canada Bay, but higher than in the Inner West and Sydney.Bay, higher than the The median weekly household income in Rhodes ($1,617) was comparable to that in the Inner West ($1,662), whereas Liberty Grove’s median of $1,924 was significantly higher than all other areas (including the Canada Bay at $1,817). Despite this relative economic advantage, the area is also home to a disadvantaged population of elderly people who are asset rich, but have lower incomes than in the City and wider Sydney. Furthermore, just under 15% of households in Rhodes Peninsula had mortgage repayments in excess of 30% of their household income.
Table 5: Cultural diversity – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Rhodes Liberty Grove Rhodes Rhodes Peninsula Peninsula City of Canada
Inner Western Sydney Sydney Cultural Diversity (%Cultural Diversity of totalof oftotal total total population population population): ):): Indigenous population 0.1 0.1 0.2
0.4 0.6 1.2 Overseas born population 65.3 56.29
58.3 54.8 62.2
35.5 40.0 34.2 English only spoken at home 26.2 35.5 28.6
Main languages other than English Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi
Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi
Recent arrivals (overseas address 1 year ago) 6.7 3.6
Source: ABS Census
Korean, Korean, Mandarin, Mandarin, Mandarin, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi Hindi
Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean
Mandarin, Italian, Cantonese, Korean
10.6
Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese Recent arrivals (overseas address 5 years ago) 31.7 13.3
2.1 2.4 1.8
In 2011 the residential community in Rhodes Peninsula was characterised by a:
• Lower Lower proportion of Indigenous personsof than the City of Canada Bay, considerably lower than in the Inner West and Sydney as a whole.
• Much higher proportions of people who were born overseas
Much higher of people born overseasMuch higher of people born overseas (63%) than in the City of Canada Bay (35.5%), Inner Western Sydney (40.0%) and wider Sydney (34.2%), and higher proportions of people who speak a language other than English athigher proportions who speak a language other than at home. home. home. In Rhodes Peninsula 28.6% of people spoke only English at home, compared to 58.3% in the City of Canada Bay and 62.2% in Sydney. The main community languages spoken at home in Rhodes and Liberty Grove were Asian languages –Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hindi.
Much higher proportions of people who were born overseas
Table 6: Proficiency in spoken English/language of persons born overseas
Speaks other language and speaks English: Very well or wellSpeaks other language and English: well (percentage of population)
Speaks other language and speaks English: Not well or not at allSpeaks other language and speaks English: Not well or atSpeaks other language and English:Speaks other language and English: (percentage of population)
ABS Statistics 2011 (a) Excludes persons who did not state their country of birth.
• Considerable Considerable proportion of recent arrivals among the overseas born populationproportion of among the born populationamong (basedon2006Censusdata). In 2006, more than a third of the overseas born population in Rhodes and Liberty Grove had arrived in Australia before 1991 (that is, they had lived in the country for more than 15 years). A further 31% arrived between 1991 and 2000 (they had lived in Australia for between 6 and 15 years). However, as many as 28% arrived between 2001 and 2006 (they had lived in Australia for 0 to five years at the time of the Census). This compares with 15.3% of the overseas born community who had arrived in Australia within five years and 17.9% in wider Sydney. New arrivals in Rhodes Peninsula are likely to include overseas students and working visa holders as well as permanent residents. These groups are likely to have mixed support needs – such as English language classes, assistance with study / employment, and social supports.
Table 7: Housing profile – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Rhodes Liberty Grove Rhodes Rhodes Peninsula Peninsula City of Canada
Inner Western Sydney Sydney
Private occupied dwellings (%):Private dwellings (%): 88.2 94.5 89.6 89.6 92.2 93.0 92.8
Housing density (%)Housing density (%)Housing densityHousing density
Low (separate house) 9.1 4.1 7.0 7.07.0 45.5 43.2 60.9
Medium (semi/townhouse) 4.7 33.8 10.6 10.6 10.6 10.6 12.0 16.6 12.8
Higher (apartment) 84.7 62.1 70.9 70.9 41.8 39.4 25.8
Average people per dwelling (No.) 2.1 2.8 2.5 2.52.5 2.5 2.5 2.7
Housing tenure (%):Housing tenure (%):Housing tenureHousing tenure
Owned outright 13.3 18.1 14.4 14.4 33.1 29.7 30.4 Owned with a mortgage 28.9 45.8 33.0 33.0 31.0 30.5 34.8
Rented 55.6 34.3 50.5 50.5 50.5 50.5 33.1 36.9 31.6
Households with mortgageHouseholds repayments more than 30% ofrepayments more than 30% ofrepayments more than 30%repayments more than 30% household income (%)household income (%) 15.0 14.6 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.8 10.8 10.4 12.0
Source: ABS Census
In 2011 the residential community in Rhodes Peninsula was characterised by a:
•
of higher density housingof higher density housingof density housingof density housing, with apartment living making up approximately 84.7% of all homes in Rhodes and 62.1% of those in Liberty Grove. Less than 10% of dwellings in Rhodes (9.1%) were stand alone houses, mainly concentrated in Rhodes East – compared with only 4.1% of homes in Liberty Grove. The remainder were townhouse / semi-detached dwellings.
• Higher proportions of homes being rented or purchased, and a smaller proportion that are fully owned.Higher proportions of homes being rented or purchased, and a smaller proportion that are fully owned.Higher proportions homes being rented or a smaller are fullyHigher proportions homes being rented or a smaller are fully In 2011, more than half of all homes in Rhodes Peninsula (50.5%) were rented, compared with 33.1% in the City of Canada Bay, 36.9% in the Inner West and 31.6% in Sydney. Around a third of households in the Peninsula were in the process of purchasing their home. That is, half the homes in Liberty Grove (45.8%) and almost a third of those in Rhodes (28.9%) were being purchased. Only 14.4% of homes within Rhodes Peninsula were fully owned – around half as many as in the City of Canada Bay (33.1%) and Sydney (29.7%). As many as 14.8% of households had mortgage repayments above 30% of their household income, higher than in all other comparison areas.
Canada
Western Sydney Sydney
2011 the residential community in Rhodes Peninsula was
by
• Higher Higher proportion of households with no car than in all other comparison areas (12.9%, compared to 12.1% in Sydney), and aproportion of households than in all comparison areas (12.9%, compared to 12.1% in Sydney), and a lower rate of car ownership than in all other areaslower rate of car ownership than in all other areaslower car in all otherlower car in all other areas. Over half of all households in Rhodes Peninsula own one car (57.1%), however only 28.2% own two or more cars. The latter compares to 45.3% of households in the City of Canada Bay and 46.5% in Sydney. The lower rate of vehicle ownership is likely to reflect a higher rate of public transport (particularly train) use, and potentially, walking and cycling.
• Lower Lower Lower Lower rate of car use and higher rate of train travel to workrate of car use and higher rate of train travel to workof and higher rate of trainof and higher rate of train
(basedon2006Censusdata).Just over half of all residents in Rhodes and Liberty Grove travelled to work by car in 2006 (54.2%), and a further quarter (26.5%) travelled by train. The next most common mode of transport was walking (4.4%), and only 0.9% travelled to work by bus. In the City of Canada Bay there was a higher dependence on private vehicles (58.7%) and buses (10.2%), combined with a lower rate of train travel (9.7%) and
walking (2.7%). This compares with 59% car use in wider Sydney, 12.3% who travelled to work by train, 5.4% by bus and 4.2% who walked.
• Higher Higher Higher Higher proportion of homes withproportion of homes withproportion of withproportion of homes with an internet connection than the wider City of Canada Bay, Inner West and Sydney.an internet connection than the wider City of Canada Bay, Inner West and Sydney.an internet connection than the wider City of Canada Inner West Sydney.an internet connection than the wider City of Canada Inner West Sydney. In Rhodes Peninsula as many as 92.6% of households were connected to the internet. This compares to 82.7% of households across the LGA, 81.9% in the Inner West and only 79.9% across Sydney. The high uptake of online and digital technologies provides an opportunity for future communications by Council.
Table 9: Summary of demographic change over time – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (ABS Census 2006 and 2011) Rhodes Peninsula (%) City of Canada Bay (%) Sydney (%) 2006 2011 Trend 2006 2011 Trend 2006 2011 Trend
Population (No.) 3,713 7,727 65,743 75,763 4,119,190 4,391,6 74
Overseas born 44.8 63.0 31.4 35.5 31.7 34.2
Born in China 6.7 18.0 3.0 5.7 2.6 3.4 Born in Korea 8.7 11.2 1.9 2.8 0.8 0.9 0 4 years 7.9 7.2 6.3 6.9 6.6 6.8 5 14 years 8.5 6.0 10.1 10.0 13.0 12.4 15 24 years 14.7 19.2 11.4 20.3 13.8 13.3 25 54 years 55.8 57.7 47.4 47.1 44.1 43.8 55 64 years 6.7 5.6 10.6 10.7 10.2 10.8 65+ years 6.3 4.0 14.1 14.0 12.3 12.9
Couple with children 44.6 37.4 46.4 46.4 49.3 48.9
Couple without children 41.1 48.1 39.0 39.0 33.2 33.5
Lone person 18.0 20.4 22.6 23.1 21.6 22.6
Group household 3.6 10.2 4.6 5.3 3.9 4.3
Persons 15+ attending education institutions (%)* 32.8 47.7 23.9 27.9 20.7 24.1
New arrivals (overseas address 5 years ago) 9.1 26.9 6.0 8.5 6.3 7.4
English only spoken at home 48.7 28.6 61.7 58.3 78.5 62.2
Chinese language spoken at home (Mandarin / Cantonese) 13.6 29.4 6.3 8.8 5.7 6.5
Korean spoken at home 9.9 12.4 2.2 3.1 0.9 1.0 Arabic spoken at home (incl Lebanese) 1.5 1.7 0.0 1.7 3.9 4.1
Median weekly household income $1,776 $1,770 $1,510 $1,817 $1,154 $1,447
Car ownership (No motor vehicle) 6.2 12.9 10.7 10.1 13.2 12.1
Higher density dwellings (Flat, unit or apartment) 57.0 70.9 37.6 41.8 25.7 25.8
Rented dwellings 39.6 50.5 29.8 33.1 29.7 31.6
Source: ABS Census
*As a % of persons attending an educational institution (including Universities and Technical or Further Educational Institutions) Key: =Increase =Decrease =Large increase (10% or above) =Large decrease (10% or below) =Stable Key trends experienced in Rhodes Peninsula, the City of Canada Bay and wider Sydney between 2006 and 2011 are shown in Table 9 above. The most significant changes include a:
• Significant growth in the overseas born population in Rhodes Peninsula
• Considerable increase in the proportion of people born in China in the Peninsula, and a related increase in the proportion of people who speak a Chinese language at home
• Steady decline in the older age groups in Rhodes, but a slight increase in Liberty Grove
• Considerable increase in the proportion of group households in Rhodes, with a slight decline in Liberty Grove
• Steep increase in the proportion of tertiary students in the Peninsula
• Steep increase in the proportion of higher density dwellings in the Peninsula, particularly in Rhodes
• Doubling of the proportion of rented dwellings in Rhodes and a slight increase in Liberty Grove.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics SEIFA Index (Socio Economic Information for Areas) synthesises a range of socio-economic data for small areas and benchmarks them against a national standard. The national SEIFA average, and the benchmark point for SEIFA, is 1,000. All other areas can be compared against this national benchmark to determine relative advantage (scores above 1,000) and relative disadvantage (scores below 1,000).
According to 2006 data, the City of Canada Bay LGA had a SEIFA index of 1,076.5 indicating that it is less disadvantaged than thethe City of Canada Bay LGA had a SEIFA index of 1,076.5 indicating that it is less disadvantaged than thethe had a SEIFA index of indicating that it is disadvantaged thanthe had a SEIFA index of indicating that it is disadvantaged than the Sydney average (102 (1026.9) 6.9) 6.9). The City of Canada Bay’s SEIFA score suggests it is also less disadvantaged than neighbouring areas, as shown in Table 9.
Table 10: SEIFA scores – City of Canada Bay and neighbouring areas (2006)
SEIFA index of disadvantageSEIFA disadvantage –– City of Canadaof Canada Bay SmallBay Areas Areas
2006 SEIFA index ofindex of disadvantage disadvantage
Auburn 922.1 -
NationalSEIFAaverage 1,000.0
Strathfield 1024.4 + Sydney averageSydney average 1026.9 1026.9 + Ryde 1054.4 + City of Canada BayCity of Bay 1076.5 1076.5 + Leichhardt 1082.9 +
+=Relative advantage; -=Relative disadvantage
Source: ABS Census
Within the City of Canada BayWithin the of Canada Bay LGA LGA LGA, Rhodes and Liberty Grove are among the least disadvantaged areas, Rhodes and Liberty Grove are among disadvantaged areas areas areas, as shown in Table 10.
Table 11: SEIFA scores by small area – City of Canada Bay (2006)
SEIFA index of disadvantageSEIFA disadvantage City of Canada Bayof Canada Small Areas SmallAreas Areas
2011 SEIFA index of2011 of disadvantage disadvantage
NationalSEIFAaverage 1,000.0
Five Dock Canada Bay 1037.7 + North Strathfield Strathfield 1050.4 + Abbotsford Wareemba 1062.3 + Concord 1063.0 + Russell Lea Rodd Point 1067.7 + Concord West 1069.8 + City of Canada Bay (overall)City of Bay (overall) 1076.5 1076.5 + Drummoyne 1101.9 + Liberty GroveLiberty Grove Grove Grove Rhodes Rhodes 1115.4 1115.4 1115.4 1115.4 + Chiswick 1121.4 +
Cabarita Mortlake Breakfast Point 1133.0 + +=Relative advantage; -=Relative disadvantage
Source: ABS Census
The population of the City of Canada Bay is forecast to grow from an estimated 78,535 in 2012 by approximately 17% or 91,921 people by 2031 (Profile id 2012). Rhodes Peninsula is by far the fastest growing area within the City of Canada Bay – with an expected increase of more than 10,000 residents from 2006 to 2031, to almost 14,000 people. This is equivalent to approximately 5.26% annual population growth (Profile id 2012).
Table 12: Summary population forecast (2006-2031)
Area 2006 2011 2011 (ABS Census) 2031
% change City of Canada Bay 65,743 77,010 75,763 75,763 91,921
Rhodes Liberty Grove 3,713 8,074 7,727 13,859
Source: Profile id, 2012
In both 2006 and 2011, 25-29 year olds represented the major age group (580 people and 1,489 people respectively) in Rhodes Peninsula – and this is set to continue into the future, rising by 14.2% or 1,392 people by 2031.
Considerable increases are also expected in the following age groups:
• Children aged 5-9 years (+ 961 people to 9.2% of the population by 2031)
• People aged 20-24 years (+ 998 people to 9.8% of the population by 2031)
• People aged 30-34 years (+ 1,340 people to 13.6% of the population by 2031)
• People aged 35-39 years (+ 1,146 people to 10.7% of the population by 2031)
• People aged over 65 (+ 543 people to 5.5% of the population by 2031).
• Declining household size – with the average number of persons per household falling from 2.5 to 2.26 by 2021 and 2.23 in 2031.
• An increase in lone person households (+1,738 households) – from 18.8% of all households in 2006 to 32.7% of all households in 2021 and 34.8% in 2031.
• An initial increase in the number of couples without children (+1,862 households although a declining proportion of all households – from 33.6% of all households in 2006 to 30.2% of all households in 2021 and 29.6% in 2031
• An initial increase in the number of couples with children (+1,611 households) although a declining proportion of all households – from 31.8% of all households in 2006 to 26.1% of all households in 2021 and 25.3% in 2031 (Forecast id. 2011).
In addition to the residential community within Rhodes Peninsula, it will also be important to consider the potential impact of the growing communities of Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) and Wentworth Point in neighbouring Auburn, which would be connected to Rhodes by the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge, if it is developed. In 2011 the population of Wentworth Point was 2,759 people in 1,192 dwellings (with more than 99% living in apartments) and there were approximately 65 people living in SOP.
Population projections prepared for the communities of Wentworth Point, SOP and Rhodes Peninsula in 2010 (Graf International) broadly reflect the figures discussed in Section 4.11 of this report. The data shows an estimated residential population in Rhodes Peninsula of 3,715 people in 1,366 dwellings in 2006 (excluding CCDs 1410109 and 1410102 in Rhodes South and Concord West), rising to 12,245 people in 5,968 homes by 2020. In 2011 the population of Wentworth Point was 2,759 people in 1,192 dwellings (with more than 99% living in apartments), and there were approximately 65 people living in SOP. Population projections indicate the Wentworth Point and SOP communities will increase significantly – to approximately 16,092 people in 11,898 homes by 2020. The Auburn Council 2006 Population and household forecasts indicate the population of Wentworth Point and SOP is expected to exceed 22,000 people by 2030.
• Rapid population growth within Rhodes Peninsula and neighbouring Sydney Olympic Park and Wentworth Point – with particular implications for increased access to and use of transport and social infrastructure in Rhodes (trains, buses and potentially, light rail)
• Managing existing needs for community facilities, services and open space (such as transport, schools, community centre / spaces, health services, parks and recreational facilities), and likely future needs in line with increasing housing and population density. This includes addressing the needs of smaller households and lone person households which are set to rise, as well as families with children living in higher density housing.
• Managing the needs of longer term residents and more recent arrivals – with a focus on social inclusion and celebrating age and cultural diversity. Among longer term residents there may be pockets of disadvantage, while a considerable proportion of more recent movers have high mortgage repayments – making access to low cost and free activities important.
• Increasing proportions of renters and group households – with implications for residents’ sense of belonging, ownership and stewardship. Community education, community events and opportunities for social interaction will play an important role in bringing people together.
• An increasing residential population and potential shifting dynamics between the residential community, and working / visitor populations – with residential amenity and opportunities for positive interaction between these communities important.
Placemaking recognises that physical planning and urban design provide a strong foundation for the creation of a sense of place. However, the physical planning and design alone are insufficient to create a genuine sense of community. A placemaking approach considers social and community processes (for example community engagement, community development, community events, celebrations, and governance) in conjunction with land use planning, urban design (particularly of the public realm).
There are a range of perspectives on what constitutes placemaking and various approaches to placemaking have been used in Australia and overseas. In this context, placemaking involves the creation of places that have meaning to people, that promote community use and interaction and that foster genuine local identity. Placemaking brings together a range of disciplines including urban design, community and cultural development, economic development, landscape design, open space planning and community engagement. It bridges across these disciplines to create a focus on the specific qualities of place that lead to a sense of identity and an authentic feeling of community.
The emphasis of the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan is on placemaking as the interaction between people and place and how the actions of people can influence what happens around them. Community involvement in decision making is, therefore, a fundamental part of placemaking. Planning that ensures adaptability and ‘space to grow’ allows for places to emerge and reinvent themselves over time, another theme which is particularly important in the context of Rhodes Peninsula.
Some useful definitions for thinking about placemaking for Rhodes Peninsula are:
‘…whatmakesanauthenticcommunityaretheactionsofpeople–therelationshipstheyform,thesenseofidentityandownership theydevelop,thewaysinwhichtheyinteractwitheachother,howtheycometogethertocelebratetheirplace,andtheopportunities theyhavetocooperatewithotherstoinfluencewhathappensaroundthem.’(Nice Plan, Shame about the Place, Elton Consulting 2009)
‘Involvinglocalcommunitiesindecisionsthataffecttheirlivesthroughoutthestagesofnewdevelopmentsisvitalifpublic investmentistobeeffective.Ifcommunitiesarenotinvolvedindesigningandplanninghousingandwiderfacilitiesand infrastructure,short-termcostsavingsmayleadtolong-termcostburdensifwhatisprovidedprovestobeinappropriateandunderused.’(Design for Social Sustainability, Woodcraft et al 2011)
‘Ifanewcommunityistobesustainable,theplace–thephysicalspace,thehousingstockandamenities,thesocialinfrastructure–needstobeabletoadaptovertimetonewneedsandnewpossibilities…“inthatincompleteness…liesthepossibilityofmaking.” (Design for Social Sustainability, Woodcraft et al 2011)
The paper ‘Taking aplacebasedapproachtothedeliveryoftheRhodesPeninsula ’ (prepared by John Toon, February 2011), proposes a place based approach to delivery of the new community in Rhodes Peninsula, to ensure places and spaces promote a liveable and vibrant community. It acknowledges the challenge of bringing together various developments within the Peninsula into a cohesive whole, and building a community with a strong identity and sense of belonging through:
• Planning and delivery of community, cultural and recreational infrastructure to meet the future needs of the community
• Delivering a community precinct / community centre
• Undertaking a program of community development
• Engaging the community in the process.
In this paper Toon (2011) identifies the importance of ‘creating character and delivering a sense of community based on what people will want and what they will value when the community is still forming’. ForthisreasonitwillbeimportantforthePlacePlan ForthisreasonitwillbeimportantforthePlacePlan tobeabletorespondasthecommunityevolvesovertime.
One of the objectives of the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan is to help provide an understanding of what place means and how definitions of placemaking apply in Rhodes Peninsula. To this purpose, the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan project has involved significant community consultation.
Placemaking recognises that physical planning and urban design provide a strong foundation for the creation of a sense of place. However, the physical planning and design alone are insufficient to create a genuine sense of community. A placemaking approach considers social and community processes (for example community engagement, community development, community events, celebrations, and governance) in concert with land use planning, urban design (particularly of the public realm).
The approach to placemaking used to develop the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan is based on the work of the international place making organisation Project for Public Spaces, and has been adapted and applied to Rhodes Peninsula based on community feedback obtained through the Place Plan consultation process. The Project for Public Spaces placemaking framework was tested with local residents, businesses and visitors, and adapted to better suit the local context and aspirations for Rhodes Peninsula. The Project for Public Spaces placemaking framework shows that great places are often characterised by four key elements:
• Social and cultural life
• Uses and activities
• Comfort and image
The initial engagement activities undertaken as part of the process of developing a Place Plan (including the Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey and focus groups) were used to test community responses to the placemaking model and four key aspects of great places, as outlined above.
The placemaking model was modified to incorporate a fifth element of place, ‘Voice and influence’ in response to community feedback received through the first few focus group discussions. Indicative comments were:
‘…WhatIlikeaboutRhodesisthatthere’salotofnewdevelopmentgoingon.Iactuallylikethewaytheareaischanging…butwithsomuchchange it’squiteimportanttohaveavoice…tomakesureplanningoftheareaisdonewell.’(Member local Chinese community)
‘ThegoodthingaboutRhodesisthatthissessionishappening.Councilismakinganefforttolistentous.It’sahighprofileplaceandgovernmentis takinganinterestingettingtheplanningright.’(Member local Chinese community)
The placemaking model for Rhodes Peninsula incorporates five attributes of place, adapted from the Project for Public Spaces 2003 to incorporate an additional element of place as shown in Figure 1.
The model shows that when applied to Rhodes Peninsula, there are considered to be five key attributes of place:
• Social and cultural life
• Uses and activities
• Comfort and image
• Connectivity
• Voice and influence
The place offers opportunities for people to meet one another and is friendly and welcoming to people with diverse characteristics, as well as visitors. It has a vibrant street life, strong local identity, active social networks.
People have a reason to come to the place because they are able to engage in a range of activities, and like returning for this reason. There are places to go and things to do during the day and night, beyond home and work. The place provides opportunities for fun, active and healthy living, but is also affordable.
Spaces feel comfortable and are well presented – for instance, they feel safe, secure, clean and tidy. There are places to sit outdoors– and people have choices about whether to sit in the sun or shade.
Streetscapes are active and the place is easy to walk around. The area makes a good first impression and has a good overall feel to it. It’s attractive, modern, and well maintained. Local heritage is reflected in the public domain.
The place is connected to its surroundings, physically, visually, socially and via technology – to jobs, education, health and leisure. Public places are easy to get to and to pass through. Street edges are interesting and safe, rather than blank or empty.
Accessible places have a high parking turnover and are convenient to public transport, with a range of transport options. There are good walking and cycling connections. Roads, pedestrian and cycle paths take people where they want to go.
Spaces function well for people with special needs.
The place provides opportunities for all members of the community to find out useful information, to participate in community life, and to be heard – alongside a range of other local voices. All members of the community have an opportunity to have their say on local issues.
This section of the report presents a summary of results from the various community engagement activities including the Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey, focus groups and Neighbour Day consultation activities. Further detailed results of the community engagement activities are available on request.
‘…I’velivedinRhodesforfouryears.It’sconvenienttotheCBD.It’sonly30minutesaway.It’swithinwalkingdistanceofshopsand theforeshoreandparks.AndIdon’tneedtospendtimemowingthelawn.’
The vast majority of people who participated in the engagement activities relating to the Place Plan expressed a strong affiliation with Rhodes Peninsula and identified many aspects of Rhodes and Liberty Grove which they value and want to see retained and or enhanced, as the Peninsula continues to evolve. The aspects of Rhodes Peninsula which survey respondents liked most were access to shopping and access to public transport. Parks and open space and proximity to water were also highly valued by many members of the community. Focus group participants reinforced the community values identified through the survey, with a focus on the Peninsula’s: proximity to water, parks and open space areas; convenience to shops, public transport, facilities, and work; and comfortable lifestyle. A selection of indicative quotes is provided below.
‘Walking,shopping,transportareallgood.Soconvenient…’
‘Iloveithere.It’sveryconvenientandexciting.Ifeelsocalmhere.Wewalkourdognearthewater…Ilikebeingabletoliveand workclosetohome…’
‘Peoplewhoworkinthecorporatebusinessparkcanwalkacrossthefootbridgeandalongthewaterfrontandvisitniceparks.’
CharacterandidentityofRhodesPeninsula CharacterandidentityofRhodesPeninsula
‘It’svibrantlikegreatcities.’
‘I’velivedinRhodesfor25yearsandhavealwayslovedRhodesasaplace–withnearbytrainstationandparks.It’sgotbettersince itsindustrialpast.’
‘Ithaschangedforthebetter.Whenwemovedinitwasastinky,dirtyplace.’
Members of the community described the character and identity of Rhodes Peninsula as being closely linked to the Peninsula’s waterside setting, parks and open spaces and outdoors lifestyle, cultural and age diversity, community feel (professional and family friendly), safe, convenient and clean environment, vibrant atmosphere, and cultural heritage. Survey respondents identified a wide range of aspects of the character and identity of Rhodes Peninsula, with those most commonly identified including: waterside living, parks and open space areas, and diversity.
Survey respondents were asked to consider a number of statements to test aspects of ‘sense of community’ among people who live, work in, or visit Rhodes Peninsula. The high level of agreement with the statement ‘Overall, Rhodes Peninsula is a good place to be’ (80% strongly agreed or agreed) suggests a strong sense of community and pride in the local area.
Key elements of Rhodes Peninsula which also suggest there is a strong sense of community were:
• 67.4% strongly agreed or agreed ‘Rhodes Peninsula is a safe place to raise children’ – Many survey respondents and focus group participants described Rhodes Peninsula as ‘family friendly’ and ‘safe’. Many commented on the low level of crime in the local area, the high level of security within Liberty Grove and security buildings in Rhodes, with a small number of participants who live in stand alone houses commenting on burglaries.
• 62.7% strongly agreed or agreed ‘I enjoy living among people from a range of age groups’
• 55.8% strongly agreed or agreed ‘The different cultures and communities within Rhodes Peninsula make it a good place to be’. However, nearly 10% disagreed with this statement and another 28.3% were undecided.
• 49% strongly agreed or agreed ‘I feel a strong sense of belonging in the Peninsula’.
• 45.3% strongly disagreed or disagreed ‘I sometimes feel isolated and lonely living in the Peninsula’.
However, the results also suggest that for some respondents Rhodes Peninsula may not always be such a good place to be, as:
• Almost half (48%) agreed or strongly agreed ‘There is not enough for me to do here at night’ – This sentiment was also reflected in the focus groups and Neighbour Day consultation activities, with many participants commenting on the need for more places to eat out at night, and some also expressing a desire for small bars within the Peninsula. Several suggested the Town Square, Station Precinct and waterfront areas present good opportunities for outdoor dining / dining with water views.
‘Weneedmorerestaurants.Theplaceneedstobemorefriendlyforpeopletohaveamealatnightandwalkhome.’
• Almost one third neitheragreed nor disagreed with the statement ‘I can call on my neighbours for help when needed’ and another 20.7% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
• Over one third (35.6%) neitheragreed nor disagreed with the statement ‘I feel a strong sense of belonging in the Peninsula’. This may be related to the considerable proportion of people who are new to the Rhodes Peninsula / and or are living there on a temporary basis – whether from other parts of Sydney or overseas.
• Almost 15% (14.7%) agreed with the statement ‘I sometimes feel isolated and lonely living in the Peninsula’ and another 25% were undecided.
Diversity and related perceptions were explored in the Place Plan consultations. That is, cultural diversity, age diversity, economic diversity, diversity of housing status and diversity between permanent and temporary residents. While some focus group participants described the cultural diversity of the local community as being an important and positive contributor to its character and identity, others identified challenges relating to diversity within the Peninsula. Key issues raised in focus group discussions focused on the:
• need for spaces and activities within Rhodes Peninsula where members of different cultural groups within the community can come together, such as public art projects, activities and celebrations in the Community Precinct (eg Tai Chi classes, Dragon Boat racing, community garden, Chinese New Year celebrations).
‘Ifwe’regoingtohaveaculturalcentreitshouldbringeveryonetogether,notbecomeinsular/usedbyonegrouponly.’
• importance of culturally specific activities and opportunities – such as a youth specific facility and activities, social activities and exercise classes for older people, English classes and support services for new arrivals.
‘It’saslowroadtoassimilation/integrationandifwewantthattoosoonit’scounterproductive.Youreallydoneedculturallyspecific activitiestobeginwith,andthenoncepeoplefeelcomfortabletheyaremorelikelytofeeltheycanmoreconfidentlyparticipatein themainstreamcommunity.Forsomeculturesstudycentresandethicspecificculturalworkersandyouthworkersareneeded.Eg employingacasualworkerfor1day/weekorfindingaservicethatmighthaveanoutreachworkerwhocanworkinRhodes.’
• need to address negative attitudes within the community towards people from diverse cultural and linguistic groups – for instance, through cross cultural interaction and Council leadership.
• need to provide universal access to ensure Rhodes Peninsula is an accessible place for all – including parents with strollers and older people with limited mobility.
• Comments by several members of the community that they were initially attracted to the area due to its affordability. Many also commented on the importance of providing free and low cost activities in the Community Precinct.
• Suggestion that the large transient population in Rhodes Peninsula (including renters and people on overseas work or student visas) makes the area vibrant, but may negatively impact on sense of community, resulting in illegal dumping, etc. It is recommended that sense of community is tested following completion / occupation of residential and other major projects within the Peninsula and at key milestones, to measure potential change over time (eg through a post occupancy style survey).
Three overarching themes emerged from community feedback on the Place Plan. These were:
• The need for infrastructure to accompany development and population growth
• The need for Council, other local stakeholders and the community to work together to ensure the public domain within the Peninsula is clean, tidy and well maintained
• The desire for Rhodes Peninsula to be a more active and vibrant place.
A key theme raised across all the consultation activities was the need for infrastructure to accompany development and population growth. Numerous participants identified current infrastructure needs, particularly focusing on public transport services, traffic, parking, and schools. Many expressed concern about how existing infrastructure would cope with increased demand as the residential population of Rhodes Peninsula continues to grow, and as the commuter population increases to accommodate residents from nearby Wentworth Point.
• public transport connections – Council to continue lobbying for improved public transport services, particularly during peak times
• limited road access to and from Rhodes Peninsula, the area is designed for access via public transport
• parking for residents, their visitors and local businesses – Council will continue to review parking demands and alter times as appropriate
• current need for additional schools within the region, (with Concord West public school already at capacity) Council has successfully lobbied for a new primary school and will continue to lobby for additional state infrastructure for the area
ThenearestprimaryschoolisConcordWestandthisispushedtothelimit.Anewschoolwouldn’tbelocatedwithinRhodes precinct,butaschoolisneeded…Thereisalsodemandfordaycare.Peopleneedextendedhourschildcare(longdaycare) becausethey’reworking...’(Local resident and business person)
‘Thereisgoodtrainaccess,butmoretrainsandtrainlinesareneededtootherplaces.Hundredsofpeopleusethetrain.’(Resident of Rhodes)
‘Thereshouldbeprovisionforresidentparking,justlikethereisinotherareas.I’mwillingtopayforaresidentparkingpermit.’ (Resident of Rhodes)
‘Therearealotofchildrenintheareanow,somethingwehaveneverhadtodealwithpreviously.Itbrightensuptheplace.People inunitsmaywantabiggerplaceoncekidsgetolder.Wemayhavelotsoffamilieswithchildrenwhomoveoutofthearea…’ (Resident of Rhodes)
The
needs to be kept clean
to kept clean well
domain needs to be kept clean and well
to kept clean
Another major theme raised through the consultation activities was the need for Council, other local stakeholders (including the shopping centre and other local businesses) and the community to work together to ensure the public domain within the Peninsula is clean, tidy and well maintained. Rhodes Peninsula was described as having a mix of very well maintained and poorly maintained areas.
• rubbish bins provided as parks and public spaces throughout the Peninsula are opened
• Council provides increased street maintenance, grass cutting and weed removal services as the area grows
• a more proactive approach to abandoned shopping trolleys (involving shopping centre and retailers)
• graffiti and abandoned cars are promptly removed
• more community education programs about littering, illegal dumping, responsible use of trolleys / dog ownership are provided
• dog tidy facilities in parks and public spaces are provided.
‘OnFridaymornings,garbagebinsblockstreetaccessforpedestriansandcyclists.Canthegarbagecollectiontimesbestaggered toavoidthis?’(Resident of Rhodes)
‘The40%ofpeoplewhodotherightthing(owners)requireextraassistancefromCounciltogettheremainderofthecommunityon boardegfinesforillegaldumping,littering.’(Resident of Rhodes)
‘IdownsizedfrommyhomeinHaberfield.I’mdisappointedaboutthechangeininterests/maintainingtheamenityandlookofthe area.It’simportanttomakesureitiswellmaintainedandkeptattractive.’(Resident of Rhodes)
Rhodes PeninsulaRhodes as as as as a more active and vibrant placea active vibrant
Another important theme was the desire for Rhodes Peninsula to be a more active and vibrant place. Some described it as being exciting and youthful. However many expressed a desire for a greater level of amenity and liveliness within the Peninsula. Many members of the community commented that while the shopping centre works well, more places are needed throughout the Peninsula to meet, shop, eat and socialise. Several commented on the current limited scope for going out at night, and the need for more restaurants, bars and buzz.
• important role of the Community Precinct as a community hub – a place for people to meet and to get involved in activities that appeal to them
• need for amenities such as a coffee cart, kiosk, gathering spots with shade and seating, outdoor fitness equipment, and dog park / off leash area in parks and open spaces – to assist in bringing people out of their homes to make the most use of the Peninsula
• important role of streetscapes in enabling activity at the ground level. Participants had mixed views on the height of new buildings within Rhodes Peninsula. Some expressed a preference for no more than five buildings of 25 storeys, while others were not in favour of new development over 8 storeys in height. Several discussed the importance of ‘getting community right at the ground level’ – ensuring multiple opportunities for active use of the public domain, with less concern about the height of new buildings as long as there are things to do and the place has a good vibe. Several had previously lived in cities including Shanghai and Hong Kong which are characterised by dense multi storey precincts, coupled with vibrant street life.
• large and growing size of the local population needs to be harnessed to create opportunities for fun and excitement – through activated spaces (eg markets, performances, kids water play), a wider variety of facilities and services (shopping, car share, shuttle bus), and a program of engaging events and activities (festivals, classes, fitness, talks, social activities and clubs).
‘…Activityismadepossiblewithcrowds.Biggerpopulationspresentanopportunityforarangeofactivitiesandamorevibrant RhodesPeninsula.I’mexcitedaboutit!’(Resident of Liberty Grove)
‘…RhodesshoppingcentreandthecaféatthenorthernendofRhodesareokay,butthereisnothingtobindtheseareastogether. Therearenoshopsorcafesinbetween.’(Business person)
‘…AtthemomentthereisnogoodreasontohangaroundinRhodesafter5pm,butRhodeshasgotlotsofpotential…Encourageafter hour’svibrancy.’(Business person)
‘I’dliketoseeacommunityheartincludingaplaceforretireestomeet.’(Resident of Rhodes)
‘Youfeel“young”somehowbeinginRhodes.’(Member local Chinese community)
The Place Plan is being prepared within the context of existing planning and development for a range of projects (some already being rolled out), many of which involve Council, developers and other levels of government within Rhodes Peninsula. These projects are shown in Figure 2 and include:
(Map reference 8 and 28)
The Community Precinct including a proposed community centre and open space just off Shoreline Drive, in Rhodes West. The Community Precinct will provide a mix of community and commercial uses, across indoor and outdoor areas. It will offer the local community: a place to be, a meeting place, a replacement ‘backyard’ and a focal point for a mix of indoor and outdoor recreation, community and cultural activities. The Community Precinct will be a place that:
• promotes a sense of place
• is family friendly
• is accessible
• incorporates the principles of ‘ecologically sustainable design’ and ‘crime prevention through environmental design’.
Design and management of the Community Precinct will also consider the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge (from Wentworth Point to Rhodes) which, if developed would connect with Rhodes just to the north of the new Community Precinct. The bridge would provide access for pedestrians, bicycles, buses and emergency vehicles only (not private vehicles), contributing to activation of the Community Precinct and surrounds.
‘Town ‘Town ‘TownSquare’ Square’(map reference 5)
The ‘Town Square’ will be located adjacent to Rhodes Station to be enjoyed by the community and will be social in nature. It will act as a key entry and exit point to the station and other public transport, contributing to the first impression of Rhodes to people arriving by public transport. It will incorporate public open space and meeting areas including retail, cafes with public art located on the corner of Mary Street and Rider Boulevard.
‘central ‘centralpark’ park’ park’ (map reference 6 and 7)
The proposed ‘central park’ is the largest open space planned for Rhodes and will cater to a broad user group, providing opportunities for both active and passive recreation through three different spaces. The park will deliver a large, centrally located public open space with strong connections to the ‘Town Square’, foreshore, and Community Precinct. The project will include gardens, a village green, and children’s playground and will also incorporate cafes, retail space and public toilets.
JohnWhitton JohnWhitton JohnWhitton JohnWhittonBridge Bridge(map reference 9)
The area under and around the John Whitton Bridge has been identified as an opportunity to create a unique place through a high quality open space that links between the east and west side of Rhodes. The space will enhance the foreshore walk by connecting Mill Park to the eastern side of Rhodes and the shared path that crosses the Meadowbank Bridge. The upgrade will include boat parking, stairs connecting the bridge, boat ramp and streetscape improvements.
BraysBayReserve,upgradeshipbuilding BraysBayReserve,upgradeshipbuilding BraysBayReserve,upgradeshipbuilding BraysBayReserve,upgradeshipbuildingmemorial memorial memorial(map reference 31)
An open space project is currently being developed to improve the community experience of the Brays Bay area by utilising public art to connect the historical meanings and current uses of the various sites. The project will also improve landscaping and enhance community access to this area.
A 3.15 hectare site in central Rhodes to the west of Rhodes Train Station. The Station Precinct (Precinct D) was left out of the original master planning process and is a major development project that is currently in the planning stages and subject to finalisation. The information gathered as part of the Place Plan will be used to inform more detailed action once the form is known. At that time the Place Plan will be updated to incorporate community feedback from the consultations. A concept proposal for this Precinct has been prepared by a consortium of landowners and developers and was recently the subject of community consultation. The concept proposal incorporates new mixed use development (including 650 new dwellings and a retail and commercial hub) and public open space areas including a town centre and laneways. If development proceeds as per the concept proposal, it is expected to result in approximately $25 million to $30 million of developer contributions which could be used by Council to provide significant
community benefits in Rhodes Peninsula and the wider City of Canada Bay. This proposal will be the subject of further consultation and investigation over the next 12 months to determine the most appropriate way forward.
Developer proposed bridge connecting Rhodes to Wentworth Point for use by pedestrians, cyclists, public buses and emergency vehicles.
The Station Precinct (Precinct D left out of the original master planning process) and the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge are major development projects currently in the planning stages and subject to finalisation. The information gathered as part of the Place Plan will be used to inform more detailed action once the final outcome of the planning processes is known. At that time the Place Plan will be updated to incorporate research and community feedback from the consultations.
A number of projects are planned to improve road and footpath infrastructure in the Rhodes Peninsula including:
• Walker Street - road and footpath renewal (map reference 4)
• Averill Street - pavement renewal (map reference 15)
• Cavell Avenue - pavement renewal (map reference 16)
• Leeds Street - pavement renewal (map reference 17)
• Blaxland Road - pavement renewal (map reference 18)
• Blaxland Road, east side - footpath renewal (map reference 20)
• Gauthorpe Street - half road renewal (map reference 25)
• Marquet Street - half road renewal (map reference 26)
• Walker Street - half road renewal (map reference 27)
• Shoreline Drive (Gauthorpe Street to Peake Avenue) - new road segment (map reference 40)
A number of projects planned to improve road safety in the Rhodes Peninsula including:
• Oulten Avenue and Homebush Bay Drive Intersection - investigation of options to improve safety and merging (map reference 1)
• Blaxland Road and Leeds Street Intersection - traffic signals (map reference 13)
• Blaxland Road (Leeds Street to Rhodes Station) - shared cycleway and footpath (map reference 19)
• Blaxland Road improvements (map reference 21)
• Walker Street - perpendicular parking and footpath connection to Rhodes Station (map reference 22)
• Rider Boulevard / Mary Street Intersection - implementation of traffic study recommendations (map reference 23)
• Blaxland Road - pedestrian crossing improvement (map reference 24)
• Blaxland Road South - cycleway connection (map reference 29)
• Signage and line marking improvements in Rhodes (map reference 30)
The Place Plan sets out actions and strategic directions for the Peninsula overall as well as specific locations based within the Peninsula. The specific locations have been highlighted as they will be the focus of physical works over the coming 5 years and as such offer an opportunity to maximise the assets to deliver and strengthen the development of local identity, sense of place and deliver the required social infrastructure to a growing community.
The Action Plan has been developed on the basis of community and stakeholder input, prior to further input and refinement by Council’s team and key stakeholders. It is based around the 5 elements of place in order to provide a holistic approach to placemaking for the Peninsula.
Specific locations include the Community Precinct, public domain, open space and the foreshore, private and commercial spaces, Central Park, Town Square and Brays Bay Reservce.
The Plan includes:
• community aspirations reflecting the key issues and themes that emerged from the community engagement process
• actions for the next 5 years
• strategic directions
• identified partners and stakeholders
Given the projected rapid growth and changes anticipated for the Rhodes Peninsula, it is difficult to be too specific about actions beyond the next 5 years. However, it is also important to ensure planning of, and response to, the continued development of the Peninsula as a place and community.
Delivery of actions will be contingent on funding and the timing of developments linked to developer Voluntary Planning Agreement funds, contributions such as those through section 94 and Council’s budget processes.
As discussed in the previous sections, the Place Plan documents community aspirations for Rhodes Peninsula, as identified through the survey responses, focus group discussions and Neighbour Day consultation activities. These aspirations have been used to guide suggestions and ideas for inclusion in the Place Plan and current Council projects. A wide range of issues, ideas and suggestions were raised as part of the community engagement process for the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan. Community feedback was summarised into potential activities and initiatives for Rhodes Peninsula – grouped around each of the five elements of place.
‘Accessible,cleanandmodern,notovercrowded,familyoriented,safe,affordable.’(Rhodes resident)
‘I’dliketoseealittlebitofchangebutnottoomuch[overthenext10years].Idon’twanttosee60storeybuildings,butIdon’tmind 25storeybuildings.ItmakesRhodesalandmark–itgivesitamodernfeeling.Onesideisverymodernandonesideislikea village.Iquitelikethat.Youcan’tdotoomuchbecauseRhodesisapeninsula.I’dliketoseeCrepeMyrtletreesinthestreets–somethingtogiveitauniqueimpression,that=sortofgoodreputation.Andmaintainallthewalkways.I’mgettingolder;Ideeply needthepedestrianunderpass[atthetrainstation].’(Rhodes resident)
‘Ithinkthatbymaintainingandimprovingthe“outdoor”lifestylethatRhodesprovidesyouwillhaveagreatercommunityspiritas peoplegettoknoweachotherontheirdailywalks.Ialsothinkthingssuchasthedogparkgibeasafeplacefordogownerstolet theirdogsofftheleashandsocialisewithotherdogowners.Communityvegetablegardenscouldbethefutureoffoodproduction andinstilasenseofcommunityandtogetherness.’(Rhodes resident)
Community input formed the basis for discussions with key stakeholders and potential delivery partners as part of a Stakeholder Workshop held on Monday 28 May 2012 to explore opportunities to address the key themes and issues raised in community feedback as part of the placemaking process, and to assist in the development of actions to be included in the Place Plan. The workshop involved key stakeholders – from within Council, government agencies and the non-government sector.
The Plan identifies for the next 5 years and strategic directions for the future. The Action Plan will be a living document that is regularly reviewed by Council and key stakeholders to ensure it has a practical application for Rhodes Peninsula. It is anticipated that Council and stakeholders will come together on an annual basis to review progress and implement the Plan.
Resourcing of the actions identified a key consideration for Council and delivery partners. When reviewing the outcome areas and actions identified to address current and future community needs, it should be noted that broad brush resourcing opportunities have been identified. However, more detailed investigation and cost estimates would be prepared where Council should decide to implement a recommendation.
Potential funding sources for Council actions may include:
• developer contributions (i.e. Voluntary Planning Agreements and Section 94 contributions;
• Federal and State government grant programs;
• funds from the rationalisation of existing underutilised or poorly located facilities;
• commercial opportunities (such as providing income-generating space for complementary services to assist in offsetting management and maintenance costs of community facilities);
• balanced business models that include the full range of community facilities and a range of financing strategies (where some community facilities are cost neutral and costs for others are recovered across the portfolio of facilities).
Furthermore,anumberofstrategieswillinvolveotherstakeholdersfromwithinStateGovernment,businessandthecommunity,as theleadagencyorpotentialpartnersfordeliveringactions.
CCB CCB City of Canada Bay
DEC DEC NSW Department of Education and Communities
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (provision of information about funding sources, rather than directly involved in implementation)
D DP PP P& && &I II NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure
FACS NSW Department of Family and Community Services
Health NSW Department of Health
KAB KAB KAB KAB Keep Australia Beautiful NSW
LAC LAC LAC LAC NSW Police Local Area Command (community safety officer - Burwood)
LAPI LAPI Land and Property Information (former NSW Department of Lands)
MALC Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council
MRC Metro Migrant Resource Centre
NGOs NGOs NGOs NGOs Non-government & community organisations
OEH OEH OEH OEH Office of Environment and Heritage (Environmental Protection Authority)
RCRG Rhodes Community Reference Group
RMS Roads and Maritime Services (part of NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure)
SOPA SOPA Sydney Olympic Park Authority
TNSW Transport for NSW (part of NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure)
RWPC RWPC RWPC RWPC Rhodes West Precinct Committee/Residents Group - currently facilitated by CMS strata management (TS&O)
CCB Technical Services and Operations Division (CD) (CD)
CCB Community Development Division (P&E) (P&E)
CCB Planning and Environment Division (Corp) (Corp)
CCB Corporate Services Division (Exec) (Exec) (Exec) (Exec)
CCB Executive Services Division (BAP) (BAP) (BAP) (BAP)
CCB Business, Arts and Place Department (PR)
CCB Parks and Recreation Department (Com)
CCB Community Services Department (CPR) (CPR)
CCB Communications and Public Relations Department (Property) (Property)
CCB Property Department (Enviro) (Enviro) (Enviro) (Enviro)
CCB Health, Environment and Waste Services Department (BPLE)
CCB Building Compliance, Parking and Law Enforcement Department (Customer Services)
CCB Customer Service Department (Traffic Committee) Committee)
CCB Traffic committee of Council (IS)
CCB Information Systems Department
Infrastructure provision to
Importance of a
Desire for Rhodes Peninsula to be
Accessible, clean and modern
Family oriented, safe, affordable
Diverse with a
with
and demand
Convenient and accessible to shopping,
A vibrant community atmosphere
Character and identity closely linked to water side setting
Things to do locally at night – restaurants, cafes, small
Frequent and better coordinated public transport
Improved
etc
social
a yearly space activation program promoting village atmosphere. Seek sponsorship from local businesses and participants for the rotational funding of an annual program. Examples; temporary coffee tables, music stands, art easels, piano, deck chairs, sports tables (table tennis), giant chess etc.
Outdoor opportunities such as Chess, Tai Chi and table tennis, Opportunities with the Community Precinct, Ageappropriate activities and target programs (for single men, seniors, children and young people), Student programs (particularly targeting student safety), Environmental programs, Grandparent programs
2015/16
(CD)
social
Improve access to programs and services targeting culturally and linguistically diverse communities, such as a Migrant Resource Centre and parenting support.
Translate Council and community information into Korean and Chinese (monitor the need for other community languages)
education campaign focusing on safety for students and public
2015/16
2013/14
(BAP)/ (CPR)/ (TS&O)/ Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre
Businesses
Committee
(Com) CCB (CD)
MRC/ NGOs/ Place Committee
(Com) MRC/ NGOs/ Place Committee
(CPR) CCB (Customer Services)
Metro Migrant Resource Centre
(Com) Burwood Police / TNSW
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
SCL 5 C Map and provide information about existing community connections and services including facilities and activities available (including regional eg Sydney Olympic Park)
12 Build on existing maps with information about community services, schools, recreation facilities, open space, public amenities (public toilets, playgrounds etc)
2013/14 CCB (Com) CCB (CD) / CCB (CPR)/ SOPA/ Auburn Council/ Ryde Council/ NGOs
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 SCL 5 C Map and provide information about existing community connections and services including facilities and activities available (including regional eg Sydney Olympic Park)
13 Assist with providing information to parents about support activities available for new mothers (develop a guide on child friendly parks, cafes and other venues & child friendly microsite - website)
2013/14 CCB (Com) CCB (CPR)/ SOPA/ Auburn Council/ Ryde Council/ NGOs
Peninsula Wide
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
12 SCL 5 D Share information, build capacity, exchange ideas about the projects in the Peninsula
12 SCL 5 D Share information, build capacity, exchange ideas about the projects in the Peninsula
14 Communicate with residents, businesses and stakeholder through the @rhodes newsletter (including translated information)
15 Online information sharing between community members and stakeholders including; Link with Place app information, establishment of Rhodes Peninsula microsite (website), 'Children's website', participant driven context for social media
2011/12 CCB (CPR) All Council Divisions / Place Committee
2013/14 CCB (CPR) All Council Divisions / Place Committee / Rhodes Shopping Centre / Auburn Council / Ryde Council / SOPA / NGOs / RCRG / Businesses / Strata Managers / Liberty Grove executive committee
Peninsula
Actions
Peninsula
Next Five Years
12 SCL 5 E Implement the Public Art Strategy for the Peninsula
Coordinate the implementation of the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan, including sourcing funding and gaining commitment and support for recommended projects
2012/13 CCB (BAP) CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / developers
Peninsula
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
SCL 5 E Implement the Public Art Strategy for the Peninsula
Homebush Bay Bridge Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Crossings'
CCB (BAP) CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / developers
12 SCL 5 E Implement the Public Art Strategy for the Peninsula
Station Precinct - Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Street Art'
CCB (BAP) CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / developers
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 UA 5 C Support the development of a playgroups in Rhodes and Liberty Grove
28 Liberty Grove continue and support sustainability of the playgroup to encourage parents and carers to develop a positive approach to parenting and to using local social support services
2012/13 Metro Migrant Resource Centre
Liberty Grove Executive Committee, CCB (CD)
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 UA 5 C Support the development of a playgroups in Rhodes and Liberty Grove
29 Rhodes Establishing playgroup to encourage parents and carers to develop a positive approach to parenting and to using local social support services
2012/13 CCB (Com) NGOs/ Place Committee
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 UA 5 D Work with Sydney Olympic park to consider spaces for children, tweens, and teens including possible options in Sydney Olympic Park Authority and Wentworth Point
30 Increase awareness and access to currently available options (eg promotion, multilingual signage) and consider the provision of different and complimentary options across the three areas (Rhodes, SOPA and Wentworth Point)
2013/14 SOPA CCB (CPR) / CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / CCB (P&E) / Rhodes Shopping Centre
x x x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 UA 5 E Deliver new public open space at: - ‘Town Square’ - ‘central park’ - the park at the northern end between Walker street and Shoreline Drive
31 See section regarding Town Square and Central Park actions CCB (TS&O) x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 UA 5 E Deliver new public open space at: - ‘Town Square’ - ‘central park’ - the park at the northern end between Walker street and Shoreline Drive
32 Manage Shoreline Drive North park delivery by developers, coordinate park opening, provide information about park on Council's website
2012/13 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CPR) / CCB (CD) / Developers x x
The Next Five Years
12 UA 5 F Work in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and Communities to establish a new school for the greater area with a community focus
33 Project to establish a new School at Powells Creek including communicating with residents regarding future changes to school boundaries
2012/13 DEC CCB (CD) x
Peninsula Wide Actions
Five Years
partnership with the NSW Department of Education and Communities to establish a new school for the greater area with a community focus
and encourage health programs and information
Integration of community services and activities within the new school
5
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
Five Years
Support and encourage health programs and information
Improve access to community health programs; child and family, CALD, Seniors and youth health services (specifically focus on access to baby health centre services)
Facilitative development of affordable programs and services to improve health outcomes and recreation opportunities for families (eg. Exercise yoga, walking groups for parents with prams)
CCB (Com) Health
Peninsula Wide Actions
Next Five Years
5 H Undertake a community awareness campaign of environmental efficiencies utilised in the redevelopment of the Rhodes Peninsula
Strategic Directions 12 UA SD A Investigate and advocate for the services and facilities required to support the Rhodes Peninsula community
Strategic Directions 12 UA SD B Advocate for a high school to service the needs of the growing population
The Next Five Years
Next Five Years
CI 5 A Establish a Tidy Town style program to reduce graffiti / dumped rubbish and build pride and care in the area
CI 5 A Establish a Tidy Town style program to reduce graffiti / dumped rubbish and build pride and care in the area
Increase community awareness of environmental efficiencies; car share, recycled water systems, potential Community Precinct green hub initiatives
38 Examine future use of the Rhodes Community Centre in Blaxland Road (as identified in the Community Facilities Resourcing Strategy 2012)
39 Monitor and review demand for high school accessibility by the Rhodes Peninsula community
40 Promote Council's graffiti removal service & graffiti hotline, develop and distribute graffiti prevention information to the community
Concord Hospital
NGOs
2013/14 CCB (CD) Health / Concord Hospital / NGOs
2014/15 CCB (Enviro) CCB (Com) / CCB (P&E)
x
2016/17 CCB (Com) CCB (Property)
2018/19 CCB (Com) DEC
2013/14 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Com)
CCB (CPR) / Place Committee
41 Implement crime prevention programs in identified hotspots in the Peninsula 2013/14 CCB (Com) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CD)
Peninsula Wide
Wide Actions
Wide Actions
Next Five Years
Next Five Years
Next Five Years
CI 5 C Review waste collection and minimisation strategies
CI 5 C Review waste collection and minimisation strategies
CI 5 D Undertake community education regarding dog ownership, waste, environmental sustainability and being a ‘good neighbour’
Distribution of yearly waste collection calendars
Recycling bags trial
Community education campaign focusing on dog ownership and being a good neighbour (including information translated into community languages)
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 CI 5 D Undertake community education regarding dog ownership, waste, environmental sustainability and being a ‘good neighbour’
49 Community education campaign focusing on waste, environmental sustainability (including information translated into community languages) including the following topics; energy efficiency, balcony gardening, growing food in small places, smart shopping
(CPR)
Managers
Strata Managers
(BPLE)
Strata Managers
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
CI 5 E Improve signage and wayfinding throughout the Peninsula as works programs are implemented.
50 Installation of signage to direct pedestrians and cyclists from Liberty Grove to Rhodes, while managing Shopping Centre connectivity
(Enviro)
(CPR)
(CD)
(CD)
(TS&O)
TNSW/
Shopping Centre
Peninsula Wide Actions
Next Five Years
CI 5 F Investigate opportunities for the Police Local Area Command to work with the community to support a sense of safety and place
Strategic Directions 12 CI SD A Continued focus on community education, service enhancement and working in partnership to address amenity issues
51 Conduct a rego plate lock event 2013/14 Burwood Police CCB (Com) x
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
Strategic Directions 12 CI SD A Continued focus on community education, service enhancement and working in partnership to address amenity issues
Strategic Directions 12 CI SD B Advocate to State Government for funds for community health and care services
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 A Develop a Place App to provide up to date information (eg transport, locations of public toilets, parks, business and tourism information)
52 Develop, monitor and communicate a public service level agreement for amenity issues (including footpath cleaning, landscaping, litter, grass cutting, bin collection etc and partner with the community and strata managers to assist in reporting and monitoring)
53 Prepare a public domain plan following the resolution of the 'Station Precinct' including consideration of CPTED and Access principals
2016/17 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Customer Services) / Strata Managers / Place Committee
x
2015/16 CCB (P&E) CCB (CD) / Burwood Police x x
54 Ongoing advocacy for accessible services 2016/17 CCB (Com) Health x
55 Develop and undertake a 2 year trial of a Place app for the Rhodes Peninsula. Engage with businesses, community organisations and the community to provide content.
2012/13 CCB (CD) CCB (Enviro)/ CCB (CPR) / Businesses/ Rhodes Shopping Centre/ NGOs
x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 B Review capacity and demand issues at Rhodes Station and proactively advocate for government investment in public transport for the Rhodes Peninsula
56 Monitor Train transport needs of the community (including consideration of connectivity, frequency and capacity to manage demand)
2014/15 CCB (TS&O) CCB (P&E) / TNSW x
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 B Review capacity and demand issues at Rhodes Station and proactively advocate for government investment in public transport for the Rhodes Peninsula
57 Monitor Bus transport needs of the community (including consideration of route planning, connectivity, frequency and capacity to manage demand)
2014/15 CCB (TS&O) CCB (P&E) / TNSW
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 B Review capacity and demand issues at Rhodes Station and proactively advocate for government investment in public transport for the Rhodes Peninsula
58 Promote all community transport options to residents who are disadvantaged (HACC eligible, temporary or permanent disability or illness, financially disadvantaged) on an ongoing basis.
(Com)
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 C Continue to improve bicycle and pedestrian links within the Peninsula
12 C 5 C Continue to improve bicycle and pedestrian links within the Peninsula
59 Blaxland Road (Leeds street to Rhodes Station) - Shared Cycleway and footpath
2012/13 CCB (TS&O)
60 Blaxland Road South to Homebush Bay Drive - Cycleway Connection 2012/13 CCB (TS&O)
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 C Continue to improve bicycle and pedestrian links within the Peninsula
61 Undertake review of connectivity and wayfinding/signage of cycleways across the Peninsula, consider options for improvement of signage, community notice boards and cycle/pedestrian intersection points
2016/17 CCB (TS&O)
(CD) / CCB (P&E) / NGOs
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 D Work in partnership with Transport for NSW regarding traffic management and access to the Peninsula
12 C 5 E Review parking controls in Rhodes and investigate options for supporting transport orientation changes for residents
62 Undertake works at Oulton Avenue and Homebush Bay Drive Intersection - investigation into potential works to improve safety in state roads
2015/16 CCB (TS&O)
63 Undertake parking trial on the western side of the train line 2012/13 CCB (TS&O)
(P&E) / TNSW / RMS
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 E Review parking controls in Rhodes and investigate options for supporting transport orientation changes for residents
12 C 5 E Review parking controls in Rhodes and investigate options for supporting transport orientation changes for residents
64 Undertake a review of parking controls following completion of major open space projects
65 Undertake a review of demand for car share programs and work with operators to consider implementation within the Peninsula
RCRG / Strata Managers / Businesses
CCB (TS&O)
CCB (CD) / Place Committee / Strata Managers / Businesses
2015/16 CCB (TS&O) Place Committee / Strata Managers / Businesses
Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 F Complete traffic and road safety projects (see projects map) including;
- Oulton Ave intersection
- Blaxland and Leeds St intersection
- Walker St footpath and parking
- Rider Blvd and Mary St intersection
- Blaxland Rd pedestrian crossing
- Pavement renewal in Averill St, Cavell Ave, Leeds St and Blaxland Rd
- Half road renewal in Gauthorpe St, Marquet St, Walker St and Shoreline Dr
66 Various projects to be completed by 2016
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 G Promote and encourage cycling and increased public transport use to and from work
67 Undertake a pro active communications campaign in partnership with Bay Bug to inform the community about improvements to cycleway connections and public transport information (Transport Access Guide and Place App) and include SOPA and surrounding areas
(TS&O)
(CPR)
NGOs
Place Committee / SOPA / Auburn
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 C 5 G Promote and encourage cycling and increased public transport use to and from work
Strategic Directions 12 C SD A Advocate for upgrades to railway station and surrounds to ensure they meet resident and worker needs
68 Install additional bike facilities at Rhodes Train station (including consideration of bike retail, rental, servicing and parking)
69 Work in partnership with stakeholders to develop an integrated approach to a transport interchange as part of the Station Precinct. This should include Investigation of options for reduced congestion during peaks and improved connectivity to, from and within the peninsula for cars, trucks, buses, cyclists and pedestrians
2014/15 CCB (TS&O)
2015/16 CCB (TS&O)
TNSW x
CCB (P&E) / CCB (CD) / DP&I / TNSW / developers
x x x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
Strategic Directions 12 C SD A Advocate for upgrades to railway station and surrounds to ensure they meet resident and worker needs
70 Investigate options for increase car parking provision for the Rhodes Train Station as part of the Station Precinct project or by working in partnership with the Business Park
2015/16 CCB (P&E) CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / TNSW / Businesses
x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
Strategic Directions 12 C SD B Improve access to Concord Hospital and Concord West School from Rhodes and Liberty Grove
Strategic Directions 12 C SD C Partner with Parramatta City Council to advocate for light rail
71 Consider improvement options for accessibility; eg altering bus routes, shuttle buses and trial outreach services
72 Work in partnership with stakeholders and neighbouring Councils regarding future advocacy regarding public transport planning
2016/17 Concord Hospital CCB (Com) / CCB (TS&O) / TNSW / schools
CCB (P&E) CCB (TS&O) / DP&I / TNSW / Parramatta Council
Peninsula Wide Actions
Strategic Directions 12 C SD D Co ordinate with government to ensure an integrated approach to future plans for; rail line extensions/northern Sydney freight corridor and proposed Homebush Bay Bridge
73 Monitor progression of the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor and rail line extension and ensure communication of key information to residents and stakeholders
CCB (P&E) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CPR) / DP&I / TNSW
Peninsula Wide Actions
Strategic Directions 12 C SD D Co ordinate with government to ensure an integrated approach to future plans for; rail line extensions/northern Sydney freight corridor and proposed Homebush Bay Bridge
74 Monitor progression of the Homebush Bay Bridge project and ensure communication of key information to residents and stakeholders (Link with project management process for the Community Precinct project)
CCB (P&E) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CD) / CCB (CPR) / DP&I / developers
x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 A Promote an inclusive approach to consultation, planning, design and management of place (including children, young people, people with disability, residents from non-English speaking backgrounds)
75 Communication regarding place management principals and practise 2012/13 CCB (CD) All Council Divisions x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 A Promote an inclusive approach to consultation, planning, design and management of place (including children, young people, people with disability, residents from non-English speaking backgrounds)
76 Improve the mandatory notification information system; eg review accuracy of property information for both hard and electronic communication systems (ensuring street descriptions reflect legal descriptions of properties)
2013/14 CCB (IS) CCB (CD) / CCB (P&E) x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 B Launch the Rhodes website including history of the area and key community information
77 Establishment and maintenance of a Rhodes Peninsula microsite linked to Council's website, including local information about community services and what's available in the region
2012/13 CCB (CPR) All Council Divisions / NGOs / Businesses x
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
VI 5 C Provide translated materials in the two key community languages
12 VI 5 D Involve key resident groups to support planning, implementation and management of community aspirations
78 Translate Council and community information into Korean and Chinese (monitor the need for other community languages)
79 Maintain and improve processes for consultation and provide regular updates to key resident groups regarding planning, implementation and management of the Rhodes Peninsula community aspirations
2013/14 CCB (Customer Services)
CCB (CPR) / CCB (Com) / Metro Migrant Resource Centre
2013/14 CCB (CD) CCB (P&E) / CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CPR) / RCRG / RWPC / Liberty Grove Exec / Place Committee / Strata Managers /
x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 E Develop, distribute and facilitate sharing of community, history, events and activity information including a Welcome Pack for new residents, online and paper based information, Council and community services presence in the Peninsula
80 Development of a Welcome Pack for new residents including; community services information, history, good neighbour info, Council information (collect new resident information, sign up to communication lists, draw on developer post-occupancy information)
2012/13 CCB (CPR) CCB (CD) / CCB (Com) / CCB (Customer Services) / Rhodes Shopping Centre / developers
x x x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 F Establish an action oriented Place Committee focused on implementation of the Plan
81 Establishment and support for a Place Committee which is representative of the Rhodes Peninsula community and focuses on the delivery of actions included in the Place Plan through partnerships, mentoring and project working groups
2012/13 CCB (CD) Place Committee / Rhodes Shopping Centre / Businesses
Peninsula Wide Actions
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 G Establish options for neighbourhood watch and communication with local authorities including police local area command and Council
82 Promote iwatch and improve communication between the community and local police
2012/13 Burwood Police CCB (Com) / Place Committee x
Peninsula Wide Actions
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 H Promote local volunteering opportunities
83 Support the establishment of neighbourhood groups and volunteering opportunities through training and advocacy (including supporting sustainability of playgroups, recreation groups, community gardens, corporate and other volunteering opportunities)
2013/14 CCB (Com) CCB (BAP) / Place Committee / Businesses
The Next Five Years
12 VI 5 H Promote local volunteering opportunities
84 Developing intergenerational program with a health focus for volunteers
2013/14 CCB (Com) Concord Hospital / Health x
Directions
VI SD A Consult and involve stakeholders regarding an integrated approach to future development of eastern side of Rhodes Peninsula
Establish a 'faces of Rhodes Peninsula' champions program, where key community figures volunteer to assist in communication, community education and activation programs
Development of a steering group to ensure broad involvement, consultation and engagement of all stakeholders over and above the legislatively required notification processes (both internal Council and external members and community representatives)
Council Divisions
Place Committee
RCRG / Businesses
/ DP&I
Burwood Police / Concord Hospital
The Community Precinct will be the most important focus for community building in Rhodes and offers significant opportunities for art that develops engagement and cultural identity. The development of the community precinct at the western edge of the water opposite Gauthorpe Street provides the locale with a multi-purpose centre in a prominent place. At this stage the project is in early planning stages and is developing design responses to the new population, its needs and the potential landing of the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge nearby. Once the proposed bridge is built, it is likely that the residents from Wentworth Point will utilise the new Community Precinct as well as the local Rhodes residents.
T TT The hehe C Community ommunity ommunity P Precinct has an important role as a community hubrecinct has role as arecinct – a place for people to meet, gather and get involved in a range of activities. Residents saw it as an opportunity to combine some of the key things that people in the Peninsula like – walking, the waterside experience, places for people to meet and socialise, cafes and restaurants.
The Community Precinct is scheduled to be completed by 2016.
Precinct
Next Five Years
Next Five Years
5
Facilitate the provision of youth and health programs
5 C Facilitate the provision of youth and health programs
specific population groups with information that will benefit their physical and mental health.
Establish a rolling program of youth programs
(Com)
(Com)
(CD)
Concord Hospital
(CD)
Schools
NGOs
Precinct
Community Precinct
Next Five Years
Next Five Years
SCL 5 D Integrate Public Art and cultural heritage in the Precinct
SCL 5 E Support and encourage neighbourhood groups
Community Precinct Strategic Directions 13 SCL SD A A multipurpose community space that is active, accessible, environmentally responsive and provides a range of affordable activities for a diverse range of residents
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 UA 5 A Establish a temporary community space on the site whilst the permanent Community Precinct is under construction
Community Precinct - Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Landings'
Ensure opportunities for spaces within the Community Precinct to be used by community groups and non-government organisations
97 Ongoing management of the Precinct incorporates and prioritises the aspirations of active, accessible, environmentally responsive and provides a range of affordable activities for a diverse range of residents
2015/16 CCB (BAP) CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / NGOs / Place Committee
2015/16 CCB (Property) CCB (CD) / Place Committee / NGOs
2015/16 CCB (CD) All Council Divisions / Place Committee / NGOs / Businesses
x x
98 Establish a temporary community space and site office at the Community Precinct site on Shoreline drive. Utilise this space for activation and community engagement
2012/13 CCB (CD) CCB (CPR) / CCB (Customer services) / CCB (TS&O) / CCB (BPLE) / CCB (Property) / CCB (IS)
x x x
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 UA 5 B Provide a range of facilities in the Community Precinct including public toilets, play space, bbqs, shade, Wi-Fi, lighting, public art, group and individual seating and eating spaces
Community Precinct Strategic Directions 13 UA SD A The Community Precinct addresses the changing needs of the Rhodes community
99 Provide: public toilets, BBQs (including three phase power points), weather protected outdoor space, public Wi-Fi options, lock-up space for resources for space activation, acoustic/performance space with power, a variety of seating options and play spaces
100 Work with NGOs and private providers to establish community schools and classes in the Community Precinct ( e.g. language schools, specialty schools and classes such as music, martial arts, tutoring support, etc.)
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (BAP) x x x
2017/18 CCB (Com) NGOs / Businesses x x
Precinct
Five
Next Five Years
spaces for children and young people
opportunities for interactive learning centres and free Wi-Fi for residents in public spaces
Consult and engage children and young people in the design of the Community Precinct
102 Include interactive learning spaces and free Wi-Fi in the Community Precinct
(CD)
(IS)
CCB(Com)
Precinct
Next Five Years
5 C Promote quality design and best practise through Council leadership in the development of a multipurpose precinct
103 Communicate best practise design and management outcomes for the Community Precinct project, including recording this information to be accessible by the community into the future
2015/16 CCB (CD) All Council Divisions / Place Committee
Precinct Strategic Directions
CI SD A Community meeting places and gathering places where community members are welcome and can participate in structured, informal and unstructured activities and programs
13 C 5 A Explore opportunities to facilitate bike use
104 Develop a program of activities for the Precinct (both indoor and outdoor) - Linked to space activation and events program (Peninsula wide)
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (Com) / CCB (BAP) / CCB (Library) / Place Committee
x x Community Precinct The Next Five Years
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 C 5 B Design the Community Precinct to maximise its location adjacent to a major walking route and potential future landing of the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge
105 Consider the provision of bike rental and/or storage options in the Community Precinct 2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (TS&O) / NGOs x x
106 Consider integration of walking route and connections within the Precinct
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (P&E) / developers x
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 C 5 C Apply Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles in the Precinct (including appropriate lighting) to ensure safety and activation both during the day and night
107 Involve stakeholders in the design of the Community Precinct to ensure incorporation of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Principals
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (Com) / CCB (P&E) / Burwood Police
x
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 VI 5 A Engage with Peninsula residents in the design, development and management of the Community Precinct
108 Establish and communicate engagement options for residents at each stage of the Community Precinct project
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 VI 5 B Utilise the Precinct as a location for community engagement and information exchange
109 Establish a Council and NGO partnership team to staff and manage the Community Precinct - this team should prioritise community engagement and information exchange as one of the key functions of the facility
2012/13 CCB (CD) Strata Managers / Place Committee
Community Precinct The Next Five Years
13 VI 5 B Utilise the Precinct as a location for community engagement and information exchange
Community Precinct Strategic Directions 13 VI SD A The Community Precinct as a focal point for community interaction, connection and information exchange
110 Organise 'talk to Council' community information and exchange sessions in the Community Precinct
2015/16 CCB (CD) NGOs / Place Committee
2013/14 CCB (CD) CCB (Customer Services) / Place Committee
111 2015/16 CCB (CD) Businesses / Strata Managers / Place Committee
Planning and delivery of the public domain, open space and foreshore areas will focus on encouraging connectivity and promoting a sense of community through the integration of public art. Planning has included the development of an Open Space Plan of ManagOpen Space Plan of ManagSpace Plan of ManagSpace Plan of Management and Masterplanement and Masterplanand Masterplanement and Masterplan, Rhodes Peninsula Arts PlanRhodes Peninsula Arts PlanRhodes Peninsula Arts Plan and a variety of public domain, open space and foreshore improvements.
The circulation of people throughout the peninsula and around the foreshore is an important challenge facing the Open Space Masterplan. The amenity of the local community as well as cyclists from outside is assured when coherent paths are built, sustained and linked.
The streetscape emerges in partnership with the development of the built environment and the Public Art provides a vibrant presence and language for this public arena. The entrances for the Peninsula are thresholds for public art. The underpass approached from Leeds Street captures motorists in a squeeze point before they turn into Walker St and the current advertising hoardings indicate the marketing exposure for this threshold.
The very nature of the Rhodes Peninsula provides an excellent amenity to the water and its shorelines. Although the collective open spaces address these edges, the emergent mangrove colonies and the expanding building footprints distinctly separate the interface between land and water. As you move south west the mangrove forest impedes sightlines to the water so the stark views across Homebush Bay are welcome. This edge experience is both powerful in scale and evocative depending upon the season and wind. The edge pathway which stretches along the western foreshore is well utilised by cyclists, joggers and walkers and provides an opportunity to both public domain works as well as space activation initiatives.
JOHN WHITTON BRIDGEJOHN is the main rail link across the Parramatta River from Rhodes and Homebush Bay to Ryde and northern Sydney. The bridge was constructed from 1952 to 1980 and has a heritage listing. The area under the bridge forms a pedestrian link from Mill Park and the apartments on Walker Street to the boat ramp and east Rhodes area. It has been a difficult area to maintain and subject to some vandalism. In 2011 City of Canada Bay engaged Oculus Landscape Architects to develop a landscape solution to the site. Works are planned that will create a unique place through a high quality open space that links between the east and west side of Rhodes. The space will enhance the foreshore walk by connecting Mill Park to the eastern side of Rhodes and the shared path that crosses the Meadowbank Bridge. The John Whitton Bridge project will be completed by 2014.
A PLACE THAT IS:A PLACE THAT IS:A PLACEA PLACE
• Clean, safe and well maintained public domain
• Accessible for all A PLACE THAT HAS:A PLACE
• Opportunities for fun and excitement through activated spaces
• Good quality amenities in parks and open spaces (shade, seating, fitness equipment, lighting, etc) to bring people out of their homes
• Quality streetscape design with activity at the ground level – ‘getting community right at the ground level’
• An outdoor lifestyle as a key to sense of community
• Coordinated waste management, street maintenance, grass cutting, etc
• More bins and dog tidy facilities
• Community education about littering, dumping, shopping trolleys, responsible dog ownership
• Sufficient public toilet facilities
• Effective way finding – signage, pathways, trails
• Public art integrated into the public domain and foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
14 SCL 5 B Integrate Public Art and cultural heritage into the public domain
14 SCL 5 B Integrate Public Art and cultural heritage into the public domain
115 Foreshore Interface Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Rivers Edge'
116 New and upgraded Public Domain areas along Walker Street and Rider BlvdImplement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Street Art'
2016/17 CCB (BAP) CCB (TS&O) / NGOs / Place Committee
2015/16 CCB (BAP) CCB (TS&O) / NGOs / Place Committee
The Next Five Years
14 UA 5 A Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Open Space Plan of Management and Masterplan
117 Utilise the Plan of Management and Masterplan to prioritise updates and additions to the public domain and open space. This may include provision of facilities along the foreshore such as public toilets, bbqs, shelter, wi-fi, exercise stations, children’s activity spaces etc. to increase the capacity and use of open space
2013/14 CCB (PR) All Council Divisions x x x x
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
14 UA 5 B Ensure public domain design incorporates the principals of accessibility, safety, environmental sustainability and connectivity
118 Provide the following at John Whitton Bridge: seating, rubbish bins, cycle and pedestrian connection and public art
The Next Five Years
14 UA 5 B Ensure public domain design incorporates the principals of accessibility, safety, environmental sustainability and connectivity
119 Provide Adult exercise stations at Mill Park 2011/12 CCB (TS&O) developers x
2012/13 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CD) x Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
14 UA 5 B Ensure public domain design incorporates the principals of accessibility, safety, environmental sustainability and connectivity
120 Undertake a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Audit of the public domain
The Next Five Years
14 UA 5 C Identify a suitable location for a dog park/s or off leash area/s
121 Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Open Space Plan of Management and Masterplan
2014/15 CCB (Com) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CD) x x x
2013/14 CCB (PR) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CD) x
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
of
of
of
14 CI 5 A Review bin provision, location and needs throughout the Rhodes Peninsula and communicate information to the community
14 CI 5 B Investigate opportunities for maximising resource recovery and recycling in public space
14 CI 5 B Investigate opportunities for maximising resource recovery and recycling in public space
14 CI 5 C Implement the use of existing mobile/GPS applications for reporting of maintenance and asset management issues (internal Council and external stakeholder reporting)
14 CI 5 D Improve signage and wayfinding throughout the Peninsula
122 Undertake a review and map bin provision following the completion of the major open space projects and map information in the GIS assets system
2015/16 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CD) / Place Committee x x
123 Include recycling facilities in the development and renewal of parks and the foreshore including, public waste management, community garden waste management provision
124 Test the Alternate Waste Technology (AWT) market for the viability of processing litter bin waste
125 Develop the ability for residents, staff and stakeholders to take a photo, GSP location and report maintenance and asset management issues to Council and other authorities for action
126 Undertake review of connectivity and wayfinding/signage of cycleways across the Peninsula, consider options for improvement of signage, community notice boards and cycle/pedestrian intersection points (linked to Peninsula wide actions)
2014/15 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Enviro) x x
2013/14 CCB (Enviro) CCB (TS&O) / contractors x
2015/16 CCB (IS) CCB (Customer Services) / CCB (TS&O)
x
2016/17 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CD) / CCB (P&E) / NGOs x x x
14 CI 5 E Investigate the provision of free Wi-Fi in open space areas
14 CI 5 F Consider crime prevention through environmental design principles in the design and assessment of these spaces including encouraging passive surveillance by the design of residential and business premises
127
128 Involve stakeholders in the assessment process to ensure incorporation of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Principals
2012/13 CCB (P&E) CCB (CD) / CCB (TS&O) / Burwood Police
x
2015/16 CCB (IS) CCB (PR) / CCB (TS&O) x Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
14 CI 5 G Lobby for installation of sound barriers (where appropriate) along the railway line by Railcorp as part of the National Freight line upgrade
129 Install sound barriers along the railway line incorporating options for visual plant screening or public art
2016/17 CCB (P&E)
(TS&O)
TNSW / RMS
The Next Five Years
14 CI 5 H Ensure public domain design incorporates the principals of accessibility, safety, environmental sustainability and connectivity
130 Undertake a Access Audit of the public domain and develop, implement and monitor a Disability Action Plan for the Peninsula
2014/15 CCB (Com) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CD)
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
Strategic Directions 14 CI SD A Waste management and collection of public bins in Rhodes are responsive to community needs
Strategic Directions 14 CI SD B Advocate for a police presence in Rhodes as needed due to the increasing population
The Next Five Years
14 C 5 A Upgrade the boat ramp and car park at John Whitton Bridge
Strategic Directions 14 C SD A A coordinated approach to the management of the public domain through master planning and similar processes
Strategic Directions 14 C SD B Lighting is included in key public domain locations to ensure safety and activation both during the day and night, especially between transport nodes and homes
131 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Enviro) / Strata Managers
132 Investigate changing needs due to population growth to assess the need for police presence
2017/18 Burwood Police CCB (Com) x x
133 Promote the opening of the boat ramp and car park at John Whitton Bridge 2012/13 CCB (TS&O) RMS x x
134 Updating and communication of a full urban design and amenity guidelines and register for the Peninsula to ensure consistency and record keeping
135 Undertake an audit of lighting needs in the public domain across the peninsula and develop a prioritised action list
2016/17 CCB (TS&O) CCB (P&E) / CCB (CD) x
2017/18 CCB (TS&O) Place Committee / CCB (CD) x x
Public Domain, Open Space and the Foreshore
The Next Five Years
14 VI 5 A Consult with key stakeholders on planning and implementation of works
136
2012/13 CCB (CD) All Council Divisions x
This section relates to private space within the Peninsula. The Rhodes Peninsula includes around 1,200 businesses, from large multinationals to small home based businesses. Rhodes
Waterside Shopping Centre is a key destination for residents, workers and visitors. Rhodes Corporate park is a key employment precinct including large organisations such as Australand, Hewlett Packard, Alcatel Lucent, Unisys and Nestle. Residential and private spaces include complexes developed by major developers such as Meriton, Mirvac, Billbergia, Renewing Homebush Bay and Walker Corporation.
Accessible and has a shared village atmosphere
• Retail opportunities spread out across the Peninsula
• More and better distributed restaurants and cafes
• Things to do locally at night – restaurants, cafes, small bars, etc
• Other services and a Chinese supermarket
partnership with Police for advice regarding safety management issues
(P&E)
(Com)
Burwood Police / Businesses / Rhodes Shopping Centre
developers
Private
Commercial Space
Private
Commercial Space
Private
Commercial Space
waste collection and minimisation strategies
minimisation strategies
waste collection and minimisation strategies
Trial and increased frequency (quarterly) for bulk household waste collection
Prepare financial modelling for a range of frequencies for bulk household collection services
Communicate/educate building managers on source separation of bulk household items to ensure maximum resource recovery and limit the financial impact to residents for waste disposal
(CD)
(Enviro)
(Enviro)
(CPR)
Strata
(TS&O)
(CD)
Strata
Private and Commercial Space
Private and Commercial Space
The Next Five Years
15 C 5 B Include lighting in strata complexes to promote safety, energy efficiency and activation at night
151 Work with developers and strata managers to ensure best practise lighting schemes are implemented in new developments and when opportunities arise for retrofitting
2012/13 CCB (P&E) CCB (TS&O) / Strata Managers / developers
x x
Strategic Directions 15 C SD A Involve local businesses and strata managers in planning for key issues such as sustainable transport, including car share opportunities
152 Work with strata managers to consider promotion of car share schemes and the provision of spaces
2016/17 CCB (Enviro) CCB (P&E) / CCB (TS&O) / Strata Managers / Businesses
x x
Private and Commercial Space
Strategic Directions 15 C SD A Involve local businesses and strata managers in planning for key issues such as sustainable transport, including car share opportunities
153 Investigation of establishment of an agreement between the executive and Council to manage enforcement of traffic and parking in Liberty Grove
2016/17 CCB (BPLE) Liberty Grove Executive Committee
x
Private and Commercial Space
Private and Commercial Space
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
15 VI 5 A Support the establishment of a chamber of Commerce to support Peninsula based businesses
15 VI 5 B Conduct an annual business forum to exchange information and explore opportunities for partnership projects
154 Support for local commercial and home based businesses, home-working, employment opportunities and networking
155 Conduct an annual business forum to exchange information and explore opportunities for partnership projects
2013/14 CCB (BAP) Businesses / Rhodes Shopping Centre
2012/13 CCB (BAP)
x x x x
Private and Commercial Space
The Next Five Years
15 VI 5 C Highlight and encourage investment and opportunities for business in the Peninsula
156 Update the 'Invest in Rhodes - Canada Bay' information resources 2015/16 CCB (BAP)
CCB (CD) / Businesses x x
CCB (CD) x x
The new ‘central park’ development links Walker Street in the east to Shoreline Drive to the west and is bordered by Gauthorpe Street to the south. In 2011 the developer engaged Oculus to design a landscape plan for the park. ‘central park’ occupies a number of levels from Walker Street to Shoreline Drive and anticipates different experiences from informal more active play to intimate meeting places as you descend or climb. With an impressive vista across the Rhodes shore to the Parramatta River the park evokes the sightlines that may have been part of the daily life of the Wangal people as they surveyed their hunting and fishing grounds from the ridgeline. Now the focus for a new residential population it will be a pleasant and popular place to meet and place for residents of adjacent apartments.
‘central park’ is the largest open space planned for the Peninsula and will cater to a broad user group, providing opportunities for both active and passive recreation through three different spaces. The park will deliver a large, centrally located public open space with strong connections to the proposed new Town Square, the foreshore, and the Community Precinct. The park is due to be delivered by 2015.
A PLACE THAT ISA PLACE THAT ISA PLACEA PLACE IS: :: :
• Clean, safe and well maintained
• Accessible for all A PLACE THAT HAS:A PLACE THAT HAS:A PLACEA PLACE
• Good quality amenities for example (shade, group seating, bbqs, lighting, public art, play spaces etc to
• bring people out of their homes
• Opportunities for fun and excitement through activated spaces
• Bins and dog tidy facilities
• Public toilet facilities
• Effective way finding – signage, pathways, trails and use of public art
Central Park
Central Park
Five
Next Five Years
Facilitate opportunities for park activation and activities to be provided
SCL 5
Integrate public art into the park and public domain to reflect the indigenous, local culture and heritage of the site. Opportunities include the wall linking the upper and lower levels of the park; the children’s play ground and the undercroft in the building / entry point to the park adjacent to Walker Street
157 Coordinate a program of activation and activities in Central Park (linked to Peninsula wide actions)
158 Central Park Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Nexus' (elements of Wangal Wall, Themed Vista & Children’s Playground, Undercroft Suspended Artwork)
2015/16 CCB (CD)
2012/13 CCB (BAP)
(CPR)
(TS&O)
NGOs
Central Park The Next Five Years
Central Park The Next Five Years
SCL 5 C Consult with the local community on the establishment of a community garden
16 UA 5 A Consider the provision of an off leash area
Central Park Strategic Directions 16 UA SD A Create public spaces that encourage community use and attract people out of their homes
Central Park The Next Five Years
16 CI 5 A Provide appropriate facilities in the park including access to public toilets, play space, bbqs, lighting, public art, dog facilities, group and individual seating and eating spaces
159 Establish a Community Garden in Central Park, which includes community education programs
160 provide dog facilities (bag dispensers) and possible off leash area in Central Park
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (Enviro) / CCB (Property) / CCB (TS&O) / Place Committee
2013/14 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CD) / developers x
161 CCB (CD) x
162 Provide the following amenity items in Central Park; public toilets, play space, public art, bbqs, formal and informal seating areas, dog poo bag dispensers, rubbish bins, lighting
2014/15 CCB (TS&O)
x x x
CCB (CD) / CCB (IS) / developers x
Central Park The Next Five Years
Central Park The Next Five Years
16 CI 5 B Include recycling facilities in the design of the park
16 CI 5 C Develop an asset management plan at the time the park is developed
163 Include recycling facilities in the park including, public waste management, community garden waste management provision
164 Develop a full asset management plan for the park including information regarding amenity item specifications, renewal timeframes and costs and integrate the recommendations into Council's broader asset management framework
2015/16 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Enviro) / developers x
2015/16 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CD) / developers x
Central Park The Next Five Years
16 C 5 A Lighting is included in the park to ensure safety and activation
165 Ensure lighting design allows variation in lighting options for a variety of evening activation
2014/15 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Property) x
Central Park The Next Five Years
Central Park The Next Five Years
16 C 5 B Provide best practice in accessibility in the park
16 C 5 C Consider the interaction between pedestrians and cyclists in the design
Central Park Strategic Directions 16 C SD A Renewal and adaptability of the park as community needs change to be guided by the Rhodes Peninsula Plan of Management
Central Park The Next Five Years
Central Park The Next Five Years
16 VI 5 A Actively involve children in the design of the playspace
16 VI 5 B Establish shared sense of ownership by involving stakeholders in the planning, development and management of the park
166 Consider best practise accessibility outcomes in the design of signage and seating 2014/15 CCB (TS&O)
167 Provide bike parking facilities in Central Park 2014/15 CCB (TS&O)
168 Develop a site specific public domain plan which includes the additional items recommended as part of the Rhodes Peninsula Open Space Plan of Management and Masterplan
169 Implement the principals of child friendly design as identified in the Child Family Needs study into the planning of children's equipment and facilities
2015/16 CCB (PR) CCB (TS&O) / CCB (CD) x x x
Central Park The Next Five Years
16 VI 5 C Identify and promote volunteering opportunities in the park
2012/13 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Com) / CCB (BAP) x
170 2013/14 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Com) / CCB (BAP) / Place Committee
171 Implement a volunteering and management committee program for the Community Garden in Central park
x
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (TS&O) / Place Committee x x
The Town Square for Rhodes Peninsula is part of Mirvac’s building development at the termination of Walker Street and Mary Street. The inclusion of public art into the places and space where people gather and interact adds a valuable cultural dimension to Rhodes and explores the notion of a civic experience and meeting place.
The new Town Square will be located adjacent to Rhodes Station which provides a space to be enjoyed by the community as a meeting place and civic space. It will act as a key entry and exit point to the station and other public transport and contribute to the first impression of Rhodes to people arriving by public transport. This space also acts as a link to the commercial precincts in Rider Boulevard and Rhodes Corporate Park.
A PLACE THAT IS:A PLACE THAT IS:A PLACEA PLACE
• The community heart – a place for people to meet
• Activated at the street level with places to sit, meet, people watch, eat lunch
• Accessible and shared village atmosphere
• A place for people to gather in the evening with open space, restaurants and wine bars
A PLACE THAT HAS:A PLACE THAT HAS:A PLACEA PLACE
• Adequate amenities including seating, shade, rubbish bins
• Public art and community information provided
• Good quality amenities to bring people out of their homes
Square
Five
Square
Square
Next Five Years
Next Five Years
Square
Next Five Years
Town Square The Next Five Years
5 A
the
within the
such
the opportunities for
of
Town Square The Next Five Years
Town Square The Next Five Years
of the space through encouraging on-street dining
Explore innovative means through which to provide community information, e.g. using new technologies
facilities such as shade, WiFi, lighting, seating and eating spaces
17 CI 5 A Include facilities such as shade, Wi Fi, lighting, seating and eating spaces
Support a lively restaurant, café and bar scene and review and update Council's on street dining policy
See Peninsula wide actions linked to wayfinding (linked to signage and wayfinding)
Provide seating and eating spaces, free WiFi, lighting, provision for power for activation and markets
Develop a full asset management plan for the Town Square including information regarding amenity item specifications, renewal timeframes and costs and integrate the recommendations into Council's broader asset management framework
(TS&O) CCB (IS) x
2013/14 CCB (TS&O) developers x
Town Square The Next Five Years
17 CI 5 B Incorporate crime prevention through environmental design principles in the design of the town square
17 C 5 A Ensure clear connectivity with pedestrian and cycleways in the Town Square
Provide details of CPTED principals incorporated into the design and detail the maintenance of any coatings etc in asset management plan
Signage and physical connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians between the Town Square, Train Station, Shopping Centre and the areas adjacent to both
17 C 5 B Consider bike storage facilities in the vicinity 181 Negotiate and install bike storage facilities near the Town Square - ideally next to the Train Station
Town Square Strategic Directions 17 VI SD A Actively engage community members and key stakeholders in the management of the space
2013/14 CCB (TS&O) CCB (Com) / Burwood Police x x
2013/14 CCB (TS&O) CCB (CD) / CCB (P&E) x
2013/14 CCB (TS&O)
TNSW / Businesses x x
182 2013/14 CCB (CD) CCB (TS&O) / Place Committee x x
Brays Bay Reserve is located on Concord Road, approximately 100m from Rhodes Railway Station. The site sits between two other tracts of public open space being McIlwaine Park and Rhodes Park, which follow the western shore of Brays Bay. The northern point of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is in Brays Bay Reserve and travels all the way to the Memorial Rose Garden located on Hospital Road, Concord.
The site of Brays Bay Reserve has a long industrial history. This is evident in the physical form of the water’s edge, which is as a result of land reclamation, as well as the presence of the Ship Building Memorial. The reserve also contains a restaurant and car park accessible from Concord Road.
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a permanent living memorial to the Papua-New Guinea campaign of July 1942 – January 1943, in which Australian soldiers withstood and repelled the Japanese advance at considerable cost to human life and health. The Track has been designed to reflect the landform and vegetation cover of the real Kokoda Track to the extent that it is possible and practical. Information stations are located along the track that outlines significant events and people who served along the Track.
The Ship Building Memorial within Brays Bay Reserve acknowledges the contribution made on this site where small ships were constructed for service in WW2. The slip way on which the ships were constructed and launched from has been recreated in the parks ground plane. A piece of public art in the form of a ship’s bow resides beside the recreated slipway. The original design for this piece included an electronic voice over giving the history of the site, but this has since fallen into disrepair and no longer works. The Ship Building Memorial not only reflects the efforts of those who built the ships, but of those that served on them.
The memorials visually connect within Brays Bay Reserve, but the physical connection is tenuous and convoluted. The nature of these memorials is strongly intertwined by both the subject and cultural emotion associated with it. The physical connection should be such that transitioning from one space to the other is both instinctive and achievable by everyone.
The intent of the project is to reinforce the intellectual connection between the Track and the Ship Building Memorial by strengthening the physical relationship as well as manoeuvring users between the two subject matters. The Ship Building Memorial needs work to reinstate the electronic component of the piece as well as work to the context within which it resides.
While these two spaces are memorialising different moments of WW2 they are intrinsically linked within the Australian culture of ‘mateship’ borne in the Gallipoli campaign of WW1. These spaces are important to those that served and their families, to ensure that the sacrifices made during WW2, or any conflict Australia has been involved in, is not forgotten by future generations. This project will be considered in 2017.
• Clean, safe and well maintained public domain
• Good quality amenities for example shade, seating, lighting, children’s activities, public art
• Universal access – Rhodes as an accessible place for all
• Opportunities for fun and excitement through activated spaces
Brays Bay Reserve
The Next Five Years
repair existing opportunities to extend the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway to continue historic narratives and connect with the emerging community in the western precinct of Rhodes Peninsula as well as the reinvigoration of the existing sculpture by integrating it more in the landscape or providing a complementary work on the water’s edge may attract people to investigate the important shipbuilding heritage of the site and lead park-users to the foreshore as part of the experience
18 UA 5 A Consider in the redevelopment of the area; play space, shade, lighting, public art, seating and eating spaces, public toilets, community and historic information
183 Improve the landscaping, accessibility and usability of the site including the development of long term asset management, maintenance and renewal plans
184 Brays Bay Reserve Implement the recommendations from the Rhodes Peninsula Arts Plan for this site; including 'Living Memory', reinvigorating the ship building memorial
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (BAP) / CCB (Property)/ CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital / Businesses / Place Committee
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (BAP) / CCB (Property)/ CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital / Businesses / Place Committee
x x x
Brays Bay Reserve
Brays Bay Reserve
The Next Five Years
The Next Five Years
18 CI 5 A Consider spaces where different generations can interact and experience the historical significance of the site
18 CI 5 A Continue to support community gathering places where a wide range of community members are welcome and can participate in both structured programs or informal, unstructured activities
185
Brays Bay Reserve
The Next Five Years
18 C 5 A Lighting and design matters are included in the renewal of the area to ensure safety and activation
186 Promote and communicate to the wider community events, memorials and cultural celebrations to encourage increased participation
187
x x x
188 Ensure lighting design allows variation in lighting options for a variety of evening activation
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (BAP) / CCB (Property)/ CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital / Businesses / Place Committee
2015/16 CCB (CD)
CCB (BAP) / CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital / Businesses / Place Committee
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (BAP) / CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital / Businesses / Place Committee
2015/16 CCB (CD)
CCB (BAP) / CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital
x x
x x x
x x
x x
Brays Bay Reserve
Directions
C SD A Continue to develop and implement a coordinated approach to the public domain of Rhodes through master planning and similar processes
189 Develop a full asset management plan for Brays Bay Reserve including information regarding amenity item specifications, renewal timeframes and costs and integrate the recommendations into Council's broader asset management framework
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (BAP) / CCB (Property)/ CCB (TS&O) /
x
Brays Bay Reserve
Next Five Years
VI 5 A Involve both the community and broader group of stakeholders in the renewal of this site
190 Coordinate project management to include key stakeholders throughout
2015/16 CCB (CD) CCB (BAP) / CCB (TS&O) / Concord Hospital / Businesses / Place Committee
x x
The Place Plan is a framework for future activities by Council and stakeholders in the Peninsula. It is not just a wish list of initiatives and actions.
The actions for the ‘Next 5 Years’ are important as they reflect a commitment to the process and the place and can be used to demonstrate commitment that people who took part in the consultation have been listened to.
The strategic directions are also important. Given the rapidly changing physical and community landscape in the Rhodes Peninsula some flexibility is required as to how these are implemented.
Importantly, the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan requires a partnership approach to deliver. Council will be working with stakeholders to progress planning and delivery of key actions for Rhodes Peninsula.
For further information about the Place Plan and to register your interest in getting involved visit: http://www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au or phone Council on 9911 65559911 65559911 6555
Auburn City, 2010. Population and Household Forecasts: Wentworth Point.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011. Census of Population and Housing, Quickstats: Rhodes State Suburb, Liberty Grove State Suburb, City of Canada Bay Local Government Area, Inner Western Sydney Statistical Subdivision, Greater Sydney Statistical Area.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011. Basic Community Profiles: Rhodes State Suburb, Liberty Grove State Suburb, City of Canada Bay Local Government Area, Inner Western Sydney Statistical Subdivision, Greater Sydney Statistical Area.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006. Census of Population and Housing, Quickstats: Rhodes State Suburb, Liberty Grove State Suburb, City of Canada Bay Local Government Area, Inner Western Sydney Statistical Division, Sydney Statistical Subdivision.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006. Basic Community Profiles: Rhodes State Suburb, Liberty Grove State Suburb, City of Canada Bay Local Government Area, Inner Western Sydney Statistical Division, Sydney Statistical Subdivision.
City of Canada Bay. 2011. Community Facilities Resourcing Strategy Final Report, December.
City of Canada Bay, 2010. Community Harmony Strategy, March 2010.
City of Canada Bay. Futures Plan20: A twenty year vision for the City of Canada Bay.
City of Canada Bay, 2010. Rhodes to Employment: Economic Development.
City of Canada Bay. Cultural Plan 2008-2013.
City of Canada Bay. 2008. Public Art Strategy 2008-2013, July.
City of Canada Bay. 2010. Rhodes West Master Plan.
Cronin, Emily. 2010. ‘Table tennis – coming to a park near you soon’ The Guardian, 2 May. www.guardian.co.uk/lifestyle/2010/may/02/table-tennis-park-ping-pong
Docklands Community Infrastructure Planning Final Report, 2008.
Elton Consulting, 2009. Nice Plan Shame about the Place: Putting the Community into Planning.
Galvin, 2012. ‘Community organised walks / runs are a good way to get fit with others, without the entry costs of more formal organised events’ Sydney Morning Herald. 6 February 2012. www.smh.com.au/executive-style/fitness/weekday-slog-a-good-reason-for-a-freerun-20120205-1qzrs.html
Graf International. 2010. Wentworth Point-Rhodes-SOPA Population Projections 2006-2020.
Kennedy, Rosemary and Buy, Laurie (2011), Dimensions of Liveability: A tool for sustainable cities, Paper for the SB10mad: Sustainable Building Conference
Landcom, 2004. Victoria Park, Zetland: Post Occupancy Study.
Munro, 2012. ‘Chefs hit the streets with a moveable feast’ Sydney Morning Herald, 24 January. www.smh.com.au/nsw/chefs-hit-thestreets-with-a-moveable-feast-20120123-1qe1c.html
NSW State Government. 2000. Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 29 – Rhodes Peninsula (SREP29).
Profile id, 2012. Liberty Grove-Rhodes Community Profile.
Project for Public Spaces, 2003. What Makes a Successful Place?
The latest dining craze: Out of a van, October 4, 2010. www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/the-latest-dining-crazeout-of-a-van-20101004-163mg.html#ixzz1t856XwgD
Toon. 2011. Rhodes: Overview of Public Domain Strategy, January. (Advisory Document)
Toon. 2010. Rhodes Concept Plan for Foreshore Park and Community Centre, March. (Advisory Document)
Woodcraft et al, 2011. Design for Social Sustainability: A framework for creating thriving new communities.
Table 1: Rhodes Peninsula Community Profile
Table 2: Age profile – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Table 3: Household and family profile – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Table 4: Work and study profile – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Table 5: Cultural diversity – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Table 6: Proficiency in spoken English/language of persons born overseas (2011)
Table 7: Housing profile – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Table 8: Car ownership and internet access – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (2011)
Table 9: Summary of demographic change over time – Rhodes Peninsula and comparison areas (ABS Census 2006 and 2011)
Table 10: SEIFA scores – City of Canada Bay and neighbouring areas (2006)
Table 11: SEIFA scores by small area – City of Canada Bay (2006)
Table 12: Summary population forecast (2006-31)
Figure 1: Concept for placemaking in Rhodes Peninsula
Figure 2: Rhodes Peninsula projects map
of further
Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey
Detailed Focus Group Outcomes
Survey
Detailed Neighbour Day Consultation Outcomes (relating to Place Plan)
Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey
for
City of Canada Bay Community Facilities Resourcing Strategy, Final Report (December 2011)City of Canada Bay Community Facilities Resourcing Strategy, Final Report (December 2011)
City Canada Bay Community Resourcing Final 2011)City Canada Bay Community Resourcing Final 2011)
The Community Facilities Resourcing Strategy (prepared by Cred Community Planning) was produced to guide the delivery of a sustainable and equitable network of community facilities located in strategic and accessible positions across the LGA.
The Strategy considers the existing community and projected community characteristics, incorporates findings and input from community engagement activities, reviews existing facilities, best practice models and relevant benchmarks and standards.
The Strategy proposes the following principles for the provision of community facilities in the City of Canada Bay. Community facilities will:
• Be sustainable
• Be multi-purpose and flexible
• Be accessible
• Be equitably and appropriately located across the city
• Be safe and of high quality
• Be provided and managed in partnership and consultation with key stakeholders and communities
• Promote a positive local identity.
The Strategy supports the establishment of community hubs and proposes seven hubs across the LGA including the Rhodes/Liberty Grove Activity Hub. An outline of the existing issues and needs for each hub is provided, as well as proposed recommendations.
The following recommendations are provided for the Rhodes/Liberty Grove Activity Hub:
• The existing Rhodes Community Centre is to cease to be used as a community hall once Rhodes Multipurpose Community Centre is operational. The following options are provided for the site
o Option1: Retain site for other community purpose
o Option2: Dispose and redirect funds for community use
• Promote and increase the use of the 1st Yaralla Sea Scouts hall and access to this facility
• Develop a new temporary Rhodes Community Centre (short term). Temporary facility to be a staffed, ground floor community space within the Rhodes development area providing development programs, community information and community building connections
• Develop a new permanent Rhodes multipurpose community hub (medium term). A neighbourhood level, staffed hub to include:
Street level access
A function space
Community office space
Youth space
Study space or library link
Cultural space
Program space
Indoor court
Family and children’s services
Storage
Commercial space.
• A cost estimate of $13 million is provided for the hub. This has been secured by a Voluntary Planning Agreement by Council. This document also identifies the need for an indoor recreation facility in Rhodes Peninsula.
Advisory Document: Rhodes Concept Plan for Foreshore Park and Community Centre (March 2010)Advisory Document: Rhodes Concept Plan for Foreshore Park and Community Centre (March 2010)Document: Concept Plan for Park and (March 2010)Document: Concept Plan for Park and (March 2010)
This is an advisory document prepared for Council, not an adopted Council strategy. Professor Toon comments that based on standards for open space provision, Rhodes Peninsula would require approximately 40 hectares of open space (with a total population of 15,000 following completion). It is noted that nearby parklands including Brays Bay Reserve and Bicentennial Park provide valuable open space, while access to these spaces is somewhat limited.
The document provides an initial concept design for the Community Centre and identifies essential criteria as the location of activities, vistas, the central walkway, planting themes, and footprint of the community centre.
Community Harmony Strategy (March 2010)Community Harmony Strategy (March 2010)Community 2010)Community 2010)
People from a culturally and linguistically diverse background may experience considerable disadvantage including language barriers, isolation, limited access to and participation in programs and limited understanding of government processes / their rights.
The Community Harmony Strategy identifies opportunities for Council to assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to access Council’s services and facilities – through community education to enhance community harmony. Together the Strategy and Action Plan guide the development and delivery of Council services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The Strategy and Action Plan are based on four key result areas:
• Access and equity
• Leadership
• Community Harmony
• Economic and cultural opportunities.
Key objectives outlined in the Strategy for 2010-2012 are to:
• Develop an understanding of the cultural diversity in the community
• Determine, consider and act where possible on the needs and issues of the different culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the City of Canada Bay
• Recognise and celebrate cultural diversity within the community
• Ensure that all residents of CALD backgrounds are informed of and have an understanding of Council’s roles and responsibilities
• Ensure that information produced by Council is accessible to all members of the community
• Provide opportunities for residents of culturally diverse backgrounds to communicate and engage with Council and its activities.
The Place Plan and recommendations it contains will incorporate the perspectives of members of the community from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. According to the 2006 Census, within Rhodes Peninsula the main cultural and linguistic groups are:
• Korean
• Chinese
• Hindi
• Italian.
Within these communities there is considerable variation between the needs of longer term residents and more recent arrivals, which needs to be considered as part of the Place Plan.
As many as 42% of respondents who took part in the Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey spoke a language other than English at home, and focus groups were held with Chinese and Korean speaking members of the community.
The Rhodes to Employment: Economic Development document outline the Rhodes to Employment Program (R2EP), an initiative of the City of Canada Bay Council’s Economic Development Unit. The unit aims to assist the economic, environmental and socially sustainable development of communities.
R2EP aims to promote Rhodes a subregional business centre which “provides sound investment and a fantastic place to work”. Key initiatives or programs include:
• An online resource for existing and prospective tenants, and leasing agents
• Accompanying print collateral directing the above market to the site
• An online resource for existing and new employees including the promotion of recreation facilities, sustainable transport and local businesses
• Local businesses will be provided with an opportunity to participate in a program offering special discounts to employees within this region.
These programs are identified as ongoing programs with no end date specified. A future extension of R2EP may include:
• An integrated Community Wellbeing Program
• Christmas Market featuring local businesses
• Promotion of the Bike Plan to encourage cycling to work
• Promotion of local events.
R2EP is closely linked to the FuturesPlan20 and aims to fulfil objectives relating to the development of a healthy and prosperous community.
Rhodes is a specialised centre which provided an estimated 8,000 jobs in 2009, in Rhodes Waterside shopping centre, Rhodes corporate park and smaller businesses located around the Peninsula.
The Place Plan needs to consider the perspectives of workers and business owners. Approximately 20% of those who took part in the Community Survey worked in Rhodes Peninsula and another 2% were business owners in the locality. A focus group was also held with people from a range of local businesses.
The City of Canada Bay’s Cultural Plan aims to direct the development of appropriate infrastructure and encourage support for creative industries in order to strengthen cultural identity and community wellbeing. Development of the Plan involved an extensive consultation process to identify key issues and opportunities.
The Plan outlines the existing situation and identifies the key directions and components that help to define the culture of a place. They are:
• Partnerships, policies and protocols
• Cultural infrastructure
• Creative industries
• Town centre and the urban environment
• Local environments and the foreshore
• Cultural heritage
• Community cultures.
Directions of particular relevance to the Place Plan process are outlined below.
• Expand the capacity of Canada Bay to support multimedia, visual arts and crafts especially in relation to community workshop and exhibition space
• Explore the potential for adaptive use of existing Council, commercial and industrial spaces for cultural uses including youth arts, artist studios, temporary exhibition and project spaces and creative industry start-ups
• Expand the capacity of outdoor venues and main streets to accommodate a range of cultural events and programs.
• Developing the capacity of Canada Bay’s town centres to work well as locations for creative industries especially new and emerging businesses
• Expanding both studio/workshop space and exhibition space for local artists and designers
• Working with commercial and corporate creative industries to maximise opportunities for joint provision of services, facilities and marketing.
• Ensuring that public art and design are integrated into both new development and town centre improvement work
• Supporting the role of community programs, events, festivals and gathering as part of town centre animation
• Ensuring that town centre heritage is articulated in the built environment and community spaces.
• Developing contemporary expressions of past stories, people and places and public sites.
• Creating links between existing and new communities through well designed cultural initiatives
• Leveraging the identity and connections of people across the city through their participation in sports and recreation activities for community and cultural outcome.
City of Canada Bay Public Art Strategy 2008City of Canada Bay Public Art Strategy 2008City Canada Bay Public Art StrategyCity Canada Bay Public Art Strategy 2008--2013 (July 2008)2013 (July 2008)2013 (July2013 (July
The Public Art Strategy promotes the inclusion of public art across a range of spaces and areas within the City of Canada Bay. It is intended as both a practical guide as well as a source of inspiration; exploring themes developed though community consultation, identifying key sites and exploring opportunities.
The Strategy highlights the important contribution public art can make to developing community culture, celebrating diversity and encouraging creative spirit in communities.
The following principles are provided for the planning and delivery of public art:
• Respond to the culture of Canada Bay in a context of local and global interactions
• Reflect the cultural, social and environmental significance of the area
• Create opportunities for community engagement
• Realise a quality interaction between art, architecture and landscape design
• Achieve sustainable design and fabrication
• Exemplify excellence in public art and design.
The Strategy includes an action plan which aims to achieve the objectives of the Strategy through the identification of opportunities and key projects. Key directions and actions of relevance to the Place Plan are:
• Develop a public art strategy for Rhodes as a matter of priority to maximise integration of art and development
• Develop appropriate public art projects as an integrated part of town centres and public domain improvement (Rhodes is identified as a priority area)
• Recognise the potential for adaptive use of existing disused commercial and industrial floor space for cultural ventures
• Ensure that town centre heritage is articulated in the built environment and community spaces
• Through the Canada Bay Public Art Strategy develop a ‘River’s Edge’ Project featuring a series of interconnected artworks at key sites along the foreshore (Rhodes Park is identified as a key site)
• Incorporate cultural input and community participation into interpretive artworks and public art
• Develop public art, interpretive work, oral histories and industrial artefacts to celebrate the working heritage of Canada Bay’s foreshore
• Develop public art strategies for the new community and cultural facilities
• Hanging rails and display boxes in community centres and libraries for rotational exhibitions and temporary art projects.
This is an advisory document prepared for Council, not an adopted Council strategy. It outlines key objectives for design of the public domain, as:
• To increase the diversity and utility of the public domain to enable as wide a range of environments as possible to be experienced
• To increase the legibility of the public domain to exploit the natural and man-made attributes of Rhodes to give specific locations, areas and streets a distinctive identity
• To capture the potential of the public domain to exploit the natural and man-made attributes of Rhodes by creating distinctive urban places.
This advisory document identifies the major opportunities for open space within the Peninsula as:
• The central foreshore open space and community centre – proposed urban park with:
o Community centre at northern end (incorporating cafes)
o Amphitheatre for events and social gatherings
o BBQ facilities with outlook over the bay
o A range of uses such as outdoor chess, tennis courts or beach volley ball courts – to be determined in liaison with community
o Short term car parking.
• The central parkland in Precinct B – 14,000 sqm incorporating:
o Small grassed oval suitable for informal ball games, gatherings, picnics, open-air activities
o Pedestrian plaza incorporating shops, services and community facilities.
• The Town Square – proposed meeting space with commercial and community uses adjacent to Rhodes train station – for markets, outdoor dining and special events during the day and night.
• The ‘market town’ – a mixed use retail, commercial and community precinct adjacent to the Town Square to provide for the increased catchment of an additional 10,000 people (to a total of around 25,000-30,000) due to the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge. This space is proposed to complement rather than compete with the Town Square.
Other proposed works identified in this document included:
• Foreshore walkway / cycleway – proposed improvements to increase levels of public use and amenity.
• Shoreline Drive and Walker Street – access and landscaping improvements.
The survey is available upon request in English, Chinese and Korean
FocusGroup:Business FocusGroup:Business
Monday 5th March 2012 6-7:30pm
Rhodes Council Office, Blaxland Road
Attendance: 5 local business representatives
• The Cycle Club meets for coffee near Rhodes Shopping Centre. The area caters well for them with many bike paths. Close proximity to the station and water.
• I like being able to live and work close to home, but at the moment there is no good reason to hang around in Rhodes after 5pm. Rhodes has got lots of potential… A good example is Homebush.
• Parking is reasonable. It’s a central hub with no parking meters, but in the future with extra people it will need extra parking for residents and visitors.
• People who work in the corporate Business Park can walk across the foot bridge and along the waterfront and visit nice parks.
• I work in Rhodes and sometimes return on the weekend to use McIlwaine Park, but it’s too crowded. The park at the bottom of Mary Street needs to be modernised. Rhodes Foreshore Park is suitable for older kids but the equipment needs to be upgraded. More sun shading is needed. McIllwane Park is well used by residents and visitors. It’s crowded because of the BBQ areas and it’s used by a particular group on weekends. Parking is limited on weekends. Peg Paterson Park is suitable for young children but can be shaded and cold because of the tall buildings.
• There’s an ice-cream truck and coffee van, Café to you. It’s well serviced and there’s parking.
• McIlwaine Park caters for older and younger kids and it’s well known because you can see it from the main road.
• Rhodes Shopping Centre and the café at the northern end of Rhodes are okay. But there is nothing to bind these areas together. There are no shops or cafes in between.
• A lot of people get off the train. There’s no one going down the north end of Rhodes, and Rhodes east also misses out.
• Daytime is catered for but more is needed [in Rhodes] at night. Like in Concord, people go there to eat, also like George St, Strathfield. We need more restaurants to encourage people to eat here.
• Some sort of entertainment is needed.
• Encourage after hour’s vibrancy. We need common seating areas that can be used during the day because a lot of people are at work indoors all day long. They need somewhere they can take a sandwich and sit outside. Public toilets are also needed.
• A lot of young families come as singles or couples. They come here to start their families. Disabled access (for parents with strollers) is really important.
• The parks don’t have BBQs.
• There is inadequate parking outside my pharmacy. Parking is an issue and is urgently needed particularly for customers with limited mobility. It was suggested that the bus stop outside the pharmacy is moved to a nearby disabled parking space.
• I like how clean and modern Rhodes is. It attracts a lot of young people. At the moment it’s not over crowded, but it’s starting to get more congested, particularly in terms of pedestrians. Crime could get worse as more people come to the shopping centre that are from outside Rhodes.
• There are limited bus connections. There is no way for people from Newington and Wentworth Point to come to Rhodes. We need to help people to come so they can enjoy it. They need to solve the bus transport issue. There is limited bus access and limited knowledge of bus routes / limited frequency of bus services.
• We need more interconnectivity. Also, people waiting at bus stops are exposed in bad weather. There needs to be better weather protection provided.
• Connectivity is good for cyclists but not so good for others.
• There is good train access, but more trains and train lines are needed to other places. Hundreds of people use the train. Services should offer more convenience to Strathfield. There are no public phones in Rhodes West. A post office is also needed.
• This side of Blaxland Road (Rhodes East) looks terrible compared to Rhodes West.
• Customers can park. Streets are wider and safer for pedestrians, with more traffic signals (particularly around Mary Street and Walker Street which was described as an area where pedestrians currently cross unsafely).
• Brighter, more well lit streets around the top end of the Peninsula.
• We need a pub. Existing parks are useless unless there is a coffee cart, gathering spots, things for people to do. These things will bring people out of their homes. A few benches for people to have lunch in the park, with shade and seating. Unless more parking is provided people will live like hermits with no friends able to visit them.
• Participant suggested a large parking station over the train station, making use of the available space and allowing for a more appealing streetscape, free of parked cars.
• If we’re inviting families they’re going to have kids and a new primary school is needed.
• The nearest Primary School is Concord West and this is pushed to the limit. A new school wouldn’t be within Rhodes precinct, but a school is needed. There is also demand for Day Care. People need extended hours child care (long day care) because they’re working, rather than preschools.
• Accessible, clean and modern, not over crowded, family oriented, safe, affordable.
• Precinct D should be the entertainment centre because it offers exposure to the station. “Another Norton street”.
• Business people could use the indoor sports centre for sports at lunchtime, making the centre a business in itself.
• There is a huge need for medical facilities in Rhodes. We are currently turning people away and are desperate to build on servicing needs (like pregnancy care). Interested in opportunity for larger medical centre in Precinct D or other commercial precincts. This would need disability access and to meet parking requirements for GPs.
• The Town Square should include cafés, restaurants, parking, seating, trees.
• We would like an opportunity to expand our medical business. More consulting rooms with drop off / pick up points are needed.
• The ‘live” is ok [as in live, work, visit Rhodes], but we need to look at the areas of “work” and “play” in Rhodes.
• Off ramp (under Homebush Bay Road, needs new signs. Go straight from right hand lane incorrectly).
• Kiss and ride outside train station – need more space on both sides.
• Need roundabout at Walker, Mary and Rider Boulevard
What activities would you like to see in the new Community Precinct?
• Baby health nurse
• Basketball
• Indoor soccer
• Badminton
• Indoor recreation facility like Five Dock Leisure Centre
• Library facilities (3 participants).
FocusGroup:Chinesecommunity FocusGroup:Chinesecommunity
Thursday 8th March 2012 6-7:30pm
Library
Attendance: 7 members of the local Chinese community including (interpreter)
• I’ve lived in Rhodes for four years. It’s convenient to the CBD. It’s only 30 minutes away. It’s within walking distance of shops and the foreshore and parks. I don’t need to spend time mowing the lawn.
• I moved to Rhodes in 2006. We were trying to buy a cheap big house and at that time this was the only place we could do that. We like it more and more and then have an investment property for our son. We like Rhodes and tried to engage in activities in the area.
• What I like about Rhodes is that there’s a lot of new development going on. I actually like the way the area is changing…but with so much change it’s quite important to have a voice…to make sure planning of the area is done well.
• I’ve lived in Rhodes for three years. Like living here rather than in a house. There’s less gardening job. The environment is good. We can walk, go to Olympic Park.
• I really like this place. It has the train, you can go shopping for food. I really like the area.
• I moved to Rhodes about 7 years ago. When I visited IKEA I found the area. You feel “young somehow” being in Rhodes. Walking, shopping, transport are all good. So convenient. I like buildings lower than 10 storeys. I don’t like 25 storey buildings. I joined a group two years ago. I’m concerned about overcrowding and safety issues, but I like Rhodes.
• The good parts. It’s new and pleasant on the western side.
• It’s physical location – access to the train and the fact that it can’t spread any further geographically.
• It’s vibrant like great cities.
• Planning – it needs parking etc. Want more shops.
• Council should be thinking about future location of Rhodes. It’s a Peninsula. The density is a factor but not a key factor. It’s all about the planning…its key to how you build a facility.
• The good thing about Rhodes is that this (consultation session) is happening. Council is making an effort to listen to us. It’s a high profile place and government is taking an interest in getting the planning right.
• More shopping is needed – spread out across the Peninsula.
Post it notes – Like now do not like:
• Shopping
• Transport easy
• Path along waterside for walk
• New buildings for a modern feeling
Water view
• New Suburb
Bicycle
Historical bridge to Meadowbank
• Both railway and bus
Transport
Shopping
• Park and foreshore living
• Location
• The ‘Peninsula’ – Rhodes can’t do “Urban Spread”
• New buildings, shops, cinema, water, cycleway, etc
• Walk trail park
• Shopping situation
• Bicycle path
• Planning for the Community Precinct should not just consider…
• Sport is an important part of life. Recreational facilities could be conveniently located in the Community Precinct. It’s a small area so even things like table tennis, badminton would be good. There is already a gym near the shopping centre.
• Indoor soccer was suggested by two participants. One suggested that recreational facilities could be free to use or charge a small fee.
• Small library kiosk.
• A tennis court. There’s a big population at Rhodes but limited facilities.
• Half court basketball.
• A bike track would be good. Bike businesses including a bike hire place would be good – like in Homebush.
• Parking is hard during the weekend for visitors. Should have a resident parking permit not 2 hour parking. Residents and visitors need parking.
• Based on the population, indoor sporting facilities would be good. Rental bikes to use to ride between Rhodes and Wentworth Point is a good idea.
• I’d like an indoor swimming pool – Cabarita pool is good. Several swim in Cabarita and Olympic Park pools.
• A primary school is needed. It needs to be within walking distance. Bring back the old school (that is on the site of the old Community Centre). There is limited childcare available in Rhodes. I’m sure there will be further demand for childcare in the future with all the young families living in Rhodes, and in the shopping centre there is a waiting list of two years.
• IKEA makes the shopping centre parking too difficult. It’s time for IKEA to give back to the residents
• 80% of cars on local roads go to IKEA…and they leave their IKEA trolleys around too. There needs to be a better balance between the needs of residents and visitors.
• It would be nice to have a Chinese grocer shop. (All agreed with this statement)
• Wall to block noise from rail track
• Dog control – educate dog owners
• Roads to be improved
• No IKEA
• New Asian supermarket
• A primary School
• A Community Centre
• MP Office
• A Big Playgroup
• Education and a Child Care Centre
• Improved transport for growing population.
• Theme park
• BBQ
• Sporting Centre
• Open or Indoor Tennis Court / Volley Ball
• Traffic and Parking – Its getting out of control
• Stronger council/community planning for the whole area.
• A wall of trees between the railway track and Walker Street. If you put a real wall there people will put graffiti on it [Others liked this idea]. Alternatively, a mural could be created in this location.
• Better than Chatswood (noisy, crowded, no water views)
• Mini Shanghai – we need to maintain the exclusivity of Rhodes but not at the expense of residents. [What is it you like about Shanghai and Singapore?] It’s easy for western and Chinese people to be there. They feel like integrated and comfortable places.
• Shanghai and Singapore are very clean and regulated (with clearly defined shop boundaries). They are focused on more exclusive living. Those cities are easy to get around with very clear signage…There’s lots of community going on at ground level. I’ve never worried about the height of buildings.
• I like walking along the waterside…because getting around everywhere people need to be aware of regulations. So many newcomers to Rhodes don’t know how to behave. More community education is needed to enable enjoyment for all.
• We could start a community group and meet to discuss community education ideas.
• When I look at Council’s website it is clear that the foreshore is an onleash dog area, but more education of dog owners is necessary. Dog dropping bags are needed. Education of dog owners needs to be supported by Council for instance through information given to new dog owners when they register their dog. We could also communicate with people about responsible dog ownership through strata bodies and building noticeboards.
• Group members discussed the role of Council and its rangers in regards to management of dogs in public spaces, commenting that Council has only limited resources and participants did not expect Council to manage this issue singlehandedly. A Chinese speaking Community Liaison person was suggested who could work with community volunteers to give members of the local community a voice and share information about Rhodes with newcomers.
• Not too many high buildings. That is, no more than five 25 storey buildings. They would block the sun, make wind tunnels and increase population density.
• Well maintained Foreshore Park near the Meriton building (Sienna by the Bay).
• Population density is high so we pay more rates than other parts of the Council area. We need more care taken of the area by Council and strata owners – including regular cleaning.
• The 27 Leeds Street affordable housing proposal has no parking. It will have a negative impact on the vision for Rhodes and particularly the Blaxland Road area. Developers should not be able to use this affordable housing loophole via the State Government to develop this type of housing stock which is not consistent with the Rhodes area.
• We need to put a lid on development of this type.
• 500 apartments is too high. There are some 20 storey buildings near the waterfront with no setbacks.
• Council has to say no to any further developers seeking to exploit the affordable housing legislation. The only way to make your voice heard is to talk to Councillors and MPs.
• Tree wall planted between rail track and Walker Street
• To be inner West CBD
• Luxury living suburb with a balance of shops, space and units.
• Safe community with good social life
• Provide enough facility for education and medical treatment
• A “mini version” of shanghai, Hong Kong or Singapore.
• Easy to walk around
• Calm traffic flows
• Clean, safe and enjoyable
• A better meeting venue
• Clean and quiet
• More children playing in parks.
• Top class design. A different variety of plants including some tropical plants – in a hothouse like in the Botanic Gardens.
• Better utilise natural light and champion green building design. The community centre should be well designed.
• A meeting room for all communities to use.
• A mah-jong room.
• A ballroom for dancing.
• Badminton.
• Space for a choir.
• Not a church, but a community gathering space.
• “Everybody wants to go in and relax…A place for people to come here and feel at home”
• Something similar to Meadowbank – where you can learn English and get support with your resume. My mum goes to a place where she and other older people get this kind of support from Ryde Council. All Rhodes people go to Ryde.
• Cooking class.
• Chinese club in Eastwood – good for doing dancing and singing.
• Room for everybody / with kitchen facilities.
• A hall / multipurpose space.
• The Chinese community is very family oriented – the space should allow for this.
• A place to celebrate Chinese cultural events like dragon boat festivals and Chinese New Year.
• Tai Chi, singing and dancing.
• Access to English classes like the Meadowbank TAFE government supported English course.
• Early morning for Kung Fu
• Chinese people always walk after work – between 7.30-8.30pm. Lots of people walk. Chinese people walk around the foreshore in groups, so much so that the paths are becoming overcrowded. It’s hard to get past.
• [In the evenings]. If there is a town centre in Rhodes, a chance for people to gather with places to sit and coffee shops – the people who want to get together and talk and smoke could go there, and it would free up the walkways for people who are walking for fitness, etc.
• Public art should be contemporary. Several participants agreed with this.
• Simple, small public art – in parks and along walking paths.
• Hand out flyers (in Chinese) along the foreshore walkway from 7.30-8.30pm any evening (weekdays or weekends) all year round. This is a really good way to reach newcomers as well as longer term residents.
FocusGroup:Koreancommunity FocusGroup:Koreancommunity
Saturday 10th March 2012 10-11:30am
Attendance: 2 members of the local Korean community (including interpreter)
• Lots of people who live in Rhodes have small dogs in their apartments, and dogs are part of their families. Dog parks (including off leash areas) are needed now and in the future so dogs have space to run around. Dog poo bag dispensers and rubbish bins are also needed. Space for dogs is particularly important as people get older and many will be living alone. Suggested areas:
• Adjoining Concord Hospital carpark
• King Georges Park on Concord Road
• Facing railway line in Concord, near Liberty Grove.
• A community vegetable garden for Rhodes would be good as well as more restaurants and sports facilities. Sports facilities are mainly located in Concord and Concord West. One or two tennis courts or a basketball court would be good.
• Low growing flowering trees like Crepe Myrtle and frangipani trees would be good in Rhodes streets. The newer variety of Crepe Myrtle has been planted in Balmain, Richmond, Blacktown and Penrith and makes the streetscape really attractive. We could attract visitors to Rhodes to a Crepe Myrtle or frangipani festival.
• Convenient
• Connected
• Peaceful and quiet (after construction finishes)
• Well located
• Good views of water
• Opportunity for this to be a quality area
• I’m very happy at Rhodes. It’s well connected to the Olympic Park site and Newington village. The proposed bridge (to Wentworth Point) would be so good, creating a walking link to Silverwater.
• People know what to do noise wise [ie they know how to live in a considerate way in higher density housing]. I like the open space areas in front of buildings. People can go to cafes
• I find Rhodes very comfortable to live, extremely convenient. The train service to me is very satisfactory, but can be quite crowded in peak hour. Trains are every 20 minutes in peak hour and every 30 minutes at other times. There is a bus which goes up and down Concord Road (M41/51). Public transport is quite satisfactory. If I’m organised and walk a bit further [from home in Rhodes] I can catch the ferry to the city.
• When I saw the buildings at Rhodes I actually noticed a lot of good buildings there. Concord West has poorly developed apartments that are not appealing and tend to attract investors rather than owner occupiers. In Korea apartments are built with double glazing for temperature control and energy saving. Electricity is going up. Council should consider these design features when approving new developments. I like the appearance of the buildings. They are like serviced apartments.
What do you dislike? / What would you like to see changed or improved in Rhodes?
• An underpass underneath Rhodes train station for pedestrians to walk from east to west. At the moment there is a lift which does the job, but some people have a phobia of lifts and if someone gets in with a bike it doesn’t have room for many people. Many older
people can use the stairs [overpass] but it’s not always going to be possible for them to do this. Either a bigger lift or an underpass is needed providing access from east to west. People from the west can access McIlwaine Park. At the weekend the park is fully used, overused, and after that there’s litter everywhere. There needs to be more signage, more rubbish bins and more prompt rubbish removal.
• Extend the walkways around Bicentennial Park and Rhodes shopping centre.
• I don’t go to Rhodes often [from Concord] but if there was a library it would be good.
• A community centre would be good with lots of activities for young people and seniors – such as playgroups, pilates, yoga, tai chi. Seniors activities could be during the day, with other activities in the evenings.
• The centre should be supported by Council financially [subsidised] and it should have good activities that benefit local people, such as counselling…for family issues, domestic violence and support for new arrivals. For instance, Korean people currently go to counselling services in Lakemba.
• Shopping trolleys lying on the road. This is linked to the 2 hour parking. People can’t be bothered because they need to go to all different locations to do their shopping [it can’t be done under the shopping centre roof].
• I live in Llewellyn Street and shopping trolleys are often dumped there, in the water and in the park. I have called the centre about this several times in the past. Our street is also used by staff who work at NAB, Nestle and the commercial park. There is no time limited parking in our street. Since Council undertook a survey on this issue it has become worse. Half the street is now a carpark.
• I don’t go to Rhodes [from Concord West] because traffic is bad and so is parking. I tried 3 or 4 times, but now I just don’t go there. At weekends it’s particularly bad because probably half of Sydney goes to IKEA.
• We need an overpass over Concord Road (as people get stuck there, particularly on Saturday afternoons), and infrastructure improvements to help residents living there [in Rhodes].
• The Country Link train goes past Rhodes but doesn’t stop there. Why couldn’t it stop there and pick up some additional passengers / help to decrease traffic.
• I have two kids and if they miss the train in the morning I have to pick them up and drop them to Strathfield. I don’t think every half hour is frequent at all. Sometimes there are no trains. And there is a lack of coordination with connecting trains at nearby stations, and connections between bus and train.
• The shopping centre doesn’t offer much. Maybe if I walked [from home] it would be okay, but if I want to do all my shopping (such as groceries plus shoe shopping) I go somewhere else like Burwood, Macquarie Centre or Top Ryde.
• I don’t go there either. When I walk I go there, but not if I have to do grocery shopping. Harris Farm is expensive and the food shops are not conveniently located near one another within Rhodes shopping centre.
• When I was recently overseas I felt like people were more peaceful, positive, not always looking for more. In Australia I feel a bit threatened. I feel more conscious of safety. Korean communities are more calm. We need to try to educate the community about how to stay safe.
• People who come from Korea not long ago find it hard to understand me. We need some education for new arrivals about living in high density areas – re music, partying, picking up after their dogs, being considerate of others.
• 30 years ago some neighbours were concerned about Asian people moving into the Rhodes area. The Asian community has grown considerably since then but attitudes may not have progressed much among some members of the community.
• Include information about community safety. As people come and go from Rhodes this issue is really important. There are some opportunistic people around. We were robbed four times by people who lived out of the area. There may be a perception that people who live in Rhodes are from rich countries. More police presence may deter people and education of people in the community that this can happen and how to stay safe would be good.
• The nearest police station is in Burwood. We need more security. So far so good, but where there’s people crime can happen. Police response times have been slow.
• I’d like to see a little bit of change but not too much [over the next 10 years]. I don’t want to see 60 storey buildings, but I don’t mind 25 storey buildings. It makes Rhodes a landmark – it gives it a modern feeling. One side is very modern and one side is like a village. I quite like that. You can’t do too much because Rhodes is a peninsula. I’d like to see Crepe Myrtle trees in the streets –something to give it a unique impression, that sort of good reputation. And maintain all the walkways. I’m getting older; I deeply need the pedestrian underpass [at the train station].
• A bigger shopping centre like Westfield. Improve the parking. A more active community with a variety of uses. Improve access for older people. Lighting at night around the south of the Peninsula is bad.
•
Just giving comfort. Somewhere you can rest.
• If the bridge is going ahead it would be so good. As a resident that would extend my walking track. I love Rhodes. It connects to everywhere: to Bicentennial Park, Cabarita and to Putney and Meadowbank. This bridge would open up access even wider – along the foreshore to Silverwater. And these linkages provide views of the water all around you. There is a café near Silverwater Jail that is very nice. I would love a café at the Community Precinct. Transport is reasonable. Once the buildings are finished I think it will be a quiet place. Sometimes because of where I live [in Sydney] I can get more work because I can get to jobs more quickly than other people. Mostly people are very friendly. It’s a nice place, it’s safe at the moment and there are a lot of parks.
• You can see the water. It’s peaceful and quiet. As long as you build quality buildings it will attract other people who want a ‘peaceful life’ – people who you can get along with even if you don’t know them.
• Opening up the bridge could also be problematic [as well as positive]. People in Rhodes are more settled than those who may come to Rhodes from the Silverwater area.
• Need good signage in community centre (how to find meeting rooms and what’s on in rooms).
• There are lots of young people with kids in Rhodes. They’ll need a child care centre.
• There are a lot of child care centres in Rhodes but these are profit aimed. I think Council should have a child care centre. [It was noted that Council child care is available at the Wellbank Centre].
• Central Park needs a kind of amphitheatre so people can watch outdoor performances / movies.
What type of public art would you like to see in Rhodes?
• Art – wherever it’s possible. Ryde Council has a wooden boat sculpture that works well. It’s high up so it doesn’t interfere with the use of public space around it.
• Run competition for artists and community to get involved in public artworks.
• Public art should be everywhere. In Manly they have art along the walkway to Shelly Beach – cheeky, small mermaids and dolphins stuck into the rocks here and there. When I walk there it gives me such a sense of pleasure.
• Have themes for parks. Some Council’s use things like Buddha that are out of place. Rhodes is a very modern place so it has to work with the buildings and water theme, but not too abstract. Ryde Council has quite nice things along the water. Also Scarborough has a small park with a big boat. The size of the artwork is wrong. It’s too big. Public art should be good, quirky and appropriate. The ship building memorial near McIlwaine Park needs upgrading to remove graffiti.
What is the best way to let the Korean community know about future Council activities?
• Community papers
• Leaflets
• Direct mail
• Korean churches / grocery stores
• For young people eg those seeking accommodation in the Rhodes West area: hojura.com
• For older people: Korean papers
• For children and parents - Schools: North Strathfield, Concord West, St Ambrose
• Korean language schools for children (church based, Strathfield, Greenacre)
• Evening meetings would be best for working people. Daytimes is fine for mums. Not when Korean language school is on (Saturdays) and not on Sundays when church is on.
Wed 14th March 7:30-9pm
Library
8 members of the Rhodes
Introductions / What do you like about Rhodes?
• I‘ve lived in the area for 25 years and have always loved Rhodes as a place – with nearby train station and parks. It’s got a lot better since its industrial past.
• I’ve lived in Concord and Concord West for 40 years and work in the area [as a policeman]. I love the beauty of the area. Crime is low and we have a fantastic community that respects us. It’s a good community – that communicates well and has lots of ownership. There is a large rental population in the area and maybe they aren’t seen to be as involved in the community as others. There is a lot of pride in the area.
• Has lived in the area 47 years.
• Has lived in Rhodes since 1963. It was like a country town community. It has good facilities. I can drive to Waterside to do my shopping. There are picture theatres.
• Lives in Blaxland Road Rhodes. Attraction for husband was steam trains. It was a lovely peninsula in those days.
• Moved to the area as a 14 year old, to Arthur St Concord. Like the area and have seen many changes. There is a lot of traffic on roads. A lot of older people are dying off and lots of young families are moving in. It’s a wonderful area to bring up children. There is not a lot of crime. It’s a wonderful area to live in. Okay, there is a lot of traffic.
• Moved to Rhodes in 2006 because of its affordability and location near water.
• Has lived in the area since 2008. Values access to trains / city, works at Olympic Park. Rides a bike to work every day - great bike paths connecting to Olympic Park.
• It has changed for the better – when we moved in it was a stinky dirty place.
• There was only one road out at the time of the 1983 explosion.
• There are places to sit and watch other people. [Several participants nodded]
• Nice walks.
• There’s been some cultural diversity over the years – with Italians, Greeks, and Caucasians. But where there’s a major group from one community that becomes a bad thing eg Burwood. If we’re going to have a cultural centre it should bring everyone together, not become insular / used by one group only.
• Yes, to help create cultural diversity.
• Everybody’s coming in one big lump. We’ve get to do something to bring people together.
• We wanted Rhodes to be all one community. I don’t necessarily like all the high rise. We don’t want it to be a Liberty Grove style gated community.
• Like the convenience of having Rhodes shopping centre so close by.
• You’ve got to consider different age groups. It’s convenient to park there.
• You have good connections – trains, ferries, buses.
• It’s easy to get in and out of the place. I hardly run my car. If there was a ferry closer than Meadowbank, I’d use it more. Like that there will be improved access to John Whitton Bridge for ferry connection.
• We go for walks in Rhodes and do our shopping. It’s a much shorter drive than Concord. There are some very good shops/good variety but it’s not too big.
• You always run into a neighbour in the shopping centre.
• There are a lot of children in the area now, something we have never had to deal with previously. It brightens up the place. People in units may want a bigger place once kids get older. We may have lots of families with children who move out of the area. Would be good to have a place for the Mums and bubs group to meet other than in a restaurant.
• McIlwaine Park is a great place for children. It has brought the community together.
• There are people who are going to have 2-3 kids in their units. We need to provide for them. We need to have facilities for 5,6,10 year olds.
• Cultural/age diversity. If children are playing together they are going to come together culturally.
• You can walk through Bicentennial Park to Olympic Park – there are plenty of wide open spaces not far from our front door.
• Address traffic congestion and full trains during peak hour ie 7:30-8am. More ownership by shopping centre about amenity – with lots of trolleys left around the Peninsula.
• I’ve heard that IKEA is considering putting a trolley return in at the train station, instead of considering a better solution to this behavioural problem. There are a lot of dogs in the area in high rise. People should look after their dogs to ensure Rhodes stays pristine. There is a dog café just off the Bay Run (Café Bones at Canal Reserve, Leichhardt). Provide an area where dogs can have their activity and dog owners can socialise.
• At Shepherds Bay Meadowbank new trolley deactivation technology is being used effectively to stop trolley dumping. The beauty of this area is public transport use, but this means that people take their shopping trolleys to the train station.
• Trolleys also end up in the park and in the bay.
• Council should supply a pull along shopping cart to all new residents.
• We need to get people to understand the alternatives to using a trolley.
• Cycle/pedestrian access from Walker to Blaxland Road needs to be improved.
• Consider potential environmental (eg climate change) events and accessible exit points for the Peninsula.
• My biggest fear is possibility of high rise fire.
• Need a resident parking scheme. There is limited parking. People always park in Rhodes East. Couldn’t get out of driveway so took taxi to work or limited parking restrictions. I’ve counted 20 disabled stickers on cars near Rhodes station. They all have the proper disability ticket but I’ve watched them get out of their cars and they are not people with disabilities.
• Noted that driving parking is illegal and police action can be taken relating to misuse of disabled stickers.
• We want the community Centre to be a place we can use.
• It’s a slow road to assimilation / integration and if we want that too soon it’s counterproductive. You really do need culturally specific activities to begin with, and then once people feel comfortable they are more likely to feel they can more confidently participate in the mainstream community. For some cultures study centres and ethic specific cultural workers and youth workers are needed. Eg employing a casual worker for 1 day/weed or finding a service that might have an outreach worker who can work in Rhodes.
• Most of them don’t go. A lot of them like to stay here.
• The Justice of the Peace service at Rhodes shopping centre gets well used because students need paperwork signed off.
• Village atmosphere and social integration.
• Cater for older people – plenty of seating in parks and shopping centre.
• Remain clean and tidy – not fall into disrepair.
• Cafes by the water, nice restaurants.
• Car free area, except for emergency vehicles and vehicles for older people.
• A lot more street lights like a mini Shanghai – pretty neon lights.
• Well situated lighting.
• A nice walking area for mums with prams, better parking.
• Would like to see Peninsula serviced by shuttle busses with no timetable as the shopping centre is an awkward distance for some residents, particularly for people carrying shopping. i.e. bus that runs continuously and stops when hailed.
• John: Good lighting and CCTV is important at peninsula exits points. This would be helpful for police. Olympic Park area has good lighting. A youth centre is important for kids 12-18…they should be able to come down from their units and have some fun without being seen as pests.
• Needs a low cost gym facility.
• There is a gym in the shopping centre and at Concord Hospital but they aren’t used very well.
• Need youth centre buzzing with activities. Not together with the Community Precinct. The arts is very important especially when you’re working with people from different cultures. What works well is arts festivals where all community participates in arts. The children and parents work together and a good community arts officer is employed to coordinate these projects.
• Want to see BBQs, ping pong in park. Now the park is just there but not well used. Tennis, badminton or soccer would also be good.
• Community garden.
• These people are living in units and being able to get out into the garden is really important, especially with a big Asian community.
• A facility like Five Dock Leisure Centre – with football, gymnastics, badminton etc.
• My son goes to the fitness centre but you have to pay. Not everyone can do that.
• A meeting place, social area.
What activities would you like to see in the new Community Precinct?
• One big space where you can have concerts, dancing, basketball. Smaller areas where you can have smaller rooms for quilting and art classes, storage for play groups and kitchen for 21st birthday parties etc.
• If it’s going to have a flat roof, use the space there – for a tennis court/ hockey etc.
• Kokoda Track style undercover BBQ area. Multiple areas with activities that can be booked / put away. E.g. Burwood Park large chess, bocce.
• A community hall with room dividers that can be rented out for multipurpose uses – such as meetings, parties.
• Good idea but usually funding is problematic. Bonnyrigg has a great Youth Centre, but they only have funding for a community worker 1.5 days per week.
• [Opportunities for mix of commercial space compatible with community uses to generate income.]
• Kokoda Track BBQ areas, and buildings in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens (which can be rented out) work well.
• Ping pong, dancing, swimming.
• Tai Chi in Burwood Park. She’s thinking of doing that in Mill Park. To hire a bike you pay $12 for 1.5 hours at Olympic Park. We could have bike hire places in Rhodes and wouldn’t then have to get home from SOP after dropping the bike back.
• A seniors’ exercise group with instructor would be good or carpet bowls.
• Somewhere I can deposit my library books. Eg with books collected / dropped off to Concord Library once per day.
• Also order books on line and pick up from.
• Interesting talks, similar to what we have now at Concord Library.
• That may be a way of getting across cultural interaction.
• Good acoustics – would like community choir. A place to play games.
• Darling Harbour is exciting. Let’s make this place interesting. There is a lot going on in the area / development. Make it more interesting – eg a water fountain or art installation in the water where people can sit and have a coffee and look at the water / enjoy the moment.
• Spans on bridge need to be wide enough to allow rowing.
• Table tennis, cycling, gardening, talks (eg about politics, the environment). I wouldn’t mind volunteering several times a week to work in the new Community Centre.
• There needs to be a better connection between the bus stop and footpath, opposite Rhodes mini market. There is hardly any space for people to get off buses which stop here. This is a brand new bus stop but is a danger hazard.
• Another dangerous area is King Street from Liberty Grove to the station.
• Ensue the footpath is improved along the whole side of Blaxland Road (points 18, 19, 20 on map).
• The underpass is very dangerous.
• Sceptical as provided input into place making forum least year, but ideas not included so far.
• Police would value access to population projections to plan for crime activities.
• The @Rhodes community newsletter is really valuable for people who can’t come out to activities like this.
• A Dragon Boat training area should be included – good for promoting cross cultural recreation.
Wed 21 March 6:30-8pm
Attendance: A total of 8 representatives from Tanner Apartments, Huxley North Rhodes, Bates Smart building, Precinct A, Cox Richardson building, Precinct A, and 50 Walker Street
• We all like living in apartments. Rhodes is a great area and a long time established area now. The planning days are over. We’d like to fine tune a few things. I moved to Rhodes from 5 acres of land. I don’t have to travel far to shop. There are no lawns to maintain. It’s a totally different lifestyle.
• It’s a rather nice area. We came from a suburban home. It was much too big and we lived in two rooms. My daughter was working in Rhodes and was worried about the area. As soon as we arrived we wanted to live here. We could walk across the road and go shopping. It was close to the water, with a nice aspect, and a bird sanctuary in walking distance. We have lived here for 5 years. We were initially promised no high rise over 8 storeys in Walker Street, but this is no longer the case. It terrifies us that Rhodes will have 12,000 people with only two roads in and out.
• I love it here. It’s very convenient and exciting. I feel so calm here. We walk our dog near the water. I’d like to see a community heart including a place for retirees to meet.
• We love it here. We’ve come from a large family home – we downsized and bought an apartment for the very first time in our lives and have a great lifestyle now. We have lovely views, walks and bike riding tracks. We can get to Bicentennial Park with the grand children…Rhodes is developing to be even lovelier than we first thought. I’m a horticulturalist and help look after the garden areas. My partner likes bike riding.
• I like it because it’s very similar to where I lived in Hong Kong. Apartments are very close to the water. We like Rhodes Foreshore Park and the foreshore walks. I want to know more about Rhodes / investment in the local area. I’m disappointed there is only one road in / out. I was recently disappointed to hear about the proposal for a 700 unit development in Leeds Street.
• I downsized from my home in Haberfield. I’m disappointed about the change in interests / maintaining the amenity and look of the area. It’s important to make sure it is well maintained and kept attractive. I feel safe walking my dog at any time of night, but I’m
also not sure that Rhodes has a community heart. It may lack a sense of connection. We need to encourage a feeling of community. I like the green areas / gardens.
• I was able to secure a great apartment in Rhodes with views to the surrounding area. I love watching the sun rise over the Harbour Bridge and watching the sun set over the Blue Mountains.
What do you dislike? / What would you like to see changed or improved in Rhodes?
• No more high rise above 8 storeys. Improved communication – I have not received responses from Council to several emails –including an email concerning a traffic safety issue.
• I’m concerned about extra residents and traffic. Need to address traffic impacts though traffic calming measures. There are only two in and out roads for the Peninsula.
• Parking is not resident friendly – for residents and their visitors. I can understand the need for timed parking all day, but not for residents.
• Agreed, there should be provision for resident parking, just like there is in other areas. Willing to pay for a resident parking permit.
• Traffic and parking is an issue from 7am-7pm, 7 days a week. Our family come to visit and get booked for parking in the street. There is speeding traffic along Rider Boulevard turning right into Homebush Bay Drive (see 1 on plan).
• There is very poor visibility for vehicles coming out of Nina Grey Street.
• There is a 50km speed limit but inadequate signage to communicate this to drivers.
• Need traffic calming, particularly near the child care centre.
• Wouldn’t like to see more abandoned cars in the street. There are two still there. It’s not a nice look.
• We have been pushing the issue of street cleaning for 2 years. Rider Boulevard near the shopping centre has just been swept. Council should be encouraging residents to report incidents eg need for more bins at Walker Street near Billbergia and the corner of Mary and Walker (near Thai restaurant).
• I have been told there is a missing link for grey water recycling within our building. Council needs to proactively engage with developers to improve opportunities for water recycling and other sustainability initiatives.
• Trolleys make the place look untidy. I’m sick to death of seeing trolleys in the street. If shopping centre / Council put bollards up people won’t be able to get the trolleys. Or a coin return system could be used.
• I support use of people’s own trolleys – or use of incentives to return trolleys / censors. The shopping centre should do more regular pick ups.
• We know we can phone the shopping centre to advise of dumped trolleys, but we don’t want to have to do this every day.
• Council could impound dumped trolleys and the shopping centre would have to pay a fee (eg $35) to pick each trolley up.
• It gives you the feeling that retailers are more important in this community, whereas residents feel like they are coming last.
• We live on the side of Timbrol Ave which is not yet signposted, but we have visitors that don’t know it has upper and lower sections. Sign needed on Timbrol Avenue at corner of Walker Street to address this. Council customer request number 86657869.
• Mary Street sign is missing at Rider Boulevard. Council customer request number 86660037.
• The intersection of Shoreline Drive and Rider Boulevard is used by many people and in peak hour this intersection is very congested. A roundabout or lights is needed to improve this.
• If the Wentworth Point Bridge goes ahead there will be buses.
• The intersection of Leeds Street and Blaxland Road is very unsafe and requires traffic signals.
• Big trucks over 5 tonnes are not appropriate in a high density area such as Rhodes. This poses noise and safety issues. Want to restrict large trucks at night.
• Construction vehicles are not always covered, as per this requirement, resulting in loose dirt on streets. Council customer request number 86660042.
• Improving the friendliness of the area will maximise the value of the area. Gardens and median strips need to be maintained, particularly along the train line.
• Agreed, the gardens are a big drawcard.
• The gardens were good but some are no longer well maintained, as developers only do this for a set period of time.
• Concern re more people living in Rhodes and how to keep the area clean of litter.
• Improved cleanliness of the area is required, especially on development sites. Council customer request number 86660046.
• It would be lovely for a restaurant.
• Function centre and meeting space.
• Social club.
• Social club / cafeteria – where you could go for a meal with friends/neighbours.
• Seniors club.
• Community garden.
• Tennis courts, half court basketball.
• Table tennis (x 2 participants).
• On balmy summer nights Foreshore Park and walking paths are very well used.
• Nice café near water where cyclists can have a drink.
• Tai Chi / Chi Kung.
• Smaller meeting rooms for activities like card making, genealogy, Tai Chi, café, dog friendly café – like Café Bones.
• Ensure residents in the area around the Community Precinct are not impacted by traffic and noise.
• The Community Precinct should be a place for people who live around here to use for their interests. Eg Men’s Shed / Women’s Shed (for those who have downsized), knitting club, space for Probus / Rotary Clubs who can organise outings / events.
• Provide vehicle / mini bus for group outings eg to Nelson Bay.
• Move Council’s Rhodes Office there. Provide Council facilities so that residents can pay rates / access a full service office). Provide an annex to the Concord Library (several participants noted they would use this). Rhodes is a long way from Council’s Chambers in Drummoyne.
• There is a need for more childcare (2 participants)
• Employ a coordinator to manage facilities.
• Rhodes has a number of advantages. We have magnificent transport – buses and trains. In Tanner, 60% of units are rented and 40% owned. Renters mainly go to uni. They may not have the same commitment to the area as owners. We need people to keep the area clean and tidy, and free of illegal dumping.
• The 40% of people who do the right thing (owners) require extra assistance from Council to get the remainder of the community on board eg fines for illegal dumping, littering.
• On Friday mornings, garbage bins block street access for pedestrians and cyclists. Can the garbage collection times be staggered to avoid this?
• Council’s maintenance crews are also scheduled for Friday mornings – better coordination of Council’s maintenance teams is needed to minimise access problems for the Rhodes Peninsula community.
• There is a lounge which requires removal from Rhodes Foreshore Park. Council’s cleansing team was alerted to this issue.
• Rubbish bins and dog poo bag dispensers are needed on Rider Boulevard, Mary and Walker Street. Council customer request number 86661113.
• Grass cuttings were left for 2 weeks, resulting in grass dying. Needs to be cleaned up promptly in future.
• Traffic turning left into Concord Road from Averill Street currently exits via a single lane. Greater access is needed eg by opening up the end of Leeds Street.
• Washing on balconies looks terrible. Strata managers need to manage this better / better design so people can use lines.
• Reduction of noise is needed on railway – caused by goods trains.
Date: 4 April 2012
Attendance: This focus group attended by approximately 16 mothers with babies or young children in the upstairs restaurant space at the Rhodes Shopping Centre
Introductions / What do you like about Rhodes? And What’s working well? Things people like about the Rhodes area:
• User friendly shopping centre
• Shopping centre parking is easier than other areas
• It’s easy to get around
• McIlwaine Park – really like the play equipment
What would you like to see change? Things people would like to see in the next 5-10 years:
• Library
• Ferry service – extension to Rhodes
• More shops/restaurants throughout Peninsula – beyond shopping centre
• More shelter from the sun, especially in parks
• More public toilets in parks, especially near where parents with young children go
• Information about where mums with young children can go, including information about availability of change tables and public toilets etc. Communicate this clearly through signage and Council’s website.
• Example of information needs: one mum wanted to know more about a particular jogging group for mums with babies/ prams (in Homebush Bay area). Need to incorporate information about a range of services on Council’s website, not just those provided by Council.
• Need more parking near parks which families visit. Cost of parking is an issue.
• More picnic / BBQ areas in parks. Currently visit parks in Rhodes more for ‘quick stops’ rather than longer days out as facilities are limited. Perhaps consider providing power points and taps near BBQ areas (for using electric grill or inflatable castle – has used similar facility in park in Homebush). These should be well spaced to ensure no potential for kids splashing water near electrical point.
• Toilets in McIlwaine Park are dirty and old – not good for changing children or to use and feel safe.
• Maternal Health Care service and playgroup in Community Precinct.
Neighbour Day Event: Place Plan consultation activities (Marquee 1)
Saturday 24th March 2012 2-5:00pm
Attendance: approximately 178 members of the community (Marquee 1)approximately members the community (Marquee 1)
• New resident, approx. 20 years: I’m renting in Liberty Grove and am about to move into Rhodes. There are enough cafes around here already. You don’t need to turn it [the Community Precinct] into Southbank of the Yarra River. There’s a place for everything. Rhodes needs to have a good balance. It’s good that open space will be kept. I like the wording “replacement backyard”. That’s what people need.
• A community centre would be a great idea. I would like a farmers market. The problem with Rhodes is that there is only one way to access Liberty Grove.
• I’d like the community centre to be a place you can hire for birthday parties. It could have art shows and a kids play group.
• Resident, approx. 40 years: The community centre would be good for parties (free of charge). It would be good to have a meeting space, and a place for people to learn English and find out more about Australian culture. I would like to see people in Rhodes more happy. In Ryde and West Ryde people are happier [as members of the local Chinese community are able to participate in a range of activities in their local community centre].
• Resident, approx. 35: A hall for yoga lessons would be good.
• More public toilets are needed in Foreshore Park. It’s difficult for people who come here with their kids but there’s nowhere close by if one of the kids needs to go to the toilet. That’s why McIlwaine Reserve is so popular [because it has public toilets].
• Resident, approx. 60: A lot of people who live here [near Foreshore Park] are rental people and don’t mind the community centre plans, but I own here and I do mind. People use this park for running , playing, riding bikes. A big park is better than a community centre. McIlwaine Park is big and good. I think the community centre should be moved to Central Park.
• I think Rhodes Foreshore Park should be used for public events [like this one], BBQs and sport. It’s close to where we live. If you don’t want to have a day out, people can use the existing area [Foreshore Park] without having to go far from home.
• Resident, approx. 60: For five years this area is getting better. Every building has a pool, sauna, gym. There’s no need for those types of facilities in the community centre. I think the community would use a library with places for studying, school, preschool, high school and shopping close by. In Ryde / West Ryde they have a library.
• Couple, residents of 1 year, approx. 45 years of age: I want to see Tai Chi in Foreshore Park. Lots of people do Tai Chi in Burwood Park in the mornings and at weekends. The Wentworth Point community centre seems well organised, with a good web presence. At the moment the centre of Rhodes seems to be the shopping centre. 2015-16 is too far off for delivery of the Community Precinct. You need a community centre before you build a community. On warm summer evenings you see lots of residents walking along the foreshore in large groups of family and friends. I don’t necessarily want to participate but I do want to see people walking, doing Tai Chi, etc.
• A community centre would be good. At the moment everybody [in the community] sort of goes their own way. I’m worried that the community centre might take away the views of people who live just behind Foreshore Park.
• Look at other areas for park design – eg Pirrama Park (Pyrmont), Iron Cove Bridge Park (Rozelle)
• Community Precinct should include half court basketball, small sided soccer.
• Allow for a small wine bar, not a pub or tavern.
• Tai Chi and yoga in the park.
• Resident, approx. 60 years: Interested in the Town Square. Encourage use of the Town Square for open space and food court or wine bar, but not for a pub / tavern. Potential for noise, antisocial behaviour, rubbish. Library kiosk where you can drop books back without going to Concord Library.
• Resident, approx. 30: We need parking permits for residents. I don’t mind if we have to pay a fee for them but at the moment having only 2 hour parking makes it impossible for people like us who don’t have a garage. Residents in other areas have parking permits. We need more restaurants. The place needs to be more friendly for people to have a meal at night and walk home.
• Couple, approx. 50: There are too many weeds along the foreshore. They have been there since the river foreshore areas were dredged years ago. We can’t wait until the foreshore link opens up!
• I would rather see 8 storey buildings in the Station Precinct than the taller buildings which are proposed. Access to the station is really important to me though.
• Three further individuals / couples were interested in finding out more about the Station Precinct and were directed to Marquee 3.
• Make Rhodes more child friendly
• Dog friendly areas are needed.
• Fabulous place to live but parking is a nightmare – need residents stickers.
• Shopping trolley bays are needed around the Peninsula.
• More restaurants, cafes
• Good pet friendly apartments. Need parks, dog tidy dispensers.
• Buildings are too high – out of character. They stand out, especially those that have above ground car parking.
• Traffic management / calming is needed on Shoreline Drive when it’s completed.
• Provide park and ride from Rhodes station.
• Local schools are currently at capacity.
• Future planning needs to take into consideration infrastructure demands including schools, traffic and roads.
General comments on consultation:
• It’s great that Council is talking to us today.
• It’s great to see the effort Council is making to find out what we want.
A total of 30 surveys were completed face-to-face with people in who attended the Neighbour Day event, but may not have participated in the interactive activities on the Place Plan (in Marquee 1).
What do you like most about Rhodes Peninsula (Rhodes and Liberty Grove) as it is now?
What would you like to see change in Rhodes Peninsula over the next 5 (up to 3 responses)
10 years, to help make it a great place to live in, work in or visit
Which is the most important change to you?
• Would like dance group, kids activities eg Gymbaroo, cubby corner.
• Visits often as great for kids. Could be more support for all age groups for activities. Need affordable halls and centres to
• I like Rhodes because it's new, there are friendly people. It's good living.
• We need resident parking permits
• More local cafes/shops beyond (ie not inside) the shopping centre
hire.
• Traffic management infrastructure and schools are needed. A signalised intersection is needed at Homebush Bay Road that tells you how long it will be before the lights chan
ge.
• Keep density as it is. Do not increase.
• Congratulate Council on today's event. EPA to keep monitoring pollutant levels. Keep density down. Provide a pergola in Rhode Waterfront Park with seats for elderly people to rest.
• Street art is a great idea.
• Love the Neighbour Day event. Canada Bay has set a precedent on increased building heights impacting other LGAs.
• Gauthorpe Street is very dirty - with long grass and lots of rubbish. Residents don't pick up after their dogs.
All aspects of the vision for Rhodes Peninsula attracted community support
Intergenerational and cross cultural engagement opportunities and ‘markets’ attracted the greatest l
– with the exception of ‘sustainable design / materials’ evel of support (n=8).
Active green spaces (n=7), walkable (n=7), and healthy (n=6) were also popular
Other aspects of the community’s vision were: vibrant (n=4), after hours activity (n=4), community gardens (n=4), natural env (n=3), mix of small and large retailers (n=3), welcoming (n=2), connected (n=2), other (ie more seating in parks, cycling infrastructure) (n=2), and accessible (n=1)
A total of 9 people took part in the visual survey.
• Image 3 of children playing in Pirrama Park (Pyrmont) attracted the greatest level of support (n=8). Many liked images of Rhodes as it is now – including the Rhodes West foreshore (n=7), Rhodes shopping centre (n=6), public open space to the east of Rhodes train station (n=6), foreshore pedestrian / cycle path (n=6), and ‘feed grain seed’ public art in Mill Park (n=6).
• Image 1 of a public space in Oregon (Portland) was the most disliked due to its unkept appearance and need for maintenance. Image 9 of the John Whitton Bridge was disliked by several respondents (n=4) who commented on the need to upgrade this area.
•
• Image 1 – One person liked this image of a public space in Portland, Oregon, commenting on the importance of open space between development sites. Six commented that they did not like this image because of the ‘unkept grass’, ‘impracticality’, need for ‘maintenance’ and lack of trees.
• Image 2 – 6 people liked this image of Rhodes shopping centre, which was described as: ‘great as it is’, ‘very appealing’, ‘welcoming’. One respondent did not like it as it is: ‘too stark, too much concrete’.
• Image 3 – 8 people liked this image of children playing in Pirrama Park (Pyrmont), which was described as: ‘fun for kids’. This type of water feature may be particularly appealing on hot days as an alternative to the Parramatta River (which is not suitable for swimming).
• Image 4 – 5 people liked this image of Rhodes train station. However, they commented on the need for ‘better services’ and ‘more east-west links’. One disliked this image
• Image 5 – 6 people liked this image of the public open space to the east of Rhodes train station. It was described as ‘nice and calm’, ‘very attractive’ and with ‘nice shade’. One respondent did not like this image – suggesting ‘native trees and native grasses’ should be used in landscaping.
• Image 6 – 5 people liked this image of women exercising together. Comments included: ‘Builds community’, ‘would be fun’, and ‘I love multiculturalism’.
• Image 7 – 4 people liked this image of an open space and playground area in Liberty Grove.
• Image 8 – 4 people liked this image of the stone wall near the John Whitton Bridge, and 2 disliked it.
• Image 9 – 4 people liked this image of the John Whitton Bridge, with 2 commenting on its ‘heritage value’. Four respondents did not like this image, commenting that it: ‘is old and outdated’, ‘needs fixing up’ and needs ‘more lighting and landscaping’.
• Image 10 – 6 people liked this image of the foreshore pedestrian / cycle path, which was described as ‘nice , clean and spacious’, ‘beautiful to walk along’, with ‘interesting paved elements, bikeways’.
• Image 11 – 5 people liked this image of a public space area, with one commenting on the use of ‘native grass’. One disliked this image, describing it as ‘harsh’.
• Image 12 – 5 people liked this image of men playing outdoor chess, commenting that it ‘builds community’, is ‘important to have community activities’ / ‘involvement of people in public space’.
• Image 13 – 6 people liked this image of fresh food markets, commenting: ‘like outdoor activities encourage people to
interact’, ‘fabulous idea’, ‘like very much!’, ‘great community’.
• Image 14 – 6 people liked this image of ‘feed grain seed’ public art in Mill Park. Comments included: ‘Heritage remembered’ and ‘history of Rhodes helps to “belong” to community’.
• Image 15 – 7 people liked this image of people walking along the Rhodes West foreshore. Comments included: ‘Great walkways’, ‘beautiful’, ‘public promenades’.
• Image 16 – 3 people liked this image of Mary Street looking west towards Homebush Bay, commenting on the ‘attractive streetscapes’. One respondent did not like this image.
• Image 17 – 5 people liked this image of Pirrama Park (Pyrmont), which was described as an ‘ideal meeting place’ and ‘very open and welcoming’.
• Image 18 – 5 people liked this image of mothers and their children reading together. One commented this activity ‘brings mums together’.
Many of the initial ideas for the Place Plan under each of the ‘five aspects of place’ attracted community support – with the exception of ‘Live/work/study support’ and ‘Neighbourhood Facebook’.
• ‘Local shops, community gardens, community centre, cafes, bars / pub, restaurants’ (n=8) and ‘Traffic management and parking’ (n=8) attracted the greatest level of support.
• ‘Markets – fresh, farmers, arts and craft and general’ (n=7), ‘Community Precinct, Town Square, Central Park, open spaces, etc’ (n=6), ‘Community and cultural development’ (n=5), ‘Community groups / activities’ (n=5), and ‘Access to childcare and schools’ (n=5) were also popular.
• Other ideas for the Place Plan were:
• Cafes, eateries, restaurants, licensed premises (n=4)
• Markets
• Child related facilities ie care (n=2)
• Schools in the area
• Sports programs
• More community / open space facilities without the need for denser apartments (ie 25 storeys).
Community comments on the Community Precinct were:
• Indoor children’s play area (Gymbaroo)
• Library / internet café
• Space for cinema in Rhodes
• Space for concerts / performance
• Only one storey!
• Café
• Skate park / place to hang out with mates
• Markets
• Live entertainment
• Restaurant, café, kiosk
• Food festival in park
• Annual food festival / encourage multicultural activities
• Place where people can learn English / about Australian culture
• Place for people to access support
• Room for parties (free of charge)
• Yoga classes
• Not too noisy
• Open park
• Community fitness classes to promote healthy lifestyles (small charge only)
• Public child care for growing population
• Small library
• Access to archived video documentaries (eg Thursday night documentary evenings where you can watch a documentary and discuss it).
• One level building / not too tall
• Open space / nature
• Regular fortnightly markets / stalls – something like the Moonlight Markets at the Rocks
• Library, indoor badminton, yoga, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, dancing
• More eateries – Rhodes has such potential to have a ‘Norton Street’ / ‘Major Bay Road’ restaurant feel.
• Leave it exactly like it is. It’s going to be too crowded if you develop more units or shops.
• Art school for kids
• Library, basketball.
Just under 70% of survey respondents were residents 15% were visitors.
Which part of the Peninsula do you live or work in?Which part of the Peninsula you live or
More than one third of residents and workers who took part in the survey lived in Area A, as shown below. More than half lived in Rhodes West (56.1%) (Areas A, B, C and D), 16.3% lived in Rhodes East (Areas E and F), and 15.3% lived in Liberty Grove (Area Another 4.6% worked in the shopping centre / commercial precinct (Area G).
of Rhodes Peninsula. Around one in five worked in the Peninsula and just under H).
Suburb
Which suburb do you livesuburb do you live in? in?
Suburb No. Abbotsford Bankstown Bass Hill Blacktown Breakfast Point Burwood Cabarita Chatswood Concord Concord West Cronulla Croydon
Which suburb do you liveWhich live in? in?in?
Eastwood Fairfield Five Dock Glenorie Glenwood Gordon Hurlstone Park Kellyville Liberty Grove Lindfield Meadowbank Mount Colah North Epping
Which suburb do you livesuburb do you live in? in?
North Ryde
North Shore
Parramatta Prestons Putney Rhodes Seven Hills St Ives Strathfield Summer Hill
How long have you lived or worked in Rhodes Peninsula?How long have you or worked in Rhodes Peninsula?
Sydney Telopea Toongabbie Turramurra Wentworth Point West Ryde Wongawilli had lived in Rhodes Peninsula for more than three years. Another 31% had lived in
More than half (52.7%) of all participating residents the area for between one and three years, while 16.3% had lived in Rhodes Peninsula for less than 12 months. These residents likely to have diverse interests and needs. Importantly there is a need for community engagement and community development strategies that target diverse members of the community and provide opportunities for longer term and newer residents to come together and interact.
are
The Rhodes Peninsula Community Survey was completed by people from a range of age groups age. Just under one third of respondents were aged 26 under 10% were aged 25 years or under. And 8.8% were aged 65 years or over. The survey sample was broadly representative of the adult population of Rhodes Peninsula.
– including many people of working 35 years (28.5%), and another quarter (24.6%) were aged 36-45 years. Just
As many as 42.1% of respondents spoke a language other than English at home. This compares with 38% of residents of Rhodes and Liberty Grove who identified as being from a non English speaking background in the 2006 Census.
Among survey respondents the most commonly spoken languages were:
• Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) (n=51)
• Indian (Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Marathi) (n=14)
• Korean (n=12).
Other languages spoken were:
• Tagalog (n=5)
• Greek (n=3)
• Spanish (n=3)
• Italian (n=2)
• Vietnamese (n=2)
• Malay / Tamil (n=2)
• Arabic (n=1)
• Japanese (n=1)
• Hungarian (n=1)
• Armenian (n=1)
• Latvian (n=1)
• German (n=1)
• Lebanese (n=1)
• Portuguese (n=1)
• Dutch / Flemish (n=1)
• Russian (n=1).
Just under three quarters of survey respondents owned / or were purchasing their home. Another 25% were renting their home. Reference to 2006 Census data suggests that renters were slightly underrepresented in the survey sampl who were renting their home in Rhodes and Liberty Grove in 2006.
More than half of all survey respondents lived in an apartment. Over one third lived in a house and around one in 10 lived in or townhouse. This is broadly consistent with the areas within Rhodes Peninsula where survey respondents lived; more than half of all survey respondents lived in Rhodes West (56.1%), 16.3% lived in Rhodes East, and 15.3% lived in Liberty Grove.
e – with 36.9% of residents a semi
Residents of Rhodes Peninsula who took part in the survey lived in a range of household / family types. As many as 40.5% were couples with children at home and another 24.7% were couples with no children working age people living in Rhodes. As noted previously in this report, many survey respondents plan to have children in the five years or have young children now who will be starting school within that timeframe.
– suggesting there is a large proportion of young /
Just under one in five respondents was single include a mix of local and international students. The broader population projections and survey results suggest that over th few years, the proportion of lone person households is likely to increase, in line with population ageing.
next e next
– either living alone (9.3%) or sharing (8.8%). Many of these households are likely to ho have downsized from other suburbs to Rhodes and Liberty Grove.
Approximately 7.9% of survey respondents were couples with children who have left home. This demographic group includes both long term residents of Rhodes as well as those w Approximately 3.5% of people who took part in the survey lived in an extended family household.
The most common modes of travel to work or study identified by res walking (10.0%, n=23) and bus (8.7%, n=20), as shown in the graph below. Please note, while 10% of respondents (n=23) walked to work or study, only a third of these (n=8) onlywalk, transport.
pondents were train (51.5%, n=118), car (46.7%, n=107), rather than walk to work or study in combination with other modes of
The average time spent travelling to work or study was 38.6 minutes, with just over 40% of all respondents travelling to work than 30 minutes. Commuter travel times are suggests that car commuting is particularly harmful to social connection (Grattan Institute 2012). The survey and focus group research indicates that many residents of Rhodes a transport that it offers.
Time spent travelling to work/studyTime spent travelling to work/studyTime travelling toTime travelling to Travel time no.
Averagetraveltime
in less
widely recognised as an important aspect of quality of life and recent research nd Liberty Grove strongly value the area for the convenient access to public
G (n=9) (n=9) 44.4 44.4 11.1 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 73.3 73.3 23.3 3.3
Walkingpaths/linkstothewiderarea: Walkingpaths/linkstothewiderarea: Walkingpaths/linkstothewiderarea: Walkingpaths/linkstothewiderarea:
Area Area Very wellVery wellVery Very Okay Okay Okay Okay Not very wellNot very wellNot wellNot well
A (n=72)A 46.5 50.7 2.8
B B B B (n=12) 58.3 58.3 25.0 16.7
C (n=10)C (n=10) (n=10) (n=10) 33.3 55.6 11.1
D (n=16) (n=16) 37.5 43. 18.8
E (n=18)E 22.2 50.0 27.8 27.8
F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14) 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 35.7 14.3
G (n=9) (n=9) 44.4 44.4 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 60.0 60.0 33.3 6.7
Bikeridingroutes/linkstothewiderarea: Bikeridingroutes/linkstothewiderarea: Bikeridingroutes/linkstothewiderarea: Bikeridingroutes/linkstothewiderarea:
Area Area Very wellVery wellVery Very Okay Okay Okay Okay Not very wellNot very wellNot wellNot well
A (n=72)A 40.8 39.4 9.9
B (n=12)B 41.7 50.0 8.3
C (n=10)C (n=10) (n=10) (n=10) 60.0 60.0 60.0 60.0 10.0 10.0
D (n=16) (n=16) 37.5 43.8 12.5 E (n=18)E (n=18)E E 22.2 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3
F (n=14)F (n=14) 28.6 50. 0.0 G (n=9) (n=9) 44.4 33.3 0.0 H (n=22)H (n=22) (n=22) (n=22) 56.7 56.7 56.7 56.7 30.0 13.3
Area Very wellVery Okay Okay Not very wellNot well
A (n=72)A 5.6 38.0 45.1
B (n=12)B (n=12)B B 16.7 41.7 41.7
C (n=10) (n=10) 20.0 30.0 30.0
D (n=16) (n=16) 18.8 37.5 43.8
Peninsula Place Plan
E (n=18)E 5.6 27.8 55.6 55.6
F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14) 7.1 14.3 57.1 57.1 57.1 57.1
G (n=9) (n=9) 22.2 33.3 22.2
H (n=22)H (n=22) (n=22) (n=22) 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 36.7 33.3
% %% %
A (n=72)A (n=72)A A 34.3 37.1 8.6
B (n=12)B 33.3 50.0 8.3
C (n=10) (n=10) 30.0 20.0 10.0
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 31.3 50.0 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
E (n=18)E 23.5 52.9 5.9
F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14) 42.9 42.9 42.9 42.9 21.4 0.0
G (n=9) (n=9) 22.2 33.3 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 50.0 50.0 43.3 6.7
% %% %
Area Very wellVery Okay Okay Not very wellNot well
A (n=72)A 29.6 53.5 14.1
B (n=12)B 25.0 66.7 8.3
C (n=10) (n=10) 20.0 80.0 0.0
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 25.0 37.5 31.3 31.3 31.3 31.3
E (n=18)E 16.7 50.0 33.3 33.3
F (n=14)F (n=14) 50.0 50.0 42.9 7.1
G (n=9)G (n=9) (n=9) (n=9) 44.4 44.4 44.4 44.4 44.4 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 40.0 50.0 10.0
%% %
Area Area Very wellVery wellVery Very Okay Okay Not very wellNot very wellNot wellNot well
A (n=72)A 5.7 32.9 40.0
B (n=12)B (n=12)B B 16.7 41.7 41.7
C (n=10) (n=10) 0.0 50.0 30.0
Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan
D (n=16) (n=16) 18.8 25.0 43.8
E (n=18)E (n=18)E E 5.6 38.9 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0
F (n=14)F (n=14) 35.7 35.7 35.7 14.3
G (n=9)G (n=9) (n=9) (n=9) 11.1 33.3 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 20.0 50.0 23.3
Area Area Very wellVery wellVery Very Okay Okay Okay Okay Not very wellNot very wellNot wellNot well
A (n=72)A 4.2 42.3 42.3
B (n=12)B 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3
C (n=10)C (n=10) (n=10) (n=10) 0.0 50.0 40.0
D (n=16) (n=16) 0.0 62.5 18.8
E (n=18)E (n=18)E E 5.6 44.4 44.4
F (n=14)F (n=14) 14.3 64.3 14.3
G (n=9) (n=9) 11.1 11.1 44.4
H (n=22)H (n=22) (n=22) (n=22) 6.7 40.0 53.3 53.3 53.3 53.3
%% %
Area Area Very wellVery wellVery Very Okay Okay Not very wellNot very wellNot wellNot well
A (n=72)A 30.6 38.9 30.6
B (n=12)B (n=12)B B 41.7 41.7 41.7 41.7 33.3 25.0
(n=10) (n=10) 10.0 30.0 60.0 60.0
D (n=16) (n=16) 31.3 50.0 18.8
E (n=18)E (n=18)E E 33.3 44.4 22.2
F (n=14)F (n=14) 14.3 57.1 28.6
G (n=9) (n=9) 22.2 77.8 0.0
(n=22)H (n=22) (n=22) (n=22) 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 43.3 16.7
Area Very wellVery wellVery Very Okay Okay Okay Okay Not very wellNot very wellNot wellNot well
A (n=72)A 53.5 53.5 42.3 4.2
B (n=12)B 58.3 58.3 33.3 8.3
Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan
C (n=10) (n=10) 20.0 70.0 10.0
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 43.8 43.8 12.5
E (n=18)E 61.1 61.1 33.3 5.6
F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14)F (n=14) 35.7 50.0 14.3 14.3 14.3 14.3
G (n=9) (n=9) 33.3 55.6 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 72.4 72.4 27.6 0.0
%
Area Very wellVery Okay Okay Not very wellNot well
A (n=72)A 15.5 56.3 28.2
B (n=12)B (n=12)B B 33.3 33.3 33.3 33.3 50.0 16.7
C (n=10) (n=10) 0.0 55.6 44.4 44.4
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 18.8 37.5 31.3
E (n=18)E 16.7 61.1 22.2
F (n=14)F (n=14) 14.3 35.7 42.9 42.9
G (n=9)G (n=9) (n=9) (n=9) 22.2 44.4 33.3
H (n=22) (n=22) 23.3 63.3 13.3
%
Area Very wellVery Okay Okay Not very wellNot well
A (n=72)A (n=72)A A 4.3 28.6 41.4
B (n=12)B 0.0 58.3 33.3
C (n=10) (n=10) 0.0 30.0 40.0
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 37.5 31.3
E (n=18)E 0.0 44.4 44.4 44.4
F (n=14)F (n=14) 0.0 46.2 30.8
G (n=9)G (n=9) (n=9) (n=9) 0.0 44.4 11.1
H (n=22) (n=22) 13.8 13.8 24.1 44.8 44.8
Very
Area Area Very
Very Very
Okay Okay Okay
Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan
A (n=72)A 70.8 70.8 26.4 2.8
B (n=12)B (n=12)B B 75.0 75.0 75.0 75.0 25.0 0.0
C (n=10) (n=10) 40.0 50.0 10.0
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 37.5 56.3 6.3
E (n=18)E 44.4 33.3 22.2 22.2
F (n=14)F (n=14) 42.9 42.9 7.1
G (n=9)G (n=9) (n=9) (n=9) 55.6 55.6 55.6 55.6 44.4 0.0
H (n=22) (n=22) 58.6 58.6 31.0 10.3
Area Very wellVery Okay Okay Not very wellNot well
A (n=72)A (n=72)A A 22.2 40.3 33.3
B (n=12)B 8.3 33.3 50.0 50.0
C (n=10) (n=10) 0.0 20.0 80.0 80.0
D (n=16)D (n=16) (n=16) (n=16) 12.5 37.5 43.8
E (n=18)E 5.6 61.1 22.2
F (n=14)F (n=14) 14.3 64.3 7.1
G (n=9)G (n=9) (n=9) (n=9) 22.2 33.3 22.2 H (n=22) (n=22) 31.0 31.0 41.4 27.6
Place Plan
AreaC(n=10): AreaC(n=10): AreaC(n=10): AreaC(n=10):
AreaD(n=16): AreaD(n=16):
AreaE(n=18): AreaE(n=18):
AreaF(n=14):
AreaG(n=9): AreaG(n=9):
The vast majority of people who participated in the consultation activities associated with the Place Plan expressed a strong affiliation with Rhodes Peninsula and identified many aspects of Rhodes and Liberty Grove which they value and want to see retained and or enhanced, as the Peninsula continues to evolve.
The aspects of Rhodes Peninsula which survey respondents liked most were access to shopping and access to public transport. Parks and open space and proximity to water were also highly valued by many members of the community.
Table: What do you like most about Rhodes Peninsula as a place to live in, work in or visit – Survey responses
Indicative quotes
Access to shopping 100 Closeproximitytoawiderangeofshops
Access to public transport (Rhodes train station, buses, ferries)
Parks and open space
Close to water / water views
Access to facilities (such as recreational facilities, children’s facilities, etc)
Access to walking and bicycle
Easyaccesstotrain;Excellenttransportoptions
Pleasantoutdoorenvironment;ParksbecauseIlikerunning; Lotsofparksandgreenareas;Openspacesandwalkways; Goodparksontheriverandopenspaces;theforeshoreparks; Wideopenspaces;Openspace,gardensandwaterviews; AccesstoopenspaceandtheParramattaRiver;Greenareas
Accesstotheforeshore;Surroundedonthreesidesbywater; Closetoriver;Theforeshoreprovidesagoodareaforwalking andleisure;Waterfrontviews
Thereisagreatbalanceofrecreational,commercial,residential facilities;accesstochildren’sfacilities
Theforeshorepaths
layout / style
Healthyvibrantculture;Fun.
Easternsideawayfromdevelopment
Focus group participants reinforced the community values identified through the survey, with a focus on the Peninsula’s: proximity to water, parks and open space areas; convenience to shops, public transport, facilities, and work; and comfortable lifestyle. A selection of indicative quotes is provided below.
Walking,shopping,transportareallgood.Soconvenient…
Iloveithere.It’sveryconvenientandexciting.Ifeelsocalmhere.Wewalkourdognearthewater Ilikebeingabletoliveandworkclosetohome…
Peoplewhoworkinthecorporatebusinessparkcanwalkacrossthefootbridgeandalongthewaterfrontandvisitnice parks.
Character and identity of Rhodes Peninsulaidentity of Peninsula
It’svibrantlikegreatcities.
I’velivedinRhodesfor25yearsandhavealwayslovedRhodesasaplace–withnearbytrainstationandparks.It’sgot bettersinceitsindustrialpast.
Ithaschangedforthebetter.Whenwemovedinitwasastinky,dirtyplace.
Members of the community described the character and identity of Rhodes Peninsula as being closely linked to the Peninsula’s waterside setting, parks and open spaces and outdoors lifestyle, cultural and age diversity, community feel (professional and family friendly), safe, convenient and clean environment, vibrant atmosphere, and cultural heritage.
Survey respondents identified a wide range of aspects of the character and identity of Rhodes Peninsula. Those most commonly identified by participants were: waterside living; parks and open space areas; and diversity.
Table: What do you see as the most important aspects of the 'character and identity' of Rhodes Peninsula?
Waterfrontparksandwalking/biketrack;Awater sideneighbourhood;Waterfront/sideliving; Riversidebeautifullocation;Accesstotheforeshore; Waterfrontliving;Accesstowaterviews
Theopenspacesaregreat;Accesstoparksgives goodoutdoorslifestyleoptions;Manygreenopen spaces;Anoutdoorsneighbourhood;Parklandsand leisurefocus
Vibrantmulticulturalism;Diversityofresidents;A neighbourhoodwithpeoplefromallwalksoflifeand fromallovertheworld;Accessforall;Multicultural anddiversity;Mixofculturesandagegroupsliving together
Familyfriendly;Thepeople;Community Safety 28
Securityatnight;Mustbeasafeplacetolive;Safe andclean
Convenience / central to everything 27
Clean environment 27
Convenience;QuietoasisjustminutestotheCBD; Providesalmosteverythingyouneedwithinwalking distance;RightinthemiddleofGreaterSydney;One stopforworkandlivingneeds
Wellmaintainedstreetsandpublicareas;Itsclean andattractive
High end, high density living 17
Communal,highdensityliving;Chicapartment living;Highriseliving;Cosmopolitanwithnewand beautifulbuildings;Exclusivearea;Premiumwhilst stillbeingyouthfulanddowntoearth;Somemodern andgooddesignbuildings;Visuallyappealing (style/qualityofbuildings,lotsofopenspaces)
IKEA;Theshoppingarea;RhodesMalldoesnotsee itselfasjustashoppingcentrebutacommunity serviceandretailcentreandoperatesbusinesses thatmakesenseforourcommunity
Mixofmoderncommercialbuildingsandresidential complexes;Modernfacilities;Newresidential communitywhichhasgivenarealboostforthe community;Modernwaterfrontsuburb;Modern living
Accessibility by public transport
Crossingofworkersandresidents;Bustling corporateidentity;Excitement;Vibrantatmosphere
Publictransporthub;Closetopublictransport
Transformationfromindustrytoresidential;The area’srichhistory;Thereisahistoryandlovely suburbiatotheeast;Itsindustrialpast.
Preservation of natural environment
While the vast majority of qualities associated with Rhodes Peninsula by survey respondents were positive, some also identifi negative aspects of the character and identity of the Peninsula. These negative qualities were often associated with change i area over the last few years. These focused on:
• Over development / overcrowding – Extreme high rise developments; No real ch many people will be crowded into one small area
• Lack of infrastructure to accompany development schools within the area needs to be addressed
aracter any more
ed n the – just lots of unit blocks; Too
– Expand infrastructure to cope with more residents/buildings; Issue of no
• Traffic congestion and increased demand for parking
– Alleviating traffic congestion on access roads; Fixing traffic!
• Reduced sense of community – The transient population with minimal personal contact.
• Lack of character in Rhodes Peninsula.
These negative qualities or potential barriers to a strong sense of character and identity were also raised by focus group participants. Current infrastructure needs and increased future demand was a key theme raised across all focus groups, as discussed in section 5.2 of the Preliminary Report.
The majority of survey respondents reported that their existing needs for community facilities, services and open space were generally well met. Community needs were best met by access to transportCommunity needs were best met by access to transport another 34.3% okay) and parks and open space areasand and open space areas as shown in the graph below.
(which met 54.9% of respondents needs very well and (which met 50.6% of respondents needs very well and another 39.5% okay),
Figure: Survey results: Thinking about the community facilities, services and open space areas in Rhodes Pen following meet your needs?
insula, how well do each of the utes /
The commercial precinct (including Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre), walking paths / links to the wider area, bike riding ro links to the wider area, kids playground facilities, and public
spaces and seating were also commonly reported as meeting most
respondents’ needs – either very well or okay, as shown in the above graph. However, in each case, between 6-10% of respondents said their needs were not very well met.
While the majority of survey respondents reported that their needs for community facilities, services and open space were well met, within the Peninsula feedback from residents and workers varied somewhat by location. Key points of difference are illustrated in the figure below. For instance, community needs for access to public transport were particularly well met in the commercial precinct (55.6% of survey respondents from this area reported their needs were being met). And community needs for parks and open space areas were particularly well met in Liberty Grove (73.3% reported their needs were met). On the other hand, mobile and internet access was not well met in several areas within the Peninsula. And community needs for sporting and recreational facilities were also not well met in a number of areas – including the Rhodes East and West, to the south of the Station Precinct.
Figure:
Survey respondents and focus group participants expressed mixed views towards current access to transport.Survey expressed mixed access toSurvey Many were regular public transport users who strongly valued access to trains, and to a lesser extent, buses and ferries. While some were very satisfied with existing public transport services, others (particularly commuters) were less satisfied. Common concerns were infrequent train services, overcrowding of trains during peak times, and poor coordination of train services with connecting train and bus services.
AccesstotherailwaystationisOKbuttrainfrequencycouldbebetter.
IfindRhodesverycomfortabletolive,extremelyconvenient.Thetrainservicetomeisverysatisfactory,butcanbequite crowdedinpeakhour.Trainsareevery20minutesinpeakhourandevery30minutesatothertimes.Thereisabuswhichgoes upanddownConcordRoad(M41/51).Publictransportisquitesatisfactory.IfI’morganisedandwalkabitfurther[fromhomein Rhodes]Icancatchtheferrytothecity.
IhavetwokidsandiftheymissthetraininthemorningIhavetopickthemupanddropthemtoStrathfield.Idon’tthinkevery halfhourisfrequentatall.Sometimestherearenotrains.Andthereisalackofcoordinationwithconnectingtrainsatnearby stations,andconnectionsbetweenbusandtrain.
Walking paths / bike riding routes were also highly valuedWalking paths / riding also highly valued valued, with members of the community seeking greater accessibility throughout the Peninsula, including improved pedestrian and bicycle safety and more bike parking.
Shorelinedriveneedstobecompleted.Iknowthisiswellunderwayhoweveratthistimethishasaffectedsomeofmyratings. Also,thefootpathalongWalkerSttothetrainstationisatrocious.Agravelpathwouldbebetterthantheunevencement(trip hazard)andmudthatitcanbesometimes.
Ifeellikethecorporate/shoppingcentreendofRhodesiswellcateredfor.Howeveritisparticularlyunsafeatthenorthernendof Rhodesforcyclistsandpedestrians.Itwouldbegreattobeabletowalk/cycletotheshoppingcentre,andhavemorebike parkingattheshoppingcentre.
Survey respondents identified the following needs as being not very well met. The most commonly identified needs were sporting and recreational facilities, public toilet facilities, meeting room / function facilities for community use, and BBQ areas. A summary of survey responses is provided below, accompanied by a selection of indicative comments from the survey and focus groups.
Peninsula?
Therearequiteafewplaygroundsfortoddlersand pre-schoolersbutverylimitedfacilitiesforolderschool agechildren.Nosportingfacilitiesandveryfewpublic toiletsbesidesRhodesWaterside.
Sporting or recreational facilities 39.9% reported their needs were not very well met
Businesspeoplecouldusethe[anew]indoorsports centreforsportsatlunchtime,makingthecentrea businessinitself.
Public toilet facilities
Meeting room / function facilities for community use
Thenewcommunitycentrewillhavetoprovide sufficientmeetingrooms/functionfacilitiesforthe growingnumberofRhodesresidents.
BBQ areas 31.5%
BBQfacilities–locatetheseoneasternandwestern side[ofthePeninsula].
Mobile and internet access 29.7%
Other shops 26.3%
Internetaccessisanotherareathatcouldimprove howeverthatisuptoTelstratoexpandtheportsinthe ConcordExchangetoprovidemorecapacity.NBN shouldfixthatandprovidegreaterchoice!
Cafes, restaurants and entertainment 24.8%
Rhodesisagreatarea-butshortoncafesand restaurantsforgoingoutontheweekendwithout havingtogototheshoppingcentre.
Wereallyneedsomequalitycafes/restaurants/barsin thearea.Currentlythere'snovibe.Thecoupleof restaurantscurrentlyinRhodesaren'tverygoodsoI endupgoingtoConcordorNthStrathfieldforfood-it wouldbenicetobeabletowalktosomewhereniceto relax,chill,grabsomethingtoeatandhaveadrinkor two.Atthemomentit'stooquietandboringatnight.
TheRhodescommunityhasn'tgotsufficient commercialcentres,restaurantsandshops.
Key issues raised by survey respondents in addition to those discussed above were the need for increased parking for residentsthe need for parking for residentsthe for and their visitors and businesses,and their visitors and and the need for a primary school.and the need forthe for Both these issues were also discussed by many of those who took part in the focus group sessions.
AsalocalIfeelcompletelyunwelcomedwhenIhavetopayforparkingonRiderBoulevard.
Theonlyparkingavailableistheshoppingplazacarparkwhichislimitedto3hours.Thelongtermcarparkingavailabilityis atrocious.Noteveryonecantravelbytrain/busandgettoRhodesandhomewithoutittakinghours.
Ontheweekend-IKEAisahugedrawcardforRhodes–thismakesparkingachallenge.
Theareaneedsanewprimaryschool.ConcordWestschoolhasnoroomtobuildnewclassroomsandisatfullcapacity.
Parks and open space areas were highly valued by members of the community, but were seen by many as being limited in size andand open space areas were valued of the community, but were size and requiring improvement.requiring improvement. Suggestions included amenity improvements (such as a kiosk, shade, and seating), a dedicated dog park or off leash area within the Peninsula, and a community garden.
I…feelthatalotmoregreenspaceneedstobeofferedtoallowlocalresidentstheopportunitytoexerciseintheopenspace seeingasthoughthree25storeyunitsarebeingbuilt.
EvenwithMillParkandMcIlwaineParkandthenewlyproposedopenspacestherewillstillbeashortfallofopenspaceper populationnumber.
Theredoesnotseemtobeanyplanstoallocateoffleashareasfordogs.Manyresidentshavedogsandtheyneeddaily walking.Someofthiswalkingtimeshouldincludeoffleashtimeforthedogstohaveabitoffreedom
Openspaceinthisareaisprovidedwellenoughforpeoplehowever,forcompanionanimalsfordogs,thereishardlyany facilities,egleashfreeenclosedparkforthem,doglitterbinsandplasticbags.Duetodownsizingolderpeoplemoveintounits inthisareaandtheyhavecompanionpetslikedogs,theyalsoneedtouseopenspacewheretheycanrunandplayfreely withoutscaring/threateningchildren/elderly/otherpeople.
Wouldbegreattohaveakioskneartheparksaswellasbettershadeandmoreseating,particularlyatMcIlwaineParkwhich cangetverybusy,evenonaweekday.
The survey respondents who were most satisfied with open space areas in Rhodes Peninsula were residents and workers from Liberty Grove (Area H on map) and those from Rhodes East (Areas E and F on map). By contrast, more than 10% of survey respondents from Precinct D / Station Precinct (Area D on map) and the commercial precinct (Area G on map) expressed dissatisfaction with open space areas.
Table: Satisfaction with parks and open space areas – by location
Area Very well (%) Okay (%) Not very well (%)
(n=72)
(n=16)
(n=18)
(n=14)
(n=9)
H (n=22)
ExistinguseofparksandopenspaceareaswithinRhodesPeninsula ExistinguseofparksandopenspaceareaswithinRhodesPeninsula
The most frequently used open space areasThe most frequently used open space areasThe most frequently open spaceThe most frequently open space in Rhodes Peninsula were Rhodes Foreshore Park and Rhodes Waterside Parkin Rhodes Peninsula were Rhodes Foreshore Park and Rhodes Waterside ParkPeninsula were Rhodes Foreshore Park Watersidein Rhodes Peninsula were Rhodes Foreshore Park Waterside – each of which were used dailyby approximately 16.7% and 14.8% of survey respondents. These parks were more frequently used on a weeklyand monthlybasis than other parks and open space areas in the Peninsula and were never used by less than 15% of
respondents, as shown in the graph below. Brays Bay Reserve and McIlwaine Park were also well used, with Brays Bay Reserve particularly well used on a weekly basis.
Mill Park, Peg Paterson Park and Rhodes Park were also enjoyed by the local community, but were less frequently used than other parks and open spaces. These three parks shared similar patterns of use from homes (Mill Park and Rhodes Park), or relatively small size / overshadowing (Peg Paterson Park).
Other parks and open space areas used by survey respondents were:
• Walkway from Liberty Grove to station
• Bridge across to Olympic Park
• Kokoda Track
• Bicentennial Park (n=3)
• Under southern end Ryde Bridge; Both sides of the Ryde Bridge
• Village Green, Liberty Grove
– possibly as a result of factors such as greater distance
• Walking path from Rhodes Foreshore Park to Rhodes Waterside Park, after dinner
• Park on corner of Concord Road and Yaralla Street.
Figure: Survey results: How often do you use the following parks and open space areas?
walking distance of their se in Area F
Many survey and focus group participants strongly valued the parks and open space areassurvey and focus group the spaceMany Rhodes Peninsula and connections to nearby Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, andRhodes and connections to nearby Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic and and oand and open spaces in the wider area.pen spaces in the wider area.pen An analysis of patterns of use of parks and open space relation to where survey respondents live / work within Rhodes Peninsula, suggests that generally use those parks and open space areas located within easy which are easily accessible, on a more frequent basis than those located further away or more difficult to access. For instance, survey respondents who lived in ‘Area A’ (in the central Rhodes West) were more likely to use Rhodes Foreshore Park and Rhodes Waterside Park basis than respondents more generally. Those who lived in Areas B and C (in the northern Rhodes West) were more likely to use Mill Park more regularly than others. Tho East) were more likely than others to visit McIlwaine Park, Brays Bay Reserve and Rhodes daily basis. Residents of Liberty Grove were more likely to visit the parks and open space
within within other parksother areas in people home / and which are part of on a daily part of (in Rhodes Park on a areas
identified in this survey question on a weekly or monthly basis.
A common theme raised by participants was the need for improved amenities in parks and open spaces to draw the community out
A common theme raised by participants was the need for improved amenities in parks and open spaces to draw the community out
A common theme participants was need outA common theme participants was need out from their homes and workplaces.from their Suggestions included fitness equipment / outdoor gym, kiosks selling drinks and ice cream, more seating for people watching and enjoying views, improved lighting, pedestrian and bicycle paths to improve safe access, more rubbish bins, more public toilets, a community garden, a dedicated dog park or off leash area and dog tidy bag dispensers. A number of participants expressed a desire to make more use of parks and open space areas through organised activities such as Tai Chi and walking groups.
Outdoorgym/fitnessequipment(asinMillPark)andoutdooractivities.
Existingparksareuselessunlessthereisacoffeecart,gatheringspots,thingsforpeopletodo.Thesethingswillbringpeople outoftheirhomes.Afewbenchesforpeopletohavelunchinthepark,withshadeandseating…
Thesepeoplearelivinginunitsandbeingabletogetoutintothegardenisreallyimportant,especiallywithabigAsian community.
Currentandfuturedemandforothercommunityfacilities,servicesandopenspace Currentandfuturedemandforothercommunityfacilities,servicesandopenspace
Current needsCurrent needs
Around two thirds of survey respondents (67.1%, n=155) rAround two thirds of survey respondents (67.1%, n=155) rtwo of survey respondents (67.1%, n=155) rtwo of survey respondents (67.1%, n=155) reported that there are other types of facilities, services and open spaceeported that there are other types of facilities, services and open spaceeported there are other facilities, services and open spaceeported there are other facilities, and open space that they would like to be provided in Rhodes Peninsula to meet their existing needs. Thethat they would like to be provided in Rhodes Peninsula to meet their existing needs. Thethat would to be provided in Rhodes Peninsula to meet their existing needs. Thethat would to be provided in Rhodes Peninsula to meet their existing needs. The currentneeds currentneeds currentneeds currentneedsmost commonly identifiedmost commonly identified by respondents were sport and recreational facilitiesby respondents were sport and recreational facilities –– with almost double the number of responses as the next most commonlyalmost double the number of responses the most commonly commonly commonly identified needidentified needidentified need. Schools, library facilities and services and parking were also commonly identified, as shown in the table below.
Table: Are there any other types of community facilities, services and or open space that you would like to be provided in Rhodes Peninsula to meet your needs? (Most common responses)
and recreational facilities
Some sports/recreation facilities like squash courts, tennis courts, badminton courts; Wharf to launch a canoe, kayak or rowing skull; Public basketball court; Table tennis…; Public swimming pool; A dedicated running track around the peninsula
NB most did not specify whether primary or high school
Parking for workers, so they do not park in surrounding streets in the neighbourhood; Parking for resident guests
Community centre to conduct low cost classes such as tai chi, belly dance; Centre large enough to
10
General amenity upgrades 10
Dog park / off leash area and related facilities
10
stage community concerts eg at Christmas or local drama productions
Safe footpaths; An underpass at Rhodes train station
Shaded foreshore park/walks; More picnic spots with BBQs and table settings with shelter
Off leash dog walking areas; A leash free (enclosed) space dog park
Many focus group participants identified a shortage of existing sport and recreational facilitiesfocus group participants a shortage of existing sport and within the Peninsula and suggested a wide range of new facilities suitable for indoor and outdoor recreation. Suggestions focused on: a dedicated indoor recreation centre like Five Dock Leisure Centre (eg including space for indoor soccer); facilities which could be provided as part of the Community Precinct (such as table tennis, badminton, half court basketball); other outdoor facilities (such as tennis courts and outdoor fitness stations). Several participants expressed a desire for a gym or swimming pool, while others commented that many apartment buildings already have these facilities.
The need for a primary school was a key issue raised in all focus groups.The need a primary key issue raised in all groups. Some commented that it may not be possible to provide a school within the Peninsula (for instance on the former school site / current community centre site in Blaxland Road). However, many commented on the existing lack of capacity at Concord West Public School and the expected increase in future demand for schools as the population grows.
Library facilitiesLibrary facilitiesLibrary Library were also identified by those who took part in the Neighbour Day activities. These were described as providing a collection / pick up point for books, with reading and study areas.
Many focus group participants commented on the existing need for parking within the PeninsulaMany focus group participants commented on the existing need for parking within the Peninsula
Many focus group participants on existing need for PeninsulaMany focus group participants on existing need for Peninsula for residents and their visitors, as well as businesses and their customers.
Many expressed considerable concern about increased demand for already limited parking, as the residential population and number of businesses within the Peninsula grows. Resident parking schemes and increased public parking provision were suggested.
Participants also identified a wide range of other current needs, as shown in the table below.
Table: Are there any other types of community facilities, services and or open space that you would like to be provided in Rhodes Peninsula to meet your needs? (Other responses)
Garbage bins / waste removal
Open space Communityveggiegarden
Markets
Health facilities / services
Children’s activities / facilities
Smallamphitheatreforentertainment,canoehire
…betterX-RayfacilitiesavailableclosertoRhodes
ManyfamiliesaremovingtoRhodes,butthereare notenoughfacilitiesforkids.Theplaygroundinthe shoppingcentreistheonlyplacetogoforkidswhenit rains.
Sustainabilityinformationandexhibitioncentre;Digital signageofeventsandservicesinthecouncilarea
AferrywharfatRhodes;Moretrains.They’retoobusy nowandI’mveryworriedaboutwhatwillhappenonce thereallytalltowersfillwithpeoplethatalsoneedto travelbytrainforwork.
Youthdropincentre.
Retail facilities Shoppingcentreupgrade;golfshop.
Approximately 40.1% of all survey respondents reported that their needs are likely to change within the next 5 years, for instance, as their children start school or family members grow older. The likely future needs most commonly identified by respondents were:
• Primary school (n=25)
• High school (n=11)
• Services and facilities for older people (n=11)
• Childcare (n=9)
• Traffic and parking infrastructure as the population grows (n=8).
Other likely future needs included:
• Children’s facilities, activities, services
• Open space and recreation
• Library facilities / services
• Public transport
• Pedestrian paths
• Facilities and activities for teens
• Activities for business
• Cafes and restaurants.
Survey respondents were asked to consider a number of statements to test aspects of ‘sense of community’ among people who liv work in, or visit Rhodes Peninsula. The high level of agreement with the statement ‘Overall, Rhodes Peninsula is a gohigh level of agreement with the statement a be’ (80% strongly agreed or agreed) suggests a strong sense of community and pride in the local area.be’ or a sense of community in the local area.be’
Figure: Survey results: Thinking about the sense of community within Rhodes Peninsula, how much do you agree or disagree with following statements?
Key elements of Rhodes Peninsula which suggest there is a
strongsense of community were:
e, od place toplace to each of the ants
• 67.4% strongly agreed or agreed ‘Rhodes Peninsula is a safe place to raise children’67.4% or ‘Rhodes is a place to children’ group participants described Rhodes Peninsula as ‘family friendly’ and ‘safe’. Many commented on the low level of crime in the local area, the high level of security within Liberty Grove and security buildings in Rhodes, with a small number of particip who live in stand alone houses commenting on burglaries.
• 62.7% strongly agreed or agreed ‘I enjoy living among people from a range of age groups’62.7% strongly or agreed ‘I enjoy living among from a of age groups’
• 55.8% strongly agreed or agreed ‘The different cultures and communities within Rhodes Peninsula make it a good place to be’.55.8% agreed or agreed ‘The different cultures and communities within Rhodes Peninsula make it a good place to be’.and Rhodes a good to be’.and Rhodes a good to be’. However, nearly 10% disagreed with this statement and another 28.3% were undecided.
• 49% strongly agreed or agreed ‘I feel a strong sense of belonging in the Peninsula’.
• 45.3% strongly disagreed or disagreed ‘I sometimes feel isolated and lonely living in the Pe
However, the results also suggest that for some respondents Rhodes Peninsula may not always be such a good place to be, as:
– Many survey respondents and focus ninsula’. veral suggested the Town Square,
• Almost half (48%) agreed or strongly agreed ‘There is not enough for me to do here at night’Almost half (48%) agreed or agreed ‘There is enough for me to here at night’ in the focus groups and Neighbour Day consultation activities, with many participants commenting on the need for more places to eat out at night, and some also expressing a desire for small bars within the Peninsula. Se Station Precinct and waterfront areas present good opportunities for outdoor dining / dining with water views.
Weneedmorerestaurants.Theplaceneedstobemorefriendlyforpeopletohaveamealatnightandwalkhome.
• Almost one third neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement ‘I can call on my neighbours for help when needed’ and another 20.7% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
• Nearly 10% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement ‘The different cultures a Peninsula make it a good place to be’ and another 28.3% were undecided.
This sentiment was also reflected nd communities within Rhodes
• Over one third (35.6%) neither agreed nor disagreed with the statement ‘I feel a strong sense of belonging in the Peninsula’. This may be related to the considerable proportion of people who are new to the Rhodes Peninsula / and or are living there on a temporary basis – whether from other parts of Sydney or overseas.
• Almost 15% (14.7%) agreed with the statement ‘I sometimes feel isolated and lonely livingAlmost 15% (14.7%) agreed with the statement ‘I sometimes feel isolated and lonely livingAlmost the statement ‘I sometimes feel isolated and livingAlmost the statement ‘I sometimes feel isolated and living in the Peninsula’in the Peninsula’in thein the Peninsula’ and another 25% were undecided.
Diversity and related perceptions were explored in the Place Plan consultations.Diversity and related perceptions were explored in Planthe Place Plan consultations. That is, cultural diversity, age diversity, economic diversity, diversity of housing status and diversity between permanent and temporary residents. While some focus group participants described the cultural diversity of the local community as being an important and positive contributor to its character and identity, others identified challenges relating to diversity within the Peninsula. Key issues raised in focus group discussions focused on:
• The need for spaces and activities within Rhodes Peninsula where members of different cultural groups within the community can come together, such as public art projects, activities and celebrations in the Community Precinct (eg Tai Chi classes, Dragon Boat racing, community garden, Chinese New Year celebrations).
Ifwe’regoingtohaveaculturalcentreitshouldbringeveryonetogether,notbecomeinsular/usedbyonegrouponly.
• The importance of culturally specific activities and opportunities – such as a youth specific facility and activities, social activities and exercise classes for older people, English classes and support services for new arrivals.
It’saslowroadtoassimilation/integrationandifwewantthattoosoonit’scounterproductive.Youreallydoneedculturally specific activities to begin with, and then once people feel comfortable they are more likely to feel they can more confidentlyparticipateinthemainstreamcommunity.Forsomeculturesstudycentresandethicspecificculturalworkers andyouthworkersareneeded.Egemployingacasualworkerfor1day/weekorfindingaservicethatmighthavean outreachworkerwhocanworkinRhodes.
• The need to address negative attitudes within the community towards people from diverse cultural and linguistic groups – for instance, through cross cultural interaction and Council leadership.
• The need to provide universal access to ensure Rhodes Peninsula is an accessible place for all – including parents with strollers and older people with limited mobility.
• Several members of the community commented that they were initially attracted to the area due to its affordability. And many commented on the importance of providing free and low cost activities in the Community Precinct.
• Some suggested that the large transient population in Rhodes Peninsula (including renters and people on overseas work or student visas) makes the area vibrant, but may negatively impact on sense of community, resulting in illegal dumping, etc. It is recommended that sense of community is tested following completion / occupation of residential and other major projects within the Peninsula and at key milestones, to measure potential change over time (eg through a post occupancy style survey).
Accessible,cleanandmodern,notovercrowded,familyoriented,safe,affordable.
I’dliketoseealittlebitofchangebutnottoomuch[overthenext10years].Idon’twanttosee60storeybuildings,butIdon’t mind25storeybuildings.ItmakesRhodesalandmark–itgivesitamodernfeeling.Onesideisverymodernandonesideislike avillage.Iquitelikethat.Youcan’tdotoomuchbecauseRhodesisapeninsula.I’dliketoseeCrepeMyrtletreesinthestreets–somethingtogiveitauniqueimpression,thatsortofgoodreputation.Andmaintainallthewalkways.I’mgettingolder;Ideeply needthepedestrianunderpass[atthetrainstation].
Ithinkthatbymaintainingandimprovingthe“outdoor”lifestylethatRhodesprovidesyouwillhaveagreatercommunityspiritas peoplegettoknoweachotherontheirdailywalks.Ialsothinkthingssuchasthedogparkgiveasafeplacefordogownersto lettheirdogsofftheleashandsocialisewithotherdogowners.Communityvegetablegardenscouldbethefutureoffood productionandinstilasenseofcommunityandtogetherness.
Suggestions for improving Rhodes Peninsula to help make it a great place to live in, work in or visitSuggestions for improving Rhodes Peninsula to help make it a great place to live in, work in or visitfor improving Rhodes Peninsula help make it a great place to live in, work infor improving Rhodes Peninsula help make it a great place to live in, work in
Survey respondents made numerous suggestions for improving Rhodes Peninsula, with the majority focusing on the need for community facilities and services, improved parking, more cafes, restaurants and bars, and improved amenity of the public domain. Responses are shown in the table below.
Table: Do you have any suggestions for improving Rhodes Peninsula to help make it a great place to live in, work in or visit?
Community facilities and services (eg Council, library, school, medical) 32
Improve parking 32
More cafes, restaurants, bars 30
Improve amenity of public domain (eg lighting, bins, signage, seating, shade, toilets, sound barriers) 25
More /wider variety of shops / retail 18
Improve the cleanliness / maintenance of public domain 15
Improve pedestrian paths 15
Takeaninterestinthecommunity;Moreaccessto medicalservices;Childcare
Betterparkingforvisitorsofresidents;Nomorepaid parking
Moreareastoeatanddrink;Morechoiceof restaurants;Afewmorerestaurants/pubsoutside theshoppingcentrewouldbegood;Cafesonthe water’sedgenotjustintheshoppingcentre
RailsoundbarrierwallonWalkerStreetalongthe railwayline;BetterlightingforWalkerStreet;Binsto reducelitter
Moremulticulturalgoodsshops;Chineserestaurants andshops;Notshoppingcentres
Graffitiremoval;MorefrequentCouncilcollection
LightsonbikepathsbetweenRhodesandOlympic Park;ThetunnelconnectingWalkerStreettoLeeds Streetishideous!;ImproveaccesstoLibertyGrove bypassingtheshoppingcentre;Nostairs
Community events 15
Improve bicycle paths
Improve planning and design of built form
Improve parks and open spaces
Improve traffic management
Improve accessibility by public transport
Improve recreational facilities
More vibrancy / buzz (eg more to
Morecommunityeventstoencourageneighboursto meeteachother; Moreyouthevents;Moviesinthe park;monthlyfoodstalls;Annualfestival
Createseparatepaths
Fartoomanytallbuildings–takessunlightfrom BlaxlandRoad;Limithighrisedevelopment
Children’swaterpark;Allocatesomeoffleashdog areas;WeneedmoreBBQareas;Boathire; Communityveggiegardens;Createagreensuburb
BetterroadaccesstoConcord
Ferrywharf;ARiverCatwharfwouldbeagood alternativetothetrain
Publicbasketballcourt
Moreentertainmenteventsandpicnicspots; Festivalsormarketswouldbegreat;Cinemas;
Publicartprojectswillbeincorporatedinopen Publicartprojectswillbeincorporatedinopen
spaceareaswithinRhodesPeninsula.Wherewouldyouliketoseepublicart? spaceareaswithinRhodesPeninsula.Wherewouldyouliketoseepublicart?
Foreshore areas (54.8%), the new town square (52.6%) and parks (51.3%) were the locations for public art favoured most by mor than half of all survey respondents (NB with multipl to Rhodes (eg around John Whitton Bridge and Rhodes train station) (37.0%), and playgrounds (23.0%) were all supported by at least one third of survey respondents. Other locatio Street along the railway line and the shopping centre.
e responses possible). Public pathways and seating areas (41.3%), entry points
ns for public art identified by respondents included sound barriers on Walker
Figure: Survey results: Public art projects will be incorporated in open space areas within Rhodes Peninsula. Where would
you like to see public art?
Opportunities for cultural planning and development identified through the survey and focus groups included:
• Community and cultural events and celebrations
– indoor and outdoor performances, festivals
• Activities in the Community Precinct – with a focus on bringing people together (eg Dragon Boating, art exhibitions, community participation in public art projects)
• Language classes and support for newcomers, general interest classes for longer term residents
• Public art – murals, commissioned artworks, community participation in public art projects.
A selection of comments from focus group participants are included below.
theseprojects.
Runcompetitionforartistsandcommunitytogetinvolvedinpublicartworks.
Havethemesforparks.SomeCouncil’susethingslikeBuddha,thatareoutofplace.Rhodesisaverymodernplacesoit hastoworkwiththebuildingsandwatertheme,butnottooabstract.RydeCouncilhasquitenicethingsalongthewater. AlsoScarboroughhasasmallparkwithabigboat.Thesizeoftheartworkiswrong.It’stoobig.Publicartshouldbegood, quirkyandappropriate.TheshipbuildingmemorialnearMcIlwaineParkneedsupgradingtoremovegraffiti.
Simple,smallpublicart–inparksandalongwalkingpaths.
The majority of people who took part in the focus groups and Neighbour Day activities liked the idea of a new community centre as part of the proposed Community Precinct and supported the concept of an indoor / outdoor space. Community feedback focused on:
• The need for a multipurpose community facility to cater for a wide range of community needs, including:
o Meeting rooms of different sizes for different purposes (such as social clubs, study, counselling, baby health nurse, English language classes, meetings of local groups)
o Larger spaces for activities such as yoga and Tai Chi, table tennis and badminton
o A sprung floor for dancing
o Space for childcare / playgroup
o Space for hire by the community (for parties, functions)
o Space for a Men’s shed / Women’s shed
o Toilets, kitchen and storage areas
• The need for relaxation areas – for sitting and reading, meeting friends, playing cards
• The need for space to celebrate community and cultural activities and events (such as talks, movie nights, food festivals, Chinese New Year celebrations)
• General support for the inclusion of one or more cafes, restaurants (some suggested as dog friendly café)
• Wide support for library facilities – including drop off and collection points, space for reading and study
• Support for outdoor areas to cater for outdoor exercise, markets, community garden
• Some support for indoor sport and recreational facilities (such as Five Dock Leisure Centre, indoor soccer facility) – which may be provided in an alternative location within the Peninsula
• Some support for outdoor sport and recreational facilities (such as half court basketball, tennis court)
• The importance of a Community Precinct that embodies good design – making the most of its waterfront location, providing clear signage to ensure it’s easy for all members of the community to see what’s on and find their way around, and attractive landscaping.
selection of indicative quotes is provided below.
andWestRydepeoplearehappier[asmembersofthelocalChinesecommunityareabletoparticipateinarangeofactivitiesin theirlocalcommunitycentre].
Ahallforyogalessonswouldbegood.
Forfiveyearsthisareaisgettingbetter.Everybuildinghasapool,sauna,gym.There’snoneedforthosetypesoffacilitiesin thecommunitycentre.Ithinkthecommunitywouldusealibrarywithplacesforstudying,school,preschool,highschooland shoppingcloseby.InRyde/WestRydetheyhavealibrary.
IwanttoseeTaiChiinForeshorePark.LotsofpeopledoTaiChiinBurwoodParkinthemorningsandatweekends…Atthe momentthecentreofRhodesseemstobetheshoppingcentre.2015-16istoofarofffordeliveryoftheCommunityPrecinct. Youneedacommunitycentrebeforeyoubuildacommunity.Onwarmsummereveningsyouseelotsofresidentswalkingalong theforeshoreinlargegroupsoffamilyandfriends.Idon’tnecessarilywanttoparticipatebutIdowanttoseepeoplewalking, doingTaiChi,etc.
Acommunitycentrewouldbegood.Atthemomenteverybody[inthecommunity]sortofgoestheirownway.I’mworriedthatthe communitycentremighttakeawaytheviewsofpeoplewholivejustbehindForeshorePark.
CommunityPrecinctshouldincludehalfcourtbasketball,smallsidedsoccer.
Topclassdesign.Adifferentvarietyofplantsincludingsometropicalplants–inahothouselikeintheBotanicGardens.
Betterutilisenaturallightandchampiongreenbuildingdesign.Thecommunitycentreshouldbewelldesigned.
While most people who took part in the consultations strongly supported the proposed Community Precinct, some commented on the need to ‘balance’ provision of community facilities with open space, and a small number expressed a desire for Rhodes Foreshore Park to be kept as is, with the new community centre to be established in Central Park. Participants from Council’s Neighbour Day commented:
Thereareenoughcafesaroundherealready.Youdon’tneedtoturnit[theCommunityPrecinct]intoSouthbankoftheYarra River.There’saplaceforeverything.Rhodesneedstohaveagoodbalance.It’sgoodthatopenspacewillbekept.Ilikethe wording“replacementbackyard”.That’swhatpeopleneed.
Peopleusethispark[ForeshorePark]forrunning,playing,ridingbikes.Abigparkisbetterthanacommunitycentre.McIlwaine Parkisbigandgood.IthinkthecommunitycentreshouldbemovedtoCentralPark.
IthinkRhodesForeshoreParkshouldbeusedforpublicevents[likethisone],BBQsandsport.It’sclosetowherewelive.Ifyou don’twanttohaveadayout,peoplecanusetheexistingarea[ForeshorePark]withouthavingtogofarfromhome.
Several members of the community who participated in the focus groups and Council’s Neighbour Day commented on the need for public toilet facilities in Foreshore Park:
It’sdifficultforpeoplewhocomehere[ForeshorePark]withkidsbecausethere’snowhereclosebyifoneofthekidsneedstogo tothetoilet.That’swhyMcIlwaineReserveissopopular.
Howdidyoufindoutaboutthissurvey? Howdidyoufindoutaboutthissurvey? Howdidyoufindoutaboutthissurvey? Howdidyoufindoutaboutthissurvey?
Participants found out about the Rhodes Peninsula Community Su common methods were the @Rhodes Community Newsletter, local organisations, word of mouth and Council’s website. Other methods of communication included flyers (distributed at Rhodes train station a email from friend or work colleague.
Figure: Survey results: How did you find out about this survey?
rvey through a range of methods of communication. The most nd local area), Concord Library, email from Council,
Focus group participants made a number of suggestions for future contacts and communications with
• Moving Council’s Rhodes Office to the proposed Community Precinct this location (eg including paying rates, finding out about community events, etc)
Council, These included:
– and providing for a wide range of Council services in – to promote community events, and provide
• Including content in the @Rhodes newsletter that is relevant to members of the community from both Rhodes and Liberty Grove
• Employing Chinese and Korean speaking cultural liaison officers / language aides community support at the Community Precinct, etc
• Translating community information and education materials into key community languages
• Use of noticeboards in Liberty Grove, and strata buildings in Rhodes
• Advertising in community newspapers (including Chinese and Korean press)
• Letterbox drop / direct mail
• Distributing flyers to walkers along the foreshore in the evenings (to target members of the local Chinese community)
• Communicating with existing groups including Rhodes Community Reference Group, strata committees, Mums and Bubs, Churches, language schools and primary schools (to target members of the local Korean community), and other local groups.
A number of people who participated in the focus groups and Council’s Neighbour Day event commented on the importance of Council engaging with the local community. A selection of comments is provided.
It’sgreatthatCouncilistalkingtoustoday.
It’sgreattoseetheeffortCouncilismakingtofindoutwhatwewant.
(Summary of issues, ideas and suggestions raised by the community as part of the engagement process for the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan)
1. There is an important role for the Community Precinct Precinct as a community hub:
Provide activities for people of all ages – including young people and seniors (eg movie nights, indoor sport and recreation, educational classes, cafes, reading area, playgroup, activities for teens)
Provide opportunities for cross cultural engagement such as public art projects, activities and celebrations in the Community (eg Tai Chi classes, Dragon Boat racing, community garden, Chinese New Year celebrations, community choir, arts festivals, interesting talks – about politics, environment, other issues – such as those held in Concord Library)
2. Opportunities for community and cultural developmentcommunity and cultural developmentcommunity community identified by the community included festivals, community celebrations, public art projects, open air cinema
3. Neighbourhood networksNeighbourhood networks (informal, participant driven activities) identified by the community included playgroups, a walking group, and community volunteers (to assist with community education initiatives)
4. Community groups and activitiesCommunity groups and activities (generally more formal, structured activities often involving Council or another organiser) identified by the community included cooking, fitness classes, Tai Chi, Pilates, yoga, Kung Fu, choir, etc
5. Fresh food, farmers, and arts and crafts markets markets markets were identified as an important place activation strategy. Pleaseconsider: Whatwouldbeagoodlocationformarkets?Howoftenshouldtheybeheld?
6. A lively restaurant, café, bar scenerestaurant, café, bar scenerestaurant, restaurant, – with a range of options for day and night. Many members of the community expressed a desire for a greater level of amenity and liveliness within the Peninsula – more places to meet, shop, eat and socialise, particularly at night.
7. Promote cultural oppocultural oppocultural oppocultural opportunities (including public art)rtunities (including public art)rtunities (including public art)rtunities (including public art):
Opportunities to incorporate public art into foreshore areas (favoured by 55% of survey respondents), such as contemporary art / small pieces that consider local context, Sculpture by the Sea
Opportunities for intergenerational and cross cultural engagement / participation in public art projects (eg faces of Rhodes and Liberty Grove project, art competitions, gallery / exhibition space in Community Precinct)
Heritage interpretation in parks and open space areas (eg Armory Wharf Cafe)
8. Promote an inclusive approach to diversity diversity within the Peninsula:
Provide spaces and activities within Rhodes Peninsula where members of different cultural groups within the community can come together, such as public art projects, activities and celebrations in the Community Precinct (eg Tai Chi classes, Dragon Boat racing, community garden, Chinese New Year and Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, food festival)
Provide culturally and age specific activities and opportunities – such as a youth specific facility and activities, social activities and exercise classes for older people, English classes and support services for new arrivals, space that can be used by families in the Community Precinct, Chinese grocery store / supermarket
Address negative attitudes within the community towards people from diverse cultural and linguistic groups - for instance, through cross cultural interaction and Council leadership
1. There is a current need for a primary primary primary primary school school (in or near Rhodes Peninsula), with Concord West public school already at capacity and many more children in Rhodes Peninsula reaching school age. Provision of local high schools was also described as limited.
2. There is strong current demand for chi chi chi childcare ldcare ldcare ldcare in the Peninsula, particularly long day care to meet the needs of working families, and the need for childcare is expected to increase over the next few years. There are a number of childcare centres currently operating in the local area (including Council’s facility in the Wellbank Centre). However there may be a role for Council / providers in helping to communicate what is currently available in the area – both in terms of childcare and other facilities (such as playgrounds with public toilets/baby change facilities).
3. There is an important role for the Community PrecinctCommunity Precinct Precinct Precinct as a community hub – a place for people to meet and get involved in activities that appeal to them. The Community Precinct was seen as an opportunity to combine the things people like – walking, waterside experience, places for people to meet and socialise, a backyard space, cafes and restaurants. Facilities which the community identified for the local area included:
Multipurpose indoor/outdoor space for a range of community activities (eg dancing, singing, Tai Chi, Pilates, library kiosk, table tennis, badminton, half court basketball, birthday parties, celebrations like Chinese New Year)
Multipurpose indoor / outdoor space for a range of community supports (eg Council services / community education on local issues, playgroup, baby health care, counselling, English language classes / CV assistance, quiet space to study)
A mix of free and low cost community activities and events
Potential location for dog park / off leash area and or community garden
Address potential amenity issues for local residents such as loss of views, noise and impacts relating to the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge connection
Consider the interface between the Community Precinct and Homebush Bay Bridge, with a focus on accessibility, safety and visual appeal
4. Recreation and open space:Recreation and open space:Recreation and space:Recreation and space:
Many participants identified an existing need for sporting and recreational facilities. Suggestions focused on: a dedicated indoor recreation centre like Five Dock Leisure Centre (eg including space for indoor soccer); facilities which could be provided as part of the Community Precinct (such as table tennis, badminton, half court basketball); other outdoor facilities (such as tennis courts and outdoor fitness stations).
The need for amenities such as a coffee cart coffee cart, kiosk, gathering spots with shade and seating, outdoor fitness equipment / outdoor gym, and dog park / off leash area in parks and open spaces – to assist in bringing people out of their homes to make the most use of the Peninsula
Rhodes Foreshore Park and Rhodes Waterside Park are the most frequently used, however lack amenities such as BBQ areas, seating with shade protection, public toilet facilities, and other attractions such as water features for children’s play, and a coffee cart / kiosk
Mill Park was also described as lacking amenities
McIlwaine Park was regarded as providing a high level of amenity, but was described as requiring more garbage bins and more prompt and regular rubbish removal (particularly given its popularity and high levels of use), and upgraded public toilets / baby change facilities
Opportunity for dog park/s or off leash area/s, bag dispensers and rubbish bins within the Peninsula. Locations suggested included: the Community Precinct, adjoining Concord Hospital carpark, King Georges Park on Concord Road
Opportunities to incorporate public art into parks – including upgrading of the Brays Bay Reserve memorial / removal of graffiti
5. Recognise the important role of streetscapes streetscapes in enabling activity at the ground level. Participants had mixed views on the height of new buildings within Rhodes Peninsula. Several discussed the importance of ‘getting community right at the ground level’ –ensuring multiple opportunities for active use of the public domain, with less concern about the height of new buildings as long as there are things to do and the place has a good vibe. Several had previously lived in cities including Shanghai and Hong Kong which are characterised by dense multi storey precincts, coupled with vibrant street life.
Opportunities to improve streetscapes included:
More shops, cafes and bars open during the day and night
Places to sit, meet, people-watch, eat lunch without having to go to a café
Outdoor seating areas with shade
Improved lighting, pedestrian and bike paths
Public art
6. Harness the large and growing local population to create opportunities for fun and excitement excitement – through activated spaces (eg markets, performances, kids water play), a wider variety of facilities and services (shopping, car share, shuttle bus), and a program of engaging events and activities (festivals, classes, fitness, talks, social activities and clubs)
Project specific feedback:Project feedback:
7. Relevant considerations for the Town SquareTown Square include:
Importance of activated street level public domain with places to sit, meet, people-watch, eat lunch without having to go to a café
Provide adequate shade and rubbish bins
Retail, cafes, bars – contributing to activation of the Town Square during the day and night
Opportunity to incorporate public art, such as an interactive digital community noticeboard
8. Relevant considerations for the Station PrecinctStation Precinct Precinct Precinct include:
Mixed views on building heights within the community - some don't mind 25 storey buildings, while others want no more than 8 storeys
Improved pedestrian and bicycle access to Rhodes train station is critical - including Walker Street footpath upgrade, universal access to station (eg underpass or larger lift), improved lighting
Enhanced amenity is also critical (eg shops, cafes, indoor / outdoor experience)
An activated public domain at street level is important, with places to meet, sit and people-watch
Traffic and parking is likely to present a major issue for the local community - with opportunities for car share / bike share schemes to help mitigate increased congestion
Lobbying for improved train / public transport services is critical, to cater for the growing community within Rhodes Peninsula and commuters from Wentworth Point
Potential community benefits delivered as part of the Station Precinct may include an indoor recreation facility (like Five Dock Leisure Centre, indoor soccer)
9. Relevant considerations for Central ParkCentral Park include:
Potential for outdoor performance space / amphitheatre (Village Green)
Provide good quality children’s playground with shade protection – with opportunities for community input into detailed design
Consider accessibility, child- and family-friendly design, and safety as key issues
Opportunity to incorporate public art
Opportunity for BBQ areas, a community garden, seating with shade protection, water features for children’s play, coffee cart / kiosk, and rubbish bins
Provide public toilets that are easily accessible for children and parents visiting the children’s playground
Potential location for dog park / off leash area
1. Council, other local stakeholders (including the shopping centre and other local businesses) and the community should work together to ensure the public domain domain within the Peninsula is clean, tidy and well maintained:
Provide more rubbish bins in parks and public spaces throughout the Peninsula
Provide more regular and coordinated Council waste management, street maintenance, grass cutting and weed removal services (currently waste and green waste services take place at the same time of day)
Develop a more proactive approach to abandoned shopping trolleys (involving shopping centre and retailers)
Provide for prompt removal of graffiti and abandoned cars
Provide for more community education about littering, illegal dumping, responsible use of trolleys / dog ownership
Provide dog tidy facilities in parks and public spaces
2. Promote local economic development:local economic development:local local
Convenience to shops, facilities, and work was highly valued by members of the community
There is an important and growing role of businesses within the Peninsula (including Rhodes Waterside shopping centre, other retail, cafes, restaurants, bars, health and medical facilities), as resident and visitor populations grow
People value opportunities for live and work / study – making strategies to support these options important
Rhodes Peninsula’s central location and access to work throughout the Sydney metropolitan area is also highly valued –making transport services and connections increasingly important as the community continues to grow
There is an opportunity for a commercial café / restaurant in the Community Precinct
Fresh food, arts and craft markets were identified as an important addition to the Peninsula
Opportunities for business and workers in Rhodes Peninsula to participate in community life (eg places for people to meet and socialise at lunch / after work, seating and tables in parks)
3. Provide amenity in the public domain – places to sit, people watch, gather, have BBQs and picnicspeople watch, gather, have BBQs picnics (along foreshore, in parks and open space areas)
4. Include community gathering / meeting spacescommunity / spaces – such as outdoor amphitheatre for performances / outdoor movies, publically available hall / multipurpose space, meeting rooms, function space in the Community Precinct (with kitchen facilities)
5. Promote safety by desisafety desi design gngn gn – encourage street activity, well lit public spaces, and wider / safer pedestrian and bicycle paths
Specific suggestions included: improved pedestrian and bike paths along Walker Street improved pedestrian paths along Blaxland Road; an accessible underpass or large lifts providing access from Walker Street to Blaxland Road (near Rhodes train station); an overpass for crossing Concord Road; a signalised pedestrian crossing around Mary and Walker Streets to improve pedestrian safety; improved pedestrian access from Liberty Grove to Rhodes). Pleasediscuss:Howwillcommunitysafetybe promotedthroughdesign/communityeducation?Howwillexistingissuesbeaddressed? Ifinitiativesarealreadyinplace, howcantheybebettercommunicated?
6. Promote quality design of built formquality design of built formquality design of formquality design of form through Council leadership and ongoing community consultation
7. Provide child friendly and accessible designchild friendly and design – considering children and people with limited mobility in future planning, involvement and decision making. Places for children to get active were seen as particularly important as many are living in more compact housing. This was particularly important Pleasediscuss:Howwillchildfriendlydesignbepromoted?Arethere innovativewaysofdoingthis?
8. Provide clean, unobstructed, easy to navigate, pleasant streetscapes streetscapes streetscapes for walking, including more garbage bins and improved maintenance (identified hotspots include Walker Street near Rhodes train station). Pleasediscuss:Howwillstreetscapesbe improved?
1. Encourage use of public transportpublic transportpublic transportpublic transport – There is a current need for more frequent and better coordinated public transport (trains, buses, ferries), particularly during peak times; infrastructure improvements will be required to meet additional demand as the population (within Rhodes Peninsula and nearby Wentworth Point) grows
2. Improve pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle and public transport connections connections (including connections between Rhodes East, West and Liberty Grove and along foreshore):
Upgrade walking and bicycle paths within the Peninsula to improve safety and access. These are needed along Walker Street, around Rhodes train station (including underpass), along the Rhodes West foreshore (connection is nearing completion), and between Liberty Grove and Rhodes
Enhance links to wider networks and key destinations in wider area including connections with John Whitton Bridge to the north and with proposed Wentworth Point Bridge to the west (eg improved safety, signage)
Provide universal access to ensure Rhodes Peninsula is an accessible place for all – including parents with strollers and older people with limited mobility (eg more / better aligned ramps for prams and strollers, enlarged ‘kiss and ride’ area at Rhodes train station, enlarged area for buses to stop, improved safety and weather protection of bus stops)
3. Address traffic management and parkingmanagement issues:
There is limited road access to and from Rhodes Peninsula, resulting in driver safety issues and traffic congestion particularly during peaks. Specific suggestions included: improved / safer access from Liberty Grove onto Homebush Bay Drive (turning north and south – including new sign for off ramp under Homebush Bay Drive); a signalised intersection or roundabout to address traffic congestion at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Rider Boulevard; a signalised intersection to address safety issues at the intersection of Leeds Street and Blaxland Road; greater access to Concord Road for traffic turning left from Averill Street (eg by opening up the end of Leeds Street); improved signage throughout the Peninsula to communicate 50km speed limit; traffic calming measures, particularly near the childcare centre and targeting speeding traffic in Rider Boulevard turning right into Homebush Bay Drive; improvements to address poor visibility for vehicles exiting Nina Grey Street; measures to address bus flows around Community Precinct if Homebush Bay Bridge proceeds.
There is a current shortage of parking for residents and their visitors (introduction of resident parking permits was suggested), and limited parking for customers of local businesses (eg for older people near pharmacy) Provide opportunities for car share and bike share / bike rental
4. Peninsula Peninsula Peninsula--wide community and cultural eventswide community culturalwide should include Chinese New Year celebrations, cultural festivals (including food festivals)
5. Communications Communications Communications should include wireless hot spots, accessible community information on Council’s website (eg on children’s facilities, connecting local students to local employment opportunities, access to walking maps, information on ‘what’s on in the local area’), Chinese speaking community liaison officer
6. Wayfinding initiativesWayfinding initiatives should include public art, signage, pathways, trails (reflecting cultural heritage of Rhodes)
1. Support establishment of additional local residents groupslocal residents groups groups such as a residents association, Local business groups (eg Business Chamber of Commerce)
2. Host ‘Talk to Council’‘Talk to Council’‘Talk to Council’‘Talk to Council’ sessions in community centre / Council’s Rhodes Office – providing the local community with direct access to their Council
3. Promote volunteering volunteering opportunities – Community volunteers to work alongside Council and Police to support community (eg monitoring misuse of disability parking spaces, assisting with community education about responsible dog ownership), Community volunteers running activities in Community Precinct
4. Community educationCommunity education initiatives should include a welcome kit, community education about living in Rhodes (eg responsible dog ownership, use of trolleys)
5. Suggestions for future contacts and communicationscontacts and communicationscontacts communications with Council included:
Moving Council’s Rhodes Office to the proposed Community Precinct – and providing for a wide range of Council services in this location (eg including paying rates, finding out about community events, etc)
Including content in the @Rhodes newsletter that is relevant to members of the community from both Rhodes and and and andLiberty Grove
Employing Chinese and Korean speaking cultural liaison officers / language aides – to promote community events, and provide community support at the Community Precinct, etc
Translating community information and education materials into key community languages
Use of noticeboards in Liberty Grove, and strata buildings in Rhodes
Advertising in community newspapers (including Chinese and Korean press)
Letterbox drop / direct mail
Distributing flyers to walkers along the foreshore in the evenings (to target members of the local Chinese community)
Communicating with existing groups including Rhodes Community Reference Group, strata committees, Mums and Bubs, Churches, language schools and primary schools (to target members of the local Korean community), and other local groups
