Rhodes

The NSW government is targeting Rhodes for another 10,000 people (55% increase) in ten years. The trains, roads, schools, hospital and green space are already overloaded. The Greens are calling for an independent inquiry into development in Rhodes. 新州政府计划10年内在Rhodes新增1万居民（增长80%）。区内的公共交通、学校、医院和绿地已经严重超载。绿党要求启动对Rhodes 发展计划的独立调查。

The latest NSW government plan for Rhodes includes 4,200 new apartments.

In the area between the railway line and Concord Road north of Mary Street East in Rhodes, the NSW Government has announced plans for 3,600 dwellings in place of the existing ~140 dwellings, plus an additional 600 new dwellings west of the railway line – almost doubling the size of two new towers.

The NSW government claims that there is infrastructure in place to serve new residents. That is untrue. The existing train capacity and road network is already over capacity. In addition, there are not enough public high school places, and Concord Hospital is already falling behind.

There is already insufficient green space on the western side – with no playing fields for an existing population of around 13,700 in 2024. The development of the eastern side will also add no new parks or playing fields.

Transport is already inadequate

The government’s transport proposals (including a ferry wharf) are inadequate for current residents’ needs, let alone the future needs of Rhodes and Wentworth Point residents.

Trains

Based on past surveys, the Northern train line has offered the most overcrowded trains in Sydney. Passengers in peak hours sometimes cannot board trains in Rhodes, Concord West and North Strathfield due to overcrowding. It is important to remember that the Rhodes station also services the suburb of Wentworth Point. The government has mentioned the possibility of various upgrades of the Rhodes station, such as lengthening the platform, which will not actually increase the number of passengers able to commute by train. 

They have also mentioned the possibility of quadruplicating the train lines (adding another train track). Although not well known, there is a project which could do this – a project designed to improve the speed of rail freight, which would add another train track between Rhodes and West Ryde. This proposed project, the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Stage 2 has been discussed for years and was formally proposed in 2016, with a preliminary design already completed by the NSW Government. The concept is that the separation of freight trains will improve the reliability and capacity of both passenger and freight services. However, even if the government planned to do this, it could easily take a decade to complete. Meanwhile, the government is pressing ahead with very detailed plans to fast-track new development.

Roads

Those travelling to work from Rhodes by car already know that Concord Road is often blocked. Getting onto Concord Road by itself is challenging – and something that new residential developments in the area will only worsen. The NSW government has not proposed a solution for traffic congestion in the area.

Rhodes Swimming Pool

Despite massive redevelopment, Rhodes does not have a public swimming pool. I know the community was angry with Council’s decision in 2019 that it could not afford the annual subsidy for a 25m pool in the recreation centre. Yet the community really wants a new pool, which should be an Olympic-sized swimming pool available in all seasons. After imposing huge developments that the community never wanted, the least the NSW government can do is to help provide a new pool. This must include ensuring significant financial support for Council to cover the future operational costs for it.

More

See more on problems with local schools and Concord Hospital. See more on corruption and Greens integrity policies. See more on local overdevelopment.

Also see the Canada Bay Greens submission on the plans for overdevelopment in Rhodes.