Balmain Leagues club site could become megasized Rozelle Village under Pacific Investments plan

By Andrea Dixon
Monday, 23 April 2012

Property developer Pacific Investments has created shock and excitement with his ramped-up rethink of the ‘Rozelle Village’ proposal for the Balmain Leagues club site in Rozelle.

The revised proposal, which is double the size of the original plan that was rejected in 2010 because it was considered too big, has prompted outrage from local activists. The Leichhardt mayor Rochelle Porteous labelled it as offensive to the local community.

The redesign, which is on public display for 59 days, is a $300 million project with two residential towers of 25 levels and 32 levels, plus a six-floor commercial hub. The plan for Victoria Road will have more than 300 apartments across 30,000 square metres, retail space on 20,000 square metres plus 7,500 square metres of commercial space. Balmain Leagues Club will be on 3,500 square metres, and parking for 800 cars is included.

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The original plan for a 17-level residential and commercial building was rejected in 2010 by the Joint Regional Planning Panel due to traffic congestion, its size and the effects it would have on local businesses. The Labor state government back then took control of the site, claiming that it was “significant” to the state. Now the NSW Department of Infrastructure and Planning’s Assessment Commission will decide the future of the site after the public display.

Rozelle Village managing director Ian Wright says the redesign was led by community consultation.

“For the nearly two years we had information sessions with interest groups and precinct meetings and found out that people want childcare, a building with green credentials and a supermarket, which we have included. They also wanted us to get rid of the bulky design, so we created a taller more slender design,” Wright says.

There will be public space with laneways for walkers, cyclists and pram pushing as well as an integrated public transport area.

“When the dust settles, I think people will really like it,” Wright says.