2.1 Study Area

Regional Context

The Rouse Hill Strategic Centre is one of the three Strategic Centres located within The Hills Shire, alongside the Castle Hill and Norwest Strategic Centres. These are expected to be flexible, diverse places that provide quality access to a range of goods, services and jobs for the catchments they service. The Strategic Centres will accommodate the bulk of the jobs within The Hills Shire, providing jobs close to home for residents.

Rouse Hill is strategically positioned to evolve into a multifunctional regional destination that services the needs of the rapidly growing North West Region, including the Growth Areas within The Hills, Blacktown and Hawkesbury Local Government Areas. At full development (expected to occur over a 20 year horizon), these areas are expected to accommodate around 90,000 dwellings and a residential population in excess of 250,000 people (Source: North West Priority Growth Area Land Use and Infrastructure Implementation Plan, May 2017).

While Rouse Hill will continue to service the increased retail needs of the incoming population, the evolution of Rouse Hill to include significant employment opportunities aligned with the skills of these residents, will be pivotal in achieving the ‘30-minute’ city vision.

The Precinct adjoins the Windsor Road arterial road corridor, which divides The Hills and Blacktown Local Government Areas and connects to Box Hill and the Hawkesbury to the north and the M2/M7 motorways and Parramatta to the south. It is positioned along the Sydney Metro North West Corridor with access to a Metro Station, which connects Rouse Hill to the Sydney CBD and Chatswood and provides access to the Precinct as a retail and commercial destination for the broader catchment area.

Rouse Hill is centrally located between future transport connections to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, Parramatta Central Business District and the rural areas of North Western Sydney. Future transport connections will be pivotal in realising the vision for Rouse Hill, particularly the future connection from Tallawong Station to St Marys Station (and Western Sydney Aerotropolis), the mass transit corridor from Norwest to Parramatta, the Outer Sydney Orbital and the final stages of the Sydney Metro connection to the city and beyond.

Metro Station

Metro Line

Rouse Hill Strategic Centre

Strategic Centre

Train Station

Train Line

North-West T-way

The Hills Shire

Local Context

The Rouse Hill Strategic Centre, as defined by this Precinct Plan, is generally bound by Windsor Road to the west, Bardsley Circuit, Mackay Way and Mailey Circuit to the north, Sanctuary Drive to the south and Withers Road and Bridgewood Drive to the east. The Centre is around 267 hectares in size and was home to approximately 3,500 residents (in approximately 1,750 dwellings) in 2016.

The boundaries have regard to the area identified within Council’s Local Strategic Planning Statement, as well as the NSW Government’s Corridor Strategy (2013) and Rouse Hill Station Structure Plan, which was typically based on land within an 800 metre radius from Rouse Hill Metro Station, with adjustments in consideration of key points of interest, existing character, predominant land uses and natural features or roads which form logical boundaries to the Precinct.

Rouse Hill Town Centre is at the heart of the Strategic Centre, which contains the Rouse Hill Metro Station and offers a variety of shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure opportunities, with some residential uses above.

The Rouse Hill Village Centre (located north of Mile End Road) is another key destination within the Strategic Centre that serves the daily needs of local residents and workers and significantly contributes to Rouse Hill’s local character.

The existing Caddies Creek Riparian Corridor runs through the south-eastern part of the Centre and provides passive recreation opportunities and connectivity within and beyond the area.

Metro Line (Above Ground)

Rouse Hill Strategic Centre

800m Walkability Catchment (current / existing connections)