A vision for a new Gladesville

WORDS NICOLA RICHES

It’s a village and a main artery to the CBD that requires a 21st century injection to update it, revitalise it, and bring it in line with the needs and desires of a growing, diverse population. Local community members are being urged to contribute to a new vision for Gladesville.

In a recent interview with comedian Carolyn Swindell, she explained why she has spent the last 15 years living in Gladesville. “I love my neighbourhood,” she told us. “I hardly use my car; everything is so close. There’s always someone to say hello to and everyone is looking out for everyone else’s kids. It’s more than a neighbourhood, it’s a community and I really value being part of that.”

As Carolyn says, there is a lot to love about Gladesville; its proximity to the CBD, its tree-lined streets and beautiful mix of architecture and its access to bushland and Parramatta River.

Steps have already been taken to revitalise the area, as Hunter’s Hill Council Acting General Manager Nick Tobin explains, “We have been working with the local residents and businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ryde, with whom we share the suburb of Gladesville, on

placemaking initiatives such as laneway activations, street beautification, public artwork, business promotion and local networking.”

However, residents and local business owners will tell you that the retail centre, comprising four blocks on Victoria Road, bookended by Pittwater Road and Junction Streets, is dated, tired and in much need of a refresh. It also presents a major opportunity to cater for new residents, businesses, and open spaces for all generations to enjoy.

A masterplan

As part of the Hunters Hill municipality and the City of Ryde, throughout August, and also running into September, Hunters Hill Council has, and will be, seeking public feedback on what a new Gladesville masterplan could look like.

It’s a timely process. Gladesville is on the rise as a desirable suburb for families and people of varying cultural backgrounds. It is a truly metropolitan area: the ‘parents and homebuilders’ (aged 35 to 49 years) category makes up almost a quarter of Gladesville’s population, while data also shows major growth in people with Chinese and Irish ancestry.

The approach undertaken by Council is certainly ambitious. There is a purposeful drive to change the area and to re-develop and update the Gladesville town centre for public benefit, rather than for development interest alone.

The draft masterplan, which breaks down the area into four blocks, was put together by consultants GMU Urban

Design and Architecture and allows for housing for mixed incomes, good access to community facilities, public transport and new employment opportunities, as well as large and small retail and a community anchor such as a library/community centre. A landscaped park, an urban piazza and meeting places or informal green space is also at the heart of the new vision - much like what has been achieved in Lane Cove with The Canopy.

Gladesville Shopping Village forms part of one of the blocks earmarked for redevelopment. Feedback from Council, the community and stakeholders is that there is a desire for Gladesville to have a good-sized supermarket with ancillary retail and services, including restaurants and cafes.

The perspective of a local

Local resident Catherine Schiller echoes the thoughts of many in the local area, noting that she would like to see underground parking, lots of community space and lots of outdoor dining, as well as linkages between businesses on Victoria Road and Gladesville Shopping Village, potentially through an enclosed glass overpass such as at the one at Gordon.

“(We) would definitely benefit from a nice shopping centre,” Catherine said, adding, “I totally understand we have to have progress and we have to have development and we have to keep evolving.

“I just think they need to be clever with the design.” Elie Youssef, café and restaurant owner, has been in Gladesville for 12 years, operating 2 Doors Down for the last five.

“I’ve been here for a long time, in this strip,” he said. “We do all the right things, spend money on our business to make it look nice.

“But you need something to attract people to the area…a lot of people have this idea that there’s nothing in Gladesville. They get in their car and drive to Drummoyne or Balmain or Lane Cove.”

“If you go to other suburbs like Lane Cove, they did this outdoor area, people walk around, there’s a play area for the kids … it’s created that nice vibe,” he said.

How can local residents contribute?

Local residents are being asked to share their vision for Gladesville town centre.

You can do so through the online consultation portal (go to: huntershill.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/gladesville) and submit your thoughts and ideas on the draft concept plans, via the survey or interactive map.

You can also connect to the project web page (go to: huntershill.nsw.gov.au/gladesville) to read more background, view the concept plan documents, find answers to frequently asked questions and subscribe for updates.

Public feedback will form part of recommendations to Council for finalisation of the Gladesville Masterplan. The final masterplan will be placed on public exhibition as part of the exhibition for a new Hunters Hill Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

What happens from here?

A consultation period began in August and will run until mid- September. Submissions will be assessed before a draft masterplan is refined and finalised and draft planning controls developed, which is expected to be in early 2022. These will be considered by the Council and the NSW Department of Planning,

Infrastructure and Environment before the masterplan and draft planning controls are placed on public exhibition, which is expected to be in mid- to late-2022.

Following assessment of any submissions and a report to Council, new planning controls need to be gazetted before development applications can be lodged by proponents. This is expected to occur from late-2022 onwards.

Once the planning controls have been gazetted and come into effect, a landowner/developer can lodge a development application with Council. The redevelopment of the Gladesville town centre will be proponent driven, in accordance with the masterplan and planning controls set by Council.

The redevelopment of Gladesville will likely take a number of years.