Rosehill St, Redfern

G’day, Charles Touma here, and today I’m on Rosehill Street in the magnificent Redfern to talk about a recent transformation plan that has just got the green light which will have a major impact on Rosehill Street and the surrounding area. Two weeks ago, the City of Sydney Council voted to approve a revitalization of the Botany Road precinct, which stretches south from Redfern train station. This is a long-term plan that is likely to lead to some high-density development. In a nutshell, the plan will enable taller buildings between Redfern Station and McEvoy Street, which includes the Botany Road intersections with Raglan and Wellington Street.

The projection is that new commercial floor space for up to 14,500 jobs will be the outcome, as well as a considerable increase in affordable housing. The changing planning controls allows commercial development and affordable housing to have increased floor space ratios and able to build 17 storeys here on Rosehill Street and Gibbons Street which are not too far from the station. Also planning controls will enable 12-storey development opposite the Waterloo Metro station, eight-storey development on Botany Road and Cope Street, as well as six storeys on Wyndham Street. Celebrating the history of Aboriginal Redfern as the birthplace of civil rights and self-determination movements is also included in the plan. This may be in the form of signage and place names to reflect the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ connection to the area.

The next stage of the plan is to be assessed by the New South Wales government for a gateway determination by September. Now, I’ve been selling in Redfern for almost 20 years and I’ve seen the area evolve dramatically in this time. I’ve also sold many properties close to this station, including 52 Hugo Street for $1,690,000, which was a three-bedroom terrace. Redfern is changing and the new plan’s gonna create even more change, which is not gonna suit everybody. I’m passionate about this area, and that’s why I’m gonna be digging out as many stories as possible in the future to celebrate the evolution and history of this area that I’ve grown up in. My name’s Charles Touma and my office on Thurlow Street is always open for you to come in and have a chat.