$293m Rhodes Station Precinct Project Approved

$293m Rhodes Station Precinct Project Approved

January 13, 2026

Architectural drawing of the proposed Rhodes East mixed-use seniors housing development.

A $293 million mixed-use development in Rhodes has received conditional approval from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The project is expected to reshape how the Canada Bay LGA approaches seniors housing, urban density and public domain design at a key transit-oriented site.

The State Significant Development (SSD) application, lodged by Ecove Group, was approved after a contested assessment process and several targeted changes.

Project Overview

The approved scheme includes two towers—26 and 22 storeys tall (85.5m and 74.3m). It will deliver 356 market dwellings, 30 independent living units (ILUs) and 102 residential care facility (RCF) beds.

The proposal also features retail premises, a community facility, and an emergency services building. Five levels of basement parking will provide 484 car spaces. The development spans a 6,074m² site at 15-17 and 25-31 Blaxland Road and 440-442 Concord Road. It has a total gross floor area of 49,086m².

Communal open space totals 1,708m². A 16m-wide public plaza will support future connections to a pedestrian bridge across Concord Road.

Strategic and Policy Context

The Department found the project aligns with state and national housing targets. These include the NSW Government’s goal of 377,000 new homes by 2029 and the National Housing Accord.

The proposal was permissible under the SSD pathway for large-scale seniors housing introduced in 2021. The site is zoned MU1 Mixed Use under the Canada Bay LEP 2013, which allows all proposed uses with consent.

The development also makes use of floor space and height bonuses. These are available for seniors housing and public benefit contributions under the Housing SEPP and local planning provisions.

Design and Architectural Intent

Bates Smart and Turf Design Studio led the design, selected through an invited competition overseen by the Government Architect NSW. A Design Integrity Panel (DIP) endorsed the scheme.

The final design incorporates 31 Blaxland Road, resolving earlier issues with site isolation. The Department found the project achieved design excellence. It cited the articulated massing, use of quality materials, podium design that responds to the streetscape, and strong public domain integration.

Conditions of consent require the lead architect to be retained and DIP oversight to continue through construction.

Community and Stakeholder Response

Four public submissions raised concerns about infrastructure, traffic, construction impacts, and the loss of local character. Canada Bay Council objected to elements including flood mitigation, floor levels for emergency services, and the design of the public plaza.

Nine government agencies provided input. Fire and Rescue NSW recommended removing the on-site fire station. Sydney Trains focused on construction management near rail infrastructure. Heritage NSW advised on Aboriginal consultation. The NSW SES and DCCEEW requested more robust flood planning.

As a result, the applicant removed the fire station from the plans and revised flood measures.

Impacts and Assessment Findings

Flood risk and stormwater were key concerns. The revised strategy includes a culvert, passive flood barriers, and floor levels above the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). Conditions require detailed flood design and a Flood Emergency Response Plan.

The emergency services building must sit above the PMF and use flood-resistant materials. During extreme events, operations may be restricted. The Department supported the shelter-in-place strategy for seniors housing, noting any isolation during floods would be short.

Built form required clause 4.6 variations for tower separation, podium height, and floorplate size. The Department supported these due to the project’s design quality and its alignment with the Rhodes Place Strategy.

Solar access fell short of Apartment Design Guide (ADG) targets. However, the Department accepted this based on site constraints and proximity to public open space. Overshadowing met LEP controls, with only minor additional shadowing allowed under bonus provisions.

The project meets parking, loading, and access standards. It includes 484 car spaces and 927 bicycle spaces. Traffic impacts were found to be manageable, with intersections continuing to operate within acceptable limits.

Determination and Conditions

The Department recommended approval subject to conditions, finding the proposal to be in the public interest. It delivers housing diversity, job creation, and improved public space. Key conditions include:

Ongoing DIP oversight and retention of the lead architect
Final design and maintenance plans for flood infrastructure
Emergency facility construction above PMF with operational restrictions during floods
Agreements with community and emergency service operators before construction
Public access easements and plaza management plans
Amendments to improve pedestrian access and community facility amenity

Statutory Pathway and Next Steps

As an SSD, the project was determined by the Department under delegation from the Minister. Before construction begins, the applicant must finalise key design elements and enter agreements with emergency and community service providers.

Transport for NSW will manage the separate process to deliver the future pedestrian bridge.