Rhodes Essay Critically Analyse ONE urban dynamic of change operating in a country town or suburb. Latitude and longitude of Rhodes is 33. 8282’ S, 151.
0857’ E. it is a suburb located in the inner- west of Sydney. Rhodes is located 16 kilometres west of Sydney’s Central Business District, in the City of Canada Bay. The suburb of Rhodes has been significantly impacted by the urban dynamic of urban renewal.
The process by which a suburb is experiences a refurbishment of impoverished urban neighbourhood by large-scale renovation or reconstruction of housing and public works. Rhodes experienced this in Rhodes used to be an industrial suburb which specialised in manufacturing operations such as making the cast iron pipes for gas and city water reticulation purposes. During the period of 1930’s to the mid 1980’s, the western part of Rhodes was taken up my chemical manufacturing industries which included Berger Paints and CRS Chemicals.The area also built much of the rolling stock for what is now called City Rail.
After the closure of these heavy industries throughout the 1990s as a result of the suburbanisation of industries from the CIA and then the global division of labour the land around Rhodes was left run down, derelict and high contaminated and toxic, which led to it falling into an area of urban decay with no purpose. In 1999, the state government acquired the site from the Lednez Company.For the land to be able to be used later on they had to go through the process of remediation in which the soil and bay sediment is dug up tested to determine what contaminants it contains and at what levels, and then any contaminated soil is treated and backfilled. This was necessary in order to protect both human health and the environment.
It is therefore clear that the soil has had to undergo much work in order to make over Rhodes. The major part of Rhodes’ renewal has involved its emergence has a hub of residential activity, mainly through the process of urban consolidation.The development of apartments was predominantly on the western part of the peninsular as it is close to the railway, ferries, busses and taxis. The area has become so highly consolidated that is it now referred to as “The Hong Kong of Sydney”, encouraged through the approval of a plan allowing up to 5 buildings of 25 stories in the Western Section.
As a result there has been a massive population increase, growing from 1,045 in 2001 to 5,680 in 2011, therefore meaning it has grown by 443%.The government now has to plan how it is going to cater for over 12,000 people in Rhodes. The types of residential facilities becoming available area of designer luxury, while being close proximity to shopping, parks, and public transport. In addition to this a number of the units also have an ecologically sustainable design (for energy and water efficiency) and are set up with the latest appliances. Rhodes has also been establishing a new commercial function, seeing Rhodes introduce the development of two distinct commercial areas- a retail area and a business park.The retail area is “The Rhodes Waterside shopping centre’, located in the south- western corner of the Rhodes Peninsular, and developed as part of the Rhodes Waterside Development.
The shopping mall includes the first IKEA stores n NSW, and eight cinema complex and Coles with a number of other specialty shops. The other main part of Rhodes’ new commercial function has been the growth of the new office space in which the businesses agglomerate. The business park is called ‘Rhodes Corporate Park’. It is positioned between Concord Road and the railway line.A great deal of urban consolidation has taken place in this sector of the development, forming new buildings which are ecologically friendly, visually pleasing, and offer a vast range of facilities to employees such as a swimming pool, childcare and parking. Many of the businesses included in the business park include, Nestle, NAB and In the urban renewal of Rhodes, importance has been placed on cleaning up the suburb through the creation of open space/ recreation.
As a result there are four key areas of the parkland which have been redeveloped. Bray’s Bay Reserve, Mcllwaine Park, Rhodes Park and Uhrs Point Reserve.In addition special features and attractions in open space have been regenerated, such as The Kokoda Memorial Trial in Bray’s Bay Reserve and the mangroves which have also been regenerated. Walking and cycle paths have been developed along the western edge of the peninsular, picnic benches, playgrounds and recycling bins have been put in place, and trees have also been planted. Socially there have been a number of positive aspects which include the easy accessibility to public transport which includes trains, busses and ferries, an excessive variety and choice of shopping facilities and a friendly ommunity feel and environment to live and socialise in.
So far the average household income is median individual income is $705. 00 per week and the median household income is $1617. 00 per week, which further benefits the community and economy due to it being so high. Some of the negative implications include the fact the there are only really three schools in the area and they are Concord West, West Ryde and Ryde public school. There is no public school in the facility of Rhodes.The value of the area has increased and it is shown through the high land prices which average at about 900,000 for an apartment.
Due to the rise in land prices this has consequently led to people not being able to afford properties, especially younger adults buying their first house and young families. It is obvious that the process of urban renewal has been very expensive and demanding. In conclusion the urban dynamic urban renewal and the remediation of the soil, has successfully resulted in a natural environment and a well design new suburb bringing much needed economy and living space to Sydney.
