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2.4 Existing Land Uses
Rouse Hill is the newest of the Shire’s three Strategic Centres and is still in its infancy in terms of achieving its intended scale and function as a Strategic Centre. The centre currently contains a varied mix of business, commercial, retail, urban services, residential, recreational and infrastructure uses, all within close proximity to the Rouse Hill Metro Station.
Rouse Hill Regional Centre
The Rouse Hill Regional Centre, first established in the mid-2000s, includes approximately 120 hectares of land bordered by Commercial Road (north), Withers Road (east), Sanctuary Drive (south) and Windsor Road (west). The approved master plan divides the centre into a number of distinct sub-Precincts. Collectively these sub-Precincts encompass 14% of the developable land within the broader Centre and are zoned a combination of MU1 Mixed Use and R1 General Residential (or 20% of all land within the Centre).
There are two commercial sub-Precincts, known as the Town Centre Core and Northern Frame, which generally adjoin Windsor Road and surround the Metro Station. The Town Centre Core provides a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities. It also contains the Vinegar Hill Memorial Library and Vinegar Hill Memorial Community Centre. Its street-feel and alfresco design create a strong and distinguishable sense of character. Residential apartments are scattered throughout the Core, generally above the commercial / retail levels and within ‘sleeve’ sites at the edges of the centre.
The Northern Frame is a large undeveloped land holding bound by Rouse Hill Drive, Windsor Road, Commercial Road and Caddies Boulevard. It is earmarked to accommodate substantial commercial growth within the Rouse Hill Regional Centre and the future Rouse Hill Hospital.
The commercial areas are surrounded by a series of residential subPrecincts which contain some apartment buildings (close to the core areas), transitioning to medium and low density dwellings towards the edges of the centre. These areas are now largely developed.
The Town Centre also adjoins the Caddies Creek Riparian Corridor, which is predominantly under the ownership of Sydney Water and serves a drainage function in addition to some passive recreation. Various cycleways and pedestrian paths weave throughout the Precinct for the enjoyment of the local community.
Specialised Retail and Urban Services
Approximately 6% of developable land within the Centre is zoned E3 Productivity Support for specialised retail (bulky goods) and urban support services (or 5% of all land within the Centre). These areas are located north of Commercial Road, clustered at the western edge adjacent to Windsor Road. The cluster to the north of Commercial Road contains a number of recent developments including specialised retail and urban support services such as Amart Furniture, Rebel Sports, Centrelink, PETStock and Supercheap Auto.
A variety of urban services are located further north on Resolution Place such as Tyrepower, Reece Plumbing and NRMA Car Servicing. Land located at the southern junction of Windsor Road and Mile End Road includes a range of food chains such as Red Rooster, McDonalds, Hungry Jack’s, Lone Star Steakhouse and Meat and Fire BBQ. This land also includes an Aldi supermarket. Generous at-grade car parking is provided in this location to service the operation of businesses.
The oldest uses on the employment land are the heritage listed Fiddler Hotel at the junction of Windsor Road and Commercial Road and the Rouse Hill Village in the northernmost part of the centre. Though it is noted The Fiddler site does include some newer uses including a fast food restaurant and a new Mecure Hotel.
Rouse Hill Village Centre
The Village Centre provides a small cluster of goods and services that are regularly accessed by local residents and workers for their daily needs. It comprises a variety of uses including an IGA supermarket, dining and takeaway, newsagency, medical and beauty services and travel agents. The Village Centre has a built form of up to 3 storeys and a nearby shop top housing development on Aberdour Road up to 4 storeys. This low scale development of the Village Centre is framed by low density residential development in its surrounds, with lot sizes ranging from 450m² to 750m².
Residential Uses
Residential land uses are permitted on approximately 90% of all developable land within a 1.2km walking catchment of the Metro Station (or approximately 74% of all land within the Strategic Centre). Outside of the Town Centre, residential areas mainly comprise of low and medium density forms, with some larger sites zoned to accommodate apartments along Commercial Road (land zoned R1 General Residential).
In 2016, there were approximately 1,750 dwellings within the Rouse Hill Strategic Centre, with significant capacity under the current controls for a further 2,100 additional dwellings within the walkable catchment of Rouse Hill Metro Station (around 230 of these dwellings were delivered between 2016 and 2021).
Council’s strong focus on planning for residential growth over the past 10-20 years means Council is on track to meet (and exceed) the residential targets established in the relevant strategic planning policies. The vibrancy and activity created by residential yields within the centre will continue to grow, as the market delivers on the opportunities already available under the current controls.
Infrastructure
Approximately 60 hectares of land within the Strategic Centre is zoned for infrastructure and public uses. Some residential land also accommodates community uses, such as the Rouse Hill Community Centre and various schools.
A substantial open space and drainage corridor runs north-south through the Strategic Centre, along Caddies Creek and its tributaries, providing natural and recreation space and a major pedestrian/cycleway link.
The population is supported by a number of local parks distributed throughout the centre, as well as The Hills Centenary Park and Bruce Purser Reserve which provide active recreation facilities including athletics, cricket, baseball and AFL fields and associated amenities.
There are a number of existing public schools within the centre including Rouse Hill Public School on Clower Avenue as well as Ironbark Ridge Public School and Rouse Hill High School on Withers Road.
A community facility is located next to Rouse Hill Public School on Clower Avenue, which is an item of local environmental heritage known as “Aberdoon House”. Vinegar Hill Library and Community Centre is located in the heart of the Town Centre Core.
