The change of direction pleased many residents of Gladesville in the Ryde council area, who have seen parts of their suburb transformed and new apartment buildings placing pressure on roads, public transport and schools. Mrs McCabe, who has worked at Tennis Ranch for four years, believes new residential developments have generated too much traffic in Gladesville and questions how many apartments are vacant, either because they have not sold or are owned by investors. Loading "I really do think it's gone from 'a little' to 'too much' in a short space of time," she said. An independent alderman on Ryde Council, Roy Maggio, saluted the state government's development slowdown but questioned whether it was just "because there's a state election around the corner".

He believes overdevelopment has "destroyed our suburbs". "The Aussie backyard was absolutely going to be destroyed by the Liberals if there wasn't a halt to it," he said. "The Aussie backyard has turned into medium-density slums - manor homes, villas and terrace houses all over the city of Ryde. "The increase in population is causing a lot of stress and grief to our local residents with horrendous amounts of traffic." The evolution of Gladesville. Credit:Google Maps Heading to pick up her children from school, Gladesville resident Lisa Hall said traffic had become so bad because of overdevelopment that she was about to lobby the council for speed humps on Meriton Street.

"I really don't like it," she said. "The infrastructure isn't supporting the local community's needs." Ms Hall, who has lived in the suburb for 30 years, remembers it as quiet and family-focused when she grew up. "You just see all these big developments happening now and it's actually a real shame," she said. "Gladesville once had a lot of really beautiful period homes and now whenever a property is up for sale, a developer swoops in and either pops apartments or duplexes on there." Ms Hall pointed to one apartment block she thought was fine, with a retail area below, but others were just too tall and many units were unoccupied. "I'm for positive change but what's going to happen with all the traffic, the extra buses and [a] cutback on ferries?" she said. "We've got a lot of work to do."

Retiree Kay Saggers, who lives not far from the shopping strip, thought the suburb's new apartment blocks were "terribly ugly" and the streets were too narrow for all the cars leaving them. But she had another concern - new residents from non-Anglo backgrounds. "Because it's multicultural, I think that the Australians lose their identity. It's too many different nationalities," she said, quickly adding "that's not being prejudiced, I don't think". 'Gladesville does need a bit of uplift': plumber Paul Borton, who lives in a new apartment block after downsizing from Balmain. Credit:Christopher Pearce A plumber who has moved into one of new apartment blocks, Paul Borton, said he had enjoyed the convenience and friendly village atmosphere. He and his wife downsized from a house in Balmain to a top-floor apartment after their children moved out. Mr Borton thought development in the area was probably overdue.

"Gladesville does need a bit of uplift," he said. But even so, he was worried about the area being as intensively developed as Macquarie Park. "I think council are pushing a bit too much with the development," he said. "They should slow it down a bit because people are getting a bit disgruntled. But Sydney is up for a change. It needs it." 'The transport system isn't coping': Dianna Edwards, who sells apartments in a new development called Glade & Stubbs. Credit:Christopher Pearce Dianna Edwards, who is selling apartments in a block called Glade & Stubbs under construction on Victoria Road, was delighted the state government freeze did not apply to projects already under way. "I've still got a job," she said.

But Ms Edwards accepted that so much development has placed pressure on public transport. "The transport system isn't coping," she said. "To jump on a bus down the road, sometimes you've got to wait over an hour because the buses are chockers."