ERSKINEVILLE’S infrastructure is under extreme pressure thanks to a building boom within a 1km radius of the village centre, which is set to double the suburb’s population.

Community groups are deeply concerned about how public transport, childcare, schools and even drainage will cope, particularly as 6300 residents move into the Ashmore precinct in the next 12 years.

Friends of Erskineville president Darren Jenkins said the Ashmore apartment boom spelt a looming crunch on local services.

“The schools are full, childcare waitlists stretch to the hundreds, train crush levels are amongst the highest in the network, and heavy downpours flood local houses and wash away cars on a regular basis,” he said.

“In response, planners want to senselessly double the population without lifting a finger to improve anything.”

media_camera Development on McDonald St and Eve St, Erskineville. Picture: Craig Wilson

Train services have decreased dramatically in the last 50 years - there were 14 trains that stopped at Erskineville station during morning peak hour in 1968, but in 2015 there are only four services between 8 and 9am.

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But a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said many factors impact on the frequency of services, particularly when comparing the number of past and present services.

“Today, the trains providing services on the T3 Bankstown Line have eight cars, the majority of which are the newer Waratah and Millennium trains that have the ability to carry many more customers,” she said.

The trains are also crowded. In March, the Peak Train Load survey was conducted by the Bureau of Transport Statistics and based on observations the average load for the Bankstown Line - which services Erskineville - was 126 per cent for trains arising at Central Station from 8-9am.

media_camera Friends of Erskineville President Darren Jenkins is concerned about the boom in development and lack of planning for local services in the suburb. Picture: John Appleyard

The City of Sydney has ­approved development ­applications for 771 dwellings in the Ashmore precinct so far, but a report found there was the potential for 3785 new homes.

In developing Ashmore’s planning controls the City consulted with Transport for NSW and the RMS, but strong demand for dwellings in Sydney means the industry is producing large numbers of new apartments in Ashmore earlier than forecast, a City of Sydney spokeswoman said.

“As a result, population growth in Ashmore is rapid with a higher proportion of residents in the workforce than currently forecast by the Bureau of Transport Statistics,” she said.

The City has written to Transport for NSW for ­advice on the available capacity on public transport and whether it is sufficient to accommodate the growth in residents.

But Mr Jenkins said the pressing need for infrastructure could no longer be ignored.

“Planners need to begin from the ground up. Proper stormwater drainage is all important, not only to stop flooding, but to ensure we have activated shopfronts at street-level and to keep building heights down,” he said.

“We need more train services, not fewer and we need a planned and funded expansion of school and childcare places. Unless that happens, there should be a moratorium on all future residential development in the area.”

media_camera Erskineville back in the 1960s

media_camera Erskineville now with a new development in the background. Picture: John Appleyard

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City was working to meet Ashmore’s needs by building three new childcare facilities in the area and a new library, aquatic centre and creative hub at Green Square, about 1km from Ashmore.

But sleepless nights and two weeks off work were part of the Datta family’s search for child care in Erskineville.

Abhi Datta said the family moved from Concord to Waterloo and their daughter Aishani started at Erskineville Public School, but they struggled to find her care before and after school.

“We would have contacted about 12 places. I had a spreadsheet,” he said.

They have been forced to split Aishani’s child care between the school on Monday and Wednesday, and a private provider in the area.

“It’s not ideal, but we don’t have any other options,” Mr Datta said.

“If you look at the apartment blocks being built, everyone has young kids. How is that going to be sustainable if you don’t have day care? Most people are working.”

A City of Sydney audit of childcare facilities in the Ashmore precinct found all had waiting lists – including two with 500 signed up.

media_camera Abhi Datta and his wife Tina had a lot of trouble finding before and after school care for their daughter Aishani in the Erskineville area.

Federal Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said responsibility for approving new childcare centres and places rested with state and local governments, but availability also relied on childcare providers choosing to open new services or expanding into growth areas.

A new centre is proposed in the Golden Horse development application, which the City was currently assessing, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said it had a regulatory role in child care, but directed the Courier to the Federal Government for inquiries about childcare capacity.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

■ Motto with 144 apartments and 11 terraces over four buildings bounded by Ashmore St, Mitchell Rd and Coulson St. Completed

■ Eve by Fridcorp at corner of Eve and McDonald streets, with 197 apartments. Due to be complete first half of 2016

■ Located behind Eve, Zenith and Metters at 1a Coulson St, is a six-storey apartment building with 172 homes, including 15 three-bedroom penthouses. 2017 completion

■ Golden Horse proposed development bounded by Ashmore St, Hadfield St and Mitchell Rd with nine blocks, for 1600 new dwellings