A controversial rezoning plan hatched by Lane Cove Council to demolish family homes to make way for 2400 apartments is currently underway in the quiet leafy streets of St Leonards.
These apartments are to be housed in towers up to 19 storeys high, that residents argue will ruin the unique character of the suburb.
As an area with limited open space, traffic congestion and services which are overburdened, Merri Southwood, the president of the Greenwich Community Association argues that this would add thousands of residents to an area that could do without it, and lacks the elements needed for usable green spaces for people to congregate to.
The development will completely destroy the family-friendly, green environment that exists.
“This plan has been driven by Lane Cove Council alone and it has devised a plan to accommodate the wish of residents to maximise their property values.”
Not all residents are upset at the potential rezoning of the area into higher-density living.
Developers have pretty much bought up the entire site for huge sums and are clearly of the view that the rezoning is just a matter of time,” Ms Southwood said.
The latest draft St Leonards South Master Plan, which will be considered by the council following its public exhibition, envisages a rezoning of low density residential streets bounded by the Pacific Highway and rail line to allow for apartment towers for an estimated 4800 people.
The GCA is campaigning to have the plan withdrawn, and has lodged an application under freedom of information laws with the council for the release of 400 submissions regarding the master plan.
A spokesman for Mr Roberts (Liberal member for Lane Cove, Planning Minister) said Sydney was a rapidly growing city with forecasts suggesting 2.2 million people would be added to the population by 2036, requiring more than 725,000 homes.
“It is the job of government to plan for this growth in a co-ordinated manner, rather than an ad-hoc fashion,” he said.
“This is why we have worked closely with councils to identify locations across greater Sydney with good access to existing or planned public transport connections, suitable for rejuvenation with new homes and jobs.
“These planned precincts focus on providing priority infrastructure, including schools, parks, transport, hospitals and road upgrades to support this growth.”
Lane Cove mayor Pam Palmer said the plan was not required by the NSW government.
“The proposed plan will involve demolition of excellent family-friendly and site-appropriate housing stock and replacement by 2400 units in a series of towers with minimal open space,” she said.
Cr Palmer said an influx of new residents would create more traffic, but the area was well served with trains and buses.
She said she believed water and sewerage infrastructure were sufficient, but more school places would be required.
“You cannot make such an enormous change without impacting character so it is council’s job to create the best (though different) character and amenity for new residents,” she said.
