The 120-metre tower of up to 36 storeys and a neighbouring
100-metre tower, detailed yesterday in plans for the former Carlton &
United Breweries site at Broadway, have confirmed fears of residents who had
warned the area would become a “mini-Manhattan on steroids”.
But the NSW executive director of the Property Council, Ken
Morrison, said that was a “completely unjustified reaction”.
“If we’re serious about having sustainable cities, then
we have to go through with these opportunities otherwise we’re forcing more
housing on the fringes of the city. And anyway, to counter the ugliness of the
UTS building, you need a bit of height.”
The site’s owner, Foster’s, has increased the proposed
density of dwellings above the limits set by City of Sydney Council. The development application,
which went on exhibition yesterday for 30 days, allows for 1690 apartments.
The council lost planning control of the $2 billion
development to the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, in June.
If he approves the proposal it would pave the way for one of
the country’s biggest private urban renewal projects.
As many as 50 buildings, including at least two office
blocks, would house almost 3000 residents and 5000 workers. The 5.8-hectare
site would include some retail space and a 5000-square metre park that Foster’s
says would be flooded by sunlight between noon and 2pm in midwinter.
But a Chippendale resident, Lindsay Charles, said the tower
blocks would mean at least a third of units would get sunlight for no more than
those two hours in midwinter. “The same goes for the park at the rear of
the site, and for many terraces and offices in Chippendale. If a project like
this can’t look after its own, then it’s simply overdevelopment. The residents
will all be at work between midday and 2pm so what use is sunlight then?”
The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, echoed her concerns, saying:
“If the plan is adopted, significant heritage buildings on the site will
be lost, density of development on the site will increase significantly and
there will be greater overshadowing of the proposed public parkland.”
But the claims were described as “total rubbish”
by the project director hired by Foster’s, Brian Challen. “I can assure
you the development will receive high levels of residential amenity, including
sunlight, as detailed in the government planning policy.
“There are some buildings being approved in the city
that get no sunlight at all; they’re totally in the shade. This is a
considerable improvement on that.”
Under the planning policy at least 70 per cent of apartments
must have at least two hours of sun in midwinter. The architect Michael Grave,
of Cox/ATA, said that had been well accounted for.
Residents are also concerned the increased density will
affect roads such as Broadway that are already choked. “They should be
looking at reducing car usage in a development this close to public
transport,” Ms Charles said.
Under the final proposal four more items of heritage value
would make way for a new street through the development.
[REDWatch – The Plans for the CUB proposal can be found at http://www.cubproject.com.au/]