The
precinct is also the subject of a draft amendment to the Development Control
Plan (DCP), which was on exhibition until February 29 this year. The amendments
allow for 1.75:1 floor space ratio, building heights up to nine storeys and
1950 car parking spaces.
In 2010,
the former State Government directed Council to increase height limits at the
site from nine to 19 storeys and allowable residential floor space by nearly 60
per cent. On March 14, 2012, the current government’s Minister for Planning and
Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard, reversed this direction, noting that a 19-storey
height limit would be “completely out of character with the nearby area”. Mr
Hazzard also indicated his support for Council’s resolution to defer the
Goodman site in the Ashmore Estate from the LEP.
The
planning sub-committee’s report to Council on the draft LEP recommends
preparing and exhibiting environmental controls for Ashmore that are consistent
with those development controls that are ultimately adopted for the site,
following consideration of submissions on the draft DPC amendment. The
sub-committee’s report on the draft DPC exhibition and Council’s response are
eagerly awaited by residents who have been actively campaigning around proposed
development at the site.
Local
community group Friends of Erskineville (FOE) made a submission on the draft
DCP that raised the overarching concern that the
proposed development does not foster livable, sustainable community. It also specified
a set of problems that were echoed across many other submissions received from
residents.
While scaled down significantly from the previous State Government’s
concept, the draft DCP amendment raises the 2006 DCP site density by 75 per
cent on the western side of the Estate and 40 per cent on the eastern side. FOE
are concerned this increase has been proposed without serious regard for the
transport, urban design and servicing needs of such a development.
The amendment also increases the building height to a maximum of nine
storeys, instead of the five stipulated in the 2006 DCP. There is widespread
concern that this scale of development stands to reduce amenity and social
wellbeing of the community, impacting on children in particular. FOE argues that
buildings of this height also destroy the townscape and are expensive and
energy intensive to maintain.
Conscious of an existing shortfall in public transport services and of
traffic congestion, FOE consider that a full transport network analysis investigating
impacts on traffic, parking and public and alternative transport is required.
They also argue that major water pipe upgrades are needed and should be made
prior to commencement of work. FOE are calling for a thoroughly researched and
socially sensitive design for the new village that considers what
infrastructure is already in place and what would be required to support new
residents.
Local residents also used the submission process to convey their
dissatisfaction with City’s decision to accept a development application from
the developers when the DPC governing the site has not yet been finalised and
while uncertainty remains around whether the Department Planning &
Infrastructure or the City will be responsible for the development.
FOE has the support of local member for Heffron, Kristina Keneally, who
has called for the O’Farrell government to listen to local residents’ concerns
and to come good on its election promise to hand over planning control to the
City. Greens member Councillor Chris Harris welcomed Ms Keneally’s expression
of support for local residents’ concerns, but described it as late and
hypocritical when it was during her own premiership that then Planning
Minister, Tony Kelly, instructed the City to increase the building heights and
floor space ratio.
Details of the City Plan are available at: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/cityplan . More info on FOE and the community response to the
Ashmore development can be found at www.erskinevillevillage.org
Source: The South Sydney Herald April 2012 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au