Council prioritises affordable housing over heritage
North Sydney Council has chosen to prioritise affordable housing over a local heritage review, saying both could not be carried out concurrently.
Councillors discussed the issue of how to deal with the two issues, given both are ‘priorities,’ at a council meeting on 9 October.
Director of community, planning and environment, Marcelo Occhiuzzi, recommended that council prioritise an affordable housing policy over a comprehensive heritage review.
“Whilst both are important, they cannot be pursued effectively within existing resources,” Mr Occhiuzzi said. “Affordable housing will address a wider and more immediate policy area.” Councillors voted for a ‘briefing’ and rejected a motion by Councillor Jilly Gibson to prioritise a heritage review.
Ms Gibson told North Shore Living she was ‘very disappointed’ and said a ‘briefing’ was ‘as good as abandoning it’.
“We’ve just put preserving our heritage on the back burner and (jumped) on the latest bandwagon of the affordable housing crisis,” Ms Gibson said. “That is a State Government issue. Heritage is a local government issue.”
Ms Gibson said she was concerned about the increase in legal fees as council blocks attempts to demolish heritage homes.
She said a comprehensive heritage study was needed to identify properties requiring preservation. “It would save all of these fights in the Land and Environment Court – a lot of rate payers’ dollars going to lawyers,” Ms Gibson said. “When heritage homes are demolished, there’s no second chance.”
North Sydney mayor Zoë Baker said council had strong heritage controls in place and remained committed to undertaking a heritage review, which would take two to three years.
“Demolition of heritage items diminishes the character of the precinct,” Ms Baker said. “Part of the charm of North Sydney is the mix of heritage and contemporary buildings with trees.”
There has been conflict between council and developers for years over heritage listings, with developers able to appeal to to the State Government. At the moment, council is at an impasse over homes at 115 to 125 Holt Avenue, Cremorne. Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe revoked a 12-month heritage order on numbers 115, 117 and 119 in August. The developer subsequently demolished the three houses, after gaining a complying development certificate. However, council has refused the developer’s request to build 16 residential units. A proposal to make the remaining homes heritage listed will soon be considered by the department, after community consultation.