Councils voiced their concerns via submissions to the State Government regarding the proposed rezoning of St Leonards and Crows Nest under the Transport Orientated Development program.
North Sydney’s submission on 30 August called on the government to amend rezoning plans in order to consider the area’s economic future and deliver community infrastructure to support population growth.
Council is concerned that the ‘extensive rapid rezoning’ of St Leonards and Crows Nest for primarily residential homes (with 3,255 planned), will reduce its capacity for jobs and its commercial functions.
A lack of transparent funding mechanisms to support the population growth with open space, social infrastructure and recreation facilities was noted, with North Sydney stating that it was ‘not reasonable for the rezoning package to rely on council to deliver major public open space upgrades’ without funding.
North Sydney has called for an updated social impact assessment and identification of adequate funding for essential services and facilities.
Willoughby’s submission on 19 August reiterated its position that the Royal North Shore Hospital land at 4B Herbert Street should be reserved for clinical health care, research and education to accommodate the hospital’s future expansion. A 62-storey, 205-metre residential building is proposed for the site, owned by Property NSW.
Willoughby MP Tim James said in July that the former Liberal State Government had reduced the building to 45 storeys, but the current government had ‘failed to listen’ to the community. “This would be by far the tallest building in the area,” Mr James said. “It would dwarf all other local developments and is well beyond acceptable local building heights.”
