Concerns building on the floodplain poses too much risk
Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel has recommended a proposal to rezone a rural area in Warriewood to construct 40 townhouses be rejected.
It would be the fourth time since 2013 that proposals to rezone the land at 10 and 12 Boondah Road as residential have been rejected.
Northern Beaches Council had previously tried, unsuccessfully, to purchase the land for use as sportsfields after identifying the need for more open spaces in the Warriewood Valley. The Council had already bought 3 Boondah Road for this purpose.
At its December meeting, the panel advised that the level of flood risk and impact on biodiversity made it inappropriate to rezone the lots.
The two-hectare site is opposite a Sydney Water sewer treatment plant, and adjacent to the Warriewood Wetlands. It is currently zoned RU2 Rural Landscape, and a significant part of 10 Boondah Road is in a high-risk flood zone.
The proposal, submitted by developer Henroth, has several strategies to mitigate this, including ‘filling’ the land and a private evacuation alarm system to trigger at certain times in the event of a high-risk storm. The alarms would give ‘evacuate’ and then ‘shelter in place’ messages.
The NSW State Emergency Services (SES) advised that it has ‘significant concerns’ about the rezoning.
“Zoning should not enable development that will result in an increase in risk to life or property of people living on the floodplain,” its report said.
“Shelter in place is not a flood management strategy endorsed by the SES for future development. (This) is only suitable to allow existing dwellings that are currently at risk to reduce their risk.”
Council staff have also expressed concern that the proposed flood mitigation strategies, such as filling, are insufficient to protect adjacent properties.
Dan Maurici, senior development manager of Henroth, told Peninsula Living that there is a lack of affordable housing in the area.
“This development would help address a shortfall in the Warriewood Valley land release, which has under-delivered 251 dwellings,” he said.
Council will consider the rezoning proposal at its meeting this month.
By Michelle Giglio