20 Units Proposed For Bellevue Road, Reducing Affordable Housing

Nestled in the Eastern Suburbs, Bellevue Road in Bellevue Hill has seen a flurry of housing construction. The owners of one home say that the latest $23.3 million proposal, slated to surround their house on two sides, is different.

At 138A—140 Bellevue Road, eight storeys are proposed to be built, replacing existing residences — including eight affordable housing units — to provide 20 flats. Four two-bed units would be classified as affordable for 15 years. Apart from these will be 13 three-beds, two four-beds and one single-bed. Three floors of underground parking would be built.

The statement of environmental effects prepared by GSA Planning for applicant Common Office states that the site is a 389 metre walk from the Double Bay shops. This makes it eligible for the Minns Government’s low and mid-rise housing incentives targeting developments within 400 metres of a town centre.

According to the document, the proposal “will substantially improve the appearance of the site in keeping with the desired future character of the area.”

“The proposal will offer a contemporary built form with an appropriate bulk and scale that positively responds to the evolving character of Bellevue Road and the area surrounding the Double Bay town centre.”

Resident fears for “dream home”

Rabie Mtanos lives at 138 Bellevue Road with his family. Mtanos and his wife Mitra Azimi are concerned about the effect the building would have on their home, which they “worked so hard” for.

“My wife and I moved into this dream home with our three children about two years ago. We spent more than a year renovating the house internally, not as an investment, but to make it the home we intended to raise our family in for a long time to come.”

Currently, their balcony offers a panoramic view towards the city centre. “Multiple neighbours would lose their city views and sunlight, and they have all recently built their properties.”

“We are definitely not NIMBYs as we are already completely surrounded by construction and will be for a long time. We just ask that it be reasonable and make sense for the community.”

“If we ever opened a window or curtain or tried to enjoy our front patio or pool in the back, we would have countless windows not only looking down into our outdoor areas and balconies but directly into our bedrooms and living room and dining room and kitchen.” 

Neighbouring residences would be similarly impacted, Mtanos said.

Scouring documents submitted on the applicant’s behalf, he observed varying measurements of its distance from the Double Bay shops. The Government’s online Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy Indicative Map places the front of the property only 1.09 metres within the 400 metre radius required for eligibility. The City Hub arrived at similar estimations of around 400 metres using Google Earth.

Report highlights excavation risks

Mtanos is also concerned about the scale of excavation required on the steeply sloping site. According to a report by JK Geotechnics, nearly 19 metres will have to be dug out at the eastern end, where there exists a driveway nestled between houses. It is a “real possibility” that groundwater will be present in this area.

The report finds that the only possible means of shoring up the ground is by creating a cutter soil mix wall, formed by mixing a cement composite into the soil. However, this method could be impossible if bedrock is present.

Next to Bellevue Hill, Double Bay has a uniquely high water table, only a metre from the surface in parts. Buildings near construction sites have suffered from cracking and sinking in recent years.

“While we cannot provide comment during the DA assessment process, we can confirm that all matters raised will be considered as part of the assessment, and the proposed development will also be assessed against relevant state and local planning legislation,” said Woollahra Council.

The municipality is on track to adopt a permanent affordable housing requirement for new developments.

Common Office was contacted for comment.