Banksia bushland under threat as $30 million Little Bay residential development approved

By ERIN MODARO

A development application for a 4-storey mix of apartments and townhouses in Little Bay has recently been granted approval by the Land and Environment Court, after developers appealed Randwick council’s dismissal of the application in 2021.

The application for 45 new residences at 11 Jennifer Street was knocked back by Randwick Council due to concerns over damage to native vegetation, notably the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub.  The original development proposal included the removal of areas of native scrub, which would threaten local wildlife such as the endangered Maroubra Woodland Snail. 

The developers, Auspat International No.2 Pty Ltd, appealed council’s dismissal to the LEC and were granted approval to submit an amended proposal in March 2022. In May, when the application was back at the LEC, the developers were given time to respond to expert opinion on the damage to native vegetation that the building would pose.

The amended proposal hearings were wrapped up LEC in September, and the development was granted approval on October 19. Amendments were made to the size and scope of the development, as well as splitting the north building into two separate buildings with a 12 metre gap between.

Native flora and fauna still at risk, says community group

The updated DA also included the preservation of certain areas of banksia scrub on the site, however, community groups say these mitigations are not enough to protect local vegetation.

“The judge has ordered that some parts of the [Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub] in the building footprint have to be dug up carefully and translocated to another part of the site” Claire Bettington from Friends of Malabar Headland told City Hub. 

“Our opinion is that this won’t work” she said.

“The translocated vegetation is likely to die, as it has when this has been tried before”. 

Bettington also said that the 4-storey development will set a precedent for overdevelopment in the area, as majority of surrounding residences fall within a one or two storey height limit. Residents in Little Bay have been campaigning to keep the village-like feel of the suburb in the face of large developments for years.

“[The development] will destroy the views of the immediate neighbours on Jennifer Street” Bettington said. 

“It will be visible from everywhere around it, as it is situated on top of a ridge, spoiling the skyline from the golf course and the Kamay Botany Bay NP (Jennifer St section).”

Friends of Malabar also note that the development will split a banksia scrub area into two, meaning the movement of fauna will be restricted.

While Randwick Council has been fighting development on Jennifer Street for years, a spokesperson said council respects the decision of the court.

“While the amended proposal has addressed some of the planning and urban design contentions, Council is still concerned about the impact to biodiversity including threatened species such as the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, as well as impact on the heritage conservation areas and public interest,” the spokesperson said. 

“Council respects the Court’s decision and will continue to work with the developer to ensure all conditions of consent are implemented.”