Concern CBD will extend to Glebe

Local residents and activists are increasingly concerned the proposed five-story makeover of 12 Bridge St in Blackwattle Bay will set a precedent in encouraging widespread high-rise redevelopment in Glebe.

The City of Sydney Council is assessing the Bridge St development application (DA) under a new local and environment plan, LEP 2011, which is at the final stages of approval by the State Government.

NSW Greens MP for Balmain, Jamie Parker said the Bridge St DA is a “test for how the new LEP will be applied in Glebe”.

“The new LEP provides significantly increased density allowed,” said Mr Parker. “Under the old LEP … the floor-to-space density was 1.5 to 1. Under this new draft LEP, it’s 2.4 to 1.

“It’s all around one or two stories on this strip and now they are allowing up to 15 metre wall heights, which is enormous.”

The planning controls for Glebe were originally set by Leichhardt Council before the area was amalgamated into the City of Sydney in 2003. No height or density limits were set at that time.

The proposed five-story apartment block has been opposed by residential group, The Glebe Society, who are concerned Glebe’s heritage and environment will be tarnished by large-scale redevelopment.

“The Glebe Society has put in an objection to the DA,” said President of The Glebe Society, John Gray. “We are concerned it’s an over-development and we are concerned the floor-to-space ratio is very, very high.

“Even under the new the new LEP, it is meant to be too high. The amount of shadowing that occurs for heritage buildings is awful.”

A spokesperson for the City of Sydney said the draft City Plan, incorporating the new LEP, “balances targets for homes and jobs set by the State Government with our vision for a more sustainable and liveable city”.

“These controls will be updated by the draft City Plan, which for the first time provide certainty around floor-tospace- ratio and height controls,” said the spokesperson.

“The City Plan is the result of five years of consultation involving more than 40 studies, reviews and projects, over 100 meetings, workshops and presentations to the community and businesses, and 105,800 ratepayer letters.”

The spokesperson said the City of Sydney is assessing the 12 Bridge St DA using both the imminent City Plan and current planning controls.

Local Jane Wesley said residents are concerned the Bridge St DA will set a precedent and extend the CBD towards Glebe.

“If this development goes ahead it will mean we will have the CBD cross Wentworth Park and soon extend all the way to Camperdown,” said Ms Wesley. “Approval of this first DA establishes a dangerous precedent and will have Glebe reduced to a ghetto behind walls of ugly apartment blocks.”

Mr Gray encourgaged concerned residents to convey objections directly to Council.

“We’ve got a pretty good record of putting objections to the City of Sydney and getting good hearings,” said Mr Gray. “If you’ve got any objections, write to Council individually.”