Erskineville checks out

It’s Groundhog Day in the Erskineville village, as residents re-launch their fight against a proposed supermarket.

“We want to protect the unique atmosphere in Erskineville, to preserve the village fabric,’ said Paul Howard, member of The Friends of Erskineville Village, the community group leading the campaign against the new development.

Harold R Finger & co have applied to build on the corner of Erskineville Road & Gowrie Street, after their application for a supermarket on the same site was rejected by residents, Council (SCC) and the Land & Environment Court of NSW last year.

At the time, Council said “Approving a large scale retail development would have an adverse impact on the character of the area.”

The new DA aims to side step last year’s judgement by s re-using the existing building with no extra floor space, and reducing trading hours from the previously proposed midnight closure, to 7.00am-10.00pm Monday to Sunday, and 8.00am-10:00pm on Sunday.

“The new DA is much smaller, so it won’t have the same impact on amenity as the original proposal. But it’s bound to be a difficult process because there’s not much trust between the community and the developers,” said Greens Councillor Chris Harris, on the basis of his recent meetings with both paries.

“The impact of the new supermarket would be the same in the village,” said Mr Howard, after seeking advice from an independent supermarket specialist the Friends of Erskineville Village have employed to assess the new DA.

Congestion is a key concern, considering that up to fifty per cent of customers will in fact reach the shops by car, rather than on foot as the developers are predicting, and that the new DA contains 16 parking spaces when the RTA recommends 34.

“No doubt the developers live elsewhere and will not be the ones that have to contend with the increased traffic, noise and inconvenience that their selfish and commercial aims have caused,” said Erskineville resident Derek.

“Nine submissions have been received by City Planners so far, expressing a combination of support and objection to the new DA. All submissions, along with Council and Court reasons for refusing the previous DA will be carefully considered during the assessment of this new Development Application, including parking, traffic and impact on Erskineville village,” said a Council spokesperson.

The DA is on public exhibition until May 21. See www.erskinevillevillage.org for more information.