Friends of Erskineville to end Fight against Council DA

Friends of Erskineville have given up their fight against the DA approved supermarket and 20 apartments on Erskineville Road.

They fear the approved supermarket will add pressure to existing parking and traffic congestion, but have ended their five year battle with City of Sydney Council.

“Effectively, it’s done. There’s not much we can really do about it now,” said Brett Mason, President of Friends of Erskineville.

The approved DA at 21-23 Erskineville Road includes the development of a supermarket with 20 apartments above the site. There will be no dedicated residential parking, with each apartment receiving a bike rack instead.

“The City of Sydney is not trying to ban people from owning or driving cars in the city,” said a City of Sydney Council spokesperson.

The council said it is common for developments to be approved without dedicated parking spaces in areas that are well serviced by public transport. The DA site will be within walking distance of both Newtown and Erskineville train stations and serviced by buses and a nearby cycleway.

The development aims to bring affordable accommodation for first-time buyers, singles, students and those who don’t wish to own a car while living in the city.

“Our valuable road space must be freed up for commercial vehicles, sustainable transport modes and for those who have no alternative other than to drive,” said the spokesperson.

The DA will proceed once the Council’s Development Control Plan is approved under the new Liberal Government.

“I only hope the pretty pictures from the DA is what we’ll get in the end,” said Mr Mason from Friends of Erskineville.

City of Sydney Council received almost 70 objections to the DA and held community meetings with FoE and local residents during the DA process.

By Vanessa Zhang