Government to decide fate of Bronte Village

The proposed Bronte Village development will now be assessed by the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure after Waverley Council amended the original proposal last month.

Having capped the retail premises to 400 square metres and implemented strict height controls, Council reiterated its commitment to community consultation for the touted development at Bronte’s MacPherson St and St Thomas St Village.

“Originally the developer wanted 1000 square metres and our officers thought that this was not in keeping with our neighbourhood centre,” said Waverley Mayor Sally Betts.

“They recommended 500 square metres and obviously there was some concern amongst residents, so we reduced it to 400 [square metres], so it’s pretty small.”

Ms Betts said she understood the reservations of Bronte residents, who turned out in large numbers at last month’s Council meeting petitioning against the transformation of Bronte RSL club into a high-rise retail apartment block.

“It’s still in residents’ minds that this is what somebody somewhere wanted to happen. They have a legitimate concern,” she said.

Council has restricted the development application (DA) on the site to abide by a 13-metre height limit on MacPherson St and a reduced 7.5-metre height limit on Chesterfield Lane to minimise the overshadowing of existing residential properties.

“You need to have realistic controls or the State Government will just knock it back,” said Ms Betts.

Residents had earlier voiced their concerns through numerous emails and letters, citing increased traffic congestion and safety of the children living in the area as key issues.

Bronte resident Camilla McIntyre said she was worried about the development’s impact on traffic and crime.

“It’s pretty crowded already. If there is a bar, there’ll be drugs around and it will be dangerous when driving, and there’ll be robberies. It’s pretty safe here at the moment,” she said.

Council have ensured the DA has specific traffic controls for the Bronte Village site, with restricted access from Chesterfield Lane to minimise traffic congestion.

Bronte General Store shopkeeper, Boxin Han, said he is anxious the proposed development will affect his livelihood.

“In this street, we have already got a few grocery shops. If they have a big shop there, what can we do? We will lose our shop. These shops are enough for this street because Bondi Junction, Randwick and Coogee shops are very close,” he said.

“Council are listening but they need to do more research around here on what people want and what kinds of shops we need here. They also need to listen to the shop owners in this street, because even putting in a shop of 400 square metres would still kill us. Ours is only about 80 square metres.”

But other Bronte residents were excited by the proposed development. “I think it’ll be good. The more [shops] the better; it’s not going to be ugly,” said a senior resident.

Council has vowed to ensure public art will feature prominently under the development, if approved by NSW Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard.