Groups opposing the most recent development proposal for the old Tigers Leagues Club in Rozelle have had a small victory.
The State Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard, has agreed to extend the period of public exhibition for the proposal to 60 days, doubling the usual 30 day time frame.
The exhibition period has been extended to June 18 and is the result of a backlash following the submission of a new development proposal for the Rozelle Village site by Rozelle Village Pty Ltd.
Community and commercial groups have voiced concern while Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous labelled the new development plans “disgraceful”.
Initial plans were rejected in 2010.
The State Government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel knocked back the development application citing concerns about the size of the project and increased traffic congestion.
However, the most recent proposal appears to be even larger than the original with over 20 storeys and up to 1000 car spaces, more than double the number in the previous application.
The Mayor’s objections have been echoed by the Rozelle Chamber of Commerce.
President Jodie Stewart said the Chamber was strongly opposed to the new proposal and endorsed Leichhardt Council’s concerns.
“[The proposed development] will cause closures of shops and basically suck the life blood out of our shopping strip.
Of course we are also worried about traffic.
We agree with council’s position 100 per cent,” she said.
The community campaign to defeat the initial plan has re-emerged to fight the most recent proposal.
Rozelle Residents Action Group, uses the slogan: “Say no to a Bondi Junction in Rozelle”, has recommenced updating followers via its Facebook page and website.
The group objects to the scale of the proposal and argued the increase in retail outlets will squeeze already established local businesses.
“Local businesses will lose trade and some will likely go out of business” the group said on its website.
Balmain state MP Jamie Parker said he lobbied Minister Hazzard to extend the public exhibition period by an extra month to allow residents to properly examine the proposal and submit feedback.
“With such a large and complex development it’s important that the public has its say”.
By Max Chalmers
