‘We’ve had enough’: Apartment complex deemed a threat to Palm Beach

Plans for an apartment complex in one of Sydney’s ritziest suburbs have been met with concern that it is not in “harmony” with the beachside village.

A developer wants to build a five-storey residential development with seven apartments above two retail tenancies and basement car parking for 23 vehicles on Barrenjoey Road at Palm Beach.

The developer did not respond to this masthead’s questions, but planning documents say the proposal is “sympathetic” to the seaside village character of Palm Beach and displays “far superior” design, amenity, and heritage outcomes than a similar DA approved by the council.

But residents say the proposal breaks planning rules relating to heritage, height, landscaping and is not in the public interest.

Northern Beaches Council also criticised the proposal, calling for significant changes to the design, height and bulk of the building, its apartments and retail spaces.

“The proposal’s height, number of storeys and tiered form contribute to it having a comparatively overbearing prominence and bulk,” a council report said.

Pittwater Liberal MP Rory Amon said building projects are proposed or approved “which, quite frankly, have never been envisaged by communities”.

Public submissions have been scathing about the building plans, with one resident saying “the design fundamentally goes against the unique character, landscape and community found in Palm Beach”.

Palm Beach and Whale Beach Association secretary Richard West said the project needed changes to the bulk, height, scale, landscaping and mix of apartment sizes as well as the provision of food outlets, rather than retail stores.

West said the weight of public opinion of residents and visitors alike was against the development in its current form.

“New developments in this historic precinct need to harmonise with it to retain the existing character, not dominate it,” he said. “People tend to forget Palm Beach’s place in history, but Governor Phillip first visited Broken Bay in March 1788 where settlement began in the early 1800s.

“Barrenjoey House opened in 1923 and is a key part of Palm Beach’s history and needs to be respected as such with sympathetically designed structures on either side.”

Northern Beaches councillor Michael Gencher said the proposed development did not fit with the character of the area and the wishes of the community.

“It is another non-compliant development, and the community and I have had enough of this,” he said.

Gencher said residents had valid, ongoing concerns about inappropriate development, environmental degradation, traffic congestion and “changes to the character of our villages and coastal character”.

Pittwater Liberal MP Rory Amon called for greater certainty and tighter rules about what developments are permissible, saying building projects were being proposed or approved “which, quite frankly, have never been envisaged by communities”.

Amon said the Minns government’s mid-rise housing policy would likely increase the number of possible homes in the area by up to 50 per cent, with apartment blocks replacing single-storey homes.

The state government indicated last year it would force councils to lift long-standing bans on building terraces, townhouses and two-storey apartment blocks in a major push to dramatically increase density amid the worsening housing crisis.

It would also overhaul planning laws to ensure low and mid-rise homes are built near transport hubs and town centres, as well guaranteeing a greater diversity of housing to help NSW meet ambitious national targets.

Amon said the mid-rise proposal was lazy, one-size-fits-all policy that would only worsen the shortcomings of the planning system.

Planning minister Paul Scully said the Minns government had allocated $5.6 million for artificial intelligence to cut development assessment times, which would save councils, developers and taxpayers’ money.

It was also developing a pattern book to encourage better design, he said.

“There’s still a long way to go to fix the planning system, but these changes are a great start to streamline legacy processes that have hindered housing delivery throughout the state,” he said.

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