Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

have Pittwater on edge
our quality of life.”
He noted the full details of
the Government’s plans would
not become clear until its draft
State Environmental Planning
Policy (SEPP) was released following
a review of community
feedback.
However, he said the proposed
reforms had telegraphed
the Government’s intent.
Mr Amon said that in addition
to doubling apartment
block heights, Council sources
estimated that Government’s
changes to low-density zones
to permit dual occupancies,
terraces and manor homes on
tiny blocks would mean an
additional 44,000 dwellings
could be created across the
Beaches.
“We are not against development,
but we are deadset
against development without
adequate infrastructure,” he
said.
“In an area without mass
transport options, these changes
are unacceptable. With our
community, we will fight this
unreasonable plan and I will
let them know how they can
help in the weeks ahead.”
Protect Pittwater President
Simon Dunn told Pittwater Life:
“Nothing highlights the need
for environmentally sensitive
zoning in Pittwater more than
a State Government wielding
a SEPP to achieve housing
targets.
“We have not yet seen the
details of the proposed SEPP
but would expect it to exempt
environmental living zones.
“We are therefore thankful
that a great number of Pittwater
residents and community
groups had the foresight to
strenuously oppose the drastic
zoning changes for Pittwater
that were initially proposed by
the Northern Beaches Council
in early 2023.”
He said that, had the zoning
changes gone unchallenged,
“Pittwater’s unique natural
environment would have been
left even more vulnerable to
inappropriate development”.
Mackellar Federal Independent
MP Dr Sophie Scamps said
it was premature to “jump to
conclusions” about the planning
reforms leading to overdevelopment.
“There are two issues at
play – the need to address the
housing crisis Sydney is facing,
and that development should
be consistent with community
expectations,” she said.
“The Government is seeking
submissions and has also foreshadowed
that councils will
have input on the suitability of
local town centres for higher
densities, depending on the
range of services they offer.
“So it is premature to jump
to conclusions.”
She added the Government
should be aiming to create vibrant,
walkable, well-designed
NSW Govt’s proposed reforms
• Permit Residential Flat Buildings (RFBs) with consent in the
R3 Zone within station and town centre precincts in the Six
Cities region (includes Northern Beaches Council LGA within
‘Eastern Harbour City’).
• Includes introducing non-refusal standards that apply to
RFBs wherever they are permitted (excluding R2 Zones) in
station and town centre precincts in the Six Cities region.
• Maximum building height RFBs – 21m within inner (0-400m)
station and town centre precincts.
• Maximum building height RFBs – 16m within outer (400-
800m) station and town centre precincts.
• Permit Multi-Dwelling Houses (MDHs) with consent in R2
Zones within station and town centre precincts in the Six Cities
region – maximum building height 9.5m.
• Permit shop-top housing (STH) with no change to permissibility
but with non-refusal standards identical to RFBs
(heights 21m and 16m).
* Source: NSW Government.
and sustainable communities
close to transport that were
consistent with Northern
Beaches values.
“Even though this is a State
issue, I will be closely scrutinising
it and working with
my State counterparts and
Council.”
Wakehurst Independent
MP Michael Regan said he
supported the intent of the
reforms to increase low-and
mid-rise development in residential
zones.
“There is no question that
many people want to downsize
from big houses into
either large apartments, or
something lacking here on the
Beaches, terraces and villas,”
he said.
“And not just downsizers,
but small families and executive
couples, for example.
“So many people have approached
me over the years
about wanting to have a duplex
on their property to allow their
kids an opportunity to remain
in the area or to look after
their folks in retirement.”
However, he said he didn’t
support the “blanket application”
of density changes which
did not take into account the
“fundamental infrastructure
constraints of the Northern
Beaches, or other parts of Sydney
for that matter”.
– Nigel Wall
*What do you think? Tell us at
readers@pittwaterlife.com.au
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