Residents oppose townhouses slated for Murphys Ave in Keiraville
Residents fear a plan for ten townhouses on a Keiraville could lead to problems with parking, traffic congestion and overdevelopment.
Illawarra Star
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A group of residents have raised concerns over how a 10-unit townhouse development proposed for a quiet Keiraville street could damage the long-term amenity of the area.
On Saturday, dozens of residents from Keiraville came together at public meeting to protest against plans for 58-60 Murphys Ave, which are set to be decided upon at Wollongong’s Local Planning Panel (WLPP) on Wednesday.
The development, according to a council report, seeks permission to demolish two standard houses currently on the street to make way for 10 two-storey townhouses, complete with three bedrooms and a garage each.
The development would be built across three blocks and would share a communal driveway as well as several visitor parking spaces. The report detailed some trees would be removed for the development, which has been recommended for approval by council officers.
The group of residents met for a second public meeting on Saturday, after making formal submissions against the development in May, fearing the impact it could have on traffic flow, drainage and the general visual impact of the suburb.
Spokesperson for the affected neighbours, Yvonne Toepher said the affected residents were shocked and disappointed that the application had been progressed by council.
“It is indeed dismaying to realise Wollongong Council seems to have no intention of standing up to these overdevelopment applications,” she said.
“In doing so it completely ignores the amenity of long term residents in the suburbs of Wollongong, and the environmental implications,” she said.
Ms Toepher said the development would overlook the backyards of five neighbouring properties, and add to the congestion in Keiraville already faces due to the university.
Despite the concerns of neighbouring community members, the assessing officer, in its report to the WLPP, said the development was “unlikely to result in significant adverse impacts on the amenity of the surrounding area”.
“The development is not expected to result in unreasonable impacts on the environment or the
amenity of the locality,” the report read.
“It is considered appropriate with consideration to the zoning and the expected future character of the locality and is therefore considered to be in the public interest.”
Residents will again have their chance to voice concerns at the WLPP meeting on Wednesday, where the panel will decided whether to push the development ahead.