Affordable boarding houses trigger St Ambrose Catholic Primary School revolt

First there was one, then came a second; and now neighbours at Concord West can scarcely believe they face a third boarding house in their street.

Alice Mantel, David Brereton, Noah Shaw and his mum Katherine Mason and Canada Bay Cr Charles Jago in Stuart St, Concord West. Picture: Jordan Shields

First there was one, then came a second; and now neighbours at Concord West can scarcely believe they face a third boarding house in their street.

The residents of Stuart St, close to Concord West train station, do not agree with developers’ enthusiasm for the affordable accommodation in their neighbourhood.

The first boarding house, a three storey building of 38 rooms, appeared last year.

A second, to have 39 rooms, is being built next door.

A development application for another with 27 rooms to sit alongside them is the final straw for neighbours.

Neighbour Mary Krsticevic was concerned at the pace of the change.

“We’ll be overpopulated. It used to be a nice residential street to bring up a family,” she said.

Parents at St Ambrose Catholic Primary School in Stuart St said if the plans were approved, the concentration of cars would pose risks to students’ safety.

Parent Teresa Del Monte said many students walked past the property and the incline of the proposed driveway meant motorists may not see them.

However the owner’s traffic consultant Paul Corbett said motorists would be at grade level when departing and have good visibility. He said the design complied with Australian standards.

Neighbours also say the plans are out of step with the neighbourhood.

The owner’s architect, Ghazi Al Ali, said the court had ruled the first boarding house in the street was acceptable.

Mr Al Ali was the architect for the two approved boarding houses, although the three sites appear to have different owners.

He said the neighbourhood was changing from low to medium density.

The properties are zoned medium density.

The boarding houses would provide affordable, self-contained homes for workers and students, according to Mr Al Ali.

While boarders are often believed to be single, the proposed house would have 22 double rooms.

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A manager would live on-site, and boarders must stay for at least three months.

People have until December 12 to send their views on the application to Canada Bay Council.

The council will decide whether the application is approved.

Concerns about boarding houses’ impacts prompted the state government in June to raise parking requirements.

The amount of parking space to be provided per room increased from 0.2 spaces to 0.5.

Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas said the council had previously called for the cumulative impact of boarding houses to be addressed.

He said the state government had yet to resolve the problem.