Avalon Beach: Backlash over bid to build backstreet seniors’ units

Locals say a plan to bulldoze family homes and replace them with a seniors’ living complex will change the “character and beauty” of their northern beaches’ suburb.

An artist's impression of a proposed seniors' living complex to replace two family homes in Kevin Ave, Avalon Beach. The development application for the 10 independent living apartments has sparked a backlash among locals who fear it will affect the “character and beauty of our beloved Avalon”. Picture: Supplied

A plan to bulldoze two old family homes to make way for a senior’s living apartment complex has sparked a community backlash in a northern beaches suburb.

There are fears among some locals that the “character and beauty of our beloved Avalon” will be lost if the bid to build the 10-unit complex in a backstreet gets planning approval.

Northern Beaches Council received more than 100 submissions when the plans for the $8.6 million development in Kevin Ave went on public display earlier this year.

Most were opposed to the development application due to increased traffic congestion — the street has traffic lights and is popular with locals trying to get onto busy Barrenjoey Rd — loss of green space and tree canopy due to “overdevelopment” of the blocks and; the inadequate public transport for seniors.

An artist's impression of a proposed seniors' living complex to replace two family homes in Kevin Ave, Avalon Beach. Picture: Supplied

The nearest bus stop is 400m from the “independent living” units and there were concerns about the steepness of hills on the route to nearby shops.

A community social media campaign to halt the development has started with an “urgent appeal — protect our community” message circulating on local Facebook pages.

The anonymous creator of the Facebook post calling for people to get behind the push to stop the development, wrote that the “relentless pursuit of profit by developers threatens to permanently alter the essence of our neighbourhood and establishes a concerning precedent for future projects”.

Two family homes in Kevin Ave, Avalon Beach that are proposed to be replaced by the seniors' living complex. Picture: Supplied

In his submission to the council, local Mathew Ferguson cited the increase in traffic and loss of green space for why the DA should be knocked back.

“Kevin Ave is one of he most sought after and iconic streets in Avalon Beach and its aesthetic and scale should be preserved,” Mr Ferguson wrote.

Local Sherrie Micallef believed that the development was more suited to a flatter area in Avalon, closer to its shopping centre.

“We love our diverse community and welcome more suitable living for our senior members,” she wrote. “This proposal is just not it.”

The location of the proposed seniors' living which locals say will cause more traffic problems on Kevin Ave. Picture: Supplied

Jennifer Hall pointed out in her submission that traffic in Kevin Ave is “already like a dodgem race”.

“The morning and afternoon is a traffic jam as people use the only lights allowing a safe right hand turn into Barrenjoey Rd.

“This is a disastrous proposal for Avalon.”

Susie Goudie wrote that Kevin Ave had a “beautiful style of its own with traditional beach houses and a simple, suburban feel”.

An artist's impression of the proposed seniors' complex which one local said would “change the style of the street”. Picture: Supplied

“A development like this will change the style of the street.”

In a response to the Facebook campaign a local asked whether it was “good to have a mix of elder accommodation and family homes so that local elderly people can downsize and free up family homes for young families?”

“As Avalon’s demographic ages surely we should be supporting small developments for the elderly to enable them to stay in the community?”

An owner of one of the properties has been contacted for comment.