Bilgola: Plans for luxury 9-level home above ‘The Bends’ attracts 120 submissions

Locals fear construction of a luxury nine-level home on a slope above a notorious northern beaches’ road will cause a traffic nightmare, but the owner has defended the plans.

A plan to build a luxury nine-level home — with its own 25m tunnel and rooftop pool — on a steep slope above a notorious northern beaches’ road has attracted an avalanche of criticism.

Locals fear the $2.5 million construction on the “Bilgola Bends” at Bilgola Beach could result in rocks and other debris falling onto vehicles using Barrenjoey Rd.

And they say that access to the villages at the northern end of the peninsula could be severely hampered during the 64-week construction period.

The development application — which includes a 25m pedestrian tunnel from the four-car garage to an elevator up to the house — lodged with Northern Beaches Council has already attracted close to 120 public submissions opposed to the construction.

But property owner Peter Madew, an engineer and property developer, said on Friday that the road would never be blocked during construction and safety measures would be put in place to prevent debris rolling from the site.

An artist's of a proposed multi-level home above the "Bilgola Bends" on Barrenjoey Rd, Bilgola Beach. The owner says only the garage will be visible from the road. Picture: Peter Downes Designs

A geotechnical report with the DA stated that there was no evidence of previous landslide or rockfalls on the site and that the “geotechnical risk for the property is ‘Low’.”

In documents lodged with the DA, the owner, Mr Madew acknowledged that “flying debris” could be a hazard, but confirmed measures would be used to prevent that.

“We’ve got to protect for any rocks coming down the slope,” he said. “There will be barriers that will be off the road. And they’re specially designed so that a truck can park off the road, in a safe position, while it's being loaded.”

Mr Madew confirmed that authorities would not allow Barrenjoey Rd to be blocked, but there might be times when a “stop and go man” would be used to control traffic.

One local wrote in his submission that “surely this DA is some sort of joke”.

“It’s hard to think of a development that would be more inconsistent and ill-fitting with the character of the Bilgola Bends and Avalon than this monstrosity.

“The Bilgola Bends is the gateway and foundation of the northern peninsula. Mess

with that and you destroy the character of the whole of Barrenjoey.”

Another wrote “that road is a nightmare in peak times, and will not cope during the construction phase, plus when whoever lives there decides they need to get out. It’s an invitation for traffic jams and traffic accidents.”

A Statement of Environmental Effects lodged with the DA stated the building was “sited and designed to take into account the slope of the land … and will be substantially hidden by existing and proposed vegetation.

Critics say the 64-week construction period will lead to traffic chaos on the Bilgola Bends and reduce access to the northern end of the peninsula. Picture: Manly Daily

“I wanted the house to blend in with the environment, “ Mr Madew said. “There is a really nice stand of trees towards the front of the block we’ve kept in the design and the house is 10m back from the boundary.

“The only thing you can see from the road is the entrance to the garage.”