Delmar Pde, Dee Why: Authorities to review radical modifications to plans for $75m mega-apartment redevelopment

A bid to radically change plans for a contentious $75m mega-apartment redevelopment in a beachside Sydney suburb has raised community concerns. See the latest here.

An artist's impression of one of the apartment blocks at the Casa Delmar apartment development at Dee Why that its developers want to add to. Picture: Landmark Group

Community concern is growing about a bid to radically modify approved plans for a contentious $75 million northern beaches’ mega-apartment complex so the developer can add an extra 62 units — and another two storeys.

The Sydney-based Landmark Group was given planning permission in July last year to construct 219 units in the Dee Why town centre, in buildings ranging in height from five to seven storeys.

But it now wants to provide 280 apartments as well as bump up the heights of the buildings to up to 10 storeys at the corner of Pittwater Rd and Delmar Pde.

Landmark has lodged a State Significant Development application with the NSW Department of Planning, seeking approval for the modifications to “Casa Delmar” .

An artist's impression of part of the Casa Delmar apartment development at Dee Why. Picture: Landmark Group

The application is currently on public exhibition. Demolition of the existing business park on the site has started.

Now, supporters of the adjacent Stony Range Botanic Garden, which is managed by Northern Beaches Council, are urging locals to lodge submissions opposed to the increased height of Casa Delmar.

The Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden at Dee Why, could be affected by overshadowing by the neighbouring apartment development. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

Children playing in the at Magic Circle and Dragon's Nest area of Stony Range. Picture: Phillip Rogers

A community email stated that if the SSD application was successful, the 3.3h reserve, described on the council’s website as an “oasis of Australian native plants … in the heart of the northern beaches”, would suffer from the effects of shadowing.

An artist's impression of a 7-storey block that could increase in height by two-storeys if a new planning application was successful. Picture: Landmark Group

With its network of walking trails, the Federation Cascade waterway and its own “rainforest gully”, Stony Range is also an official “Regional Botanic Garden of Native Bushland”. The reserve can also be booked for functuon and events like weddings.

“The increased height of the buildings will mean more shadowing of our high use areas, particularly the entry and the picnic/BBQ and children’s areas,” the email from the Stony Range volunteer management committee stated.

Location of the Casa Delmar apartment development at Dee Why. Picture: Landmark Group

“If you feel strongly about the effect this application for extra height will have on Stony Range, we encourage you to make a submission through the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure before submissions close on 18th May.”

In marketing material for the development, one, two and three-bedroom units,would be priced from about $795,000 through to $2.2 million for “luxury penthouses”.

An artist's impression of penthouse apartment at Casa Delmar. Picture: Landmark Group

In documents lodged with the new application, the developer argued that the “consequence of not proceeding with the proposed State Significant Development is the loss of additional housing supply”.

Close to 50 apartments would be provided as “affordable housing”.

The council, which is not the consent authority for this application, will review the impacts of the proposed development and make a submission to the Planning Department.

“Council encourages the department to consider the concerns raised by Stony Range Botanic Garden including increased shadow impacts on the garden,” it said in a statement.