Freshwater: Kirk Pengilly in battle to stop main street shop-top redevelopment

He’s part of one of Australia’s greatest musical exports, but now this rocker has put down his saxophone to fight against an apartment redevelopment in his local main street.

An Australian rock music icon has joined the fight to stop a large “out of character” apartment block being built in his suburb’s main street.

Kirk Pengilly, who plays saxophone and guitar with INXS, says the four-storey building will ruin the village atmosphere at Freshwater, on Sydney’s northern beaches.

INXS rock icon legend Kirk Pengilly said he was “beside myself with anger” at the council. File picture: Richard Jupe

A revised $4.3 million development application to demolish an existing two-storey building and replace it with a “shop top” block with 11 apartments has been lodged with Northern Beaches Council.

The owners of the property, on the corner of Lawrence and Oliver streets, withdrew the first DA late last year after 40 locals, including Pengilly, officially complained to the council that the building was too high, too big, out of character with the village and would increase traffic in surrounding streets.

The new DA, which still includes 11 units, one shop, one office and two levels of parking, but with a lower height, improved facades and landscaping, attracted 50 submissions by the July 9 deadline.

In a submission against the original DA Pengilly told the council that he was “completely opposed to this development”.

“This is the fourth major Development in seven years that has now completely ruined the

heritage, ‘family village’ style of Freshwater.

An artist's impression of the proposed and revised "shop top" housing redevelopment. The height has been reduced. Picture: CKDS Architecture

“It has become unsafe to walk due to the immense increase in traffic, nowhere for the locals to park and get a local coffee, food, etc.

“I am beside myself with anger that I pay rates to a council that has let this happen …!!!”

A property consultancy, Life Property Group, hired by the property’s owner, said on Monday that it had engaged an urban designer to help address the issues council had with the redevelopment.

An artist's impression of the "shop top" housing proposal. The developers have improved the rear setback. Picture: CKDS Architecture

The Group’s senior development manager, Claudio Minns, said it withdrew the original DA to provide more time to work on the site’s design.

“We’ve attempted to address all of council’s concerns with this revised DA,” Mr Minns said.

“We are not trying to push the envelope with this development.

The current mixed-use development at 50 Lawrence St, Freshwater, which is proposed to be demolished to make way for a four-storey shop-top apartment block. Picture: Google Maps

“We’ve reduced the height of the building … and increased the rear set back as well.

“And we are addressing all the environmental considerations to ensure it’s a sustainable development with solar panels on the roof, rainwater re-use, cross-flow ventilation and we’ve introduced ‘green walls’ for visual benefits to residents and the public.”