Major boarding house planned on street where Dee Why grandma was hit by a garbage truck
A 122-room boarding house proposed for Dee Why, on Sydney's northern beaches, has been slammed by residents, who say it will add congestion to a street where a grandmother was killed.
Manly
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A 122-room boarding house proposed for Dee Why has been slammed as a “death trap” by residents, who say it will add congestion to a street where a grandmother was killed.
Three properties — 613-615 Pittwater Rd and 11 May Rd — would be the site for five blocks of two- to three-storey apartments.
The main entry and exit would be on the narrow Moorilla St, where Hane Mathieson, 58, was hit and killed by a reversing garbage truck while pushing her grandson in a pram on February 8.
The $11.5 million development has raised the ire of residents, with many contacting the Manly Daily. And more neighbours have written submissions against the plan to the council.
Nearby resident Liz Trotter said there were many reasons why the buildings were not suitable.
“We live on a carriageway called Moorilla St, it is a single lane,” she said. “Most of the time you are pulling over to let other cars through.
“It is where Hane Mathison was run over by a truck, that was because it was so small and there was nowhere to turn around.”
She was frustrated that another 17 large bins would be required to be picked up by trucks in the laneway if the boarding house was approved.
“We don’t have the infrastructure to support it,” she said. “The entry and exit — it is a death trap.
“There are already too many pedestrians using it and having to walk on the road because there are no footpaths in sections.
“There could be 247 people on that block wedged between the other houses. Noise will be outrageous and there is a massive fire risk because fire trucks would struggle to get in from Moorilla St.”
Ms Trotter said because it was a slip road adjacent to Pittwater Rd it was noisy and people often could not hear cars approach behind them.
Among other issues residents were concerned about were privacy, overshadowing and noise.
She said it was out of character with surrounding homes, which were one or two storeys.
“If you look at the shadow diagram (provided by developers as part of the application) the surrounding townhouses will see no natural light,” Ms Trotter said.
She said the 122 rooms did not include the three rooms for the building’s manager, taking the total to 125.
Attempts were made to contact the developer but calls were not returned.
However, a statement of environmental effects prepared for Sivad Development Pty Ltd said it wold comprise five buildings, each part-two, part-three storeys.
“The residents will be supervised by three full-time, live-in managers (a head manager and two assistant managers), each with their own accommodation,” the report said.
“Three communal rooms are also provided, each with an adjacent communal open space.
“Each boarding room has private facilities (kitchenette and ensuite bathroom) and private balcony.”
The development falls under the State Environmental Planning Policy for affordable housing, which means it can bypass council planning laws for the area.
