Manly’s most powerful take on Catholic Church over Eastern Hill blocks plan
Business directors, community leaders and top barristers are battling the Catholic Church over plans to build three residential blocks in one of Manly’s most desirable areas. Those opposing the plan have described it as a ‘gross overdevelopment’.
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Some of Manly’s most powerful families are taking on the Catholic Church over its plan for a $31 million residential development.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has submitted a proposal to demolish four homes on Bower and Reddall Sts and build three blocks containing four townhouses and 19 units.
The proposal, which is in one of Manly’s most desirable residential areas, has attracted the ire of some of the northern beaches most influential people.
At the time of publication some 120 objections have been registered on the council’s website.
Neighbour Greg Bennett, the boss of Bennett Surfboards, has written of his opposition as have fellow Eastern Hill residents including Blackmores director Kerry Cunningham and venture capital titan Roger Allen AM.
At least two local Senior Counsels (SC), the country’s most skilled barristers, are fighting the plan with Robert Newlinds SC pledging his assistance to council if it decides to take a stance.
The church has said the development is appropriate and in the public interest with a spokeswoman telling the Manly Daily neighbours had been consulted and would continue to be consulted.
“We have shown residents site plans, elevations and perspectives taking into consideration view sharing from neighbouring dwellings,” she said.
Mr Newlinds SC’s partner, Merrilee Linegar, said the community was united in its opposition.
“It is just completely inappropriate for so many reasons,” she said.
“People are really concerned and there are a lot of people who feel really passionately about this.”
The Catholic Church owns a large parcel of land around Eastern Hill.
There are currently four properties on the site: 29, 31 and 35 Reddall St and 95 Bower St.
Residents of the properties have been told they must leave as the church plans on demolishing the homes.
The residents - who will be removed if the application is approved - were signed to short-term leases and told a development application was likely, the church said.
A spokeswoman added that they would be given six months’ notice should the DA be approved.
The applicant states “the majority” of the 56 trees on the site will also be removed.
In their place the church proposes building three long rectangular blocks facing the ocean.
The block closest to Cabbage Tree Bay will house four three-level townhouses with basement parking for nine vehicles.
The two three-storey blocks to the west will house a combined 19 units with basement parking for 44 cars.
The applicant concedes there will be a loss of ocean views for some neighbours but claims the demolition of the existing properties will also open up views for others.
The blocks will also exceed the area’s height limit although the applicant argues these are only “small breaches”.
“The benefits provided by the proposed development outweigh any potential impacts and is … in the public interest,” the applicant concludes.
It is not a view shared by neighbours.
“The design is not in keeping with this beautiful part of Manly,” Lisa Meadows, who lives in Bower St, said.
“There are so many issues. There is the sheer scale and density to start with, it sets a very ugly precedent.
“Then there are the environmental concerns, parking, views being blocked and a question of where all the bins will go on bin day.
“People around here are shocked by it. There are a lot of well educated, well connected and hugely passionate people who are all up in arms.”
For Ms Linegar the greatest concern is for the environment, in particular she has fears of sewage leaks and stormwater running into Cabbage Tree Bay.
“I question whether the antiquated sewage system will be able to cope with the additional homes on top of what we already have in the area. It is under a lot of pressure as it is.
“Replacing soakable land with hard surfaces on a slope is going to cause problems for the stormwater and it all runs down to the bay.”
For surfboard giant Mr Bennett density is the main concern.
“The council has the obligation to respect the density rate of this area as it is located next to a Marine Park and North Head National Park,” he wrote in his submission. “The required density rate of the development site is 12 and not 23 as proposed,” he added.
One of Sydney’s top legal brains Nicholas Polin SC, who also lives in the area, warned if the development went ahead it would only be a matter of time before there was a serious car accident.
“The layout of the streets in the area just does not allow for the obvious traffic and parking consequences of this sort of intense overdevelopment,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese said the church was already responding to feedback.
“We are also conducting an independent view analysis following feedback from a few residents about potential view loss.
“There will be more than 50 parking spots onsite for future residents and visitors to avoid pressure on on-street parking. The basement car park will also allow greater space to be set aside for landscaping to integrate the site with the character of the area.
“The project responds well to the existing character of the area through an expansive green roof which provides a direct visual connection to the adjacent green spaces of the reserve and St Patrick’s Estate.”
The application will be considered in the coming months.
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