‘Not another St Leonards’: Crows Nest should fight to retain its village character when Sydney Metro rail arrives

THE railway is coming to Crows Nest, and it might not be good news for homeowners, a real estate agent says.

Wayne Marriott from Marriott Lane Real Estate is giving his views on the development pressure that Crows Nest faces with the metro coming. Poctured at the corner of Hume St and Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest. Photo: Adam Ward

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Large-scale development around a planned new metro station could impact Crows Nest’s village feel, a real estate agent has warned.

A stretch of land along the Pacific Hwy has been earmarked for the Sydney Metro with construction due to begin in 2018.

“It’s a boon for Crows Nest as long as the suburb is permitted to maintain its character,” said agent Wayne Marriott, from Marriott Lane Real Estate.

A map showing where the new Crows Nest station will be located.

“It wouldn’t make sense for Crows Nest to be transformed into another St Leonards or North Sydney.

“No one I meet talks about the vibe of living in the heart of commercial areas.”

Crows Nest is popular for its restaurants, shops and family-friendly atmosphere.

Mr Marriott pointed out that new high-rise developments such as St Leonards Square are exciting projects and appropriate for that suburb. But he cautioned against a similar plan for Crows Nest.

“Any nearer development of that magnitude would impinge on the village-nature of Crows Nest,” he said.

An artist’s impression of what the new station will look like.

The Sydney Metro construction will see the demolition of a strip of shops along the Pacific Hwy at Crows Nest.

North Sydney Council is undertaking a community survey and a planning study to ensure that the things people value about the area are protected for the future.

“The metro station has the potential to make the area even more vibrant, but we need to look carefully at where any additional development is located,” said Marcelo Occhiuzzi, the council’s strategic planning manager.

The survey can be found on the council’s website.

A map showing where the Sydney Metro line will run.