St Leonards South: Canberra Ave plans released by Hyecorp

Contentious rezoning changes have triggered a development rush in a low density north shore suburb with new plans released for the second high-rise in the same street.

Major plans have been revealed for the next high-rise development in St Leonards South, sparking fresh concerns from residents over the changing shape of the suburb.

Four homes at 13-19 Canberra Ave would be bulldozed to make way for an 84-unit complex under plans released by developer Hyecorp Property Group this week.

The $33.6 million development would stand 13 storeys tall and include a 60-space childcare centre, community centre, restaurant/cafe and a rooftop garden with “uninterrupted city views”.

A concept plan of the development.

Plans show landscaping works would incorporate public artworks and new pedestrian links running through the site along with four levels of basement carparking with 210 spaces.

The development is the latest high-rise plan for the St Leonards South precinct and comes just three months after a $161 million development was lodged by Top Spring Property to turn 20 suburban homes on Canberra Ave and Holdsworth Ave into 319 units.

In 2018, the precinct was named by the Greater Sydney Commission as a key location to house some of the 1900 new homes required in Lane Cove by 2021.

A concept plan of the St Leonards South precinct.

The rezoning of the precinct – which stretches as far north as the Pacific Hwy – has since been met with staunch community opposition and has prompted a long-running review by the independent Planning Commission which ultimately found the precinct “amounted to overdevelopment and lacked public open space”.

Despite opposition, plans progressed with the state government designating it as “suitable for providing high density housing” with the support of Lane Cove Council.

The development would stand 13 storeys tall.

The area is currently home to mostly one and two storey buildings.

Concerns over the cumulative impacts of developments in the precinct have been raised by community groups such as the Greenwich St Leonards Action Group and Greenwich Community Association.

Resident Kevin Teo, whose Marshall Ave home faces the planned development sites, said increased density in the precinct could stretch local amenities to the limit.

“Residents have been fighting against it for many years – we bought into Marshall Ave on the basis it was an area with a maximum of two stories and after settling the nasty surprise came and Lane Cove Council allowed the rezoning to infinity and beyond,” he said.

The development includes a childcare and community centre.

“The area is serviced by two or three roads, and already it takes long enough to drive to the Pacific Hwy because of the traffic lights and queues – I can’t imagine what will happen when there’s triple the number of residents.

“One of the main reasons we moved to the area was because of the view over the harbour and that looks like it will be a thing of the past in the next couple of years.”

Similar objections have been raised by Brett O’Donnell – a plastic surgeon who works at the Royal North Shore Hospital.

A concept image of the St Leonards South precinct.

“The area is currently saturated with an ever increasing number of apartments and cars that is inappropriate and unfortunately supported by a council that is hell bent on overdevelopment,” he wrote in a submission.

Hyecorp Property Group, in its plans to Lane Cove Council, said the proposal was in line with the desired future character of St Leonards South for a “liveable, walkable, connected and safe” precinct.

“Hyecorp have included a number of initiatives for 13-19 Canberra Avenue that will benefit both future residents and the broader community with the inclusion of a 60 place childcare centre, a community facility, a pedestrian link through the site to eventually link Canberra Ave to Holdsworth Ave and a small retail offering,” a company spokeswoman said.

“The inclusion of a community facility will be a great benefit to both residents and the broader community, the types of activities that will be facilitated in this space will be decided by Lane Cove Council as they will own and operate the space.

“We are expecting strong demand for the apartments ... as we have designed the apartments to appeal to owner occupiers rather than investors.

“The DA is supported by expert reports and rezoning has been addressed by both Lane Cove Council and Department of Planning. We are making significant S711 contributions and special infrastructure contributions which are designed to invest in the infrastructure for future community needs.”

The proposal is currently under assessment by Lane Cove Council.

Other active development plans in the works for the precinct include a $1.3 million temporary display suite at 21 Canberra Ave to advertise new homes planned by Top Spring.