Eastlakes Live could be bigger and denser than promised
THE new Eastlakes town centre could be much bigger and denser than developers have publicised, new papers reveal.
Southern Courier
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THE new Eastlakes town centre could be much bigger and denser than developers have publicised, new papers reveal.
Crown Group has held media and public launches for the development — dubbed Eastlakes Live — in recent weeks in which it has been advertised as a having 534 units.
However, a new development application was submitted in February calling for a change of design which could see the project grow to 627 units.
The DA, which is yet to be decided on, also seeks permission to increase the height of the south side from six to 12 storeys.
Crown Group also want to increase the approved 916 car spaces over two levels to 1776 spaces over four. If approved the total size of the site will go from 49,040 sqm to 71,815.1sq m.
The developer also proposes to reduce the size of some of the units to fit more in.
The proposal was not mentioned at the project’s media launch at Crown Group headquarters in the CBD last month.
Heffron state Labor MP Ron Hoenig said the application “offends every planning principle”.
“This project contains unit sizes that already aren’t much bigger than dog kennels,” Mr Hoenig said.
“This developer is capable of impressive designs, but the shoebox apartments should be turfed out and the whole design should start again in conjunction with council, to deliver public benefit and address the looming transport and access disaster.”
A Crown Group spokesman said it had been transparent and had carried out briefings with the council, the department and public.
The spokesman said the new application was only a “concept” and that the figures given were upper limits.
“Crown Group will be providing a more detailed response application to the department over the new few months,” he said.
Although not finalised, he said the total number of apartment would be around 580, not 627.
If true, the total amount is less than the 627 upper limit but more than the advertised 534.
He added that the plan was to build 12 storeys on the south site.
The project has attracted controversy in the past with the former Botany council taking Crown Group to the Land and Environment Court in 2013, challenging its approval.
“The revised scheme is seen as a major improvement to both the previous approval and the Eastlakes area currently as it increases the retail offering, creates employment opportunities, provides necessary housing and provides important health and public services,” Crown Group said.