Jennifer St, Little Bay: Developer Hill Thalis’ apartment vision approved in Land and Environment Court

Despite concerns surrounding a critically endangered bush land scrub, a $36m vision for “courtyard-defining buildings” in Sydney’s southeast has been given the green light in the Land and Environment Court.

Photomontage of the proposed development at 11 Jennifer Street, Little Bay.

Despite concerns surrounding a critically endangered bush land scrub, a $36m vision for “courtyard-defining buildings” in Sydney’s southeast has been given the green light in the Land and Environment Court.

Approval was granted for the unit buildings, featuring 75 apartments and 117 carparking spaces, proposed for Jennifer St, Little Bay by developer Hill Thalis.

The plot, which is currently bush land, is in proximity to the exclusive St Michael’s Golf Club and Cullen’s Driving Range.

Court documents reveal the development would see the “partial removal of onsite vegetation”, but also comprises the retention of the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS) vegetation “within the southern portion of the site”.

The proposal had sparked community opposition and in a letter sent to Randwick Council and posted to the Australian Plants Society NSW website, the Harbour Georges River Group expressed concerns about the proposed development and the risks to the site’s botanical heritage.

Photomontage of the proposed development at 11 Jennifer Street, Little Bay.

“The proposals should better account for future disturbances that will be caused by further fragmenting this threatened bushland – weed incursion, winter shading, domestic animals and loss of seed bank viability to name a few,” the letter continued.

“Any major development on sites of ESBS is unsuitable and wastes rare opportunities for rehabilitation.”

Pleased that our DA for 75 new apartments on a spectacular site at Little Bay is finally approved.
2 Court Cases & 3 & a half years later, this low scale scheme comprises courtyard-defining buildings, only 3 & part 4 storeys, topped by roof terraces, retains 43%of site as ESBS pic.twitter.com/ZQ0d1I5Vxw

— HillThalisArch (@HillThalisAUP) September 25, 2023

Plans for the development were initially lodged with Randwick Council in August 2017, however due to the cost of the development exceeding $30m, it was referred to the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel.

After conciliation between Hill Thalis and Randwick Council, an agreement was reached with development consent granted to amended plans.

These amendments included “building articulation, presentation and access to Jennifer St, apartment layouts, landscaping, stormwater, substation location and provision of further information”.

Hill Thalis has been approached for comment, however, in a post made to X, formerly Twitter, it said it was pleased the development application was “finally approved” after three-and-a-half years, including two court cases.

“This low scale scheme comprises courtyard-defining buildings, only three and part four storeys, topped by roof terraces, retains 43 per cent of site as ESBS,” it continued.