Randwick Council approves K2K proposal: Decision slammed by P&C
For more than three years the high-rise Kensington to Kingsford development has been hotly debated. But Randwick Council has finally made a decision on the proposal.
Southern Courier
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A controversial plan for towers to be built up to 18-storeys along the light rail corridor between Kensington and Kingsford has been approved by Randwick Council – a decision which has been slammed by a school P&C.
The decision was made this week despite more than 70 per cent of written submissions being opposed to the plan.
However, in stark contrast, a phone survey of residents showed 74 per cent of those surveyed were in support of the changes.
The Kensington and Kingsford Town Centres planning proposal (also known as the K2K) has been in the pipeline for more than three years.
The planning proposal seeks to rezone two large areas of Anzac Parade, along the light rail corridor, on either side of UNSW.
Randwick Council voted in support of the proposal this week to allow for taller developments.
It will now be sent to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment who will have the final say on whether to allow the changes.
Under the proposal, developers will be able to build up to 17 and 18 storeys (or 60m) in small pockets of the Kensington and Kingsford town centres.
However, towers up to nine storeys (or 31m) will be the restriction for the majority of properties along the corridor.
Currently, the height restriction is seven storeys (or 24m) in the area.
Kensington Public School is located within a stone’s throw of one of the proposed 18-storey sites.
It is also near an intersection which could be surrounded by four 18-storey developments in the future.
P&C president Jock Marmotta said he was disappointed with the council’s decision.
“As soon as you put four 18-storey buildings on that corner (of Todman Ave and Anzac Parade) you will create a gridlock and lots of traffic.”
He said that combined with people looking for parks, to use the light rail or to access the new buildings, would compound traffic problems and make it unsafe for children walking or cycling to school.
He said as a parent he currently allowed his eldest to cycle or walk to school but that would likely have to stop.
He said the P&C was not against development but did not understand why an 18-storey building was being allowed so close to the school.
The council addressed some of the P&C’s concerns this week and included an amendment to increase setbacks and reduce building heights for developments directly adjoining Kensington Public School.
However, an 18-storey building will still be allowed close to the school facing Anzac Parade.
A laneway will also be incorporated between the school and the closest development for children to use.
Nine councillors voted in support of the planning proposal this week while four voted against it.
According to the proposal, one of the major aims of the K2K is to “support growth” and “improve local connections to public transport by focusing density around light rail infrastructure”.
The proposal was placed on public exhibition earlier this year during which time 392 written submissions were received by the council with 71 per cent opposed and 23 per cent in support. The rest were neutral or unsure.
However, a phone survey of residents carried out by a consultant group Micromex reported 74 per cent of 885 residents surveyed supported the changes.
In 2016, the council ran a design competition to generate ideas about how the Kensington and
Kingsford town centres may be developed into the future.
Previously, the council had received planning proposals from developers in the area, including for more than 20-storeys, and had knocked them back.
Randwick Council used the best ideas from the competition to produce its own strategy and proposal.