Boarding house approved in Dalcassia Street, Hurstville

Georges River Council initially refused a proposed boarding house close to the Hurstville CBD but the developers have had a win in court. See what changes have been made to the plans.

A four-storey, 13 bedroom boarding house proposal in Hurstville previously refused has been granted approval following a siccessful appeal and small changes to the plans. Image of the orginial design of the boarding house as submitted to Georges River Council. Picture: Cracknell and Longeran Architects.

A boarding house proposal in Hurstville previously refused has now been given the green light.

Georges River Local Planning Panel refused a development application for construction of a four-storey boarding house comprising of 15 rooms at 15 Dalcassia Street in June 2021.

The proposed development, submitted to Georges River Council in June 2020, included 14 double rooms for two occupants – including one accessible room – and one caretaker’s room for one person.

The proposal also has a common room, six car park spaces, 10 bicycle spaces and three motorcycle spaces.

The proposal sought to demolish the current single-storey house on the site and garage at the rear.

The developers, Wang Zhang Lin and Bao Zhen Qiu, lodged an appeal with the Land and Environment Court and the parties met for a conciliation conference where the proposal was negotiated.

The Land and Environment Court upheld the appeal last week and granted development consent following the parties reaching an agreement.

“The court is satisfied the proposed development in its amended form is compatible with the character of the local area,” a published court judgment said.

The site currently has a single-storey dwelling house on the site and garage at the rear. Picture: Cracknell & Longeran Architects

The proposal was amended to reduce the number of rooms to 13 inclusive of a managers room and increase landscaping at the front, rear and sides of the development to have more trees.

There will also be thinner and longer horizontal architectural elements on the front facade as well as changes to size and location of the basement in order to protect neighbouring trees.

The court judgment noted the proposal was otherwise compliant with development standards.

The planning panel originally refused the application and noted the proposed development would have a “detrimental effect” on a blue gum tree.

The panel said the proposal was not in the public interest given the visual benefit the tree provided.

The panel also found the proposal had inadequate and poorly located communal open space.

Documents provided to council as part of the development application said the proposal was suitable for the location, which had residential flat buildings consisting of three-storey walk-up style and modest size single-storey houses.

The developers said the site was within walking distance of Hurstville railway station and the Hurstville City Centre precinct.

“Through providing a boarding house development in Hurstville, the proposal is able to improve the housing affordability and help satisfy housing demand of the area,” the developer said.

“It also helps to improve the mix of affordable housing options in the locality.”