Mesa Hurstville: Minor charges approved to apartment, retail project

Changes to a huge $128 million apartment, retail and hotel development in Hurstville’s city centre have been green lit.

Changes to a huge $128 million apartment, retail and hotel development in Hurstville’s city centre has been green lit.

The project, to be known as Mesa, will include demolition works, remediation and construction of a mixed-use development comprising four buildings being from three to 20 storeys high located at 61-75 Forest Road and 126 Durham Street, Hurstville.

It will contain commercial floor space, a 76-room hotel and 258 apartments above four levels of basement parking for 476 cars and an internal space with landscaping.

Developer Aoyuan International state on its website Mesa was a new village in Hurstville for people to live, shop, eat out and relax under the trees.

“Mesa is more than a place to live,” the website states. “Catch up with friends for meals along Snack St. Stretch out under the shade of trees in the central park.

Computer generated image of approved development as viewed from the intersection of Durham Street and Forest Road facing east. Picture: Sutherland and Associates Planning

“Unwind in a private rooftop garden with city views. And, at the end of the day, return to a home of sanctuary and sophisticated design.

“Embedded within the rich cultural fabric of Hurstville and surrounded by shopping, schools, transport and parks, Mesa captures the energy of this coveted Sydney location, with the CBD never far away.”

Computer generated image of approved development as viewed from Roberts Lane facing south Picture: Sutherland and Associates Planning

Units were put on the market by the developer last year and are currently selling.

The Sydney South Planning Panel approved the development in May 2021 with it due to be completed in 2024.

On Thursday, the developers sought to modify the original development approval with the Georges River Local Planning Panel hearing the merits of the proposal.

Members carried out an inspection of the site and surrounding area.

The modification to the original proposal were for minor changes including increased activation of the internal plaza through the relocation of some retail tenancies resulting in improved amenity, functionality and connectivity for the other retails tenancies, the report said.

Computer generated image of approved development as viewed from Forest Road facing south. Picture: Sutherland and Associates Planning

Three of the residential levels in Building A will be now above the ground floor and there will be better parking flow.

There also will be a reduction of two apartments from 260 to 258 and more landscaping along Roberts Lane.

The Local Planning Panel members said the modified proposal was permissible and consistent with the planning controls for the site, with modifications considered to be substantially the same as the original approved.

“The modifications to the development will not unreasonably affect the amenity of any immediately adjoining properties in terms of unreasonable overlooking, overshadowing or view loss,” the report from the panel members said.

“The proposed development is well considered and sensitively designed so that it will not result in any unreasonable impact on the natural and build environment.”

Computer generated image of approved internal open space area. Picture: Sutherland and Associates Planning

The panel determined the modifications to the development are not considered to be incompatible with the surrounding development, and surrounding land uses or the character of the locality and is capable of exisiting harmoniously with its surroundings.

The panel members said the development was located in the Eastern Bookend Precinct of the Hurstville City Centre, with the modification remaining consistent with the desired future character of the precinct by providing a high density mixed use building to define the eastern entry to the city centre., the report said.