The neighbours desperate to stop building being demolished for luxury apartments

More than 50 residents and neighbours of a 1960s apartment building have protested the block’s proposed demolition in an extraordinary kerbside battle against developers they say could be a watershed moment for Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The furious community members of the block in Elizabeth Bay, one of six comprising cheap studios and one-bedroom units earmarked to be torn down and replaced with high-priced, oversized luxury apartments, crowded the pavement and road at an outdoor conciliation meeting.

Residents and owners with Land and Environment Court Commissioner Peter Walsh outside the apartments in Elizabeth Bay on Wednesday.Credit: Louise Kennerley

The extraordinary hearing was also attended by representatives of developer Fortis, which has applied to demolish the 28-unit block running from the historic Onslow Avenue to Billyard Avenue, and replace it with a $230 million complex of 22 large luxury units. The City of Sydney refused the application, but Fortis is trying to overturn that in the Land and Environment Court of NSW.

In the end, only seven were allowed to speak at the on-site hearing of court, that had to break often to make way for cars and trucks on the road, and vehicles coming out of the car park.

“If successful, developments such as this threaten the local social fabric and risk rapidly transforming an area long celebrated for its diversity and social mix into an elite enclave,” neighbour Dr Maryanne Dever told the hearing before the court’s Commissioner Peter Walsh.

“In the midst of both a housing crisis and a cost-of-living crisis, we have a responsibility as a society to ensure we create more, not fewer, housing options, and that we not drive out members of our community who have lived in this area for decades ... The less well-off will effectively be displaced from the existing building and replaced by those who can afford multimillion-dollar apartments.”

Rosie Fairbairn-Watt outside 10 Onslow Avenue in Elizabeth Bay, which developer Fortis wants to knock down and rebuild.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

A spokesperson from the developer said: “Fortis has previously and continues to engage with the community on this project. Community is at the heart of our work, and we remain open to addressing matters as they arise.

“We always consider relevant feedback and collaborate with local community and planning authorities to achieve the best development outcomes for each location.”

The battle over this building, with dual frontages to 10 Onslow Avenue and 21C Billyard Avenue, is seen as a landmark in the struggle between residents and developers over the future of Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point and its continued gentrification.

There are five other buildings of studios and one-bedrooms in the area which are also proposed to be knocked down and replaced by luxury apartments for cashed-up downsizers, potentially reducing the number of homes on those six sites from a total of 209 to 85, a net loss of 124.

Artist’s render of the proposed Fortis development at 21C Billyard Avenue in Elizabeth Bay. Credit: Nine

The hearing was told of one man who last month jumped from the top floor of his building after hearing his rental home of the past 23 years was to be redeveloped.

Outside the case, chair of the Potts Point Preservation Group, Dr Peter Sheridan, said this was the thin edge of the wedge.

“The developers are proposing demolishing quite functional buildings and replacing the affordable accommodation they offer to the hospitality workers, nurses and firefighters of the area with luxury apartments for wealthy people,” he said.

“This area has always been a mixed, diverse neighbourhood for everyone, from the rich to the workers to artists and all sorts of people from every level. These people and their homes are the soul of the community and if they are turfed out of their homes, we will all be the poorer for it.”

The 10 Onslow Avenue building in Elizabeth Bay (on left), which developer Fortis wants to knock down and rebuild.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

The City of Sydney has proposed a plan to stop developers reducing the existing number of apartments by more than one dwelling or 15 per cent of dwellings, whichever is the greater, but that will take a while to come into effect as the plan is still on exhibition for community feedback.

Town planner Tony Moody told the meeting that he disagreed with the developer’s contention that the Onslow Avenue block had structural issues, saying three years ago, it was approved to have an extra level built on top, so should be retained.

“The new development will restrict the ‘corridor’ view from the public domain to Shark Island and the harbour which has always been an important part of view-sharing,” Moody added.

Other representatives from neighbouring buildings said the larger development would rob their own homes of sunshine, light and views, and could overshadow them, while it would be too big for its site to allow adequate curtilage and plantings.

More than 130 submissions against the development, or a total of 871 pages, had been received by the City of Sydney from 22 nearby buildings.

Next-door neighbour Rosie Fairburn told the hearing that only 15 submissions had been made in favour. “And of those, 14 were made by Fortis employees, and not one of those could remember where he or she lived,” she claimed.

The commissioner broke off the hearing to visit a number of apartment buildings that have lodged objections and will then hold a meeting between the developer and the City of Sydney to see if they can agree on the project. If not, a contested hearing at the court will be held at a later date.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

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