By Megan Gorrey
Plans to add four storeys to a 12-storey apartment complex approved for the trouble-plagued Balmain Leagues Club site have sparked local concerns that the block will dwarf nearby homes, weeks before the Inner West Council reveals its proposal to significantly boost residential density.
Demolition of the decrepit club buildings on Victoria Road is nearly complete, and coincides with submissions from the public that argue a 16-storey mixed-use development will either be a boon for the suburb’s shopping strip or “as workable in Rozelle as a snowflake is in hell”.
The proposal seeks to raise the height of the 12-storey development, which already has planning approval, to 16 storeys.Credit:
It comes as Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne signalled more apartment blocks of 10 or 12 storeys would probably be built in the area under the council’s proposal to meet its five-year housing target.
Chinese developer Heworth Holdings Group submitted revised plans to raze the former club buildings, which have been empty and languishing since 2010, and replace them with shops, a plaza and 227 apartments – including 59 affordable housing units – in three towers of 14 to 16 storeys.
The plan seeks to leverage the Minns government’s policy of offering developers height and floor space bonuses if they dedicate a portion of their project to affordable housing for at least 15 years.
Sydney-based developer Perifa and its investment partner Mitsubishi Estate Asia acquired the site last month from Heworth, stating that the $800 million Rozelle Village precinct, which includes a new clubhouse for the Wests Tigers, would probably be finished in 2028.
Submissions show the council remains strongly opposed to the plan, arguing that the building and 398 parking spaces would be unacceptably large, overshadow properties on Waterloo and Cambridge streets, and worsen congestion.
“There have not been any recent developments in the locality that would be similar or exceed the 12-storey scale, and a development which comprises 16-storey forms will be significantly out of character with the height of structures in this locality,” its submission said.
Balmain Greens MP Kobi Shetty questioned whether it was appropriate to use the affordable housing bonuses to enlarge an already-approved development.
“It will have significant detrimental impacts on surrounding property and local area, including substantial loss of solar access and the likelihood of increased traffic movements in small inner-suburban local streets. These impacts will be permanent,” Shetty said.
The former Balmain Leagues Club site, which has been empty and languishing since 2010, has a tortured history. Credit: Peter Rae
One local opponent, who withheld their name, said the proposal made “a complete mockery and lie” of the state government’s agenda to deliver more high-rise apartment blocks across Sydney.
“Sixteen-storey residential towers are as workable in Rozelle as a snowflake is in hell. Why are we even contemplating development like this in an area like that?”
However, the Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce supported the proposal and said the mix of residential, commercial and public spaces would promote “sustainable growth and vibrancy”.
“We believe this project will strengthen our local Rozelle economy and add much-needed community facilities,” the chamber’s submission said.
A Perifa spokeswoman said demolition work was nearly complete, and piling and bulk excavation works were expected to be done by the end of the year, clearing the path for construction to begin.
She said the proposal, which will be decided by the state government, to include affordable housing would be “essential to meet the needs of front-line and essential workers who work in the area”.
“However, the community will continue to see evidence of strong progress over the coming months in line with the approved development application,” the spokeswoman said.
A traffic study in the developer’s response to submissions said the increase in units would add 13 traffic movements in peak hour and have a minimal impact on the road network.
Work is forging ahead on the $800 million Rozelle Village redevelopment, which includes shops and a public plaza. Credit:
Debate over the proposal could soon be replicated in nearby suburbs.
The council is preparing a new housing plan after it rejected the NSW government’s transport-oriented development (TOD) scheme, which rezoned land within 400 metres of railway stations to allow six- or seven-storey apartment blocks to boost housing density.
Byrne said the plans, to be made public in April, would significantly increase density around main streets, shop-top housing and transport hubs to help deliver at least 7800 homes by 2029.
“On some main streets and around some transport hubs it’s going to be more like 10 or 12 storeys, rather than six storeys.
“It means we can protect places that have very high heritage values, like Haberfield, but the densities that will be necessary to deliver new housing, in some locations, will be higher than what people are expecting.”
Byrne said plans to build 500 apartments on a former WestConnex dive site in Camperdown were “indicative of the sort of rezonings we’ll be undertaking – more so than four- or six-storey walk-up apartments”.
“We’re going to be honest with the community about what’s required to deliver new homes. We want to be part of the solution, not the problem.”
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