Residents of Fairs Avenue, Woolooware are extremely concerned by plans for a major development that will encroach into their street. Picture by Murray Trembath

Plans for a potentially 10-storey apartment block adjoining Woolooware Oval have alarmed residents in a quiet, tree-lined street filled with modern homes, some with water views.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

Fairs Avenue residents say a developer has amalgamated blocks stretching from the southern side of Kingsway into Woolooware Road and their street.

The proposal has not been released publicly, but is expected to be submitted to the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) in the next few weeks.

The potential development site bordered by Kingsway, Woolooware Road and Fairs Avenue. Picture supplied

The HDA will make a recommendation to Planning Minister Paul Scully whether the proposal should be declared State Significant Development.

A proposal by another developer for a similar size project, with about 200 apartments, on the other side of Kingsway, diagonally opposite Woolooware Oval, is progressing.

The HDA knocked back this project for State Significant Development on three occasions before the developer pursued it via a different planning pathway.

Fairs Avenue residents fear the impacts of the development that will encroach into their street.

Concerns include that, if the development is approved, it is likely it will be required to have vehicle entry and access via Fairs Avenue, rather than Kingsway, a main road.

A resident, who was also speaking on behalf of neighbours, said the HDA was "intended to deliver sound planning outcomes for the community, not just isolated developments on parcels of land that could be commercially secured by a developer".

"This initiative supersedes the current council R2 zoning in this area and allows a developer to simply identify a site and fill out an Expression of Interest form without any detailed plans, community consultation or even community awareness.

"I have it on good authority that EOI approval is essentially a green light to develop whatever they like, with the rezoning proposal running concurrently with the DA.

"By being given approval to develop a minimum of 100 units, one can only foresee the forthcoming rezoning application to be for at least R3 zoning."

The resident said the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, which allows four-to-six storey development within 400-800 metres of the train station, applied to part of Fairs Avenue, and would be appropriate.

"But, to supersede the council's historic and strategic R2 zoning for such an isolated pocket of land for what is now being proposed does not make planning sense."

Artist's impression of earlier proposed development on the northern side of Kingsway. Picture Site Compatibility Certificate application

In February this year, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure issued a Site Compatibility Certificate for a proposed development on the northern side of Kingsway.

A development application (DA) is expected to follow.

The amalgamated site covers 49-157 Kingsway and 51-55A Woolooware Road.

The proposal is for about 200 apartments in a building seven to 10 storeys high.