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Sydney South Planning Panel has refused a proposed major housing development on the former Caringbah High School site.
In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the panel found amendments made to the plans had not sufficiently addressed issues raised previously by the panel and council.
They included that, in one section of the site, issues had not been addressed to justify bonus height and floor space allowances.
“Given the lack of evident progress since the previous deferral and the concerns expressed by the bowling club’s consultant, the panel is of the view that a further deferral of the matter is not warranted,” the panel said.
“The opportunity presented by the large, well located site to provide a housing development with a high level of onsite amenity, well integrated into its Caringbah context and which complies with the relevant planning regulations and development standards has not been realised.”
The panel found it was not a suitable type of development for the site, and approval was not in the public interest.
“Any revised development would need to demonstrate a much stronger resolution of the urban design issues,” the panel said.
Earlier
A final decision is due to be made on a developer’s long-running attempt to gain approval for a new housing estate on a former Caringbah High School site.
Sydney South Planning Panel deferred a decision in May last year to give the applicant a chance to respond to concerns.
The panel will meet in Sutherland today (Wednesday) to hear final submissions before determining the matter.
An assessment report by Sutherland Shire Council has recommended, for the second time, the application be refused.
A concept master plan, released in 2016, included 17 residential flat buildings ranging in height from five to nine storeys.
There would be 656 units and 1181 basement car parking spaces in the development, named Highfield – the original name for the suburb.
Under the plans, Caringbah Bowling Club would be included in the development, with a new clubhouse and greens.
The planning panel has to decide when it meets on Wednesday whether to give the “green light” to the masterplan and the first stage of the project, which includes 124 apartments.
The council report said, “in an effort to assist the applicant in developing the proposal to a point where it could be supported, council provided feedback and met with the applicant on various occasions to resolve the outstanding issues”.
“Despite these efforts, critical issues that were raised when the proposal was initially lodged with council, such as the proper integration of the bowling club site into the masterplan scheme, remain outstanding.
“Council did not wish to delay reporting the proposal back to the panel any longer, and as such the proposal is reported on the basis of the material which has been submitted to date.”
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