New Working Hours in the Mowbray Precinct

Posted: April 4th, 2013 | Filed under: Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct, Uncategorized

Council voted unanimously to reduce the Saturday working hours in the Mowbray Precinct at their meeting on 18 March.

There was a very strong message given to the Councillors by the community about the impact of the construction noise and the limited respite (1 day) for residents living in the area and around the Mowbray Precinct developments.

The Saturday building working hours for any new development approvals are now 8am to 12 noon on Saturday, in line with Willoughby Council’s Saturday working hours.

Unfortunately this is not retrospective and only applies to new developments that are yet to be approved.

Had the previous Council had the same empathy to the situation when we requested the same reduction last year, some of the newer approvals would have come under the ruling.

It could be a few years before we have our peaceful Saturday afternoons back. But better to get this now as we have a lot more developments still go!

Read North Shore Times article on this matter http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/an-hour-more-shut-eye-for-lane-cove-resdidents-but-contruction-could-last-for-years/story-fngr8h9d-1226606956992


Trees wrongly removed from development site

Posted: June 3rd, 2012 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

Two mature gums trees that were marked for retention have been removed from one of the development sites in the Mowbray Precinct.

Residents had alerted Council staff about the issue, however by the time the Council staff member inspected the site the following the day the trees were already gone.

The trees had contained birds nest and were an important food source and habitat for wildlife in the area.

The North Shore Times reported on the incident and invites residents to comment on their response to this matter http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/trees-wrongly-cut-down-in-mowbray-rd-precinct/

 


Excavation time reduced but not working hours

Posted: May 18th, 2012 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct, Uncategorized

Lane Cove Councillors considered a report by Council staff on Saturday building and construction hours in the Mowbray Precinct at their May Council meeting.

This report was produced as a request by some Councillors concerned about the the extensive development potential of the Precinct, and the impact of demolition and excavation works to date.

Even though surrounding Councils have reduced working hours on a Saturday and many residents spoke at the Council meeting highlighting the impact of the noise from the development sites, Lane Cove Councillors voted to retain the extended Saturday working hours in the Mowbray Precinct, but restrict excavation, haulage truck movements, rock picking, jack-hammering and pile driving.

The North Shore Times 2 June edition includes a report on resident pleas and concerns regarding this issue  http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/hyecorp-property-group-lane-cove-council-mowbray-rd-gordon-crescent-megan-agnew/

It also invites residents to comment on the article outlining their experiences.


Say high to Lane Cove Council’s backflip

Posted: May 16th, 2012 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct, Uncategorized

The North Shore Times has reported on Lane Cove Council’s 16 April Council meeting where the majority of the Councillors voted to endorse the zoning of the Mowbray Precinct as high density, with a few minor exceptions.

Read more. http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/say-high-to-lane-cove-councils-backflip/


Land & Environment Court Proceedings Commence

Posted: August 4th, 2011 | Filed under: Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

The Land & Environment Court proceedings for the high rise developments that were refused by the Joint Regional Planning Panel in May, have now commenced.

Hindset’s case for 9-11 Mindarie St began on 25 July with on-site visit by Commissioner Tuor and witness accounts by residents who raised issues of overshadowing, privacy and traffic.  Read NST’s report of this case (26 July) http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/court-visits-mowbray-rd-precinct/. This case continues on 8 August at the Land & Environment Court (225 Macquarie St Sydney).

Landmark’s case for 554-560 Mowbary Rd was heard on 2nd & 3rd August by Commissioner Hussey.  The witness accounts by residents raised similar issues but also included in the impacts of development on the Batten Reserve.  Read NST’s account of this hearing (8 August)  http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/doubt-over-mowbray-rd-bushfire-prone-area/.  This hearing of this case is now complete, it is awaiting determination.

Urban Link’s case for 532-534 Mowbray Road & 72-74 Gordon Crescent will be heard on 25 and 26 August. Commencing with on-site visit by Commissioner at 9.30am on 25 August and continuing in the Land & Environment Court.


Developers awaiting Land & Environment Court Hearings

Posted: August 4th, 2011 | Filed under: Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

North Shore Times (22 July) reports on the up-coming Land & Environment Court hearings for the $36 million worth of developments in the Mowbray Precinct that were refused by the Joint Regional Planning Panel in May.

Read article http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/testing-time-for-precinct/


Strategic Review to include environmental constraints

Posted: August 4th, 2011 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

The Department of Planning’s Strategic Review of the Mowbray Precinct will include environmental constraints. The review will examine the area’s development potential, infrastructure needs and issues such as traffic and access in emergency situations.

The acknowledgement of the environmental sensitivies of  the Mowbray Precinct is great news  for the Batten Reserve and the Endangered and Threatened species of flora and fauna within it.

Read more about the Strategic Review in the NST article of 20 July http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bush-review-wins-praise/

Fact sheet & further information on the Mowbray Precinct Strategic Review can be found at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Development/Planningreviewsandpanels/tabid/511/language/en-AU/Default.aspx


Developers Batten down

Posted: July 15th, 2011 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

The North Shore Times reports on the developers who are planning high density apartments in the Mowbray Precinct including the actions of one of the developers to take their recently refused development to the Land and Environment Court.

Read full article: http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/developers-batten-down/


Willoughby Council supports Lane Cove Council’s down-zoning campaign

Posted: May 26th, 2011 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

Residents have urged Willoughby Council to become involved in the Mowbray Precinct issue, due to their concerns about resident safety, conjestion on the local road network, and environmental impacts from the proposed 2,500 flats in the area.  Willoughby Council has heard the residents’ concerns and has told them they are supporting Lane Cove Council’s down-zoning proposal.

Read more in North Shore Time 25 May:

http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/higher-density-precinct-zoning-affects-not-only-lane-cove-council/


Mowbray Precinct DA’s refused due to fire risk and Batten Reserve impacts

Posted: May 19th, 2011 | Filed under: Announcements, Current Issues, Media, Mowbray Precinct

The Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP)  unanimously refused three Mowbray Precinct development applications last night due to the lack of expert opinion available to satisfy the JRPP that the road network could cope with the increased density of population in the case of a bushfire evacuation, and the lack of impact studies on the flora and fauna of the Batten Reserve.

See NST articles:  http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/panel-refuses-das-says-fire-risk-unacceptable-in-mowbray-rd-precinct/ and

http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/panel-knocks-back-development/