114-120 Cary Street, Toronto Nsw 2283, NSW

This proposal is out of line with the surrounding village type area, traffic will be increased on already busy side streets and increased hard surfaces will be capturing more rainfall during extreme weather events putting pressure on stormwater systems designed over 100 years ago.
I am against this overdevelopment, it is bringing what has choked Sydney to Lake Macquarie.

This is a massive over development without due consideration of traffic to & from these units.
A much smaller number of units MUST be positively considered here.
This is bordering on a major city development in a small regional town.
PLEASE do not approve this massive over development for Toronto!
Joan Steele

Thank you for advising that comments will be sent to NSW Sydney and Regional Planning Panels.

The DA number identified for this proposal is DA/1651/2022

Please note that this DA was submitted on 09/08/2022.

A DA for the exact same property was lodged about three weeks earlier and nine submissions on the earlier DA can be found at:

https://www.planningalerts.org.au/applications/2607463

These are being sent directly to Lake Macquarie City Council.

They are comments also for consideration by the NSW Sydney and Regional Planning Panels.

Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on DA/1651/2022 (114 Cary St, Toronto).

I put in an objection to the previous development application for this site (DA/419/2018) which was lodged on 15 March 2018. This application was rejected by the Planning Panel.

It then went to the Land & Environment Court and I appeared before the L&E Court.

Rather than waiting for a decision by the L&E Court the applicant sought to have the case ‘discontinued’ and we were advised reasons for this included because “significant issues arose around groundwater management and testing.”

The current DA does not appear to have adequately addressed these issues and an examination of the current DA comparing it to the 2018 DA shows very little significant changes.

I am also very concerned that with the current DA there are seven (7) pages redacted in the architectural plans. The 2018 plans had no pages redacted. Having these pages now redacted makes it very difficult for local residents to have a full understanding of the plans.

Also, I note the same developer seems to be responsible for the Shearwater apartments at Warners Bay. These apartment have attracted considerable criticism, so it is of concern that we are not being given all the information on this current development.

Also, like the previous DA, the new DA is not compliant in both the height and footprint.

I note that when the land was auctioned 2016 the concept plan for 82 residential apartments plus 660 m2 of ground floor retail space and parking for 127 cars.

With 82 apartments and no commercial development the purchase price of $3,350,000 already allowed for a very healthy profit. The cost of land only over 82 apartments is just over $40,000 per apartment. However, this has now increased from considerably more than 82 apartments and the profit margin is even larger, at the cost to the local community. I note that the developer is Sydney-based so does not have the same personal commitment to the areas as those who live there.

As a member of the local community I am simply requesting that the rules be followed.

There is strong, heartfelt community opposition to this development.

A similar development proposed at the same time as the previous DA on the site directly next door (so within a hundred or so metres) attracted 500 attendees to a public meeting objecting to the proposal, as well as 5,295 signatures on a petition, with most people signing a hard copy petition that was left at local stores.

There were 20 formal submissions opposing the previous DA, and only one in favour. (The one if favour was not from a Toronto based organisation).

When notice of the current DA was placed on the Toronto NSW Community Page & Noticeboard Facebook it attracted over 170 comments in the first 24 hours. I read all the comments and only one comment, out of 170+, supported the development.

Concerns include:

* Increased traffic issues and the impact on the local traffic flow. There will be 108 residential units. The original concept plan was for 82 units and the last DA was for 124 units. There will also be over 900 square metres of commercial space and it is estimated they will require 60 parking spaces. Previous traffic concerns have not been adequately addressed in the new Development Application.

* The local infrastructure cannot cope with a development of this size.

* This will be the start of high rise development in this area. People chose to live here because it is a village and that’s what makes it special. There are many other places on Lake Macquarie, including Warners Bay where the developer has already put apartments, that are more suitable for such a development.

* The development is not sympathetic to the surrounding buildings including Toronto Royal Yacht Club, Toronto Public School, Toronto Hotel and other residential buildings. This is an older part of the Toronto area.

* A single-storey development is more suitable for the site. Toronto Workers Club over 55’s apartments were going to be to be multi-level but has now been altered due to issues such as flood management and groundwater.

* Additional commercial space is not required in that section of Toronto and commercial development should be in the commercial zone, which has many vacant commercial spaces.

* The site is relatively close to the lake and has groundwater within 4 metres. The excavation is planned for 5-8 metres below soil depth to accommodate a car parking basement of two stories and groundwater could be impacted and the adjacent wetlands potentially compromised.

* The proposed height and visual impact of the building along Cary Street is inappropriate and is contrary to the allowed building height under Lake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2014 and local planning objectives for the area.

* The proposal is inconsistent with the objectives and requirements of the Toronto Town Centre Area Plan/ Lake Macquarie Development Control Plan (DCP) 2014.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to comment.

I have previously commented on the DA/1651/2022 to Lake Macquarie City Council and welcome the opportunity to support Jo Smith’s objections and would also wish my comments to be forwarded to the NSW Sydney & Regional Planning Panels.

These objections focus on the lack of current environmental protection demonstrated by the developers, especially in ground water matters. The evident lack of planning for local chaotic traffic and residents’ objections to the visual impact of this building being out of character with this site and this part of Toronto.

Jo Smith outlines objections in great detail. I support her submission entirely and those of other objectors.

Please advise me of any changes. I’m not an employee or related to LMCC.

Monica Davis, a resident of this area for over 30 years
3 the Circlet
Rathmines. 2283
25.8.22