PlanningAlerts

9 Comments

Create an account or sign in to have your say by adding your own comment.

1. Hello,
   I am the new owner occupier of a studio unit at 16/54 Campbell Parade that sits immediately next to 1 Sir Thomas Mitchell. I bought the unit on the top floor in November and settled January 13, 2017. I did due diligence and looked for developments that may affect my unit but did not find this application.
   This property is my home. It is not fancy or renovated but the light is it's main feature. I'm a single mother and work in community services and stretched my budget to buy it after my separation because I fell in love immediately with the light coming through all windows and on to the balcony. Living in a studio means that light is so important. I am not opposed to the construction but adding two floors would take away all the light coming in to the windows and on the balcony. My unit runs parallel and a few feet away alongside the proposed development and it extends beyond my balcony to the back. I am very distressed as it will affect any resale value too. I do not want to live in a dark studio apartment as I would find it depressing. Privacy would also be severely compromised but it's more the light loss that impacts me dramatically and causes me great loss. I fear no one else would want to purchase a darkened studio either at the price I paid so I would lose significant value too if I want to move because of the lack of light.
   Please consider the significant impact of the loss I will face compared to the long term gains the developer will make even without adding two floors.
   I appreciate your consideration in this matter as I am a single person and not a developer.
   Thank you for taking the time to read it.

2. Over 5 floors is an unacceptably loose description and should be summarily rejected. The building should not be allowed to exceed the height of the directly adjacent buildings, otherwise we will end up in a height building frenzy.

3. Sir Thomas Mitchell's Mansions sits quietly at #1 Sir Thomas Mitchell Road.
   Mansions is an incongruous name for this modest block of three whole-floor flats which surely is one of the sweetest little buildings in the whole of Bondi Beach.
   The sheer bravado of that out-sized classical portico sitting on the front of this modest block of flats speaks volumes about the ambitions of Bondi during that crucial interwar period when the contemporary character of Bondi Beach was being formed.
   That the current proposal pays no heed to this comes as a surprise, especially from such well respected heritage consultants as Weir Phillips. Despite telling the fascinating story of this building, the Heritage Impact Statement denies it any significance at all.
   Tellingly, the HIS fails to totally address the significance of Sir Thomas (aka Major) Mitchell. He is one of the grand heroes of the colonial times: one of Australia's earliest and most important explorers who mapped whole tracts of the country's inland. He was NSW's surveyor general from 1828-1855, and when he died, the report of his death said: "For a period of twenty-eight years Sir Thomas Mitchell had served the Colony, much of that service having been exceedingly arduous and difficult. Among the early explorers of Australia his name will occupy an honoured place in the estimation of posterity."
   He won't be honoured any more in Bondi, if this insensitive greedy proposal gets accepted.
   Any new building on the site should be forced to retain the portico and perhaps even the entire facade of the building; and it should be compelled to carry the name of the old building, so that there's still an echo on the site of what may be lost.
   FYI: another interwar building, similarly sited on Lamrock Avenue, had to be demolished when the neighboring property excavated and caused massive cracks in the walls. This one is solid and should stay.
   This 5-storey DA is way too aggressive, and would rob Bondi of one of its most characterising buildings.

4. SIR THOMAS MITCHELL MANSION is a quirky yet majestic and magnificent building which was built in 1923 (?), its older than the Astra across the road but the Astra has heritage protection whilst the STMM does not but WHY NOT? I invited the heritage assessors to the building over a year ago and stress I do NOT agree with their report at all, nor the way they came to their 'conclusion', the STMM needs to be protected and thats all there is to it! Its dali-style wedge-shape isn't obvious at first, but sneaks up on you as you gaze at its imposing facade and walk the length of the building. The majestic portico entrance has 2 massive columns which are hand-sculpted sandstone (they are not created like this anymore) additionally they are rumoured to have been originally located at Sir Thomas Mitchells home in Woollahra, then later relocated to STMM, which would certainly explain why the front door isn't centred between the 2 columns. An architect working on the proposed development, hates the entrance and said to me 'if it weren't for that entrance it would be a nice building, it looks as though its been plonked on as an afterthought and that door to the right...' but personally I disagree. The little sunrooms framed by mini-columns at the pointy end of the building are just delightful and the bay windows are too cute for words and some of them still hold the original leadlight glass. I have lived in the STMM building for 2.5 yrs now and have always loved this building. There are 6 units only, 3 are most the length of the building and 3 are small and chunky for they sit at the deeper end of the wedge-shape. My unit reminds me of being on a ship, the sunroom is very similar to the bow of a boat and the entrance has a righthand slant I have to avoid as I'm walking into the unit due to the floors sinking, its really similar to the wobble one experiences as they board a ship. Sadly when I moved into STMM, it was badly neglected so I worked tirelessly to restore some state of beauty, including the garden which adorned the facade of the building until just recently. The trees were so overgrown, they were taller than the building and so dense you could barely see the building but the architects couldn't see what they were working with so the trees were cut down! 20 years ago I use to be one of the people who stand out the front of the building regularly and admire it! It has always had a mysterious 'come see' aura about it to me and it looks as though it holds many secrets, oh, if only the walls could talk! It is all of the above-described and much more, it holds so much history and the obvious connection with Sir Thomas Mitchell (Major) and the fact it is located at 1 Sir Thomas MItchell Rd, one would think that for social reasons alone it would be protected. Since Ray White Double Bay sold the building, it has been a circus and now to add insult to injury, the new owner has evicted me. Seems I'm a 'problem' so in 2 weeks I leave my beloved home, I won't miss having to deal with the numerous building issues but I will definitely miss the STMM!!! The proposed 5 storeys is ridiculous and we need to preserve the old Bondi as much as possible, not turn it into the Gold Coast, we have our own identity and we need to uphold it, not destroy it! The new buildings in Bondi Beach are so ugly and completely inappropriate for the beachfront so it would be a tragedy if the owner proceeds with his planned development. I feel Bondi Beach has sadly lost some of its' heart and soul in the past decade and part of the reason is it just doesn't look like Bondi Beach anymore, I understand development is inevitable but can we just rein it in and respect what we already have??? Help save STMMs please, voice your objection now .....Much thanks from THE BONDI MERMAID-Lizmania
   (....and BRING BACK LYALLS MERMAIDS)

5. Hi,
   I would like to add to my comments and to others' comments please.
   I am saddened that the historic significance of the building has been neglected, as it is part of creating the quaint beauty of Bondi Beach and especially the flavour of Sir Thomas Mitchell Road.
   As the new immediate neighbour to the building at 54 Campbell Parade, I walked around the building today and noticed it's unique shape and how the street is enhanced by it's unique beauty.
   I emphasised the lack of light as my immediate concern in my previous comment, but after my shock at hearing the proposal, I now also realise having two floors added would take away all my valued privacy. As a studio owner/resident, I only have a small space. My bedroom/living room would be in full view of the two new upper floor apartments unless I keep blinds down at all times. My now private balcony, which I treasure as living space, would lose all it's privacy too, and I would lose the enjoyment I now have using it. I am very distressed by this. The home-like and airy, light feeling of my small unit will be lost and I will feel boxed in if the height of the building is pushed up another two floors.
   Thank you.

6. I agree with all the previous comments. I was shocked by the DA proposing a 5 storey development on this site. It is totally inappropriate in scale and design.1 Sir Thos Mitchell Mansions is one of Sydney's unique buildings and it is a disgrace it is under threat. As one of Bondi's most characteristic buildings it should be heritage protected. The portico, quirky shape and facade must be retained . Neighbouring buildings will lose their privacy if this proposal goes ahead and it will set a precedence for the further such developments and the destruction of the this iconic suburb.

7. To whom it may concern

   We are the owners of 12/54 Campbell Parade Bondi Beach since 2003 which will be negatively and hugely impacted if the DA -13 / 2017 is approved to proceed as planned.

   Our apartment is at the rear of 54 Campbel Parade and we will lose significant light into our apartment's bedrooms and living room if this DA is approved in its current form.

   This 5-storey DA is way too aggressive, and would rob Bondi of one of its most characterising buildings.

   We are shocked by the DA proposing a 5 storey development on this site.

   It is totally inappropriate in scale and design for the suburb and surrounding buildings.

   1 Sir Thomas Mitchell Mansions is one of Sydney's unique buildings and it is a disgrace it is under threat.

   As one of Bondi's most characteristic buildings it should be heritage protected. The portico, quirky shape and facade should be retained and incorporated into the new design.

   Our apartment and neighbouring buildings will lose their privacy if this proposal goes ahead and it will set a precedence for further such similar developments and the destruction of the character of this iconic suburb.

   The proposed 5 storeys is ridiculous and we need to preserve the old Bondi as much as possible, not turn it into the Gold Coast, we have our own identity and we need to uphold it, not destroy it!

   It would be a tragedy if the developers are allowed to proceed with this planned development.
   
   Thanking you for your understanding and consideration of the individual.

   Karen and Mark Gadeley

8. I agree with many of the objections already voiced about this proposed development.

   I am not against development per se, however, any proposal should be assessed on whether it greatly deteriorates the character of an overall community, or whether it reduces the amenity of the majority of nearby residents. In this regard, the proposed development fails completely. A more subtle development that does not demolish the existing structure would be a proposal more fitting for the neighbourhood.

   Instead the proposed development is completely unsympathetic to its neighbours and the historical character of the Sir Thomas Mitchell Rd vicinity and should thus be rejected by council.

9. I've lived on Sir Thomas Mitchell Road since 1975, I remember when the park was created turning it from a through road into a cul-de-sac.
   The truth is this building has always been a slag heap, and it's about time it was demolished. I've had a look at am image of the replacement and I think it's good.
   I'll admit the classical facade does have some merit but seriously the building is in such a dire state the only solution is to pull it down and start from scratch.
   There are many old crumbling buildings around Bondi that need to be demolished and replaced with something more in tune with the 21st century. I'm glad it's happening here and hope to see more of it.
   Something also needs to be done about Lamrock lane as it resembles a rubbish strewn 3rd world slum.
   I do sympathise with those who will be adversely affected in neighbouring buildings.
   I have no sympathy for professional NIMBY's who complain at any improvement in this my suburb.
   Bondi beach now is a much much better place than what it was in the 70's. This mythical golden age the nimby's constantly talk about is one where junkies shot up in the street and gangs of feral teens roamed out of control. Our home was broken into 3 times during the 80's. My uncle's girlfriend was attacked and raped once in the late 70's. That my friends was the old Bondi. If you're nostalgic for that, then good luck to you. I'm not and I welcome improvement and progress.

Have your say on this application

Your comment and details will be sent to Waverley Council. They may consider your submission when they decide whether to approve this application. Your name and comment will be posted publicly above.

Create an account or sign in to make a comment