THE residential component of the Kirrawee brick pit development, to be known as South Village, has been ‘‘upsized’’ to 750 apartments.
This is a 73 per cent increase on the 432 homes proposed in the original concept plan, approved in 2012 by the state government’s Planning Assessment Commission.
If approved, it will overtake Woolooware Bay, with 600 apartments, as Sutherland Shire’s biggest residential development.
Property company Payce, which bought the 4.25-hectare Kirrawee site for $61 million last year, said it had lodged a revised concept plan with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
The plan includes a smaller shopping centre than originally proposed, allowing more apartments to be built, and a ‘‘vastly improved’’ public park covering almost one hectare.
Although Sutherland Shire Council will be able to make a recommendation on the plan, the commission will make the final decision as the project had been lodged under
old part 3A rules, which have since been repealed.
Payce said, subject to approvals, work could start by the end of the year and be completed by mid-2017.
Under the new plan, apartments would be spread over seven buildings, three of them L-shaped, ranging in height from seven to 15 storeys.
The previous plan was for nine buildings, from six to 14 storeys; floor space ratio (density) would increase to 2:1 from the previously approved 1.43:1.
Payce general manager Dominic Sullivan said the new floor space ratio was ‘‘appropriate’’ in light of the shire’s draft local environmental plan, which is now being reviewed by an independent panel.
Mr Sullivan said buildings on the site would be within the 50-metre height limit approved by the commission and the previous plan had allowed for up to five metres of plant zone.
Although the previous concept plan had specified 432 apartments, it would have been possible to accommodate 500 apartments, he said.
‘‘We have redesigned the site and incorporated new streets and a walkway to open it up to pedestrians and improve access.
‘‘Retail floor space has been reduced by 1040 square metres to address concerns about traffic generation and minimise congestion.’’
Mr Sullivan said the public park, linked to the Oak Road shopping strip, would be far more accessible.
A council spokeswoman said the council was aware that an application to modify the approval was submitted to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure ‘‘some time ago’’ but it had not been registered formally because further information was sought from the applicant.
It was expected that once the application was accepted, the council would be asked to comment.
‘‘[Then] staff will make an assessment and a report will be put to the council for it to consider making a submission to the department,’’ she said.
A PLACE FOR ALL: PAYCE
Payce’s managing director Brian Boyd said South Village would ‘‘transform the area into a vibrant, integrated community where people live, work and socialise in an enhanced and revitalised environment’’.
“Decades have passed since the degraded brick pit site was used for productive purposes but fortunately it affords a unique opportunity to invigorate the whole area with a well-planned, high quality, urban renewal project that will be of long-lasting benefit to the shire community,” he said.
Payce’s head of retail development Simon McTigue said ‘‘the large public park will be a place for the whole neighbourhood and community to enjoy, with a children’s playground and ornamental lake making it an attractive place to meet, relax or have a picnic.
“In addition to retaining the existing stand of ironbark trees adjacent to Oak Road, there will be hundreds of additional trees and shrubs planted across the site.
“The retail area located below the apartment blocks covers 14,190 square metres and is approved to include two supermarkets and a range of shops, such as cafes, restaurants and fresh food outlets.”
What do you think of the revised concept plan for the former brick pit site?
