Beverly Hills residents who fought against a boarding house in their midst and won are preparing for another fight.
This time they are objecting to a development application before Hurstville Council for an even bigger boarding house complex.
At its meeting on February 18, Hurstville Council knocked back an eight-room boarding house on the corner of Pallamana Parade and King Georges Road, even though it met affordable housing guidelines and was marked for approval by the council officers.
The residents ran a campaign against it when it was advertised in July and August last year, citing overdevelopment, traffic and parking problems, character, loss of amenity, safety, security, social issues and property value, among others.
The DA attracted 24 formal objections and several petitions resulting in 219 signatures opposing the development. Even after the plans were amended, the residents still wouldn't have it and bombarded the council with 27 formal objections.
Councillor Vince Badalati said the part of Beverly Hills in question did not suit boarding houses.
"The area has lots of young families and elderly residents, and parking problems," Cr Badalati said.
"The council has stood up for the residents and rejected the proposal — we will always fight for the rights of local residents."
The residents went home happy and are now ready to fight plans for a development at 16-20 Tooronga Terrace, which includes a three-storey building behind three existing shops, with a boarding house component containing 13 rooms — 10 single rooms and three double rooms accommodating up to 16 lodgers.
The development has an undercover ground-level parking area at the rear of the site for eight cars, three motorcycles and three bicycles.
Long-time resident and community spokeswoman Betty Evers said nobody wanted the boarding house in the neighbourhood and at least 430 signatures had been collected.
Objections include a chronic shortage of parking, congestion, excessive bulk (no other three-storey buildings in the area), not blending in with surrounding developments and the possibility of undesirable people moving into the area.
■ Would you accept boarding houses in your neighbourhood?
