Developers of the historic Heathcote Hall estate intend to release a concept plan shortly, and include community feedback in the development application.
This move was announced as a new community group, Residents Against Over Development (RAOD), was formed to fight plans for apartment blocks on the site.
Maxine Farrelly, the last member of the family which bought the 19th century mansion in 1942, moved out in February this year.
It is understood the sale may not yet have been finalised, but the Leader was assured by one person involved in the project “everything is on track”.
A spokeswoman for Sutherland Shire Council said in February a pre-DA meeting was held in November last year with FPA Architects International.
‘‘Discussion at this meeting concerned the restoration of Heathcote Hall and the development of townhouses and apartment buildings within the current landholding at numbers 1-21 Dillwynnia Grove,’’ she said.
In a statement to the Leader on Friday, issued by JBA urban development services consultancy, a project spokesman said:
“Heathcote Hall is a state listed heritage item and an important part of the Sutherland Shire’s history.
“However it is in urgent need of restoration to ensure it is preserved for locals and visitors to experience in the future.
“We are currently preparing a development application that would deliver this restoration, however the project is still in the early stages of the planning process and no plans have been finalised.
“Community consultation is an important part of the planning process and there will be a number of ways the community can provide feedback.
“This will be considered and included in the development application that will eventually be lodged with the Sutherland Shire Council.”
The Leader was told the developers have resided in the shire for moe than 40 years and understand the significance of Heathcote Hall and its history.
The project was said to be in the early planning phase, with the concept design and accompanying technical reports being prepared.
An indicative concept design and information about the DA would be provided to the community at an information session, to be held in the coming weeks, the Leader was told.
Details of the community information session would be advertised in the Leader during the week prior to the session and local residents would receive a letter box notification inviting them to the session.
Residents Against Over Development (RAOD) has been formed to fight alongside Sutherland Shire Environment Centre against what are being called “ugly flats” on the site.
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre member and Heathcote resident, Phil Smith, said not a single moment’s community consultation had gone into heritage changes.
“There is not a single building in Heathcote East which is over two stories and now we have greedy developers rubbing their hands together with the prospect of over developing a site which until recently was under heritage protection,” he said.
“How is it possible that the land surrounding one of the oldest buildings in the shire, Heathcote Hall, which was built in 1887, is now available for flats when no consultation has taken place with the community?”
Mr Smith said state MP for Heathcote Lee Evans needed to stand up for his community.
Mr Smith said it was believed mayor Carmelo Pesce, a D ward councillor representing that area, was firmly opposed to the establishment of flats.
“Heathcote resident and one of our other D ward Councillors, Diedree Steinwall, has told us she was concerned with the impact of the plans for the site and, given it is in a bushfire prone area, the environmental sensitivities need to be taken into consideration,” he said.
“Ms Steinwall told us she will be watching this proposal carefully and ensuring residents’ interests are taken into consideration even though the final decision will be taken by the state government.
“Unfortunately this matter will be taken out of the hands of the council, and the state government’s Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) will make all decisions in relation to our local suburb and its future.
“This is where we need Lee Evans to stand up and be counted on behalf of our community.
“No leeway should be given in relation to floor space ratios just because the developer is required to raise some monies to go back into the Heathcote Hall itself.”
Mr Smith said the development was planned for a tiny suburb of one square kilometre, with only one entrance and exit over an inadequate bridge leading onto the Princes Highway.
“At peak times, traffic is queuing to exit Heathcote and traffic congestion in the area is at an all-time high with cars crowding around the railway station and surrounding areas,” he said.
“High density housing on the Heathcote Hall Estate is just not on.
“Trees will be destroyed and cars will be packing nearby streets.
“The area is on the edge of the Royal National Park and is in a high-risk fire zone so the last thing the suburb needs is more overdevelopment.”
Patrick Kennedy, another RAOD member and Boronia Grove resident of three decades, said planning authorities, including the state government, needed to hang their heads in shame that the proposal was so advanced, but residents had only heard about it through the local media.
Mr Kennedy wrote the book From Bottle Forest to Heathcote, the Sutherland Shire’s first settlement, which includes a comprehensive history on the estate.
“From what we have heard this is a bad, ill-conceived, ugly development with three and four storey flats planned,” he said.
“Only a pre-DA has been submitted and we need Mr Evans to get heavily involved before the final DA is submitted.”
Mr Kennedy encouraged residents to contact Mr Evans to tell them how they feel.
