Residents have staged a novel, last-ditch protest against the Heathcote Hall estate development proposal.
Colourful paper hand cut-outs with the message, Stop Overdevelopment, were planted in sand boxes next to the heritage listed building in Heathcote East.
Organisers said nearly 300 residents participated in the protest between 2pm and 5pm on Saturday, June 15.
Sydney South Planning Panel will meet on June 28 to hear final public submissions and make a decision.
The meeting will be held in the Sutherland Shire Council administration building, starting at 5.30pm.
The development application includes refurbishment and restoration of the hall and construction of 36 townhouses and 21 apartments.
Save Heathcote East spokesman Phil Targett said the protest was “an enormous success and sent a strong signal to both Sutherland Shire Council and the planning panel”.
Residents Against Over Development spokesman Patrick Kennedy said the June 28 meeting was the last chance for residents to convince authorities “this monstrosity of a development will forever change the amenity of the suburb and put the suburb at risk during a bushfire”.
”East Heathcote is full,” he said.
“Our suburb is home to 3184 residents of whom nearly 1000, or a third, are housed in medium and high density developments.
“The Heathcote Hall proposal will force upon this area 55 more high density buildings They are completely out of character for the area.
“There is not a single residential building in East Heathcote which is higher than two stories and yet developers want to give us two sets of ugly flats which are five stories (three above ground and two below).
“The population will increase by a staggering 165 people and introduce hundreds more cars trying to enter and exit the suburb over a tiny bridge near the burgeoning John Paul Village.”