In May 2011, the NSW Government confirmed that the redevelopment of the Summer Hill Flour Mills and Lewisham Towers into high-rise, residential apartments and commercial areas would be dealt with under through the State Planning Assessment Commission. This means that the property developers will continue to bypass local council planning processes.
Potential impact on our community
Based on the recent independent traffic study commissioned by Ashfield Council, local residents are concerned that the two proposed developments amount to:
- Traffic generation: 1,000 more cars per hour in peak hour
- Density: 680-1,000+ residential units
- Retail: 8,500m2+ including supermarket
- Commercial: 3,800m2+
- Building height: Multiple high-rises over 10 storeys
- Population increase: 1,500 – 3,000+ people
- Public green space: Limited
© HASSELL. Reproduced for the purposes of review and criticism.
Community referendum – August 2010
In an unprecedented community referendum, Summer Hill and Lewisham residents voted overwhelmingly against the scale of these developments. Held over the Federal election weekend last year, some 94 per cent of the 1,500 Lewisham and Summer Hill residents who took part in the community referendum registered opposition to the plans. Specific concerns include that:
- The two sites are being developed independently – this means the combined impact of both developments on Summer Hill and Lewisham may not be properly considered.
- The independent traffic impact study commissioned by local council found that the developments will generate 1,000 extra cars on the road per hour. Old Canterbury Road is already at capacity according to the developers’ own statements.
- There is limited open space, no plans for parks or other amenities (childcare, health services, schools) – but the developments could add between 1,500-3,000+ extra people to thearea.
Developer’s own community survey – May 2010
It is important to note that the developer’s “community attitudes survey” conducted in May 2010 polled 580 residents on whether they supported a change in the use of the Summer Hill Flour Mill site from industrial to mixed use. 67 per cent of residents supported the change in use of the site. The survey did not ask the community whether they supported the scale of development now proposed.
Other interesting findings from the developer’s survey include:
- Over half of the people surveyed considered the redevelopment of the Summer Hill Flour Hill to be a major issue
- The concerns about the redevelopment’s cost to the Summer Hill community focused on four key areas:
Increased traffic – increased traffic, road closures, poor access for residents, longer travel times and quality of life disruption
Scale and design of buildings - building height, amount of commercial space and building design not keeping in character with surrounds
Overcrowding and loss of living amenity - loss of privacy and quietness, loss of village/ neighbourhood feel, charm of area, fewer green and open spaces
No parking and negative impact on existing businesses
- 88 per cent of the community surveyed wanted more additional services or facilities such as more open space, parks, facilities for children, community centre.
