The Minns Government plans for its Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development (TOD) accelerated precinct, including plans for the Herbert Street Precinct at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), will have major consequences for our local community and warrant more local investment and infrastructure.
The Minns Labor Government continues to override our community, cutting out local residents and Councils from the planning process, and imposing density on our area that is unsupported by needed infrastructure and services. Density must be done right and in consultation with local communities.
The government originally announced the Crows Nest TOD would cover a wide area extending up to 1200m from Crows Nest Metro station, causing significant community concern. It is welcome that our strong community advocacy has paid off to see this TOD respect heritage conservation zones such as that in Naremburn with a more targeted draft proposal now released.
The draft TOD proposes to further uplift density mainly within areas already rezoned under the existing St Leonards and Crows Nest 2036 plan. The former Liberal Government listened to the community in formulating that plan, revising it in line with community feedback. Record local infrastructure investment was also proposed including the new Metro line and station, a new public school at St Leonards and a plan to deliver increased open space and improved roads.
Our community is not opposed to well-planned, well-located homes around transport hubs - it’s a necessity in the current housing crisis. Our issue is the Minns Government has ignored the community and failed to provide a plan that delivers the infrastructure and services needed to support this increased population.
Crows Nest and St Leonards have experienced significant increases in density in recent years, with more to come. The government is now proposing another 3,255 dwellings on the Pacific Highway corridor, stating we need to “fully capitalise” on “residential development”. The NSW Government needs to explain how it will deliver increased recreational and open space – including building a park over the train line at St Leonards station and building the Gore Hill Indoor Sports Centre. It must reveal its plans for how our already congested local roads will cope with the increased traffic and how it will invest in clinical services at RNSH to cater for increased demand for healthcare.
Despite clear community concern, the plans also reveal the Minns Government’s intention to construct a 62-storey residential high-rise building on the government owned land on Herbert Street at Royal North Shore Hospital. This would be by far the tallest building in the area and higher than the Crown building at Barangaroo. It would dwarf all other local developments and is well beyond acceptable local building heights.
This is a government that has failed to listen to our community. After the initial concept plan for this particular site was released in 2020 the former government listened and reduced the building to 45 storeys with greater public benefit and further revisions in the works. The Minns Government reversal of this reflects their approach in effect telling communities to “get out of the way”.
I will continue to review the draft plans and impacts on us locally and will advocate for any changes needed. I value and welcome the feedback of our community on these plans.
The plan is on public exhibition until August 16 and I encourage everyone to have your say: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/priority-growth-areas-and-precincts/st-leonards-and-crows-nest/crows-nest