Lane Cove News Week in Review 16th to 23rd August 2023

Welcome to our week in review.

Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Facility

Lane Cove Sports and Recreation Facilities are one step closer.

Lane Cove Council has taken the next step in delivering a new state-of-the-art Sport and Recreation Centre to the people of Lane Cove and the Lower North Shore by appointing ADCO Constructions P/L as the head construction contractor for the $75m project. ADCO also built Council’s Multi-Award winning, The Canopy development. Lane Cove Council has not advised if a parent company guarantee has been obtained.

Designed by AJ+C Architects, the new eight-court multi-sport community facility, restaurant and 250-space car park (including five disabled parking spaces and 16 additional motorbike spaces) is being built on the car park and former clubhouse at Council’s Lane Cove Golf Course, which will remain open throughout the construction program.

The project is funded by Lane Cove Council and a $5m grant from the NSW Government.

Due to being opened in late 2025, the new facility will be where everyone can play and socialise, whether netball, basketball, tennis, dancing, or social events.

The Lane Cove Golf Course will continue to be open during construction.

ITC investigation into Lane Cove Council Parking Stations Fine Review Process

Over the last two months, In the Cove has been investigating fines issued by Lane Cove Council for parking infringements at Lane Cove Council-owned or operated car parking stations.

It came to our attention that when a driver requested a review, State Revenue was not referring the matters back to Lane Cove Council for review. Lane Cove Council knows the ticketless parking system is not 100% accurate and should have instructed State Revenue NSW to send cases to Lane Cove Council for review.

After our investigation, Lane Cove Council has now instructed State Revenue to send each case for review.

Read more here.

Sydney North Planning Panel Rejects DA for 40A Cope Street

RetireAustralia has lodged a Development Application to redevelop the former Caroline Chisholm Retirement Village. The development will be independent living apartments for seniors.

You can view the Development Application on the Lane Cove Council’s Website – DA 134/2022.

The Sydney North Planning Panel held a public hearing on Wednesday, 16 August 2023.

More details here.

Lane Cove Council’s report to the Sydney North Planning Panel noted:

“Some 99 unique submissions were received in response to the public notification period, the majority of which raise legitimate concerns about potential adverse impacts.

It is considered that the site is impacted by several constraints including:

• Inadequate vehicular access;
• Close proximity to a number of residents adjoining to the north, east and south of the site;
• Heritage retaining wall;
• Building height and FSR standards;
• Lack of space and access during construction.

These constraints are not acknowledged in the overall design of the site and in the resultant unacceptable bulk and scale of the buildings.

The development also fails to comply with numerous development standards set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, State Environmental Planning Policy 65 – Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development, the Apartment Design Guide and Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009.

It is recognised that the proposed development would assist in meeting the future needs of an aging population. However, the predominance of such developments places high importance on creating well designed accommodation which does not compromise the amenity of future residents or adjoining residents.”

The SNPP declined the DA on numerous grounds, including that the bulk and scale of the building was unacceptable and that the proposed development would not provide high amenity for future residents.

Have Your Say – Proposed Extension of Newlands Park with Partial Closure of Canberra Avenue

The proposed expansion of Newlands Park will result in more than 4,000m2 of open space, increasing the current area of Newlands Park from 10,120m2 to over 14,120m2, creating the largest passive open space park in the Local Government Area.

The concept plan showing the extent of the expansion of Newlands Park is below.

Lane Cove Council is now seeking your comments on this proposal.

The part closure of Canberra Avenue and extension of Newlands Park is part of adopting the St Leonards South Local Environmental Plan amendment that was resolved at the May 2020 Council meeting.

As identified in the April 2022 Council report, the construction works associated with the closure of Canberra Avenue will occur near the River Road end of Canberra Avenue, which is due to be completed in late 2025.

The proposed closure includes a cul-de-sac, a conversion of the road to parklands, and a shared user path. To ensure that Newlands Park caters to the community’s needs, a more detailed Master Plan for Newlands Park will be developed.

As part of the proposal, Council is also proposing the provision of a roundabout at the intersection of Duntroon Avenue and Canberra Avenue.

There will be a loss of on-street parking along the western side of Canberra Avenue, along the closed section of Canberra Avenue. Lane Cove Council anticipates that all parking for residents and visitors will be accommodated within the new developments.

Have Your Say

Provide your feedback by participating in the survey below.

Alternatively, you can lodge a written submission to the General Manager by quoting SU1326 by:-

email: [email protected](External link) or,

post: Lane Cove Council, PO BOX 20, LANE COVE, NSW, 1595

The consultation closes on Sunday, 1 October 2023.

Survey

City of Sydney Looking to Ban Gas in New Homes/Apartments – will Lane Cove follow?

Gas in New Developments

At the City of Sydney’s August meeting, the councillors resolved to request the City of Sydney’s Chief Executive Officer be asked to investigate the opportunities and challenges with amending the City of Sydney’s planning controls to require all new residential developments and development not captured by the City’s new Net Zero planning controls, to be all-electric and report back to Council via the CEO Update, including next steps, as soon as possible.

Lane Cove Council has already considered prohibiting gas for all new builds, and draft sustainability provisions have been published for public Comment.  Public Comment ended on 13 August 2023, and the word will now be collated, and there will be a report back to the Council.   The following has been suggested as part of the sustainability review of Lane Cove’s Development Control Plan.

Lane Cove Sport

Lane Cove Junior Rugby Club – Summer Sevens

Registrations are now open for the Lane Cove Summer 7s 2023 season.  This comp is for kids and adults and is run by Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union Club.

The season starts on 20 October 2023 and will run every Friday night until 1 December 2023.

There are various ways to register; as a whole team or solo, you will be put in a team. For all the details and to register, please go to:

https://www.lcjru.com.au/summer-sevens

Don’t forget to use your Active Kids voucher if you’re eligible.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Lane Cove Cricket Club