The recently re-elected Liberal State Government will dismantle that the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and its two principal functions will be absorbed by other departments.
ArchitectureAU says “The environmental protection and management functions of the office will be moved to an enlarged “Planning and Industry” department, while the heritage functions of the office will be moved to the arts portfolio. Speaking to reporters on 2 April, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, “We’ve moved heritage into the arts, because heritage and the arts have a very strong focus.”
It can be tough reading the news these days. 
Atlen Construction has appealed to the Land Environment Court against Council’s refusal of their development proposals for 233-235 and 223-225 Victoria Road Gladesville.
A group of walkers enjoyed rambling around the streets and laneways of Hunters Hill admiring the Jacaranda trees generously dotted around the suburb. The walk culminated in a visit to the Hunters Hill RSL hall where we joined the festivities for Remembrance Day celebrating 100 years since the end of World War 1.
‘exempt & complying developments’ threaten HH character
under construction
heritage item next door
A recent development at No 8 Earnshaw Street Gladesville (at left) is an example of the impact of the Exempt and Complying Development Code on the character of Hunters Hill.
Were it not for the Complying Development SEPP this development proposal would have been assessed under the controls of Hunters Hill Council’s LEP and DCP. Council’s Conservation Advisory Panel would have viewed the proposal and its advice incorporated into Council’s assessment.
There is another anomaly with this particular development. At first sight it would appear to be a dual occupancy on a single block of land. However this is not the case. There are in fact two lots at 8 Earnshaw St. One is just over 6m wide, while the other is a little over 12m wide. The smaller block has an area of around 230m2 and the larger block’s area is about 450m2. Neither block complies with the LEP minimum of 700m2. How this unusual subdivision occurred is not known.
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