We now have the chance to make our views known to the State Government about this flawed Planning Proposal!  
 
An Information Session was held by Council on the 25th March when a vocal and agitated crowd was not persuaded by Council’s presentation of their latest Gladesville Proposal.  Since the acquisition of the GSV site by property developer Third.i Group, the Council-led Masterplan has effectively morphed into a site specific Planning Proposal.  Residents were unhappy that the Masterplan has now become much smaller than the initially claimed ‘rejuvenation’ of Gladesville.  This proposal is bounded by Massey, Flagstaff and Cowell Streets plus a small portion of Victoria Road, instead of a being a holistic plan for the entire town centre.

Could this be the eventual height of the towers planned for Gladesville?


The largest number of concerns were related to the proposed 19-storey height of the two towers. Residents reminded Council that previously they had strongly objected to buildings of a lesser height and yet their concerns appeared to carry no weight.  Council’s response was that a lower height was not deemed economically viable for the developer.  Many residents remain unconvinced that 70m, or up to 91m if 15% of gross floor area is affordable housing, is visually viable!
 
The picture opposite shows the size of tower blocks up to approximately 91 metres – could this be what Gladesville may eventually look like if the affordable housing option is actioned by the developer?  With no artist’s impression of the proposed towers being shown to the community, we can only speculate.
 
Residents also cannot understand why Council is exceeding their NSW housing target of 400 additional units by proposing 522 housing units on one site – other than to make the development viable for the developer.
 
Council already has approximately 60 new housing approvals towards its target and is considering residential developments at other sites within 400m and 800m of Hunters Hill and Boronia Park Town Centres (allowable under the Low and Medium Rise Density rules introduced by the State Government) so this makes the need for overdevelopment of the Gladesville site even harder to justify.
 
Many concerns were raised about the potential for overshadowing of houses and apartments in surrounding streets, as well as the lack of sunlight in the morning in the playground of Gladesville Public School in midwinter when students are likely to be most affected.  We also learnt that nothing has yet been done about the transport situation, already identified as a serious problem, or the current and future problems of overcrowding on public transport with the cumulative effect of proposed and already constructed developments.  Council merely confirmed that all it could do was to lobby the State Government!
 
Gladesville residents were concerned that they would be bearing the pain for potential benefits that may be directed more to those living in areas not under threat, as Council has confirmed that if the proposal goes ahead, it intends to sign a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) with the developer.  Part of the contributions will be used to fund its proposed knockdown and rebuild project at Hunters Hill Village involving the demolition of the Croquet Club building, the Community Hall, and two Community Services buildings, to make way for an ambitious new development containing a library, offices and retail spaces with an initial price tag of $30m.  If a VPA funding from a development in Gladesville is going to contribute to a library, then it should contribute to a library in Gladesville.
 
There are certainly many issues still to be addressed and questions asked, such as why Council is leaving some of the Site Specific planning controls to the Development Control Plan (DCP) rather than ensuring their inclusion in the Local Environmental Plan (LEP), which as a planning instrument is more enforceable and therefore requires far greater compliance by developers.
 
We recommend that you visit the excellent website of the recently formed Gladesville Residents for Responsible Development at: https://www.grrd.org for more information.
  
Now is our chance to make our views known to Council and the State Government! 
 
You can write just a few lines on any of the issues that concern you but please make sure you submit by Friday 24 April 2026 via the NSW Planning Portal at https://pp.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/under-exhibition/gladesville-masterplan
with a copy to Council via their Have Your Say form at https://connect.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/gladesville-masterplan

Let’s make some noise!!