Preserving Our Heritage since 1968

The Hunters Hill Trust

The Hunters Hill Trust

Preserving Our Heritage since 1968

Chainsaw massacre: Ausgrid’s vandalism

wybalena-road-tree

Ausgrid contractors mutilate 100 yr old box tree

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Wybalena Rd, Hunters Hill

Ausgrid is responsible for vandalising Hunters Hill’s street trees. In street after street,  beautiful 100 year old box trees are being irreparably disfigured.

The contractors are not arborists. They have no training. Canopies are disappearing and no regard has been paid to their significance.

Hunters Hill Council’s Tree Officer has been told that “the Electricity Act overrides any Council tree rules“.  Consequently she joined Ausgrid’s Vegetation Management Working Group, which includes professional tree pruners, who are trying to influence Ausgrid – so far with little success.

While poles and wires have to be protected from storm damage, it is absurd to act in this crude, destructive fashion.

The NSW Government is ultimately responsible for Ausgrid’s work.  It seems Mike Baird and his team have no regard for the significance of large, mature trees for people’s health and welfare as well as for landscape and heritage conservation.

2016-10-08T16:34:44+11:00September 10, 2016|

Demolition proposed for ‘P and O style’ house

48 Mary St, Hunters Hill

48 Mary St, Hunters Hill

48 Mary Street, Hunters Hill may not be heritage listed, but it is a valuable example of Interwar Functionalist, or what is more commonly known as the ‘P and O Style’ housing. It is part of the historic record of European building in Hunters Hill.

Will it be replaced by yet another project-style house that bears no relationship to the character of the neighbourhood?

You can read HHT’s comments on the plan to demolish here.

 

 

2017-09-03T11:43:28+10:00September 10, 2016|

The Housing Code: what about neighbourhoods?

Hunters Hill Trust is opposed to the changes to the General Housing Code that are being proposed by NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

The one-size-fits-all approach will have a negative effect on neighbourhoods that differ in so many ways due to their topography, heritage and conservation areas, lot sizes, environmental features and character.

The removal of rights of neighbours and reduced oversight from planning professionals is likely to mean more ugly inappropriate buildings, and negative impacts on those living in the immediate vicinity, such as:

  • loss of solar access
  • loss of views
  • loss of privacy etc.

You can read the HHT submission on the revised Housing Code here.

2016-09-10T17:58:53+10:00September 10, 2016|

Greater Sydney Commission: Q & A

green africa directory orgHowweGetThereYou can check the notes from the recent community meeting with the Northern Division of the Greater Sydney Commission here.  Issues included:

Future of Local Environment Plans

DA assessment processes

Lack of voice for the community

Massive over developments and ‘State significant projects’

Loss of green space.

2016-08-15T15:04:55+10:00August 15, 2016|

Later alcohol trading hours for Hunters Hill Hotel?

Hunters Hill Hotel has lodged a new DA seeking to extend their trading hours.  They want:

  • alcohol shoeMondays to Saturdays   8:00am-2:00am the following day   (HHH currently closes at midnight)
  • Sundays   10:00am-midnight
  • Good Friday and Christmas Day   noon-10:00pm
  • New Years Eve     5:00am-2:00am the following day.

When other hotels close at midnight, people who are already intoxicated are likely to move on to Hunters Hill to keep drinking until 2:00 am.

Clear evidence links extended hours alcohol trading to increased alcohol related accidents, violence, property damage, anti-social behaviour and other preventable harm.

Say NO to DA 2016-1114.  Email  council@huntershill.nsw.gov.au. or write to General Manager, Hunters Hill Council or write to the PO Box 21, Hunters Hill 2110.

2016-08-11T12:47:50+10:00August 9, 2016|

Design of Ryde civic precinct: winner announced

The Beijing Institute of Architectural Design has won the international competition for the design of a new civic precinct at Ryde .  The design was one of 175 submissions that came from 47 countries.  Read details here or check the video.

 

2016-08-12T10:07:02+10:00August 9, 2016|

Greater Sydney Commission: what controls will we have?

GSC Dr Deborah Dearing[1]

Dr Deborah Dearing

Prof Rod Simpson

Prof Rod Simpson

The Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) is now responsible for metropolitan planning, determining regionally significant development applications and rezoning proposals that will override existing Local Environment Plans  info about the Greater Sydney Commission.

Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Ryde, Willoughby, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, Mosman and Hornsby comprise the ‘Northern District’. Draft District Plans will be released for comment in November.

Given the powers of the Commission and the intense pressure for development, the community needs a voice. Hunters Hill Trust joined representatives of more than 30 Northern District community organisations at a recent meeting in Lane Cove.  Prof Rod Simpson, the Environment Commissioner and Dr Deborah Dearing, Commissioner for the Northern Region answered questions re:

  • The power of the Sydney Planning Panels
  • The fate of existing Local Environment Plans
  • The disconnect between GSC’s stated intentions and rampant development of recent years
  • Environmental outcomes for the Northern District.

letter to the Chief Commissioner, Lucy Hughes Turnbull, AO.  More info:  sue.ingham@webtide.com.au

 

2016-08-18T18:19:56+10:00August 5, 2016|

BIG childcare centre proposed for Joubert Street

too bigThe Trust is concerned that a childcare centre proposed at 22 and 22A Joubert Street, Hunters Hill would be far too big for the neighbourhood.

The centre plans to cater for 98 children, making it much larger than other local centres.  The building would be way out of scale with the existing houses in the vicinity. Its bulk and proportions would be inconsistent with the domestic character of the neighbourhood.  It would adversely impact on neighbouring heritage buildings and create traffic and parking problems.

You can read the Hunters Hill Trust’s submission to Council here.

2016-10-09T18:06:31+11:00July 12, 2016|

Gladesville Shopping Village: community still in the dark

need-to-knowMoch Developments submitted a proposal to the NSW Department of Planning on April 19th to amend the Local Environment Plan, to allow a series of massive high-rise towers at Gladesville Shopping Village, the highest being 58m – that’s one and a half times the height of the Gladesville Bridge.  Detailed plans have still not been provided

There are so many unanswered questions:

  • What will it mean for the people living in the streets around the site?
  • Which streets will be inundated with traffic and which will be permanently closed off?
  • Which houses will be affected by a massive shadow?
  • How many more houses will lose privacy in their backyards?
  • What new services and infrastructure (such as schools etc.) will be offered?
  • What will happen to the heritage listed cottage at 10 Cowell Street?
  • How does Council plan to protect residents from the effects of this massive insensitive over development?
2016-07-27T13:36:35+10:00July 12, 2016|

We are a volunteer community organisation with over 50 years’ proud representation on behalf of the residents of Hunters Hill, advocating for our suburb’s unique heritage and environment.

If you would like to donate to our cause, your contributions will be greatly appreciated and very carefully used.

Donations can be via bank transfer to: CBA Bank; BSB 062000; Acct 16211909, or by cheque payable to Hunters Hill Trust sent to PO Box 85, Hunters Hill 2110.

Please email us at huntershilltrust@gmail.com so we can acknowledge your kind contribution.

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