Save Coogee

1 March 2011

There is a new campaign to save the parks in Coogee.

For details, go to Save Coogee Parks

07 December 2010

Minister for Planning Tony Kelly has announced that the high-rise development proposals for Coogee have been rejected.

"Both options A and B are seen as too high as they break the established 3-4 storey
built form in the Coogee Bay village and intrude into the view catchment. They
place too much height and bulk into the valley floor." Government Architect

08 November 2010 Please note the Coogee Precinct Meeting on Monday 15 November at 7.30pm Brook St [opp. Rugby Club]

.22 September 2010 The Precinct Committee has met with the Government Architect and the developers.

14 September 2010 Please note the Coogee Precinct Meeting on Monday 20 September at 7.30pm Brook St [opp. Rugby Club].

23 July 2010 Great stories on StreetCorner - please send a message by adding comments.
The largest petition presented to the NSW Government
The original story way back in December
The local MP takes on the developers
The secret lunch hosted at the hotel/developers
A great article in StreetCorner.com

3 June 2010 The “Campaign to Keep Coogee a Village”, run by locals passionate about ensuring any development of the Coogee Bay Hotel compiles with local planning laws, has reached a milestone. The Keep Coogee a Village petition, is the largest single issue petition ever presented to the NSW Parliament, with 11,600 signatures and growing.

Greens Lee Rhiannon yesterday joined the long list of people who have signed the petition and politicians of all colours have been united in their opposition to the Coogee Bay Hotel development plans from the outset including the Member for Coogee Paul Pearce, Randwick Councillor Bruce Notley-Smith (Liberal Candidate for Coogee), local Labor Councillor Tony Bowen, Greens Councillor Murray Matson and more recently the Shadow Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard.

Lee Rhiannon congratulated all those involved in the Coogee Petition on the community spirit involved in the largest single issue petition to the NSW Parliament.

The Campaign to Keep Coogee a Village has also produced a range of badges, many of which are now proudly worn by locals as they go about their daily life. It’s a sign that old fashioned grassroots campaigning is still one of the most powerful ways for the community to unite and let politicians know what electorate wants of its representatives’. The Coogee Precinct has been involved in the campaign from the outset and a growing band of locals have given up hundreds of hours maning stalls and distributing flyers.

In this camapign, locals are asking the State Government to respect the local planning laws. Coogee is already a high-density suburb and multi-storey development is allowed on the site, to a maximum of 12 metres. But the Coogee Bay Hotel development plans exceed this limit and also exceed the density controls on the site. Since the NSW Government introduced the “Major Projects” Part 3A amendment to the EP&A Act, many large developments have bypassed Councils and been submitted to the NSW Department of Planning. Most development applications declared a “Major Project” by the NSW Department of Planning have been passed by the Minister for Planning and not all comply with local planning laws.

While residents groups and Councils have been critical of the Part 3A legislation for failing to adequately consult the community, the NSW Government, including Kristina Keneally when she was Minister of Planning, is proud of the record of the NSW Government in approving large development, arguing that these developments generate employment and economic stimulus to the State. The Liberals have vowed to repel the Part 3A legislation if elected saying that transparency and accountability is not served by the having the Department of Planning and the Minister for Planning make decisions on developments that impact locally.

1 Jun 2010 Meeting the Minister
Last week the local Member Mr Paul Pearce organised a meeting with the Minister Mr Tony Kelly MLC on our behalf. The meeting was on Thursday at the Ministers office. Four residents attended along with Mr Pearce. In
addition to the Minister there was his adviser and the official from the Department of Planning overseeing Major Projects.

It was expected that the meeting would last half an hour, but the Minister gave us nearly an hour. He listened to our concerns and, from his responses, we felt he understood the issues. We took a copy of the whole petition along. It lay on the table as a constant reminder of what 11,000 visitors and residents of the Coogee electorate want for the site - a complying development and not one that would destroy the very qualities that attract so many visitors and that inspires great affection from those who have made it their home. These qualities include the village atmosphere, the friendly low key look and feel, the heritage, its natural beauty etc.

The Minister confirmed that his office had received and continues to receive many emails, letters and phone calls opposing the development.

It was confirmed that there was no proposal from the developers at this stage.

Achieving this meeting has been a key part of the campaign to date. At least now we know that the Minister and the Department are aware of the issues. We also know that the Minister and the Department know how strongly the community feels about any overdevelopment of this Coogee foreshore site.

18th May 2010 A closed door meeting took place at the Coogee Bay Hotel to present development plans to "key people in the community". However, not to anyone we know! The secrecy continues.

Please comment on the Streetcorner Article

16th May 2010 The 10,000th person has signed the petition to State Parliament expressing opposition to the plans to develop the Coogee Bay Hotel site. In addition to concern about how this project will destroy the village atmosphere in Coogee, there is enormous anger about the secrecy surrounding the project. Five months after the project was announced, no plans have been made available to the public. A few sketches and a variety of rumours is all that the people most affected have to go on. And we live in a democracy!

14th May 2010

Pearce describes Developers website “a sick joke”

Member of Coogee, Paul Pearce, has described the website for the Coogee Bay Hotel development a “joke”. “This mob are treating the community with contempt. The web site, launched with fanfare in the local press, disguises and hides more than it reveals.
There is not one diagram illustrating the alternatives that they have put before the Department of Planning. These diagrams exist and the developer should have the guts to release to the court of public opinion.”
“I know why they won't show diagrams. They know that the public will be outraged by the proposals.”
“I'll tell the public what the developers won't. Option 1 had a 15 storey tower as its centre piece. The Department of Planning told the developers that it was unacceptable. So they have come back with two alternatives. Both grossly exceed the prevailing height and density controls in Coogee. Both have a collection of buildings of up to 8 and 9 storeys in height. Both have up to 8 storeys in height stretching down Coogee Bay rd. The major difference is that alternative B demolishes- that's right demolishes- the heritage buildings on the site. The lack of sensitivity to the community in Coogee is breathtaking. It has been many years since I have seen such a developer greed driven proposal.”
“And, there is nothing in their alternatives A or B that will actually ensure that another pub won't be opened elsewhere on the site. Indeed by their own admission areas with a liquor license would remain.
“The Department of Planning should tell the developers to either put in a concept plan that generally complies with the Randwick LEP, including retention of the heritage buildings, or go away.”

11 May 2010: Heading towards 10,000!
We now have 9,800 signatures on the petition (or more accurately 19,600 on the two petitions, as we have to submit one for the Legislative Council and one for the Legislative Assembly). A tremendous success and we should get to 10,000 this week-end. The level of support is amazing; not just from Coogee residents but also from people from the rest of Sydney (particularly people from near-by suburbs who use the beach regularly) and the rest of New South Wales. Interstate and international visitors are just as upset about the proposed development, but of course they cannot sign the petition. Minister of Tourism, please note!

3 May 2010: The developers of the Coogee Bay Hotel site have released more information, but no detailed plans and no pictures.
See the article on the Streetcorner site and please comment on it.

26 April 2010 Photo Shoot a Great Success

Photo: streetcorner.com.au

Many hundreds of people came to Coogee Beach this afternoon to express their opposition to the Development Plans for the Coogee Bay Hotel site. Over 8,500 people have now signed the petition to State Parliament. There is a really good article on the Streetcorner site.