Randwick Mayor Danny Said has today, Friday 18 June 2021, welcomed the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel’s decision to reject Meriton’s mega development proposal for Little Bay.

“Today is a win for the community, a win for common sense and vindication of Randwick Council’s original refusal of this outrageous overdevelopment in 2020,” states Mayor Said.

“This sends a strong message to all developers that you cannot ride roughshod over existing planning controls and disregard the community – no matter who you are.”

Meriton purchased the beachside site known as Little Bay Cove in March 2018 which came with completed public infrastructure including roads, footpaths, a playground and an approved shovel-ready masterplan for around 450 dwellings in buildings 2-5 storeys high.

Meriton then lodged a planning proposal seeking to quadruple the number of dwellings to 1,909, increase heights to 17 storeys (60m) and build a hotel and 6,000sqm of retail, medical and childcare centres.

Randwick Council rejected the proposal on 23 June 2020 and the State Government Planning Panel has today, 18 June 2021 also rejected the plan.

The Panel determined the proposal did not demonstrate strategic merit:

“The scale and bulk of development anticipated under the Planning Proposal is not in proportion to the current (nor committed) level of accessibility, centres hierarchy and amenity of the surrounding area. As a result, the Proposal would have unmitigated significant impacts on transport and amenity,” reads part of the planning decision.

Mayor Danny Said indicated that the refusal now by two levels of government and professional planning staff shows the proposal is out of character with the area.

“Today’s decision confirms what everyone has always known – this plan is seriously flawed. It’s too big, too bulky and out of character with the surrounding area.

“I’m very pleased the panel has rejected this proposal and it sends a strong message that development on this site needs to be respectful of its unique coastal character, low to medium density of the area, transport connectivity and other infrastructure,” says Randwick Mayor Danny Said.

“I would also like to commend the work of the local community lead by the Save Little Bay community group who worked tirelessly to keep residents informed and to hold Meriton to account for their proposal.

“I will be bringing a Mayoral Minute to the next Council meeting to hold a community event in Little Bay to celebrate this win and to acknowledge all those community members who worked hard to oppose this plan,” commented Mayor Said.

Read Planning Panel Decision here.

Media enquiries:

Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au