Three-storey block of flats proposed for Broken Bay Rd

A three-storey block of nine flats with basement parking has been proposed in a development application for 124-126 Broken Bay Rd, Ettalong.

The development would have four two-bedroom apartments and five three-bedroom apartments “including three adaptable apartments”.

Despite having three floors, “the building comfortably complies with the building height” limit of 8.5 metres, apart from the lift overrun, which exceeds the height by 400mm, and the upper portion of the roof above one apartment.

“Off-street car parking is proposed for 15 vehicles, including three adaptable spaces, within a basement, accessed via a combined entry-exit driveway located on Broken Bay Rd.”

The application from James Lovell Architects states: “The development includes the retention of three existing trees on the site, and the introduction of 37 new trees with mature heights of three to 10 metres, supplemented by a hierarchy of 258 shrubs, and 545 groundcovers and grasses.

However, the largest existing tree, an eight-metre grey gum will be removed.

The arborist report stated it had extensive crown dieback, “more than 50 per cent of foliage area dead at time of inspection”.

The site consists of two adjoining lots with a total area of 1719.8 square metres and a street frontage to Broken Bay Rd of 28.02 metres.

The application claims compliance with planning controls, including SEPP No. 65 – Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development and the Apartment

Design Guide. A geotechnical report prepared by Sanko stated that groundwater levels are approximately 300mm higher than the proposed level of excavation.

Therefore “waterproofing and tanking of the basement will likely be required.”

“The groundwater encountered comprises an unconfined coastal bed aquifer.”

Being close to the surface, these aquifers are “very vulnerable to contamination especially in urban environments.

“They also have a substantial ecosystem support function for groundwater-dependent ecosystems, such as wetlands, swamps, estuarine habitats and coastal terrestrial vegetation.”

Unusually, the application contains a record of the “pre-DA meeting” of the applicants with council staff, minutes of which are not released by council.

In a tabular summary, it lists the comments made by planning staff in the meeting held on December 9, 2021, and the response of the applicants.

Surprisingly, shadow diagrams mentioned in the application are not included for public viewing on the Central Coast Council website.

Written submissions close on Monday, February 6.

SOURCE: DA Tracker, 8 Jan 2023 DA3931/2022, Central Coast Council