59 Ryde Road, Hunters Hill NSW 2110

Every other day we hear of the removal of trees to build narrow and massive houses with swimming pools; these multi bedroom/bathroom houses will be the new slums. The assumption that Australians will want multi-generational housing in the future or we will start having big families again is doubtful; we don't know who will want these houses. Street parking is reduced and the climate of our suburb increases while our wildlife loses its homes and food sources. I'm scared for the future of our suburb, it is crazy that our governments are allowing the lowering of our living standards on such a massive scale.

I wish to lodge a strong objection to Development Application to DA20260115 for 59 Ryde Road, Hunters Hill

I object to the proposed development and ask Council to refuse this application.

I own a property that is nearby. Hunters Hill is also a very significant suburb in Sydney as a whole given its unique and established heritage character.

The proposal would demolish the existing historic Federation house, remove established trees and gardens, to construct a concrete duplex.

The existing Federation house is a beautiful and important part of the character of Hunters Hill. It is an established historic home set within mature gardens and trees. The house and its garden belong together and contribute to the distinctive character of the surrounding streetscape. I strongly object to its demolition.

This is not an empty block of land. It is an established property with a Federation house, mature gardens and established trees. Demolishing it and replacing it with two new dwellings would permanently remove an important part of the area's historic character.

The existing Federation house contributes positively to the streetscape. Its scale, architecture and garden setting form part of the visual identity of the area. Demolition would remove that contribution. The proposed replacement would introduce a substantially different built form and intensified site layout, together with a widened vehicular crossing and driveway to Martin Street. The resulting streetscape would be less consistent with the established historic character of Hunters Hill.

The existing garden is equally important. The mature trees and established landscaping provide the setting for the house, contribute to the leafy character of Hunters Hill and provide privacy and visual relief between properties. Removing this established landscape to make way for a more intensive development would significantly change the character of the site.

The proposed subdivision and two-storey dual occupancy would substantially increase the intensity of development on the site. Two dwellings, a swimming pool, additional hard surfaces, new fencing, a widened driveway and substantial stormwater works would create a development very different from the existing home and garden.

There would also be impacts on neighbouring properties, including increased overlooking, loss of privacy, visual bulk, overshadowing and the loss of established vegetation and screening. The additional driveway and vehicle movements would also affect the existing streetscape.

The proposed removal of mature trees and grounds is unacceptable and cannot be adequately addressed simply by planting new trees. Mature trees provide an established canopy, habitat for native animals, screening and landscape character that takes decades to develop.

The stormwater works are also a concern given the extent of additional buildings and hard surfaces and the loss of established vegetation. The installation of on-site detention does not remove the broader environmental and landscape impacts of substantially redeveloping the property.

Most importantly, the proposal is inconsistent with the reason Hunters Hill has a heritage conservation framework in the first place. The character of Hunters Hill is made up not only of individually listed buildings, but of the collective contribution of historic houses, gardens, trees, setbacks and established streetscapes.

If beautiful Federation houses with established gardens are progressively demolished and replaced with larger, more intensive developments, the character that makes Hunters Hill special will inevitably be lost. This property should be retained as it is.

Also this DA would not in any way contribute to any housing shortage. The resulting duplexes will be multimillion dollar properties. Building expensive housing in one area has been shown to have NIL effect on the availability of lower cost housing elsewhere.

I also request that Council urgently undertake an assessment of 59 Ryde Road for individual heritage significance before determining DA20260115.

The existing Federation-era house, its established garden and mature trees are important elements of the historic character of the property and the surrounding Hunters Hill Conservation Area. The fact that the property is not currently individually heritage-listed should not be taken to mean that it has no heritage significance.

Given that demolition is proposed, it is essential that the heritage significance of the property is properly established before an irreversible decision is made.

Council should urgently assess the house, garden, trees, architectural features, age, integrity, streetscape contribution and historical context of the property and determine whether it warrants individual heritage listing or other formal protection.

It would be inappropriate to allow the demolition of a potentially significant Federation property before its heritage value has been properly investigated.

Once the house and established garden are demolished, their heritage value and contribution to Hunters Hill cannot be recovered.