Planning
Society meets with State Government to discuss affordable and social housing
Posted on 11th July 2021
Ian Stephenson and Brian Fuller, the Society’s Planning and Heritage convenors, recently joined Deputy Lord Mayor Linda Scott at a meeting with the Hon. Melinda Pavey MP, Minister for Water, Property and Housing, to discuss the State Government’s intentions in relation to the provision of affordable and social housing in Glebe.
‘It’s only words’: the melancholy of the St Phillips Estate
Posted on 6th July 2021
The Development Application to build two eight-storey apartment buildings and five faux terrace houses in the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area, brings the plaintive melancholy of the Bee Gees’ 1968 hit song Words to mind
New Glebe Society video: Treasure in the City
Posted on 5th June 2021
The Glebe Society has collaborated with postgraduate students from The University of Sydney to produce a new video. It includes some fresh perspectives on Glebe as well as exploring current threats to this special place.
Opposition to proposed Glebe Island concrete batching plant
Posted on 4th June 2021
The Glebe Society has objected to a proposal for a Concrete Batching Plant and Handling Facility at White Bay. Among other things, it could have a negative impact on the desirability of restoring the Glebe Island Bridge as a pedestrian and cycleway.
Cowper St DA – consider making a submission
Posted on 4th June 2021
Sydney City Council are considering a development application (DA) from the NSW Land and Corporation for the construction of a high-rise development in Cowper Street in what, until very recently, was a Heritage Conservation Area. Submission closing date is 23 June 21
Another Conservation Area in Glebe at risk
Posted on 4th June 2021
A key principle underlying Glebe’s conservation areas are that if a Neutral building is to be replaced, the replacement must be sympathetic to its Contributory neighbours, rather than to any Detracting neighbours. This principle seems to have got lost in a recent development approval decision by City of Sydney Council.
NSW Planning’s proposed Design and Place SEPP is not going to work
Posted on 22nd May 2021
Check out the Glebe Society’s submission on the state government’s proposed Design and Place planning policy
Stop Cannibalising Glebe – Defend Public Housing Rally
Posted on 22nd May 2021
The state government is getting it seriously wrong by doing high rise developments in heritage conservation areas in parts of Glebe.
Glebe Society meets with Lord Mayor Clover Moore to discuss public housing
Posted on 26th May 2021
Glebe Society met with Lord Mayor Clover Moore to discuss social housing. The Glebe Society is opposed to LAHC’s unprincipled vision to create a tale of two suburbs: one which is low-rise and historic and the other which is high-rise and heartless.
Just how far will LAHC go? Now they’re selling off a kindy!
Posted on 26th May 2021
The state government is selling off the building that houses a kindy that’s been in Glebe for almost 40 years.
Draft Greening Sydney Strategy
Posted on 22nd May 2021
City of Sydney is currently consulting on their draft Greening Sydney Strategy. It would aim to increase overall green cover to manage urban heat, create more opportunities to connect with nature and create greater biodiversity.
High Rise For Glebe’s St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area
Posted on 8th April 2021
Nearly forty years of good planning designed to conserve the scale of the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area through height controls was overturned on 29 March when Sydney City Council approved the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s application for a spot rezoning of 17-31 Cowper St and 2A-D Wentworth Park Rd.
Update on Glebe Island Bridge and Bays West Place Strategy
Posted on 8th April 2021
It was with some surprise and also joy that we learned from the Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, of his plan for White Bay, which also including a plan to open the Glebe Island Bridge to pedestrians and cyclists.
An update on the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s rezoning application for high rise in the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area
Posted on 7th March 2021
Numbers 17-31 Cowper St and 2A-D Wentworth Park Rd are part of the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area. The current height limit is nine metres. NSW Land and Housing Corporation wants to construct tall buildings, which requires a spot rezoning. The Society has objected to the rezoning application, as has the National Trust.
Franklyn St Estate demonstration
Posted on 27th February 2021
On 30 January our compatriot organisation Hands Off Glebe held a demonstration opposing the redevelopment of the Cowper St and Franklyn St estates. The Glebe Society was there.
The Franklyn St Redevelopment Proposal
Posted on 1st January 2021
In November the NSW Government released the Franklyn St, Glebe, redevelopment proposal. The Society has a list of objections.
Glebe plan shows lack of respect – Letter in Sydney Morning Herald
Posted on 1st January 2021
The Glebe Society’s letter, published on Jan 1st, 2021, about plans to trash the 50-year legacy of good public policy and town planning in Glebe
Glebe Island Bridge – Give It Back public meeting a great success
Posted on 1st January 2021
The Glebe Society has for many years called for the restoration and repair of the now-disused Glebe Island Bridge for use as a pedestrian walkway and cycleway. The Society organised a meeting at the Pyrmont end of the Bridge on Thursday 3 December, the 25th anniversary of the decommissioning of the Bridge and its replacement by the Anzac Bridge.
Plans to shrink the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area will undermine heritage values, liveability and amenity
Posted on 29th December 2020
The Society has lodged an objection the NSW Government s plans to remove the parts of the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area, paving the way for building heights up to the equivalent of eight storeys. T
The Glebe Society opposes changes to the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area
Posted on 4th November 2020
The Glebe Society has expressed strong opposition to Sydney City Council’s Plans to adjust the boundaries of the the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area to exclude 2A-2D Wentworth Park Road and 17-31 Cowper Street to enable their demolition and replacement by 8-storey apartment buildings. Plus, why the 1980s infill developments in Glebe worked so well.
Saving a Sydney suburb
Posted on 21st October 2020
Current residents are perhaps not aware of how close Glebe came to virtual annihilation by the NSW Department of Main Roads in the 1970s.
Housing Diversity State Environmental Planning Policy
Posted on 17th October 2020
Will the State Government’s proposed Housing Diversity Planning Policy help redress the current desperate shortage of social and affordable housing in Glebe and across the state?
Heritage Subcommittee Annual Report 2019-2020
Posted on 17th October 2020
I wish to express my appreciation to all subcommittee members for their passion, dedication and collaboration as a team. Some of our work is highlighted below.
Environment Subcommittee Annual Report 2019-2020
Posted on 16th October 2020
The proposed new Sydney Fish Market building has been the main focus of the Environment Subcommittee for the past year. Activities have included attending stakeholder meetings about the proposed plan and lobbying politicians.
Wentworth Park and the Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy
Posted on 3rd September 2020
On 31 July 2020 the NSW Government issued its 96-page draft Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy. The Planning Strategy is intended to guide the transformation of the Pyrmont Peninsula over the years to 2041
How the Blackwattle Bay Precinct and Fish Market Developments intend to deal with increased traffic and transport needs
Posted on 3rd September 2020
Infrastructure NSW has released the Traffic and Transport Strategy proposed for the new Fish Market and Blackwattle Bay Developments. This article summarises what is proposed and what it might mean for Glebe/Forest Lodge
A Wolf at the Door
Posted on 3rd September 2020
Readers of the Society’s Bulletin will be aware of the proposal to excise 2A-D Wentworth Park Rd and 17-31 Cowper St, Glebe from the St Phillips Heritage Conservation Area in order to change the existing height limit of 9 metres to 36 metres. This is to allow the demolition of a two-storey flat building and four 1980s terrace houses and their replacement by two eight-storey apartment buildings.
City of Sydney: ‘No Greyhound Racing at Wentworth Park’
Posted on 1st September 2020
On 27 July 2020, City of Sydney Council passed a motion to oppose greyhound racing at Wentworth Park. Following this the Lord Mayor will write to NSW government ministers to request the removal of greyhound racing from Wentworth Park and reinstatement of the land as crown reserve for public recreation uses.
17-31 Cowper St, 2A-2D Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe
Posted on 1st September 2020
by Brian Fuller, 1 August 2020 You may recall that, in the last Bulletin of 2019 (10/2019), we discussed a proposal by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), and the Princes Trust of Australia to develop a mix of social, affordable and private housing on the site, 17-31 Cowper St, 2A-2D Wentworth Park Rd. […]
Yelvertoft DA Refused
Posted on 1st September 2020
by Brian Fuller, Heritage Subcommittee Convenor, 1 August 2020. The City of Sydney has refused the Development Application for the construction of a two-storey contemporary residence to the rear of the Heritage listed Yelvertoft. The new dwelling was to front Alfred St, and would have significantly diminished the curtilage of this heritage cottage. A copy […]