CHARING CROSS PRECINCT MEETING

MONDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2009

CHARING CROSS HOTEL

The meeting opened at 7.30 p.m.

1.Welcome:Danny Caretti (Convenor)

2.Apologies:Mayor Sally Betts, Councillors Tony Kay & Rose Jackson. Julie McAlpin.

3.Attendance:As per attendance sheets (20 participants) including Councillor Mora Main.

4.Minutes Passed:The minutes from the previous meeting of 02/09/2009 were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Ms Judy Hislop and unanimously passed by all present at meeting.

  1. Motions Passed/Requests for Action for the Attention of Council:
  1. St Catherine’s School Development at 315-319a Bronte Road, Waverley

The Charing Cross Precinct Group registers its strong protest against the approval of the $4.5 M development at 315 – 319a Bronte RoadWaverley, by St Catherine’s School on the following grounds:

That the development unacceptably impacts on the amenity of the adjoining residential properties and the Phillip House Nursing Home occupants in terms of bulk, overshadowing, noise and privacy.

That despite statements to the contrary, St Catherine’s School has made no attempt at consultation with the adjoining neighbours and community members adversely affected by this development, at any time prior to the granting of approval of the development.

That the NSW Department of Planning has approved of the development despite the development being in breach of Waverley Council planning laws, Council by-laws, building regulations, the applicable 2b zoning restrictions, and the heritage requirements of the Conservation Area it is situated in.

That fast tracking of the approval to this development means that all parties have not had adequate time to consider the full impact that the construction of the two bulky buildings will have on the affected neighbours and the Charing Cross community at large in terms of amenity, increased traffic congestion and safety.

That as this development will have a serious impact on affected residents and the community as a whole, the Charing Cross Precinct Group moves that the Minister for Planning re assess the School’s development application once there has been a process of reasonable consultation with affected neighbours in keeping with the legislation's intention that all planning applicationswill besubject to rigorous, merit-based assessment by the Department.

  1. The Precinct requests that the Council’s civil engineer inspect the seating outdoor situation for the café Stock at 29 Albion Street and Charing Cross Pizza restaurant at 26-270 Bronte Road, Charing Cross in terms of their respective DAs and the possibility that such outdoor seating will obstruct pedestrians, particularly, the elderly, people with walking frames, parents pushing prams etc.

c.A unanimous motion was passed by the Precinct noting its opposition to the development application for a 24 hour convenience store at 238-240 Bronte Road, Charing Cross (old Theo’s corner shop) on the basis that:

The opening of a 24 hour convenience store would further exacerbate the current problems currently experienced by residents in the local area as a result of the increased anti –social behaviour of some of the hotels’ patrons. Both hotels have identified that the late opening hours of Charing Cross Pizza is a contributing factor to drunken patrons loitering in the Charing Cross area. A 24 hour shop would add to this problem.

The corner position of the convenience store may constitute a significant traffic safety hazard with cars pulling in suddenly to stop at the shop.

Charing Cross is a small village shopping centre and does not require a 24 hour convenience store.

The local area is already well-serviced with 24 hour convenience stores that operate in busier built up areas such as the nearby Shell service station in Frenchman’s Road, Randwick, and other convenience stores at CoogeeBeach and Bondi Junction.

There is already another convenience store two doors away from this site which is open until 10 pm every day and another shop (Goodfellows) at the other end of Charing Cross which is also open 7 days a week, so that the local shopping area is already well serviced as far as convenience stores are concerned.

************************

  1. Feedback on Motions Reviewed by Council:
  1. Timed Parking in Bronte Road and Cables Place

This motion (from the April meeting) was referred to the Divisional Manager, Technical Services for follow up. The matter is still in hand and an update report will be provided to the Precinct in December.

  1. 298 Bronte Road, Charing Cross (Indian Restaurant)

This motion (from the April meeting) was referred to the Divisional Manager, Compliance for follow up. Council asked the operator to engage a consultant to conduct an odour impact assessment. Environ Australia carried out the assessment on 18/08/2009. A report prepared by Environ Australia was received by Council on 1/10/2009. The report found that the odour impacts were acceptable.

Judy Hislop stated that the odours had ‘suddenly stopped’ at the time up to the assessment. The suggestion was made that the food may be prepared off the premises or the vents had been diverted to account for the sudden abatement of odours. Councillor Main to look into the ‘process’ of the inspection report –for example, how many inspections took place and over what period of time, etc.

c.400 Bus – additional stop outside WarMemorialHospitalPat Kenny (assistant Traffic Representative for the Precinct) obtained an additional 75 signatures to the petition which now has 325 signatures. The petition has been delivered to Mr Paul Pearce MP. The suggestion was made that a copy of the petition be obtained from Mr Pearce’s office and delivered to Cr. Rose Jackson for tabling with Council. Pat Kenny offered to organise this.

  1. 8 Macpherson Street, Waverley: The premises have been inspected and have been found to comply with the DA. Amelia Fox advised that the building is now for sale although its building works have not been completed. Amelia also mentioned that there were parking breaches as cars were blocking the common driveway. Cr Main advised the residents present at the meeting of a complaints telephone number to a Waverley Council Ranger (operates 24 hours/7 days week) for all infringements of this nature including barking dogs, excessive noise. The number to contact is 0414 884 393.
  1. Parking Permits at 173-179 Bronte Road

The Council database shows that no parking permits have been issued for this property. If the owner of the convenience store is a resident of a street in Waverley that has parking, he/she may have a permit for that address. Catherine Price of Parking Services, Waverley Council would need the registration of the vehicle to confirm this.

  1. Disability Permits – Parking Services have organised for officers to specifically patrol and report back to it on the number of vehicles displaying MPS permits in the Charing Cross area. The information can then be cross checked against information of the RTA database. Anomalies will be acted upon.

8. Meeting with representatives from Charing Cross & Robin Hood hotels

Councillor Mora Main, Danny Caretti, & Morris Porteous reported on the first meeting held on Monday 12 October with representatives of the two hotels. The meeting was chaired by Cr Main. The hotel representatives were in favour of regular meetings to monitor and action residents’ complaints. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 December 2009 at the Charing Cross Hotel. Margaret Hope stressed the importance of noting down the time, date, and nature of each complaint so that there is an accurate record for submission to the hoteliers and other relevant bodies. Cr. Main to send notes of meeting to interested parties. Cr Main also thanked Danny Caretti for organising the meeting.

9. Development Applications

  1. 29 Albion Street, Charing Cross ‘Stock’

Stock is seeking a review of its current footpath seating arrangement. Currently, there are two tables and chairs outside the shop front. Margaret Hope (Development Application representative) spoke on the DA and was of the opinion that while outdoor seating is attractive, the nature of the ‘V’ shaped road proposes inherent difficulties with outdoor seating in this case, particularly for people who require walking frames, the elderly, parents with prams, etc. Pat Kenny also raised the fact the Stock is next door to a doctor’s surgery. The Precinct is to ask that Council’s civil engineer to come and review the location in terms of the application.

b.268-270 Bronte Road, Charing Cross (Charing Cross Pizza)

The Pizza shop is also seeking to increase its outdoor seating. The same issues and action for this DA apply as for item 8(a) (Stock café). It was raised the ‘A’ frame open sign outside the Post Office is also a possible pedestrian obstruction, and for the sake of consistency, the same rules should apply to it.

c.238-240 Bronte Road, Charing Cross ( old ‘Theos’ corner shop)

Adevelopment application has been lodged for a 24 hour convenience store to operate on this corner of Victoria Street and Bronte Road. All at the meeting were opposed to this application on the basis that:

The opening of a 24 hour convenience store would exacerbate the current problems currently experienced by residents in the area as a result of the increased anti –social behaviour of some of the patrons of both of the hotels. The hotels have identified the late opening hours of Charing Cross Pizza as a contributing factor to drunken patrons loitering in the Charing Cross area.

Charing Cross is a small village shopping centre and does not require a 24 hour shop.

The local area is already serviced with 24 hour convenience stores that operate in busier built up areas such as the nearby Shell service station on Frenchmans Road, Randwick, and other shops at CoogeeBeach and Bondi Junction.

There is already another convenience store only two doors away which is open until 10 pm and another shop (Goodfellows) at the other end of Charing Cross so that the local shopping area is already well serviced as far as convenience stores are concerned.

d. St Catherine’s School – DA for 315-319A Bronte Road, Waverley

Danny Caretti vacated the chair as convenor to speak against the $4.5 million development which has already been approved by the State Government Department of Planning. Up to the time of the grant of the approval, no representative from St Catherine’s school informed or consulted with any of the affected neighbours, including the neighbouring Phillip House Nursing Home. A motion was proposed by Danny Caretti, seconded by Margaret Hope, and unanimously passed for the attention of Council. See item 5(a) herein. This motion is also to be sent to other relevant politicians including, the NSW Minister for Planning, the Federal Member for Wentworth, the State Member for Coogee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Gillard (as the Federal Minister for Education) and St Catherine’s School.

  1. General Business
  2. Margaret Hope to contact the relevant Council officer regarding the removal of the flower boxes at Charing Cross as the plants are not being looked after and are dying or dead.
  3. Amelia Fox raised her concerns and requested that they be formally noted regarding the development at 8 Macpherson Street, Waverley (See also item 7(d)).
  4. Brian Greenfield queried how a development application was ever granted to Bronte Bowling Club.
  5. Cr Main advised all present of the Council Ranger’s every day/24 hour mobile number regarding complaints about parking, dogs barking, cars parked across drive ways, excessive noise etc. The number is 0414 884 393.

Next Meeting will take place Monday, 30 November 2009.The Meeting closed at 9.25 pm.

1