The proposed development comprises 10 storeys, 135 residential apartments, and 195 car parking spaces. This scale and intensity of development is unprecedented in the corridor between Gordon and Roseville. Currently, the apartment buildings in Killara do not exceed five storeys in height. As such, this proposal represents a dramatic departure from the established built form and character of the suburb. The increased building height and bulk will result in a dominant visual presence on the skyline, impacting not just the immediate vicinity but the broader suburban landscape. Additionally, solar access to existing residential properties at 12, 8, and 6A Stanhope Road will be significantly diminished, affecting residents’ quality of life and property values.

The development site is home to ecologically significant vegetation, including remnants of Blue Gum High Forest and Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest. Both are listed under the NSW Threatened Species profiles (as of May 2025) as critically endangered ecological communities. The submitted Heritage Impact Statement indicates that all trees on the site are to be removed, a measure that would result in irreversible environmental degradation and the loss of important biodiversity. This is of grave concern, particularly given the increasing need to preserve native vegetation in metropolitan areas.

The site falls within a designated Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) and is located on a street that contains nine heritage-listed residences. The introduction of a large-scale, high-rise development in this context would undermine the heritage values and established character of the area. The scale and form of the proposal are incompatible with the historical fabric of the neighbourhood, and its approval would set a damaging precedent for future development in heritage precincts.

The construction phase is likely to result in significant disruption to local traffic conditions, particularly regarding on-street parking availability for residents and visitors. The existing road network, especially Stanhope Road, is not designed to accommodate such an increase in construction-related traffic. Once the development is completed, the additional 195 vehicles associated with the apartments will contribute to long-term congestion, further straining the existing road infrastructure.

Contrary to statements in the development reports, there is no defined “Killara Village” in the immediate area. There are no retail or commercial services nearby, with the closest shops located in Lindfield. This raises significant concerns regarding the adequacy of local infrastructure to support such a large influx of new residents. The impact on educational institutions, particularly Killara High School, local primary schools, and preschools, has not been adequately assessed or addressed in the proposal.

Destroying beautiful and unique houses to create apartments is a mistake. The Upper North Shore is renowned for its big houses and leafy environment and should be preserved for future generations to admire and aspire to. The one size fits all that the TOD makes is a mistake. If the TOD has its way there will be no houses near the train stations. The TOD is a blunt instrument. Better to have suburbs where apartments prevail and suburbs where houses prevail. Unfortunately the best Federation and Californian Bungalow houses on the North Shore are predominantly near train stations. It would be a great pity to lose all these to the TOD. It reminds me of the fights in the 1970s to preserve the Rocks in the Sydney CBD - today people realise it would have been a great mistake to put high rise in the Rocks. It will be the same with the classic homes of Killara, Gordon, Lindfield and Roseville.

I strongly object to the proposed development at 10-14A Stanhope Road due to its significant ecological and heritage impacts. The site hosts blue gum, turpentine, and ironbark trees that contribute to local biodiversity, yet the construction will inevitably damage this fragile ecosystem. Additionally, the proposal shows no regard for streetscape character, replacing a house with original features with a four-storey, out-of-style design that contradict heritage conservation principles. The excessive height and bulk at the rear exceed limits and will create an unpleasant visual impact when viewed from street level, while the artist impressions fail to show how it will block views and invade the privacy of neighboring properties, particularly No. 12.
This development sets an alarming precedent by disregarding ecological value, local heritage and cultural values, and community interest. The noise transmission, loss of privacy, and visual dominance of the building are simply unacceptable. I urge the state to reject this proposal and instead make a decision that truly reflects the best interests of Ku-ring-gai’s community and environment.

Please find attached my objection to this proposal

Please refer to attached below 2 off

This objection is from the Strata Management Committee for 10 Marian Street and represents the interests of all 60 apartment owners, in particular the 39 apartments in blocks C, D and E that share the northern boundary of the proposed development.
General Comments:
The NSW in-fill affordable housing provisions “ require the consent authority to consider the character of the local area or the desired future character for areas under transition.”
By accepting the proposed scale of this project, the consent authority would ignore the character of the area. Densified and affordable housing is acceptable, but this project is overkill, being too high and imposing on the neighbourhood.
We accept the need and intent of the TOD to increase the density of housing and supply of affordable housing around Killara Station. However, that should not be a licence to trash the character of the area and needs to be a sensitive development. This proposal is inappropriately out of scale for the battle-axe site and its surroundings.
If the development is to proceed, we request the consent authority rejects this architectural form and requires a lower maximum height, and reduces the number of apartments to a sustainable scale. That revised architecture would hopefully address:
• the need for a greater set-back from the rear neighbours;
• require less excavation;
• provide some vehicular access at ground level to the rear buildings for fire and services access; and
• some on grade visitor parking

Build Form
The proposed maximum height of 35 m is excessive and would adversely impact all adjacent 39 apartments at 10 Marian Street, along the northern boundary.
The developer is attempting to use the Affordable Housing provisions to grossly over-develop the site, presumably for maximum profitability, and in the process totally disregards the character of the Killara neighbourhood. At the very least the Variation Request must be denied.
Stepping down the maximum height towards Stanhope Road may minimise the visual impact of the massive development when viewed from street level, but this completely ignores the impact on existing residents of 10 Marian Street.

Traffic and Parking impact
The increased traffic will increase danger, congestion and on-street parking.
The Proposal includes an estimate of around 20,000 tonnes of demolition and excavation material to be trucked off the site. This would have to use Culworth Avenue, which is not up to standard or safe.
Stanhope Road already carries heavy am and pm traffic. Access to and from the Pacific Highway at Stanhope Road is already at capacity and is unsafe. The additional burden of construction traffic and a further addition of 168 resident cars plus 27 visitor spaces would create an increased traffic and safety problem. The carparking proposed is scaled back for the TOD concessions but it is unlikely to be adequate for a development with a large number of 3- and 4-bedroom apartments, where typically, owners have more than one car. The basement level of visitor carparking is inconvenient and is likely to result in visitors parking on the street in Stanhope Road, which because of being parked out, would inevitably result in council imposing future parking restrictions – again, a retrograde and unnecessary consequence for the local community.

Stormwater
Increased stormwater runoff. The proposed increase in site coverage would result in a serious increase in stormwater runoff, particularly in the event of a major storm event. This has the real potential to cause flooding of neighbouring property, particularly 10 Marian Street, which Council plans indicate is in a potential flood zone. The stormwater Trunk Main passing through 10 Marian Street is already compromised, given its pipe size reduces as it flows towards Culworth Avenue. There is a real risk of blockages and consequential flow would rise out of the manholes causing an above ground flow and flood, with certain flooding of the basement in 10 Marian Street.

Screening
Potential loss of existing Leylandii tree hedging. The existing significant Leylandii trees along the northern boundary of the proposed development provide residents of 10 Marian Street with an effective visual screening of the Stanhope Road properties. It unfortunately would cause significant shading to the lower level Block C residents under the current architectural proposal, and so we are concerned about its protection and longevity.
Whatever the final outcome of the Development Application, it is essential that all assurances given by the developer regarding retention of these trees are rigidly enforced. The reality is that such developers provide comforting assurances but then totally disregard them during construction and thereafter at minimal financial penalty. Serious penalties must be included in any consent approvals for any breach of the landscape plans.