Leichhardt is the mostly densely populated suburb in the inner west and is already congested with traffic and has a chronic shortfall of residential parking.
Leichhardt doesn’t have any capacity to allow for the development of this project. Existing homes will be demolished making the occupants homeless.
The development doesn’t provide for adequate residential parking which is already at crisis point.
Leichhardt doesn’t have adequate community services to support such a large influx of people.
The construction of this proposed project would negatively impact the entire suburb causing major noise pollution, the huge volume of trade workers causing traffic gridlock and have a detrimental impact of the community and the already over stressed local services and green space.
I strongly object to this development
Annie Phillips

I object to the project on the following basis:

1. Lack of affordable housing:

This proposal only includes provision of 5% so-called affordable housing for a limited period of 15 years, doing nothing to improve affordability.

2. Inappropriate height and scale:

The Land and Environment Court rejected a proposal for a smaller, five-storey development on this site in December 2023, citing concerns about the inappropriate height and scale of the building. The court found it would result in “unacceptable overshadowing of the adjoining properties to the west and south in North Street…” A development of up to 11 storeys is inappropriate in this location.

3. Lack of Public Transport:

Residents raised concerns about the lack of public transport options to service a growing population in Leichhardt, with buses and light rail already at capacity. The developer themselves has acknowledged these concerns are valid. The government must not approve development without critical public transport delivered first.

4. Pressure on existing infrastructure:

The cumulative impact of these developments must be considered to ensure current and future residents have access to green space, sporting infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. Approving major new developments without first investing in essential infrastructure is unacceptable.

5. The consultation period is unacceptable:

Residents who are impacted have been given just 14 days to lodge submissions by 28 July, which is an unreasonably small window to seek and receive genuine informed consultation and feedback on the proposal/project.

I oppose the development based on the following:

1. Inappropriate height and scale:
The Land and Environment Court rejected a proposal for a smaller, five-storey development on this site in December 2023, citing concerns about the inappropriate height and scale of the building. The court found it would result in “unacceptable overshadowing of the adjoining properties to the west and south in North Street…” A development of up to 11 storeys is inappropriate in this location.

2. Lack of Public Transport:
Residents raised concerns about the lack of public transport options to service a growing population in Leichhardt, with buses and light rail already at capacity. The developer themselves has acknowledged these concerns are valid. The government must not approve development without critical public transport delivered first.

3. Pressure on existing infrastructure:
Labor have opened Leichhardt up for significant uplift. The cumulative impact of these developments must be considered to ensure current and future residents have access to green space, sporting infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. Approving major new developments without first investing in essential infrastructure is unacceptable.

We are writing to formally object to the State Significant Development application (SSD-119545240) and the concurrent rezoning proposal at 40-76 William Street, Leichhardt. The proposal to demolish existing structures to construct five residential flat buildings comprising 203 units represents a severe overdevelopment of the site. Seeking to increase the permissible floor space ratio from 0.5:1 to 3.1:1 is entirely out of character for this neighborhood and would fundamentally destroy the low-density residential amenity of the surrounding area.
Our primary concern is the devastating impact this will have on local traffic and safety. The proposal includes 239 basement parking spaces, which will inject hundreds of daily vehicle movements into our immediate vicinity. Local residential roads, particularly William Street and Hubert Street, simply do not have the capacity to safely absorb this volume. This sudden influx will inevitably lead to chronic congestion, parking shortages, and increased safety risks for pedestrians and local families.
Furthermore, introducing 203 new dwellings will place an unsustainable burden on our local infrastructure. Nearby public primary schools, kindergartens, and early education centers are already operating at or near capacity. The application fails to demonstrate how the local area will support this sudden population spike without severely degrading educational resources and community services for existing residents.
We also strongly object to the environmental and acoustic impacts of this project. The massive scale of excavation and earthworks required for two underground parking levels, followed by the construction of five separate buildings, guarantees years of highly disruptive noise, dust, and vibration for neighboring properties. Once built, this high-density footprint will drastically reduce permeable surfaces and deep soil planting, negatively impacting local green spaces, tree canopy, and the broader environmental health of the community.
This proposal sacrifices community livability for extreme density. We urge the Department to reject the application in its current form and maintain the existing zoning and floor space ratios to protect the character and infrastructure of Leichhardt.

This proposal is of such a colossal size that it will completely dominate the area, casting shadow on many individual houses and significantly increasing traffic. At the moment the traffic lights onto the City west link road do not service the traffic well enough with long waits to turn right in the mornings. Norton Road heading south also is congested in busy times with it being almost impossible to park during weekends.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed development at 40–76 William Street, Leichhardt.

I live on this street and will be directly affected by this proposal. As a local resident, I am deeply concerned about the scale, height, and impacts of this development on the existing neighbourhood and on the people who already live here.

First, the proposed height and bulk are clearly excessive for this location. A development of 203 apartments across five buildings of up to 11 storeys is completely out of character with the surrounding area. This is not sensitive or appropriate infill development. It represents overdevelopment of the site and would have a significant impact on the character, amenity, and liveability of the neighbourhood.

Second, there are serious concerns about overshadowing, loss of light, and reduced privacy for neighbouring homes. A smaller, five-storey proposal for this site was previously refused by the Land and Environment Court in December 2023 because of inappropriate bulk and height and the unacceptable overshadowing impacts on adjoining properties. It is therefore extremely concerning that an even larger proposal is now being advanced. If the earlier scheme was unacceptable, this proposal is plainly worse.

Third, the area already lacks the infrastructure needed to support development on this scale. Public transport in Leichhardt is already under pressure, and local buses and light rail services are often crowded. Roads, parking, schools, green space, sporting facilities, and health services are also under strain. It is unreasonable to approve major new residential density before the necessary infrastructure is properly planned and delivered.

Fourth, the proposal does little to address genuine housing affordability. The inclusion of only 5% affordable housing for a limited 15-year period is not an adequate public benefit in exchange for a development of this size and impact. This does not represent meaningful or lasting affordability for the community.

I support well-planned housing growth and increased density where it is appropriate, well-designed, and supported by infrastructure. However, this proposal does not meet that standard. It is too tall, too dense, and too intensive for this location, and it places unacceptable burdens on surrounding residents and local services.

For these reasons, I strongly urge the consent authority to refuse this development application.

Thank you

I object to the current proposal and have attached a detailed submission.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed 11-storey redevelopment at 40-76 William Street, Leichhardt. While I understand the broader need for housing density, this current proposal is deeply flawed, prioritising developer yield over sustainable community planning. My objection is based on the following critical concerns:

Lack of Affordable Housing
This proposal includes a token provision of just 5% affordable housing, and restricts this to a limited period of only 15 years. This does absolutely nothing to improve long-term affordability in the area. If the community is to accept major redevelopments, they must deliver meaningful, permanent affordable housing, not short-term concessions that eventually revert to market rates.

Inappropriate Height and Scale
A development of up to 11 storeys is completely inappropriate for this location. It is highly concerning that in December 2023, the Land and Environment Court rejected a much smaller, five-storey development on this exact site. The Court rightfully cited concerns regarding inappropriate height and scale, finding it would result in “unacceptable overshadowing of the adjoining properties to the west and south in North Street.” Proposing a building more than twice that height demonstrates a complete disregard for the Court’s recent findings and the amenity of neighbouring properties.

Lack of Public Transport
Leichhardt's existing public transport network is not equipped to service a rapidly growing population, with local buses and the light rail already operating at capacity. The developer themselves has acknowledged that these resident concerns are valid. The government must not approve a development of this scale without first delivering the critical public transport infrastructure required to support hundreds of new residents.

Pressure on Existing Infrastructure
With the significant zoning uplift underway in Leichhardt, the cumulative impact of these developments must be comprehensively evaluated. Current and future residents require adequate access to green space, sporting infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. Approving major new developments without upfront investment in this essential social infrastructure is unacceptable and will degrade the quality of life in our community.

I strongly urge you to reject this development application and ensure that any future proposals for this site respect the established scale of our neighbourhood and provide the infrastructure and genuine affordable housing we actually need.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Sergio

I support the project, I believe it will significantly improve housing affordability and availability in the area.

I would however like to see the number of units and storeys significantly increased.