This would significantly change the streetscape und the character of the Cooks Hill neighbourhood

I write to formally object to the proposed 12-storey apartment complex within Newcastle’s Civic Precinct.

The current legal height limit for this site is 14 metres. The proposal seeks to more than triple this limit to 45 metres through a “spot rezone.” Such an extreme departure from established planning controls is inappropriate for this location and sets a damaging precedent in a community that is proud of its village feel. The scale and bulk of a 45-metre tower is entirely inconsistent with the surrounding built form.

The proposed front tower would visually dominate the two-storey art gallery, Civic Park, surrounding gardens, key landmarks, historic and cultural buildings, war memorials, and nearby places of worship. This area forms the heart of Newcastle’s civic identity. A 12-storey structure would overshadow and overwhelm the established character and diminish the human scale of these important public spaces.

The proposal conflicts with Newcastle’s long-standing planning strategy to concentrate high-rise development within designated corridors and precincts, rather than dispersing it into sensitive civic and heritage areas. Approving a spot rezone of this magnitude undermines strategic planning certainty and weakens community confidence in the planning framework.

For these reasons, I strongly oppose the proposed development and respectfully request that it be refused. The scale, strategic inconsistency, and heritage loss, collectively demonstrate that this proposal is not in the public interest.

45m is way higher than the legal height. The bill and scale of the build is too much and the set backs are small. It will over shadow the community spaces like Civic Park, art gallery, library, etc. There are already designated areas for high rise development in Newcastle.

Newcastle needs more development, and this is the perfect way to do. The original building is brutalist and ugly. Newcastle needs to go up, not out.

I have lived in McCormack st, one block from this proposed development, for 5 years and I am alarmed by how inappropriate this development is for the proposed location.
My street is one way and exits onto Tyrrell St. It is already over serviced as a thoroughfare for Church street and surround streets in the suburb. It is increasing difficult to turn out onto Tyrrell St over the last few years due to the increase in traffic and this enormous proposed development would be disastrous for local residents.
I think the current building height restrictions are more than reasonable in this area, and any building exceeding this size are completely inappropriate for local infrastructure. There are already areas nearby that have been approved for high rise developments such as Newcastle West and this would be a more appropriate location for a residential complex of this size.
My child attends the small  local public school which is only  two blocks  from this development. It  already has very limited outdoor area and is catchment for the large developments in the East End and Sovereign Park. I think further large development should be placed in areas that are better able to mange this considerable increase in local population.

There are many reasons our current planning controls limit building sizes in this area and a proposed increase of about 300% is completely out of keeping with this culturaly and historically important.
This development is absolutely the wrong choice for this area.

Please refer to attached document that has all my concerns listed. I object to the project in its current form.

This is project is not in keeping with the rest of the Cooks Hill area, it will ruin the atmosphere of this popular precinct.

The height of this proposed residential development is excessive (ie. 45m, rather than the current allowance of 14m). The recently completed and about to be officially opened Newcastle Art Gallery will be dwarfed by this proposed development, which would stand directly opposite on Darby Street. Wrong location for a development of this height.

The proposed building height is up to three times the applicable local planning limit. That is excessive and inconsistent with the established scale and character of the surrounding area. Local planning controls exist to ensure development across Newcastle occurs in a manner that is proportionate, contextually appropriate and respectful of heritage streetscapes. Approving a structure of this magnitude would significantly undermine those controls and set an inappropriate precedent. Darby Street and broader Cooks Hill/The Hill precinct form an important cultural and heritage area. The scale and bulk of the proposed development would have a profound visual impact on surrounding heritage buildings and erode the integrity of the cultural precinct. The character that defines this part of Newcastle would be overshadowed by a building of this size. The proposal will also result in substantial overshadowing of neighbouring properties and nearby community assets, including the art gallery and synagogue. Increased bulk will materially affect residential amenity and the usability of surrounding spaces. From my own property, established views will be obstructed and privacy significantly compromised due to overlooking from upper levels. The proximity and height of the development create unreasonable visual intrusion and loss of amenity. In addition, there are serious concerns regarding local infrastructure capacity particularly traffic and school congestion. Newcastle East Public School is already at capacity. The surrounding road network currently experiences significant congestion during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up periods for NEPS and Newcastle Grammar School. Introducing a development of this scale will inevitably increase vehicle movements in an already constrained area, exacerbating traffic flow issues and creating additional safety risks for school children, parents and pedestrians. The cumulative traffic impact of two school peak periods must be carefully considered. This proposal represents overdevelopment of the site, places unacceptable pressure on local infrastructure, and is inconsistent with the existing planning framework designed to protect Newcastle’s heritage character and residential amenity. I respectfully request that the application be refused, or at minimum substantially reduced in height and scale to align with current planning controls and to better safeguard neighbouring properties, heritage values, traffic safety, and community infrastructure.