The area around this proposed development includes Civic Park and many culturally significant buildings some repurposed keeping the original architecturally significant heritage feel.
This is a community space a village green.
To override current restrictions on design is not in the public interest.
The high volume of vehicular movement in several directions with narrow roads is not conducive to a development of this size.
Regards
Norm Jones

12 storeys is a ridiculously overwhelming concept to allow to overshadow Civic Park. It will destroy the fundamental purpose of that block which is to provide open space. That's what the people of Newcastle will lose if these concrete canyons are permitted.

I strongly object to the ‘State Significant Development’ proposal for 47 Darby St, Cooks Hill. The grounds for my objection begin with the fact that this proposal, coming under the Housing Delivery Authority, seeks to fast track a decision affecting people in Newcastle, which will be made by unelected bureaucrats based in Sydney.

The process sets a dangerous precedent, undermining local planning authority and disregarding the LEP of Newcastle’s elected Council. The developer’s proposed amendments, as outlined in the Concurrent Rezoning Report Mixed use Development document are, I believe, truly outrageous and greedy: an increase in allowed height from 14 metres to 45 metres and an increase in FSR from maximum of 2.5:1 to 3.48:1. If these changes are granted, the resulting buildings will be completely out of scale with those in the nearby, cherished cultural precinct, having a negative impact on that precinct and the amenity of the many Novocastrians who use it.

The proposed buildings will tower over and dominate the historic synagogue in Tyrrell Street, the Regional Art Gallery, the Regional Library and the historic Baptist Tabernacle in Laman street. Similarly, they will dominate Civic Park and the war memorial. In addition, construction will require the demolition of the 1930s electrical machine shop in Tyrrell St, which is recognised as an historic building by Newcastle Council.

The developer attempts to justify the amendments sought to the Newcastle LEP through what appear to be cynical references to contributing to the provision of needed housing. There is only passing reference to contribution to the provision of affordable housing in the Newcastle LGA. The luxury apartments in this complex are not the type of housing needed by our community, and certainly not at the expense of Newcastle’s control over its future development.

I note the fact that an artist’s impression of the design was not available prior to the public consultation period. This would appear to be in contradiction of the standard of consultation required by a State Significant Development. The artist’s impression now available clearly indicates the proposed gross overdevelopment of the site.

Allowing this development to proceed under the guise of a response to the need for housing in Newcastle creates a dangerous precedent for our local area and others in New South Wales.

For the reasons outlined above I urge that the proposal be rejected.

I believe that the height of this building will destroy the unique character of the surrounding community space.The design fails to respect the historical and social themes of this established area.There is no justification for not complying with current lower scale and sensitive design standards.
Regards
Heather Jones

The development will help boost housing in the CBD and will be a value add for the community and local business.

I'm not sure what we are trying to do to Newcastle. But this large high rise along with the existing are just ruining the whole feeling of Newcastle. Stop it. The whole foreshore with all the high rise is just an eye sore now. We use to have a beautiful view, but not any more.
Why, do Sydney people think it is appropriate to dictate to Newcastle and it's people what we need to do.
Just like they did with the tram, another waste of money and not what novacastrians actually wanted but for some reason Sydney people always think they know best.
If it was your own money you were spending there is no way you would spend money on a tram when you had a railway line only metres away. A complete nonsense and waste of money. Sydney people have their own agenda and it may not align with that of Newcastle. Push back.
My vote - No to 47 Darby street.

I write to ask that the current proposed redevelopment of 47 Darby Street, Cooks Hill, be rejected. Using Spot reduces the value of the spot rezoning provision.
The area around this site is a well-loved and well-used part of Newcastle. I live a couple of kilometres away and often walk in Darby Street which I enjoy because of its ‘lived in’ ambience. In an area with a 14-metre height zone a 45-metre building would be grossly out of place. Minimal setbacks will contribute to the overblown, oversized proportions of the buildings.
47 Darby street is a location noted for its new art gallery two-story art gallery, character buildings of modest height, and the Civic Park. The development proposed would dwarf the present streetscape and destroy its heritage and cultural ambience.
The development on display would see the 1930s former electrical machine shop destroyed. This building is an important part of a much-treasured heritage part of Newcastle. It ought to be retained as part of the heritage character of Cooks Hill.

It is the wrong place for such a large development.

I object the mixed use proposal for 47 Darby St. The proposed height of the development is excessive relative to surrounding structures in this historic civic precinct and will dwarf them and affect the public spaces of Civic Park, the Newcastle Gallery and Library. The high rise nature of this development is out of place outside of the city centre. The luxury appartments proposed are unlikely to impact our housing crisis with those in greatest need of housing unlikely to be able to afford these dwellings. The lack of consultation of the developer regarding this proposal has been shocking given the location of the development in the civic precinct.

I object to this project for the following reasons: 1. It exceeds the Councils height restrictions of 14m to a height of 45m. 2.It overshadows and is directly adjacent to the current residential areas especially the Regency Park Community, which is a 52 family community and their outdoor pool, tennis court and other outdoor recreation areas. 3. It will overshadow the newly developed Newcastle Art Gallery and the Civic Park. 4. This project, in addition to the nearby current new development, Sovereign Park, will greatly increase the overall population density for this neighborhood community . 5. This project does not fit in with the current
cultural and historic district make up of the existing area.