This is too high-density for the zone it is in. It seems the negative effects of traffic, construction, parking, and transportation have not been well-researched. This will make the already lacking public transport system in this area even worse, with severe effects on especially the elderly population. Please consider researching how this will affect residents and the surrounding neighborhoods, before trying to go ahead with what is already way more than the current zone of 6-storey residences. Nearby streets are already very congested without enough parking. This would only make the problems so much worse.

Submission – Objection to SSD-87925706 and Concurrent Rezoning Proposal

300 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove

Position: OBJECT

I object to State Significant Development Application SSD-87925706 and the associated concurrent rezoning proposal for 300 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove. The proposal seeks to facilitate three residential towers ranging from 7 to 15 storeys, comprising 225 dwellings, through a significant increase in planning controls from 21 metres to up to 54.5 metres in height and an increase in floor space ratio from 2:1 to 3.22:1 under the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009. This represents a substantial and unjustified departure from the established planning framework and is not supported on strategic, site-specific, or public interest grounds.

While the site is located within an R4 High Density Residential zone and in proximity to public transport and local centres, these factors alone do not justify the extreme uplift proposed. The reliance on bus access, proximity to centres, and broad housing supply objectives is insufficient to support a development of this height, bulk, and density. NSW planning practice consistently requires that intensification of this scale be supported by strong strategic planning justification and demonstrated capacity within local infrastructure and context, which is not evident here.

The proposal significantly exceeds the built form envisaged under the current planning controls and is inconsistent with the established and desired future character of Lane Cove. Surrounding development is generally within the range of 5 to 8 storeys, with the proposed 15-storey maximum towers representing a visually dominant and incongruous form. The introduction of this scale of development would fundamentally alter the local streetscape and bushland interface and would result in an overdevelopment of a constrained site.

The applicant’s reliance on strategic policy, including the Greater Sydney Region Plan, North District Plan, and housing targets under the National Housing Accord, does not justify the extent of the proposed rezoning. These high-level policies are not a mandate for site-specific overdevelopment and must be balanced against local environmental, amenity, and infrastructure considerations. While increasing housing supply is a relevant objective, NSW planning decisions consistently confirm that housing delivery does not override the need for appropriate built form outcomes or justify excessive departures from local planning controls.

The proposal also fails to demonstrate adequate regard for site-specific constraints. The site is irregular in shape, burdened by multiple easements, affected by slope, and partially constrained by bushfire-prone land and proximity to environmentally sensitive areas including the Lane Cove River corridor. Rather than responding conservatively to these constraints, the proposal increases height and density, effectively transferring development intensity vertically. This results in an overdevelopment of the site and an inappropriate concentration of bulk in the remaining developable areas.

The applicant’s justification that the proposal is consistent with the LSPS and Local Housing Strategy is overstated. While these documents identify areas along Burns Bay Road for increased housing, they do not support the scale of development proposed. Importantly, the Local Housing Strategy concludes that additional upzoning is not required to meet housing targets, and identifies environmental constraints that should limit intensification in sensitive areas. The proposal selectively interprets these documents while disregarding their clear caution regarding environmental and bushfire-prone land.

The claimed public benefits, including 225 dwellings, 34 affordable housing units, landscaping, and a pedestrian link contribution, do not outweigh the significant and permanent adverse impacts of the proposal. The affordable housing component is limited in scale and time (15 years), while the built form impacts—including overshadowing, loss of privacy, visual dominance, increased traffic, and infrastructure pressure—are permanent. These impacts are well-recognised in NSW planning decisions as valid grounds for refusal where they are not adequately mitigated.

Traffic and infrastructure impacts are also insufficiently addressed. The scale of residential intensification is likely to increase congestion along Burns Bay Road and surrounding local streets, with limited evidence that existing transport infrastructure can support the increased demand. Reliance on bus services does not adequately offset the traffic generation and parking demand associated with a development of this magnitude.

The alternatives analysis provided by the applicant is not a genuine or balanced assessment. It dismisses development under existing controls primarily on the basis of reduced yield, rather than planning merit. This demonstrates that the proposal is driven by maximising development potential rather than achieving an appropriate planning outcome. NSW planning principles require that alternatives be assessed on suitability, not yield optimisation.

The strategic justification for the rezoning is also overstated. While reference is made to housing crisis conditions and recent State housing targets, these do not override the need for orderly and sustainable planning. The proposal represents a site-specific, developer-led rezoning that is not supported by a broader strategic precinct plan. Approval would undermine the integrity of the plan-led system and set a concerning precedent for further ad hoc upzoning in similar locations.

In conclusion, the proposal should be refused as it is inconsistent with the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009, does not demonstrate sufficient strategic or site-specific merit, and would result in unacceptable environmental, visual, and amenity impacts. The cumulative impacts of height, bulk, density, traffic, and infrastructure strain significantly outweigh the limited and time-restricted benefits offered. Approval would represent poor planning outcome and undermine confidence in the established planning framework.

I wish to submit my objection to the proposed redevelopment of the old SAS building site at 300 Burns Bay Road.
The submission details are in the attached Objection Letter.
I ask that my concerns be given full weight in the SSDA assessment and that affected residents be afforded meaningful consultation and sufficient time to review any amended proposal.

I strenuously object to this project on the following grounds:
- The project is of an unreasonable size and scale. It is proposed to be more than double the height that is allowable at present.
- Because of the unreasonable size of the building it will have the following physical effects on the surrounding buildings, people and landscape,
-The project is not acceptable in this area. It is far to tall and takes up too much ground. It is the type of building that should only be built in the city or Parramatta. It is totally out of place an not anywhere near in keeping with the area.
- The sunlight will be drastically reduced and in a lot of cases be totally blocked out. This includes views of the sky. My property will be adversely affected and with that I fear for my mental and physical health. Taking 80% of our light is NOT REASONABLE.
- Views of natural landscapes will be replaced by walls and windows. I paid much more than market value for my property because we have a serene vista and uninterrupted water view of Burns Bay. This proposed building will devalue my property very substantially and the financial benefit will be taken from me and handed to the developers and agents that are already circling like vultures.
- The roads and traffic are going to be negatively impacted. Safety is already a concern in the immediate and feeder roads. If this proposal goes ahead without major infrastructure up grades I'm afraid there will be an uplift in vehicle and pedestrian accidents. Some of the roads are so narrow that they are less than 2 cars wide which means cars are required to reverse in pedestrian areas to let oncoming traffic pass. additionally, there is no spare street parking and with this amount of new apartments, this is madness and has been thought through. If the traffic plan has been thought through, then it's at best reckless and i think safety is being overlooked.
- The distance between u18 balcony and the proposed building is very minimal and again UNREASONABLE. We don't want to be looking into the proposed buildings windows, balconies and doors. This again will have great negative impact on our mental and physical health.
I'm sure there will be many more reasons why this building should not go ahead. You will justify this monstrosity by saying "but we have a housing crisis" or "we need properties for essential workers". Ask yourself how crushing this injustice would be if it was forced upon you.
I have worked all my life since the age of 15, paid my taxes, raised a family; all for what, to be made to take the brunt of bad decisions made by governments in my old age.
Considering I'm now 65 years old and this property, my home, is where I'll retire. I would ask that you reconsider the building proposal. It's not fair to me and my family!
Tony Hatton - 18 / 292-298 Burns Bay Rd Lane Cove

We live on Burns bay and there has been a lot of developments in our 20 years living there
We have never objected to any development as the height has been reasonable but this development would overshadow all the other developments on Burns Bay because of it’s excessive height of double any existing developments
This development would impact our privacy with so many apartments looking into Burns Bay
The development would have a negative impact on the value of our property
The access is a small road and there are way too many car parks for this small and narrow road and no capacity for any street parking
Lane Cove has always had a village atmosphere and all these apartments on Burns Bay and now this monstrosity is moving us away from a village to a high rise suburb which is not why we moved here

The Waterview and 300 Burns Bay Road area is already overcrowded. The traffic light intersection of Burns Bay Road and Waterview Drive is already very busy during peak hour traffic periods with traffic backing beyond the Waterview drive roundabout. Increased traffic will significantly increase road noise and pollution in the area. There are limited parking spots available at Hughes Park or on Waterview Drive currently, so more units will make the situation worse.