Apart from many apartments having their views of the harbour blocked, I am also concerned about the amount of traffic that this will create on William Street and Dowling Street. I am also concerned about the wind and how that is going to affect the Horizon Building and other surrounding buildings. I believe 10 stories is an adequate height for the area; however 18 levels will affect the landscape, and be an eyesore.

- I am very supportive of the majority of proposed apartment layouts and floor plans. I love the use of defined entry spaces for the front doors, hallways leading to bedrooms, hallways or small nooks leading to bathroom doors and in general the creation of small break out spaces and thoughtful flow through spaces that balance open floor plan with dedicated zoning and privacy. As a renter who has lived in a number of apartments across Sydney, having the bedroom, toilet and front doors open directly into the living spaces is truly awful to live in! These proposed layouts are rarely seen in many newer apartments in Sydney (something common in older stock up until the late 90s, but sadly lost with modern design!). They create significantly better living experiences for the occupants which is important to attract different types of residents and families to apartment living in Sydney as we look to densify and address housing affordability. If there are any planning requirements that limit or deter from this type of apartment layout we need to amend them ASAP! I will keep an eye on this development and consider buying or renting, I like the layouts that much!

- I am supportive of the density and number of apartments provided by this development in such an accessible inner city location close to the CBD, public transport, open space and essentially every amenity and entertainment one could want.

- I feel the massing of the taller buildings is appropriate for William St, as well as the stepping down in height and bulk through the site towards the heritage terraces and other apartment blocks at the rear.

- I feel the variation in building designs, material and palette and clear distinctions between ground levels/main building levels/roof lines is very successful in creating appealing building profiles as well as enhancing the pedestrian environment (as much as can be done without transforming William St into a pedestrian and multi-model focused boulevard! one can dream).

- Bring over 227 plus more cars to the area
- William Street is already congested
- Small businesses in the area will be affected
- 18 storeys will be way too high for the surrounding apartments in the area loosing natural sunlight and clearly there has been absolutely no thought into the impact on the area.
- Greedy and grubby Councils, NSW Government and Federal Government that I voted in the elections are not helping and supporting the people/voters that elected them in
- the governments are allowing these problems to happen
- the development of this eye sore will create so much noise, pollution, congestion
- will populate the area with both humans and animals (dogs and cats)
- there are already small businesses in the area, and the city is not that far full of shops
- the governments are promoting these builds for these greedy, grubby developers to get away with this so both can profit from this
- they do not care about the residents that already living here.
- a lot of residents are leaving and selling up
- the people in government, council and the developers do not know how this will affect the residence and environment
- these projects need to stop!!!
- the greed and grubbiness are evil and needs to stop!!
- just do the right thing for the people of Darlinghurst and the surrounding areas and just build the same height as the former Avis building!!
- and the City of Sydney council, the NSW government and Federal government if you want to be reelected you will not let this go thru!!
- there will be so many voters out there that you would of p####d off!! And they will tell their friends and family, and the friends and family will tell their friends and family, and word will go on and on!!

As a property owner in Darlinghurst since 2009 I strongly appose this development. When we purchased the property we were at the understanding that there was a limit to how high new buildings could go ie no higher than the Avis building. Previously we submitted a submission through the council and now its through the state as i believe new builds are being encouraged by the government. This new proposal has increased the height with a tower on one end. I have seen the proposed pictures of the build and think this is going to affect negatively on the area and be an eye saw. The height of the build will block light to many residents and views of the iconic bridge and opera house will be lost. The area on William Street already gets congested and and the build is going to have an impact on peoples lives in the surrounding area due to the additional traffic and noise. There is no need what so ever to go to size that is being proposed when it can be built at a lower density level and not have such an impact on others and the area. Additional shops and affordable housing is not a requirement in the area when the city is close by. BY building this development it will mean that there will be additional foot traffic, vehicles and possibly pets to the area. I personally know since allowing pets into our building and toileting the dogs in the small grass area on the side of the building it is costing the council money to maintain this as it not an appropriate space however living in the city means this is what people have to do.

Objection to SSD80211463 — Mixed use development with in-fill affordable housing at 164–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to object to the proposed modification and expansion of the development at 164–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo (SSD80211463) based on the following:

Personal Impact
I purchased my apartment in 2024 with full knowledge of the previously approved development (DA D/2022/139 – PAN198092) for this site, which was approved on 8 April 2024. The approved scheme proposed a mixed-use building of approximately six storeys with 229 dwellings, which I reviewed carefully prior to purchase. Based on those plans, my outlook and views would not be affected.
The proponent is now seeking an additional eight floors, more than doubling the height of the approved building, while reducing the total number of dwellings to 227. This will completely block my view and those of many other residents in my building and neighbouring properties, while providing fewer homes than previously approved. This loss of amenity directly equates to a loss of value for my property and those of surrounding residents.

Government Planning and Public Funds
I am disappointed by the repeated poor planning decisions and apparent misallocation of public funds in this and other projects. For example, I previously sold my residence on Doncaster Avenue, Kensington because Council installed a bike track over my driveway- part of a broader $240 million investment in walking and cycling infrastructure from Kingsford to Centennial Park, which is barely used. This represents a significant expenditure of taxpayer money that could have been directed toward more urgent community needs. Such decisions directly impact residents’ amenity, property values, and confidence in planning processes. Approving this overdevelopment would further erode trust in government planning and fiscal responsibility.

Misrepresentation of “Affordable Housing”
The proponent claims that the additional floors are justified as “affordable housing.” However, the proposal reduces the number of dwellings from 229 to 227, while substantially increasing the building’s height and bulk. This clearly does not increase housing supply or meaningfully address the housing shortage. Furthermore, the affordable units are time-limited (15 years) before reverting to the open market. This proposal is therefore a short-term, superficial measure that primarily serves commercial interests. Labelling this as a response to the housing crisis is misleading and disingenuous.

Existing Housing Supply Pipeline
The City of Sydney already has a substantial pipeline of residential and affordable housing supply across the LGA. Examples include:
• Banksia Apartments (City West Housing, Green Square): ~150 affordable dwellings
• Hyde Metropolitan (133 Liverpool St): 168 units
• Gurner 189 Kent St: 91 residences
• Phoenix Woolloomooloo: ~200 units
• Mirvac Harbourside redevelopment: ~260 units
• City West Housing’s portfolio: ~1,000 affordable apartments across the LGA
• Woolloomooloo already has significant public housing stock (over 500 dwellings in the Dowling Street
precinct alone)
• Another development at 203–225 Victoria Street, Potts Point (former Holiday Inn site, SSD84718460)
proposes a 35–40-storey tower, again an excessive height for the area and another farce under the so-called “affordable housing” strategy.

Request
For the reasons outlined above, I respectfully request that Council / the Panel refuse the proposed modification to increase the height of this development beyond the previously approved six floors. The existing approval (DA D/2022/139) was balanced and appropriate. The proposed increase to 14 floors would cause unacceptable loss of residential amenity, reduce housing supply compared to the previous approval, devalue existing properties, and misrepresent short-term affordable housing as a genuine community benefit.


Yours faithfully,
Melissa

The height of the building exceeds the previously approved envelope. It will completely shadow our building, cutting off light and obstructing views, significantly reducing the value of our apartments. The number of apartments will cause traffic congestion in an already busy small street. We recognise the use for the site but cannot support the scale and size of this submission.

To: NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Re: SSD-80211463 – Objection to Proposed Development at 164–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo
From: samantha Wagner Resident/Owner – 608 Top of the Town, 227 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Date: 31st October 2025
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to object to the proposed 18-storey development at 164–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo. As a resident of the Top of the Town building at 227 Victoria Street, I am concerned about the scale and impact of this proposal on our community and surrounding environment.
Below is a list of issues that I believe warrant serious consideration. Please note that not all may apply to every resident, but I encourage you to consider those relevant to your experience:
☐ View Loss and Visual Impact
The proposed height (61 metres) will obstruct views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge from many units in our building. These views are a key part of the value and amenity of our homes. The development is located in a sensitive visual catchment and should be scaled down to preserve iconic vistas.
☐ Excessive Height and Overdevelopment
The proposal exceeds the City of Sydney’s planning controls for height and floor space ratio. Even with Housing SEPP bonuses, the scale is unreasonable and inconsistent with the character of the area. A development of 8–9 storeys would be more appropriate.
☐ Rooftop Noise and Amenity Impacts
Plans for rooftop communal areas raise concerns about noise transmission, especially during evenings and weekends. Elevated outdoor spaces can carry sound across the neighbourhood, affecting sleep and quality of life.
☐ Traffic and Parking Pressure
The development will increase traffic on already congested streets and may worsen parking availability. Construction traffic and long-term vehicle movements should be carefully assessed and mitigated.
☐ Overshadowing and Sunlight Loss
A building of this height will cast long shadows over neighbouring properties and public spaces, reducing sunlight and affecting environmental amenity.
☐ Heritage Context
Although the site itself is not heritage-listed, it adjoins the Woolloomooloo Heritage Conservation Area and is near several listed buildings. The proposed bulk and scale would visually dominate these heritage assets.
☐ Infrastructure Strain and Cumulative Impact
The area has seen several large developments recently. The cumulative impact on local infrastructure, public transport, and community services must be considered.
I respectfully request that the Department require a significant reduction in the height and density of the proposal. Should the project proceed to the EIS stage, I ask that the following be included:
A detailed view impact analysis from affected properties.
A noise and vibration assessment, particularly for rooftop use.
A traffic and parking impact study, including cumulative effects.
A heritage impact statement.
Oversight by the State Design Review Panel.
Thank you for considering this submission.
Yours sincerely,
Samantha Wagner
608 Top of the Town
227 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
[email protected]

I believe the currently approved 18 levels needs to be revised back to the original 10 stories due to a few reasons.
First is the wind – if there is excessive height, which there is with the requested DA, Dowling street, McElhone street and Forbes street will have an unlimited amount of extra wind which will be directed down these streets, from the north and the south.
Views from other buildings will be severely impacted.
Also the traffic will be impacted - there is not multiple vehicular cross overs along Forbes street.

I support the development as I believe it will increase housing availability and affordability in the area

The additional height added to this project will be a MONSTROSITY for this local community. The original approved plan is fine. The addition of the new levels to make the project taller will significant destroy the aesthetics of the neighbourhood. It will also block the view of all current buildings along William St to the East Side. No impact study was made on that side which is the most impacted.