Consent to the DA should not be granted on the grounds that it fails to comply with or does not acknowledge height limit controls, critical heritage conservation values nor the village like built landscape of Cooks Hill. Buildings such as that proposed properly for on the Newcastle West/Marketown precinct.
More broadly, it's critical that the State Planning Authority demonstrates a willingness to defend planning controls.

This proposed development is grossly oversized and will adversely impact the neighbourhood it is situated in. I am all for more housing to be built, and for multi-storey developments to play a major part in that, but a 45 metre high development in an area where 14 metres is the current limit is unconscionable. Please insist that this development is reconsidered in its current form.

State significant development SSD-82276964 - 47 Darby Sreet Cooks Hill.
I am also property owner at 67 Tyrrell St The Hill
I wish to voice my very strong objection to the development o this site as the concept plans now stand with two towers one to be 12 storeys.
I realize it is a large property for development however high rise in this area is not appropriate to the cultural and historical significance of the area which has strong local codes as to development in this area.
The streetscape on this corner is already a significant congestion and accident prone area with traffic flowing and turning often at standstill during the day and particularly at peak times.
Adding potentially 100 + apartments with 100 plus cars entering off Tyrrell street will further disrupt traffic and parking is very restricted around this area Where does overflow traffic from apartments go.?
The visual impact to the area will also deflect from the cultural area of this area.It impacts on many homes in the hill area- as far away as Anzac arcade.
I understand the govt wishes to address housing ,but this is not the correct area for this type of development,I was happy to see a 5 storey development but I believe the housing authority is overstepping its bounds in fast forwarding this development.
Once again Newcastle and its citizens are overlooked by the powers in Sydney and we seem to lose our voice as to how we the residents treasure our past and current history .
Let’s hope common sense prevails and this development is not given permission to destroy this old cultural area of the inner city.

Dear Mr Crakanthorp,
As you know the Newcastle Cultural and Civic Precinct is an historic,beautiful,culturally significant and very liveable area.The ambience is largely due to the attractive low rise buildings,public space,Civic Park and the delights of Darby Street.
With the new Art Gallery extension almost completed decades of planning regarding this aesthetically pleasing and historic area are threatened by this outrageous proposal for 2 oversized high -rise buildings (12 and 7 stories) in an area where the LEP restricts heights to 14 metres.
My understanding is that it is being fast-tracked under the HDA,ignoring the LEP and the decision that high rise in Newcastle would be to the west of Union Street.This proposal is not only detrimental in itself but would create a disastrous precedent for our lovely city.
It is hard not to see this as an opportunistic money-grab by a developer to put as many luxury units inappropriately on this site.
I don’t think this was the intention of the HDA to facilitate such a development.
Newcastle City Council,informed by the LEP ,local knowledge and local input is the most appropriate body to decide the best future for this special area.

I categorically oppose the proposal.
The proposal for two apartment buildings of 7 and 12 storeys is totally out of place in Newcastle's Civic Park precinct.
The effect of such a gargantuan building literally across the road from the 2-storey Newcastle Art Gallery would destroy the amenity of Newcastle Civic Park forever. Development of what will inevitably be marketed as "luxury" apartments steals views from Newcastle residents and visitors forever, gifting the view of the park exclusively to the people who can afford to buy such apartments.
You can't see the hideous 7 or 12-storey apartment when you're standing on one of its balconies admiring the view over the park where people are shaded from the sun by your overheight building.
This is not fair and it's not just and must be rejected.

My concern about this project is the significant impact on local traffic. Darby street is already a high traffic area. It is difficult to access parking already, especially with the proximity to heavily used spaces and buildings such as the art gallery, civic park and civic theatre. From what I understand, Newcastle has had long-standing strategy to concentrate high-rise in dedicated corridors and precincts which is already taking place in Newcastle East. This has already had a significantly negative effect on small businesses in the area with restricted access during construction as well as decreased access to parking. My concern is that once this project is approved, it will open the door to further high rise development in the Cooks Hill area putting a huge stress on traffic and access. I moved to Newcastle because of its quiet, quaint charm and the local council appears to be determined to ruin everything that makes Newcastle beautiful. I strongly oppose the construction of this eye sore.

Hi i dont agree with the location of the proposed new development at 47 Darby St Cooks Hill.Thank You

I wish to say no to 47 darby street development. I am not against the advancement of Newcastle at all for apartments however darby st does not need it. Low rise should be the most in. Darby st so we do not end up a city of concrete

Dear Mr Crakanthorp,

As one of your constituents, I urge you to actively oppose the ‘State Significant Development’ proposal for 47 Darby St, Cooks Hill. The 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 you to actively oppose the ‘State Significant Development’ proposal for 47 Darby St, Cooks Hill.

Subject: Formal Objection to the Proposed 12-Storey Development at 47 Darby St, Cooks Hill
I am writing to formally object to the proposed 12-storey mixed-use development at 47 Darby Street, Cooks Hill. This proposal represents a gross overdevelopment that ignores local planning controls and will cause irreparable harm to the character of the area.
My objection is based on the following planning grounds:
1. Massive Breach of Local Planning Controls
The proposed building height of 35 metres (12 storeys) is a 300% increase over the 14-metre height limit mandated by the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (LEP). This height is illegal under current local controls and undermines the integrity of the planning system.
2. Severe Overshadowing of Residential Properties
The excessive height will result in substantial overshadowing of neighbouring residential buildings, including the Regency Park complex. This development will block vital sunlight to living areas and fails to meet the minimum 3-hour mid-winter sun requirement outlined in the Newcastle Development Control Plan, which will severely impact my amenity.
3. Incompatibility with the Cultural Precinct and Heritage Character
The site sits directly opposite the low-rise Newcastle Art Gallery. A 12-storey tower will visually overwhelm this cultural hub and the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area. It is entirely out of scale with the "village feel" that defines Darby Street.
Conclusion
I request that this application be refused. Any development at this location must respect the 14-metre height limit to protect the sunlight and character of our community.
Disclosure of Political Donations:
In accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, I declare that I have not made any reportable political donations or gifts to any local councillor or employee of the City of Newcastle in the past two years.