Rozelle Bunnings proposal heads back to Land and Environment Court
Day, Date Month 2018
Conciliation in the Land and Environment Court has failed to resolve serious issues with flooding, traffic, parking and congestion, relating to the proposal for a new Bunnings on Parsons Street in Rozelle. The matter has been set down for a hearing in April 2019.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said that the proponent had failed to address the community’s legitimate objections to the proposed development.
“Everyone who lives in the area knows that the intersection of Mullens and Roberts Streets is already a nightmare at peak hour and on weekends,” he said.
“Bunnings have simply failed to prove that their proposal won’t bring the entire network to a standstill.
“This is right next to the intersection set to be choked with an extra 4,000 truck movements from White Bay, as the State Government gets set to use the area to stage projects like WestConnex, the Western Harbour Tunnel and the concrete batching plant and multi-use facility.
“The stormwater management proposed in the application would also result in serious flooding issues for the neighbourhood.
“Council is doing everything in our power to protect residents from further traffic impacts and poorly planned flood management.”
Council had been required to engage in an s34 conciliation hearing, in which all parties work together with an impartial conciliator to identify issues and try to reach an agreement about solutions.
Council received unprecedented 159 written submissions and five members of the public addressed the conciliation hearing directly.
No agreement was reached, and the conciliation was terminated on Wednesday 10 October. A date of 16, 17 and 18 April 2019 has been set for the Land and Environment Court hearing.
“Land and Environment Court provisions generally allow only six members of the public to address the hearing,” said Mayor Byrne.
“If people are interested in speaking, I encourage them to contact our Legal Services team, so that Council can coordinate the list of speakers.”
Anyone can make a submission regarding the proposed Bunnings, and all submissions will be submitted as evidence to the Commissioner.
For further information or to register an interest in speaking at the hearing, residents and local business people are encouraged to contact Council’s Paralegal Erin Watt, on 9392 5471 or erin.watt@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.
For further information, please contact Kate Walsh on 9392 6585 or kate.walsh@innerwest.nsw.gov.au