Largest ever petition, people power against the might of the Coogee Bay Hotel

Coogee Rally Crowd

Coogee Rally Crowd

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by StreetCorner
07/06/2010

The “Campaign to Keep Coogee a Village”, run by locals passionate about ensuring any development of the Coogee Bay Hotel compiles with local planning laws, has reached a milestone. The Keep Coogee a Village petition, is the largest single issue petition ever presented to the NSW Parliament, with 11,600 signatures and growing.

Greens Lee Rhiannon yesterday joined the long list of people who have signed the petition. Politicians of all colours have been united in their opposition to the Coogee Bay Hotel development plans from the outset including the Member for Coogee Paul Pearce, Randwick Councillor Bruce Notley-Smith (Liberal Candidate for Coogee), local Labor Councillor Tony Bowen, Greens Councillor Murray Matson and more recently the Shadow Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard.

Lee Rhiannon congratulated all those involved in the Coogee Petition on the community spirit involved in delivering the largest single issue petition to the NSW Parliament.

The Campaign to Keep Coogee a Village has also produced a range of badges, many of which are now proudly worn by locals as they go about their daily life. It’s a sign that old fashioned grassroots campaigning is still one of the most powerful ways for the community to unite and let politicians know what electorate wants of its representatives’. The Coogee Precinct has been involved in the campaign from the outset and a growing band of locals have given up hundreds of hours maning stalls and distributing flyers.

In this camapign, locals are asking the State Government to respect the local planning laws. Coogee is already a high-density suburb and multi-storey development is allowed on the site, to a maximum of 12 metres. But the Coogee Bay Hotel development plans exceed this limit and also exceed the density controls on the site. Since the NSW Government introduced the “Major Projects” Part 3A amendment to the EP&A Act, many large developments have bypassed Councils and been submitted to the NSW Department of Planning. Most development applications declared a “Major Project” by the NSW Department of Planning have been approved by the Minister for Planning and not all comply with local planning laws.

While residents groups and Councils have been critical of the Part 3A legislation for failing to adequately consult the community, the NSW Government, including Kristina Keneally when she was Minister of Planning, is proud of the record of the NSW Government in approving large development, arguing that these developments generate employment and economic stimulus to the State. The Liberals have vowed to repel the Part 3A legislation if elected saying that transparency and accountability is not served by the having the Department of Planning and the Minister for Planning make decisions on developments that impact locally.

What do you think of the Coogee Bay Hotel Development Plans?

Campaign to Keep Coogee A Village website http://www.savecoogee.com/MainPage.html

Facebook Page “Save Coogee From High Impact Development”

http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid...

Developers Plans can be found on the Oakstand site (hosted by Bang the Table) http://thevillagecoogee.com.au/

Streetcorner has been covering the community reaction to the Coogee Bay Hotel development plans since the beginning, if you’d like to learn more about the plans here are some of the articles;

Cheung to host a Boardroom Luncheon on redevelopment plans for Coogee Bay Hotel

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...

Save Coogee Village rally gives high-rise development the thumbs down

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...

Bugseye will undertake community consultation on Coogee Bay Hotel site

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...

10,000 people sign to Keep Coogee a Village

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...

Paul Pearce slams the secrecy of Coogee Bay Hotel developers

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...

Three options for Coogee Bay Hotel, a clever strategy to have locals choose

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...

7,000 now say no to huge development and yes to keeping Coogee a village

http://streetcorner.com.au/news/showPost...


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Comments

Thank you to each and everyone of the 11,600 who have signed. The petition will continue for as long as it takes.

coogeeboy posts

Come on everybody say a big NO to any redevelopment thats takes away the village atmosphere of Coogee, say no any mid rise /high rise that increases traffic , & drunks from outside the area !!

Philippe posts

Congratulation for this outstanding work. Let's hope we will keep Coogee as a wonderful seaside village

A local mum posts

Say No to increased traffic and parking problems...as that would only lead to a push by Council for parking meters to be introduced. We don't need another Bondi Beach at Coogee.

Yes Philippe. Coogee was gazetted a village in 1836. It must be one of the oldest seaside villages in Australia. The Chamber of Commerce and local businesses refer to the Seaside Village in their promotional material. Coogee Bay Road (known as Whale Street originally) is still a viable street shopping strip. Many of the buildings above street level are little changed from the early 1900s.

The proposed development will destroy Coogee and the 11,600 people who have signed know that. We all want to see Coogee enhanced and building high rise will not enhance the suburb.This is NOT a state significant issue..it will only serve to negatively impact on the local shopping centre,residents and visitors who all come to enjoy the last "village" beachside atmosphere left.

Julia A posts

It doesn't make much sense to create a shopping precinct at the expense of a existing one. The Coogee Bay Road shopping strip is vibrant but if a large development was to take place, could these shops survive during construction and afterwards? I doubt it. The argument that this development will provide more jobs is a nonsense it will see the loss of local businesses and local jobs.

This high rise at the bottom of the Coogee Bay basin would be a permanent index finger raised at every resident. Lets make sure we prevent another Blues Point Tower development disaster from wrecking the village atmosphere of beautiful Coogee. This is not a State Significant development, just a greedy grab from those who want quick profits from overdevelopment at the permanent expense of the local community.

BSZ posts

I can understand the need for major projects legislation, however, I do not see how this can be classified as such with any rationale justification. Major projects that are in the long term benefit of the community and the state in general should have no issue proving their case and gaining popular support. To put the Coogee Bay Hotel development in this bucket is misuse of this legislation. The hotel here and around the world has a reputation for alcohol fueled violence that has damaged many lives. This proposal is not at all serving any benefit other than greed, corruption.....and political donation. Any economic benefit will be short lived and come at the expense of the local community and will be a permanent scar on the landscape of Coogee Village. Surely common sense will prevail?

Coogee Lover posts

Great to meet so many other Coogee locals and visitors who love the way Coogee is now. Let's hope that our voice will be heard by the State Gov and that the State Gov honours the Local laws (such as the Local Environment Plan), which have the height limit for new buildings as 12m.

RDW posts

Developers have cottoned onto this NSW Major Projects legislation as a means of bypassing local Councils and local zoning. Originally designed for projects of state significance beyond the expertise of local Councils to assess effectively, it is being abused in order to get non complying projects approved. This project in Coogee is not of state significance it is just a local development that exceeds the local zoning. The developers should be told to come up with something that complies with the local 12 metre height limit.

Ron Green posts

More than 11,600 people care passionately enough about Coogee to sign the petition and many have objected to the development by other means. The developers web site says their development will provide a "much needed civic heart"! What a joke.

Fantastic job - the campaign really reflects the wishes of the residents of coogee, randwick, clovelly and more. The intentions of greedy developers should not have priority of our community. Mr Kelly please confirm this outrageous development request is struck out once and for all so we no longer have this distressing matter hanging over our heads.

Has anyone seen the large Randwick City Council banners oposing the Part3A legislation and the development? They went up yesterday apparently.

Coogee is a village and has a precious village atmosphere. People from all walks of life call it home. People in low rental flats and boarding houses, young professionals and well established business and professional leaders, mums and dads and kids, new arrivals and long established residents like me, even longer established residents whose forbears also called Coogee home and people who came here to visit and return to stay. Coogee has a deep and abiding community spirit despite the ravages of the 24 hour drinking venues. This spirit is evident as the petition numbers increase, Developers and others who seek to abuse the local zoning provisions and show a lack of respect for the community, should take note.

Lowriser posts

Greed and developer profits,,talk about a super profits tax. Take a look at the Coogee Bay Hotel and the Developers. Keep Coogee a Village and P$# off. Sorry it makes me so mad.

I grew up in Coogee and now live in New York. I still try to follow whats happening in Australia and my old neck of the woods Coogee. Good for you residents,,stand up now .. its too late once it's built.

Bek Bow posts

I am Coogee born and fed....I love Coogee - It's a perfect place, Leave it alone!!

Kairenw posts

Passionate cries from passionate people against overdevelopment - let's keep up that pressure and keep the space our space!

12,300 and counting as at noon 14 June 2010

nobondi posts

We moved 4 years ago from North Bondi to get away from the high rise and all that came with it. Keep Coogee the lovelly village it is, we dont need another bondi beach.

Why do you guys want to ruin the beauty of Coogee? There are families and history at stake. You build this development site and your building a nest for drunks and mugs. Speak to real developers in Monaco who have maintained beautiful beachside villages. Through strategic planning and expert tourist marketing. They are much bigger and vibrant than Bondi beach without high rises. Stop thinking about a quick buck and consider planning something smart for the long term. Think about it.

You're a bunch of old loser hacks. As usual, ill-informed and dogmatic in a lemming-like determination to curtail any type of meaningful progression of this city. This is more about selfish, insular and hypocritical locals than about protecting the village atmosphere. I hope they put up a wall of cheap 30 level Meriton towers, with no street activation and shaft all of you.

You Fail at Life, you are way off the mark and your tone and language only degrades yourself. I am a developer working in the Coogee area and I am opposed to this development. Development profit is one thing, but Mr Cheung and Oakstand should play by the rules. This out of character development, that breaks all the rules. It's not selfish, insular or hypocritical to say we think it's ugly, ill-thought out and not what the community wants. Mate, that's democracy. In our country we are still allowed to say what we think, even if you wish we wouldn't.

TSBW posts

Wow 'You Fail at Life' them there are fighting words. I am a local & would love to have 'meaningful progression' but can not see how any of the 3 proposed concepts from Oakstand & C. Inc deliver this. The original concept offered a 15 storey tower that would block views from residences behind & would shadow the parklands at various start times throughout the year. Concept A offers to remove the tower AND redistribute the floor space through the western part of the site thus breaking building code regulations on floor space ratios and Concept B offers to remove the tower AND the heritage buildings thus effectively holding the heritage building to ransom if we dare oppose this development. None of these concepts offer 'meaningful progression' all 3 are all about maximising profits for the developers. So in reality it would seem that it is actually the developers & CBH owners who are the selfish, insular & hypocritical loser hacks. PS. Forgive us locals for our ill-informed status but that is purely due to the Developers refusing to release details about any of the concepts.

Julia A posts

12,300 people so far recognise this development for what it is, self-serving. It is little more than an opportunity for C.Inc and Oakstand to cash in on location and views which would see them walk away with millions and Coogee totally destroyed. 12,300 people will be expecting our political representatives(Tony Kelly, Minister of Planning) to reject this opportunistic development as a Major Project. Congratulations to all involved in running a very professional opposition!

ME posts

Fail at Life just does not get it. No one opposes complying redevelopment of the site. A residential development that is well designed, complies with the 12 metre zoning and is sympathetic to the essential beauty and village atmosphere of Coogee would be welcomed by all. As ths site is located at a family beach and near schools and public transport it would be ideal for affordable housing especiallly single parents. Also as it is near the beach, easy walking distance to shops and easy access to public transport, how about some group supported housing for young adults and others with mental and physical disabilities? These attributes would enhance the strong civic heart that exists in Coogee and that has helped generate over 12,500 signatures. A few expensive penthouses for a few fly-in fly- out millionaires would not.

The petition reached 13,000 names sometime 4 July.

With all these Part3A announcements coming out, it would be good to remind the Minister for Planning just how the community feels about this proposed overdevelopment of the heart of Coogee. The Minister is Tony Kelly and his email is planning@lpma.nsw.gov.au Copy your email to - - the local MP Paul Pearce at coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au - the shadow Minister brad.hazzard@parliament.nsw.gov.au Tell the Minister to keep Coogee low-key and lovely for the enjoyment of visitors and locals alike now and into the future.

Ron Green posts

Over 13,000 now - that is fantastic.

RDW posts

..street activation!!!?? You Fail at Life needs to get a life.

PSOF posts

I hear Hong Kong is calling for more highrise deelopments, can Mr Cheung & Oakstand please take their development there - it will fit right in! We don't want this in Coogee.

Coogee local posts

Great news. The newly endorsed Greens Candidate for the state seat of Coogee is a stalwart of the Campaign to Keep Coogee a Village - Sue Doran. The candidates for all three parties are now against oversized high impact development in the heart of Coogee.

Coogee local posts

read the StreetCorner story at http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/show...

The petition is now 13,800!!. Still the vast majority of signatures are local - from Coogee, Clovelly, Randwick, Maroubra, Kingsford and to the north through to Bondi.

Coogee local posts

13,800 - FANTASTIC. I was down at the Coogee promenade on the weekend and there was a continuous crowd at the petition - well done Coogee Precinct.

ME posts

What a tremendous effort. How can people help?

How can you help? We always need people to help with the petition either at Coogee beach on weekends or we can provide copies for you to distribute amongst freinds, neighbours, at work etc. To find out more please: 1. Email the Camapaign to Keep Coogee a Village at savecoogeebeach@gmail.com 2. Check out our web site www.savecoogee.com 3. Come to the Precinct meeting tonight - Council Hall Brook Street [opp. Rugby Club] at 7.30pm

RDW posts

Keep up the good work.

2 wolseley road coogee has submitted it's own DA to build some big bulk of 3 levels of units and 1 level of carparking which will block out 100% sun and views to fellow neighbours. Exceeds FSR by 82%! Now wouldn't that set a nice precidinct for our beautiful coogee shoreline? Your land is this size but you can build build build all you like!!! This is something which HAS to be objected before we all get become affected in our own places. I will be at the coogee precinct meeting tonight 7:30pm brook st senior citizens club

Just a short note to let everyone know that all community members are invited to publish news stories on Streetcorner. Streetcorner is an open community news platform so all voices are welcome. If you want to "be the reporter" , just login and then go to the "Submit a Story" button (top right) and post your story. It will then appear on the home page. You can write about issues like the Coogee Bay Hotel, environment, other developments, restaurants or profile interesting local characters. Basically anything you think would interest other locals. Cheers Streetcorner

I have just come back from a walk to the northern headland of Coogee. If this hideous development of the Coogee Bay Hotel site goes ahead in the heart of Coogee bay it will block all views from Dunningham Reserve and the headland west to the ridge line with its rooves, steeples, palms, pines and other trees - beautiful at all times but especially at sunset. Anything above 5 storeys would do this let alone 6 or 7 or 8 or 10 or whatever else the developer is proposing. All people will be able to see is the Great Wall of Coogee!!

Us locals must set our own precedent by actively continueing to defy any kind of development in Coogee which exceeds our traditional height, floor space ratios, according to land size. If one gets let in, then the rest will follow.

The petition will be at the Coogee beachfront this weekend from 10.00am for a few hours and most likely also after 3.00pm. Come by and pick up a copy of the Poster printed for the Campaign by Randwick City Council...and buy a badge.

Coogee local posts

The latest rumour is that they are have done a deal with Coles to provide an underground supermarket AND that there will be a cinema complex!!!!

davidB posts

Keep up the goos work. THe next state election is less than a year away. Let the politicians know the consequences if they ignore local residents on an issue like this.

The Coogee Bay Hotel site is not a good site for retail, residential and commerical development. Why? Beacause there is absolutely no way to deal with the carparking and traffic chaos that would result from this amount of traffic / car parking demand on an intersection that is already struggling to cope with current traffic. Design and overdensity issues are one thing but there is no way to deal with the fact Coogee will be a grid locked nightmare if retail development, such as big supermarkets etc is approved in this site. There should be more attention to this aspect as it is a serious one. There traffic report will say all is ok. Randwick City Council must do there own study - it will cost money to do properly but is very important.

Ron Green posts

The traffic is a huge issue with any proposal to put large scale residential or a supermarket or a cinema complex on this site. Arden Street has traffic back to Carr Street at peak hours and on weekends and all day over the summer months. Through the day Coogee Bay Road is choc a block and so slow moving that people stroll across it and jay walk with absolute impunity. Vicar Street is a cul de sac.

Julia A posts

According to the developers website, a submission has been made to the Planning Dept. Why have we not heard what the outcome was? Has a deal already been struck with the Planning Dept? If so surely this should be an ICAC matter?

The petition will be at the beachfront from 10.00am Saturday [31 July] and Sunday until noon and possibly for an hour after 3.00pm - weather permitting. We expect to get the 13,000th signature sometime Saturday - you could be it! So please come by and sign up. We also have some posters to give away. These were printed for us by Randwick City Council.

Make that 14,000th!!!!

Mounted posts

We elect a council as rate payers, we expect the decisions of that duly elected body to be respected. We have no wish to see a desecration of that space. We also vote in State Elections. We will organise and vote against a Government who cannot respect the decisions of our local bod.

Coogee is one of the most highly populated suburbs in Australia with a wide range of residents. The reason it is successful is that the natural beauty of the beach has not been destroyed by buildings which are out of scale. Keeping building heights to 12 metres allows residents and visitors alike access to open space,sun and accessibility to the beach. Once high rise are allowed to dominate we will have created a Bondi Junction environment with shading and wind tunnelling.It makes no sense and this is why 14,000 people have signed the petition.

We will be out with the petition on the Coogee Promenade this weekend again. From 10.00am to 12.30pm both days. Please come by and say hello. Also a reminder to join our email list savecoogeebeach@gmail.com

The petition has now reached 15,700 names and by far the largest single issue petition in the NSW parliament's history.

RDW posts

Minister Tony Kelly has announced a review of two proposals put forward by the developers. The Review will be by the NSW Government Architect Peter Mould who will consult with the developers, the Council and the Coogee Precinct. This is great news and all down to the efforts the tireless efforts of local residents supported by Paul Pearce and local Counillors.

Good on the locals and good on the Minister - my best wishes to the Coogee Precinct in the weeks ahead - god bless.

Coogee local posts

What a great result to get consultation at this stage. In Part3A processes the consultation does not happen almost until the end. Great work Coogee Precinct.

Check out www.savecoogee.com for the latest news including some artists impressions of what Options A and B could look like

We will be at the Coogee beachfront this long weekend with the petition. Please come by and say hello if you have signed already and please bring friends and relatives who have not signed. The petition, being a formal petition to the NSW Parliament is on behalf of the undersigned citizens of NSW. However because SO many visitors to NSW have wanted to sign - begged to sign - we now have a separate petition for visitors to NSW. So if you have people from interstate or overseas staying with you over the long weekend, please bring them along. We aim to be on duty from 10.00am for a few hours and then again from 3.30pm - weather permitting.

Sam Bauers posts

The Greens are holding a rally in opposition to over-development and Part 3A this Saturday 30th October at the Coogee Beach promenade starting at 11am sharp. You can hear and meet David Shoebridge MLC, The Greens Mayor of Randwick Murray Matson and Greens candidate for Coogee Sue Doran. Let the old parties know that things have to change in the seat of Coogee.

Check out the great coverage of this issue on ABC TV Stateline The ABC used the impressions of Options A and B as they appear on www.savecoogee.com http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/10...

Ron Green posts

Word is that the government is holding up all Part3A assessments (a) to salvage a few votes and (b) to hassle the Liberals in the event that they win in March. No doubt the community campaign has held up the assessment of the Coogee Bay Hotel redvelopment - thank goodness.

Doug 183 posts

There are already three Part 3A projects under assessment in the Randwick Council area, I think Randwick has the most of any Council area at the moment. Two huge developments at Randwick Racecourse that no one seems to be paying much attention to and the Montefiore development which is totally over the top and breaks the planning rules just like Coogee Bay Hotel. The Government will decide all of these before the next election but hopefully Coogee Bay Hotel won't get added to the list.

We have been remiss in adding to this story. Other stories on Streetcorner carried the news that in early December the Minister for Planning rejected the various proposals put forward by the developers for the Coogee Bay Hotel site on e basis of the advice in a report from the Government Architect (GA). The GA has advised that the height for the site should be limited to 3/4 stories except for the SW corner which can be 4/5 stories which is the height of the BoutiqueHotel that is there already. The GA further advised that the Heritage building should stay in tact. This was welcome news. However residents will remain vigilant. Thank you to everyone who helped in so many ways - with the petition, with emails to the Minister and the Premier etc, helping us with photographs for the rally in April and the 10,000 signature event, with mKing the badges Nd with advice. It was a huge team effort. With this level of community concern it is hoped the powers-that-be will think twice before proposing anything that undermines the qualities that make Coogee so special in so many hearts and minds - 17,570 hearts and minds!!!

The local Member for Coogee, Paul Pearce, has alerted the Precinct to a possible new application by the developers. He is trying to get more information as is the Campaign to Keep Coogee a Village - so far no luck. Many of the staff of the Department of Planning have been on leave. As soon as we hear anything we will add it to this story. Mr Pearce may have an update for the next meeting of the Coogee Precinct which will be 14 February at 7.00pm at the Council Hall in Brook Street - opposite the Rugby Club. So please come along and hear the latest.

Ron Green posts

They were bound to come back ......hopefully the Government (current and soon to be!) will stick by the Government Architects report.

Julia A posts

The developers claim that they sought the Government Architects expert advice as to how to proceed with this development. They should be made to adhere to this report.

For all the lovers of Coogee Happy Valentines Day! Keep up the great work...we are all behind you!

Those of you who voted at the Senior Cits hall in Brook St might have heard the rumor that at 4pm on the Friday, Guidelines for the Coogee Bay Hotel were issued. Such Guidelines are issued by the Director General of the Department of Planning - after a Part 3a declaration. We are following up on this and what it means. Our understanding is that only the Minister can declare something is to be assessed as a Part 3a development not the Department. It would be a sorry cay for democracy and a scandal if the bureaucracy has done what is rumoured!!!!

Coogee local posts

Yes I was told this too - as fact. I have not been able to find anything on the Planning web site.

Sue Doran posts

Bruce, Now that you're in parliament you can ask a question about this and bring a clear answer to your constituency to prevent the guesswork. This community will be looking to you to prevent this development - the one whose opposition you championed as yours in your election literature. Watching keenly.

Ron Green posts

Did anyone see the 13 April SMH blog entitled The Agoria - Coogee Beach as a Place of Assembly by Sydney architect Jon King worth a read. Yet another ode to Coogee and more amunitions for why we should Keep Coogee a Village.

Dear All, Streetcorner will seek a response from the NSW Department of Planning as to the current status of Coogee Bay Hotel Development. We'll let you know when we hear back. Kind regards Streetcorner

ps We've also asked Bruce Notley-Smith for an update on the Development Proposal for this site.

Here's the update from the NSW Department of Planning on the Coogee Hotel site development proposal...http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/show... Regards Streetcorner

Dear All, Despite the Department of Planning advice that no decision has been made on the Coogee Bay Hotel Development classification as a Part 3A project, Bruce Notley-Smith has just published this article advising that it was secretly approved by Labor last year..http://www.streetcorner.com.au/news/show...

Sue Doran posts

I am chasing this up too as last we all knew the Applicant had been sent away to provide a new application in compliance with the Government Architect's recommendations. The Part 3A process would have required any new application to have been made public with an exhibition and submission period of 28 days. The community is reluctant to trust either Labor or the Liberals in regard to this development. As much as they have both professed a lack of support for these overdevelopment plans, they have both received very large donations from the applicants and associated hotels industry entities, compromising any faith we might have in their concern for the community and heritage amenity of Coogee. Here we all go again. We are so sick of this roundabout; endless hours spent fighting not for social and environmental improvements but in order to prevent violations of limits already statutorily agreed.

Ron Green posts

We now hear from Mr Bruce Notley Smith that the previous government approved plans for the Hotel site. If so please Mr Notley Smith get hold of a copy of the plans for us all to see?

The story keeps on coming. Good news in the SMH today 13 May about the Coogee Bay Hotel development and Barangaroo http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/back-to-the-dr...

There is a new petition relating to overdevelopment on the Coogee foreshore - please come by and sign up. We are at the Prom Saturday and Sunday mornings.

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