Earlier this year Willoughby Council received DA-2021/340 involving a substantial development around the Catholic Church, Naremburn at 43 Donnelly Rd (border Willoughby Rd and Merremburn Ave). The Willoughby Planning Panel is due to make a determination on this development on Tuesday 26th July. The communities input is strongly encouraged given the size, scale, location and heritage implications of the proposal. There are considerable concerns that the townhouse development will change the look and feel of Naremburn’s well renowned heritage strip along Willoughby Rd and disconnect the heritage items that are very much the gateway to Willoughby.
The DA describes the development as a: “proposed mixed use development comprising the demolition of existing school building, additions to St Leonards Church comprising parish hall and presbytery, construction of multi dwelling housing, conversion of existing presbytery to a dwelling and construction of a dwelling house.” NPA and many others including the Willoughby Heritage Society representatives have objected to the proposal with a degradation of heritage as a key issue alongside the overdevelopment of the site and further strain on already stretched services and utilities. The development would also mean an opportunity lost in terms of community facilities or a school again taking pride of place at the site.
To find out more download the report under the 26th July 2022 Willoughby Planning Panel Meeting click here. To register to speak or listen to the determination proceedings being held at 2pm on Tuesday 26th July, register here by 12pm Friday 22nd July: click here.
To view the original submission click here and enter 2021/340
Click here to view our Naremburn Progress Associations submission
Click here to view the excellent submission by Terry Fogarty, Willoughby District Historical Society & Museum 2022