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DON’T DO IT TO SLEEPY FRESWATER! GREAT ARTICLE, MUST READ…

Relax, don t do it to sleepy Freshwater, say locals about $60m plan

PAUL TATNELL May 21, 2010

Freshwater folk like to think they re in Sydney s go-slow zone when it comes to pace of life.

But they fear their seaside village character will be wiped out by a $60 million development.

The locals are happy to be known for having the beach where the nation s first wave was surfed, back in 1914.

Until recently, the village s biggest crisis lasted nearly 85 years after the town was renamed Harbord in 1923 to honour Cecilia Harbord, the late wife of NSW governor Lord Carrington.

Only the surf club kept the name Freshwater, and many locals continued to object to the new name until it was changed back after 85 years of lobbying.

Now a new battle is on the horizon.

Three local families with a long history in the area, all of whom own sizable land pockets in the town s tiny commercial district, have joined forces to apply for a 15,000-square-metre development, featuring commercial space and residential units.

Freshwater Village Developments, the company listed as applying for the development application, has asked Warringah Council for permission to build five residential apartment complexes, some five storeys high, 10 townhouses and 22 retail spaces with two levels of underground car parking for 337 cars.

At least four houses and all existing commercial buildings will be bulldozed.

Friends of Freshwater member Peter Harley said there was “genuine concern” among locals over the scale of the development.

He said while he and many others understood why the owners wanted to “cash in on their land”, many feared the “social fabric” and seaside feel of the village were under threat.

“We are particularly concerned, as a community, about how this will affect the particular fabric of this town, the seaside feel we have with a casual, very relaxed feel about it,” he said.

“We are worried about the plaza and mall which could detract from the relaxed feeling we have here and we are keen to preserve the great things that come with a village.”

Mr Harley said the community understood the developers’ desire to “upgrade” parts of the town’s commercial hub but had “serious concerns” about the development s impacts, including traffic congestion.

A director of Freshwater Village Developments, Alec Algini, declined to comment.

Warringah mayor Michael Regan said his biggest concern was the eventual tenant of the 3000 square metres of commercial space that would become available, saying the town did not need “a Woolworths or a Coles”.

It is understood neither outlet is interested in the site.

“Freshwater has been under-developed and that s what a lot of people like about it and, unless these three owners got together, then things probably wouldn t have changed,” he said.

“Some people are worried about the changes but I have had others who have said they are looking forward to it and want it modernised as long as (the development) isn t 10 storeys tall.”

Manly MP Mike Baird said he was open to the development as long as it met community expectations.

“I think you could say the community is open-minded to an upgrade, but not happy with a regrade that involves high density buildings,” he said.

Mr Harley said he believed that, if the development got the nod, it would end up costing the developers nearly $100 million by the time other acquisitions of nearby property were considered.

He believes the small town would struggle to make the operation viable.

“You come here to live and visit because it has a relaxed feel and that s what people love about it,” he said.

Cr Regan said a working group would meet the developers on Monday.

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DON’T DO IT TO SLEEPY FRESWATER! GREAT ARTICLE, MUST READ…