One of the most powerful figures in the Gillard government – Amanda Lampe – has been given a controversial green light to build a large home in Leura with a plunge pool and two double carports, that has neighbours up in arms.
The Labor-dominated council passed the development, on staff recommendations, at the April 26 meeting, although the mayor excused himself from voting.
The applicant is former chief of staff of ex-Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, Amanda Lampe, who is now a senior vice president at a global biotechnology company.
Neighbours, including Sue Portwin and her husband David, are furious because they say the house design breaches width and height restrictions, is out of character with the area, and will effect their privacy.
The residents say it’s peculiar that it has been approved, given that guidelines under two planning codes should have prevented it, with a design that exceeds the maximum height of 6.5 metres in local planning zonings.
“We retired to the Mountains in 2014 and purchased with the belief that Northcote Road was an established part of the village where surrounding development would be respectful of the well established character of single houses in garden settings,” Mrs Portwin said.
“We were shocked and dismayed when advised of a development application next to our property that was enormous and excessive and certainly didn't conform to the rules. We believed … our interests would be protected by the zoning and regulations which would confine buildings of such excessive self interest.”
Mrs Portwin said she had battled a number of aspects about the proposed building, including a “bizarre raised timber driveway … the floor of which was proposed to start 1.3 metres above ground level which meant from our living room we would be viewing cars driving around in the air”. A raised glass walkway is set to overlook their bedroom.
Another neighbour said the building would be four to five times bigger than surrounding homes.
The couple engaged environmental planner Brad Carmady who told council the proposed dwelling didn’t comply in width or height and was inconsistent with surrounding homes. He also told council it could set a planning precedent and asked them not to pre-empt new planning laws.
But the lengthy council report said with the house set back from the street by five metres and maintaining many mature trees, it retained the garden setting character.
Council officers added that given the “separation distances the impact on privacy is not considered to be unreasonable”.
The planned pavilion style house on Northcote Road will be single storey at the front and two storey at the rear; eight metres high at its north east corner and it will take up 417m2 floor space on a 2268 m2 vacant block.
Speaking on the night to council, co-owner of the land and Ms Lampe’s partner of 18 years, applicant Frier Bentley, said their pavilion design had tried to reduce the number of trees felled at the property. The property will be a home for Ms Bentley’s mother and a weekender for the pair which she said “is an explanation for the size”.
“Before we briefed the architect we had the opportunity to meet with the neighbours … and two things came through, trees and the aspects of privacy, so that was part of the brief,” Ms Bentley said.
“It’s in different sections ... designed around what the arborist assessed as significant trees. We value trees, we value privacy.”
“We’ve tried to work cooperatively with council, we’ve taken on board recommendations … made modifications,” she said, adding it would be “nestled on the back of the block to reduce it’s impact.”
“We’re excited about building on the block,” she said.
Mrs Portwin said the area’s character was not achieved by accident.
“Planning controls across successive planning instruments have sought to preserve this highly valued character and to prevented inappropriate development,” Mrs Portwin said. “They shouldn’t be allowed to break even the new LEP width.”
In a statement to the Gazette Mayor Mark Greenhill said he “had no involvement in the briefings or deliberations in this matter” but had had “a past association with the applicants in the 1990s”.
“I did not discuss the development with anyone ever. I have not apprised myself of the application since, because I have recused myself from any dealings in the matter.”
Under questioning, a council officer told the meeting the development application did not undermine planning guidelines under the residential character conservation zone. It was an “on balance” decision with “things to be weighed up” but it was “not lineball”.
“There has to be some nuance for site variations,” Cr Hollywood told the meeting, adding “it is not an easy decision on my part”.
The matter was passed unanimously at council.
Ms Lampe chose not to comment to the Gazette.