Plans to build a 33-bed boarding house in Gwynneville have raised the ire of residents, who fear the development could ruin the tranquility of the neighbourhood and spell disaster for their already vehicle-clogged street.
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Kingsford-based consultant Primus DMS is seeking Wollongong City Council’s approval to demolish a single-storey house at 6 Gwynne Street to make way for the two-storey boarding house.
Planning documents accompanying the application say the building will contain 24 self-contained rooms – 15 single and nine twin – and be aimed at students studying at the nearby University of Wollongong main campus.
An assessment of the development’s impact on the surrounding suburb concludes the proposal will ‘‘not give rise to unacceptable impacts in terms of amenity, traffic and parking’’.
However, the site’s neighbours strongly disagree.
The Mercury understands several residents in both Gwynne and adjoining streets have lodged letters of objection with the council.
Among those concerned are immediate neighbours Alison and Evan Doyle and Neville and Florence Brown, who fear the development will lead to a loss of privacy, increase noise levels and detract from the family-friendly atmosphere in the street.
The Browns, who have lived in Gwynne Street for more than 50 years, say the building will overshadow their home and, if approved, could open the floodgate for more boarding houses to pop up in the neighbourhood.
‘‘We don’t want this area turned into a boarding house ghetto,’’ Mr Brown said, adding there was no guarantee the site would be for students, and could be used for any type of tenant.
The Doyles said they were not impressed that the development included plans for only six car parking spaces, when the nearest Gong Shuttle stop is hundreds of metres away on Northfield Avenue.
Mrs Doyle, who is soon to give birth to the couple’s second child, said the street’s 38 available parking spaces were all filled by 7.30 each morning by students attending the university.
‘‘Anyone living here is going to have to have a car, and as it is, there’s already no room on the street,’’ she said.
‘‘With this development there’s potentially another 27 vehicles requiring a place to park.’’
The Doyles said they believed such accommodation should be built in appropriate places.
‘‘It should be built closer to the CBD, where there are facilities and infrastructure for students,’’ Mr Doyle said.
