Housing & planning · Randwick City Council
Coogee serviced-apartment upgrade clears panel, but occupation depends on new management plan
The Randwick Local Planning Panel granted deferred commencement consent for works at 161-167 Dolphin Street, including a Level 6 roof terrace upgrade and additional communal lounge, subject to noise, security and patron-capacity controls.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
The Randwick Local Planning Panel has granted deferred commencement consent for alterations to the serviced-apartment building at 161-167 Dolphin Street, Coogee, with occupation or use dependent on Council approving an updated management plan.
The approved proposal includes internal reconfiguration, an upgraded Level 6 roof terrace with barbecue facilities and seating beneath a new canopy, an additional communal lounge, lift and plant changes, facade and roof-finish upgrades, and two ground-level signage zones.
The panel accepted variations to the Height of Buildings and Floor Space Ratio standards in the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012. It found compliance unnecessary and unreasonable in the circumstances and accepted the applicant’s environmental planning grounds for the variations.
Under the amended Condition 15, the management plan must address noise criteria and emissions, nearby residents’ amenity, complaints, anti-social behaviour, security and surveillance, responsible alcohol service and harm minimisation, and the authorised maximum patron capacity. It must also cover compliance with consent conditions and approved acoustic reports.
The panel’s resolution was carried unanimously on 10 September 2026. The minutes do not specify when construction or occupation will occur, or the authorised patron number. They record that the panel visited the site, considered written submissions and reviewed Council’s assessment report before supporting the application.
What deserves a closer look
The panel granted deferred commencement consent subject to conditions, and occupation or use is expressly tied to approval of the updated Plan of Management.
The minutes set requirements for the management plan but do not establish when construction or occupation will occur, how the measures will perform in practice, or the authorised patron number.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will the updated Plan of Management be submitted to Council's Manager of Development Assessment?
What is the authorised patron capacity?
When will the deferred commencement requirements be satisfied?
What happens next
The applicant must satisfy the deferred commencement and standard consent conditions.
The applicant must submit an updated Plan of Management to Council's Manager of Development Assessment for approval before occupation or use of the development.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The panel granted deferred commencement consent for alterations and additions to the serviced-apartment building at 161-167 Dolphin Street, Coogee, subject to deferred commencement and standard conditions and an amendment to Condition 15.
and • There are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the contravention of the relevant development standard. B. That the RLPP determines to grant "Deferred Commencement" consent under Section 4.16(3) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended, to Development Application No. DA/665/2026 for Alterations and additions to existing building comprising serviced apartments, including demolition of internal walls and reconfiguration of ground floor and associated services, upgrade of the existing roof terrace at Level 6 to provide BBQ facilities and seating area under new canopy, facilitate an additional communal lounge in addition to an internal communal kitchen and toilet, upgrade of lift and provision of new lift platform, relocation of existing plant to the upper roof plant deck, new lift throughout the building, upgrades to the facades and roof floor finishes including 2x signage zones at the ground level, and other associated works, at No. 161-167 Dolphin Street, Coogee, subject to the deferred commencement and standard conditions attached to the assessment report, and subject to amendment of condition 15 Updated Plan of Management as set out below.
D64/26, resolution B
Open original minutes ↗The proposal includes a Level 6 roof terrace upgrade with barbecue facilities and seating under a new canopy, an additional communal lounge, lift and plant changes, facade and roof-finish upgrades, and two ground-level signage zones.
DA/665/2026 for Alterations and additions to existing building comprising serviced apartments, including demolition of internal walls and reconfiguration of ground floor and associated services, upgrade of the existing roof terrace at Level 6 to provide BBQ facilities and seating area under new canopy, facilitate an additional communal lounge in addition to an internal communal kitchen and toilet, upgrade of lift and provision of new lift platform, relocation of existing plant to the upper roof plant deck, new lift throughout the building, upgrades to the facades and roof floor finishes including 2x signage zones at the ground level, and other associated works, at No. 161-167 Dolphin Street, Coogee, subject to the deferred commencement and standard conditions attached to the assessment report, and subject to amendment of condition 15 Updated Plan of Management as set out below.
D64/26, description of works
Open original minutes ↗The panel accepted the applicant's requests to vary the Height of Buildings and Floor Space Ratio standards, finding compliance unnecessary and unreasonable in the circumstances and sufficient environmental planning grounds for the variations.
That the RLPP is satisfied that the applicant's written requests to vary the development standards relating to Height of Buildings and Floor Space Ratio in Clauses 4.3 and 4.4 of Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012 have demonstrated that: • Compliance with the relevant development standard is unnecessary and unreasonable in the circumstances of the case; and • There are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the contravention of the relevant development standard. B. That the RLPP determines to grant "Deferred Commencement" consent under Section 4.16(3) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended, to Development Application No.
D64/26, resolution A
Open original minutes ↗Condition 15 requires an updated Plan of Management to be submitted to and approved by Council's Manager of Development Assessment before occupation or use, covering consent and acoustic-report compliance, noise, amenity, complaints, behaviour, alcohol, security and patron-capacity measures.
The Panel supports the application for the reasons given in the assessment report, subject to Condition 15 being amended as follows: 15. Updated Plan of Management An updated plan of management shall be submitted to and approved by Council's Manager of Development Assessment prior to occupation or use of the development, which details the measures to be implemented to: • ensure compliance with the relevant conditions of development consent and relevant approved acoustic reports. • ensure compliance with relevant noise criteria and minimise noise emissions and associated nuisances, • minimise the potential environmental and amenity impacts upon nearby residents, • effectively minimise and manage anti-social behaviour, • effectively manage and respond to resident complaints, • ensure responsible service of alcohol and harm minimisation, • provision of adequate security and surveillance, • ensure that the maximum number of patrons does not exceed the authorised capacity, in accordance with Council's consent Condition Reason: To protect the acoustic amenity of surrounding residents and minimise potential noise impacts associated
D64/26, amended Condition 15
Open original minutes ↗The resolution is recorded as carried unanimously.
with the development. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL MEETING 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 This is page 3 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 10 September 2026 D65/26 Development Application Report - 27 Endeavour Avenue, La Perouse (DA/197/2022/B) RESOLUTION: That the RLPP, as the consent authority, approve the application made under Section 4.56 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended, to modify Development Application No.
D64/26, concluding voting outcome before the D65/26 heading
Open original minutes ↗The Randwick Local Planning Panel electronic meeting was held on 10 September 2026.
This is page 1 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 10 September 2026 MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL (ELECTRONIC) MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 Present: Chairperson: Steven Layman Expert Members: Marcia Doheny & Elizabeth Kinkade Community Representative: Clara Hawker Council Officers present: Manager Development Assessment Mr F Ko Coordinator Major Assessments Mr F Macri Acting Executive Planner Mr J Edmonds Declarations of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests A) Nil The Panel deliberated and voted on each matter via an electronic meeting.
Meeting title and opening details
Open original minutes ↗The panel recorded that it visited the site, considered written submissions and reviewed the assessment report prepared by Council officers.
REASON: The Panel has visited the site, considered the written submissions and reviewed the assessment report prepared by Council officers that addresses the relevant matters detailed in Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended.
D64/26, reason
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reported from the minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 10 September 2026, Randwick City Council.
Key facts from the minutes
- The panel granted deferred commencement consent for DA/665/2026 at 161-167 Dolphin Street, Coogee.
- The works include a Level 6 roof terrace upgrade with barbecue facilities and seating under a canopy, plus an additional communal lounge.
- The panel accepted variations to the Height of Buildings and Floor Space Ratio standards under the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012.
- An updated Plan of Management must be approved before occupation or use.
- The resolution was carried unanimously on 10 September 2026.
Why it matters
- The Coogee project includes shared and roof-terrace facilities that may affect nearby residents, while the development cannot be occupied or used until Council’s Manager of Development Assessment approves a management plan covering noise, complaints, security, alcohol service and patron capacity.