Housing & planning · Randwick City Council
Seven-home Mons Avenue plan refused over bulk, setbacks and privacy
Randwick’s planning panel unanimously rejected DA/526/2026 for 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, citing a six-storey street presentation, 1.2 to 1.4-metre side setbacks and poor transition to nearby homes.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A seven-dwelling proposal at 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, has been refused unanimously by the Randwick Local Planning Panel after members found its bulk, setbacks and relationship with neighbouring homes unsuitable for the R2 Low Density Residential zone.
DA/526/2026 sought demolition of the existing buildings, tree removal and construction of a five-storey residential flat building containing seven three-bedroom dwellings. The application also included a basement with 10 car spaces and two motorcycle spaces, refurbishment of an existing swimming pool and pool cabana, and landscaping works.
In its recorded reasons, the panel referred to the proposal’s six-storey presentation to Mons Avenue, excessive bulk, shallow side setbacks and poor transition to adjoining two- and three-storey dwellings. It said the proposal did not protect residential amenity or maintain the intended low-density environment. The stated side setbacks were 1.2 to 1.4 metres.
The panel also found that the height and bulk created by the in-fill affordable housing bonus had not been shown to be compatible with the desired future character of the R2 precinct undergoing transition under the low- and mid-rise housing provisions. It described the combination of massing, oversized balconies, blade walls, shallow setbacks and an inefficient floorplate as akin to an R3 or R4 built form.
Other refusal reasons included upper-level balconies overlooking adjoining properties, inadequate building separation, compromised solar access, non-compliant deep soil, substantial excavation near neighbouring properties and limited landscaping along side boundaries. The panel also said the proposal did not demonstrate design excellence and that its seven apartments provided no housing mix because they were all large three-bedroom dwellings.
The panel said it agreed with the council officer’s recommendation and the comments and reasons of Randwick’s Design Excellence Advisory Panel. It also said the Apartment Design Guide should have heightened significance where there are no specific controls for individual low-density localities, including when assessing side setbacks and desired future character.
Three objectors addressed the panel before the public meeting closed. The minutes record that the panel considered oral and written submissions, visited the site and reviewed the council assessment report before refusing the application. They do not state whether the applicant will revise the proposal or pursue another planning pathway.
What deserves a closer look
The source distinguishes the application's five-storey description from the panel's separate reference to a six-storey street presentation; the article preserves that distinction.
The panel connected side setbacks not only with privacy and amenity concerns but also with the potential future development of adjoining sites.
The resolution expressly refuses consent, and the voting outcome states that it was carried unanimously. No numerical vote tally is asserted.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Will the applicant revise the design or lodge a further application?
Does the applicant intend to pursue any other planning pathway?
How would any revised proposal address the panel's concerns about side setbacks, building separation, privacy and deep soil?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The minutes identify the Randwick Local Planning Panel public meeting as held on 10 September 2026.
This is page 1 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Public) meeting held on 10 September 2026 MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL (PUBLIC) MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 AT 1PM 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.
Minutes title and meeting details
Open original minutes ↗The panel resolved to refuse consent to DA/526/2026 for 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra.
The Panel then attended the Coogee Room to deliberate and vote on each matter. The resolutions, reasons and voting outcomes for each item on the agenda are detailed below: General Reports Nil Development Application Reports D63/26 Development Application Report - 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra (DA/526/2026) RESOLUTION: That the RLPP refuses consent under Section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended, to Development Application No.
Development Application Reports, D63/26 resolution
Open original minutes ↗The minutes record that the resolution was carried unanimously.
• We note the provisions of the ADG which specifically require consideration of the desired future character. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting closed at 2:07pm. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES BY PANEL MEMBERS Steven Layman (Chairperson) Marcia Doheny Elizabeth Kinkade Clara Hawker
Voting outcome following the panel's reasons
Open original minutes ↗DA/526/2026 proposed demolition, tree removal, a five-storey residential flat building with seven three-bedroom dwellings, a basement with 10 car spaces and two motorcycle spaces, pool and cabana refurbishment, and ancillary and landscaping works.
DA/526/2026 for demolition of existing building/structures, tree removal and construction of a 5-storey residential flat building comprising 7 MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL MEETING 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 This is page 2 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Public) meeting held on 10 September 2026 x 3 bedroom dwellings and a single basement level for 10 car parking spaces and 2 motorcycle spaces, renovation and refurbishment of existing swimming pool and pool cabana, associated ancillary and landscaping works, at No.
Development description in the resolution
Open original minutes ↗The refusal reasons state that the proposal is inconsistent with the objectives of the R2 Low Density Residential zone.
62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, for the following reasons: Pursuant to Randwick LEP 2012 – Clause 2.3 Zone Objectives (R2 Low Density Residential), the proposal is inconsistent with the objectives of the R2 Low Density Residential zone.
Refusal reason under Randwick LEP 2012, Clause 2.3
Open original minutes ↗The panel cited a six-storey street presentation, excessive bulk, shallow side setbacks and poor transition to adjoining two- and three-storey dwellings.
The six‑storey street presentation, excessive bulk, shallow side setbacks and poor transition to adjoining 2–3 storey dwellings do not recognise the desirable elements of the existing streetscape or contribute to the desired future character of a precinct undergoing transition under the LMR provisions.
Streetscape and transition refusal reason
Open original minutes ↗The panel said the development failed to protect residential amenity or maintain the intended low-density environment, and that compatibility of the bonus height and bulk with the desired future character of the R2 LMR precinct had not been demonstrated. It described the resulting built form as akin to R3/R4 typology.
The development fails to protect residential amenity and does not maintain the intended low‑density environment. Pursuant to SEPP (Housing) 2021 – Chapter 2 In‑fill Affordable Housing (Clause 20) design requirements, the applicant has not demonstrated that the extent of height and bulk generated by the bonus uplift results in a building scale that is compatible with the desired future character of the R2 LMR precinct in transition. The six‑storey presentation to Mons Avenue, excessive massing, oversized balconies, blade walls, shallow side setbacks and inefficient floorplate result in a built form akin to R3/R4 typology.
Amenity and in-fill affordable housing compatibility reasons
Open original minutes ↗The panel described side setbacks of 1.2 to 1.4 metres as inadequate.
• 4.3 Setbacks – o Front setback forward of neighbouring buildings o Side setbacks (1.2–1.4 m) inadequate o Rear setback constrained by pool and cabana • 5 Building Design – inefficient massing and excessive articulation.
Randwick DCP setbacks refusal reason
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Public) meeting held on 10 September 2026, published by Randwick City Council.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Randwick Local Planning Panel unanimously refused DA/526/2026 for 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, on 10 September 2026.
- The proposal comprised seven three-bedroom dwellings in a five-storey residential flat building, with 10 car spaces and two motorcycle spaces in a basement.
- The panel cited a six-storey street presentation, excessive bulk, shallow 1.2 to 1.4 metre side setbacks and poor transition to adjoining two- and three-storey dwellings.
- Recorded concerns included privacy, solar access, deep soil, excavation, landscaping and design excellence.
- Three objectors addressed the panel, which also considered written submissions, the council assessment report and a site visit.
Why it matters
- The refusal records the panel’s view that the proposed scale, side setbacks, privacy measures and transition to adjoining homes did not adequately respond to this low-density site. The minutes also identify side setbacks as relevant to the future development potential of adjoining properties.