Housing & planning · Randwick City Council
Seven-apartment plan refused for 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra
Randwick’s planning panel unanimously rejected DA/526/2026 after citing excessive bulk, shallow side setbacks, privacy concerns and a poor fit with the R2 low-density zone.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A proposal for seven three-bedroom apartments at 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, has been refused unanimously by the Randwick Local Planning Panel, after the panel said its height, bulk and side setbacks were unsuitable for the low-density residential area.
The application covered demolition of existing buildings and structures, tree removal, a residential flat building described in the resolution as five storeys, a basement with 10 car spaces and two motorcycle spaces, refurbishment of the existing swimming pool and cabana, and associated landscaping. Consent was refused under section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
In its reasons, the panel referred separately to the building’s six-storey presentation to Mons Avenue. It said the proposal would have excessive bulk, shallow side setbacks and a poor transition to adjoining two- and three-storey dwellings. The panel found that it did not recognise desirable elements of the existing streetscape or contribute to the desired future character of the area.
The panel also said the height and bulk produced by the in-fill affordable housing bonus had not been shown to be compatible with the R2 Low Density Residential precinct as it transitions under the low- and mid-rise housing provisions. It described the massing, oversized balconies, blade walls and inefficient floorplate as creating a form akin to an R3 or R4 building rather than the modest transitional uplift intended for R2 land.
Other refusal reasons included inadequate building separation, overlooking from upper-level balconies, compromised solar access for neighbouring properties and non-compliant deep soil. The panel also cited significant excavation near neighbouring properties, limited landscaping along side boundaries, a front setback forward of neighbouring buildings and a lack of housing mix because all seven apartments were large three-bedroom dwellings.
The panel said the proposal did not demonstrate that the site was suitable and was not in the public interest, having regard to its stated planning non-compliances and objections in public submissions. It agreed with Council officers’ refusal recommendation and the Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel’s comments.
Judith Sidley, Lothar Metzner and Borisav Kokanovic addressed the public meeting before the panel deliberated. The minutes do not say whether the applicant will submit a revised proposal or take another step. They record a refusal of DA/526/2026.
What deserves a closer look
The document records a resolution refusing consent, not merely an officer recommendation; the panel separately states that it agreed with the officer's recommendation for refusal.
The minutes record the resolution as carried unanimously but do not give a numerical vote tally. The article does not infer one.
The proposal contains seven three-bedroom dwellings, 10 car spaces and two motorcycle spaces. No combined parking total or percentage is asserted.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Will the applicant submit a revised development application for 62 Mons Avenue?
If a revised application is lodged, how will it address the panel's concerns about side setbacks, privacy, deep soil and excavation?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The panel refused DA/526/2026 for the proposed residential flat building and associated works at 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, under section 4.16.
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. 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. 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.
D63/26 development application resolution
Open original minutes ↗The proposal at 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, was described as five storeys and included seven three-bedroom dwellings, 10 car spaces, two motorcycle spaces, pool and cabana works, and landscaping.
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. 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.
Application description in the resolution
Open original minutes ↗The quotation identified 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.
R2 zone refusal reasons
Open original minutes ↗The applicant had not demonstrated that the bonus-generated height and bulk resulted in a building scale compatible with the desired future character of the R2 LMR precinct in transition; the quotation also identified oversized balconies, blade walls and an inefficient floorplate.
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.
SEPP Housing Clause 20 refusal reasons
Open original minutes ↗The proposal did not achieve the modest transitional uplift intended for R2 land, and the Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel did not support it.
The proposal does not achieve the modest transitional uplift intended for R2 land and therefore fails the mandatory Clause 20 compatibility test. Pursuant to SEPP (Housing) 2021 – Chapter 4 Section 147 (Schedule 9 Design Quality, the Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel (DEAP) does not support the proposal identifying missing contextual documentation, excessive built form and scale, inadequate setbacks, inefficient massing, oversized balconies, and insufficient landscaping along the sides results in an overdevelopment of the site that will not be compatible with the context of the site and surrounding area.
Clause 20 compatibility and design-quality refusal reasons
Open original minutes ↗The quotation identified inadequate separation, overlooking from upper-level balconies and compromised solar access for neighbouring properties.
Pursuant to SEPP (Housing) 2021 – Chapter 4 Section 147 (ADG Compliance), The development also fails to demonstrate consistency with the following ADG design criteria and guidance: • 3F Visual Privacy – inadequate separation; upper‑level balconies overlook adjoining properties; privacy relies on bulky blade walls and screening. • 4A Solar and Daylight Access – excessive height and insufficient separation compromise solar access for neighbouring properties.
ADG visual-privacy and solar-access refusal reasons
Open original minutes ↗The proposal failed to provide compliant deep soil.
Pursuant to Objective 3E‑1 of the Apartment Design Guide and Table 7 of the Tree Canopy Guide for Low and Mid‑Rise Housing, the proposal fails to provide compliant deep soil as required.
Deep-soil refusal reason
Open original minutes ↗The proposed earthworks were significant and close to neighbouring properties, and the development did not adequately demonstrate that excavation would avoid detrimental impacts on adjoining land, structures or drainage patterns.
Pursuant to Randwick LEP 2012 – Clause 6.2 (Earthworks), the proposed earthworks are significant and located in close proximity to neighbouring properties. The development does not adequately demonstrate that the extent of excavation will avoid detrimental impacts on adjoining land, structures or drainage patterns.
Randwick LEP earthworks 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, Randwick City Council.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Randwick Local Planning Panel refused DA/526/2026 for 62 Mons Avenue, Maroubra, on 10 September 2026.
- The proposal comprised seven three-bedroom apartments, 10 car spaces and two motorcycle spaces, with pool refurbishment and associated works.
- The resolution refusing consent under section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 was carried unanimously.
- The panel cited excessive height and bulk, shallow side setbacks, privacy and solar-access impacts, excavation concerns and poor transition to neighbouring homes.
- The panel agreed with council officers’ refusal reasons and the Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel’s comments.
Why it matters
- The refusal stops the proposal in its lodged form and sets out the panel’s concerns about how apartment development using in-fill housing provisions should respond to height, side setbacks, privacy, deep soil and the desired future character of an R2 area.