Housing & planning · Woollahra Municipal Council
Woollahra notes commencement of six-month geotechnical assessment trial
The unconfirmed minutes record six State Significant Development Applications among Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy applications in Rose Bay, with further applications noted in Double Bay and Bellevue Hill.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Woollahra Council noted the commencement of a six-month trial involving a seconded geotechnical engineer in its development assessment process, according to unconfirmed minutes of its 26 October 2026 meeting. The recorded resolution also notes six State Significant Development Applications among Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy applications lodged or approved in Rose Bay.
The engineer, seconded from a specialist engineering firm, is to assess development applications against the council’s current adopted controls. Councillors also confirmed that additional qualified and experienced experts would be retained where deemed necessary, and requested the General Manager to table a report after the trial.
The recorded resolution says almost all of the Rose Bay applications involved basement excavation. It also notes further Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy applications in Double Bay and Bellevue Hill, but does not separate lodged applications from approvals or give a total number of projects across the three suburbs.
According to the resolution, council has commenced work on a separate study of the cumulative effects of excavation and groundwater flows associated with basement construction in Double Bay and Rose Bay. The study was requested in a July 2025 council resolution and approved at a meeting in August 2025. The minutes describe the geotechnical trial as the first of many steps responding to a March 2026 council resolution.
The resolution also records court matters involving expert geotechnical advice, including cases at 28 Hamilton Street and 28-32 Dover Road in Rose Bay where consent was granted following section 34 agreements. The minutes list ongoing matters at 37 Newcastle Street and 35-37 Wilberforce Avenue in Rose Bay, 342-350 New South Head Road in Double Bay and 7 Collins Avenue in Rose Bay.
Council’s resolution does not establish a permanent geotechnical position or alter its development controls. It records the temporary secondment, provides for further expert advice where deemed necessary and requests a post-trial report. The minutes do not state when the six-month period began or when the follow-up report will be presented.
The motion was carried 11-0, according to the recorded division in the unconfirmed minutes of the 26 October 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution notes that the temporary six-month trial has commenced; it does not resolve to commence a new trial. It also provides for additional expert advice where deemed necessary and requests a post-trial report.
The resolution does not itself create a permanent position or change the council's adopted development controls.
The applications are described together as lodged or approved, so the minutes do not establish how many are approved, under construction or otherwise active.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When did the six-month secondment begin, and when will the post-trial report be presented?
What criteria will determine when additional experts are retained?
How many of the applications noted in Rose Bay, Double Bay and Bellevue Hill are lodged, approved or under construction?
What is the timetable for completing or releasing the cumulative excavation and groundwater-flow study?
What happens next
Continue the six-month geotechnical engineer secondment trial noted as having commenced.
Retain additional qualified and experienced experts where deemed necessary for development application assessment and advice on development consent conditions.
The General Manager is requested to table a report after the six-month trial period.
Continue work on the study into cumulative excavation and groundwater flows associated with basement construction in Double Bay and Rose Bay.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The quoted text describes the commencement of a six-month trial involving a geotechnical engineer seconded from a specialist engineering firm to assess applications against Council's current adopted development controls.
Note the commencement of a trial involving the secondment of a geotechnical engineer from a specialist engineering firm for a period of 6 months and that the seconded geotechnical engineer is to assess applications against Council's current adopted controls in relation to development.
Resolution 699/2026, Part A
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text states that development applications, including six State Significant Development Applications, have been lodged or approved in Rose Bay under the Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, almost all involving basement excavation, with further LMR applications in Double Bay and Bellevue Hill.
B. Receive and note the report, thank staff for commencing the secondment trial, and note: i.that a number of development applications (including 6 State Significant Development Applications (SSDAs)) have been lodged or approved in Rose Bay under the Low and Mid-Rise (LMR) Housing Policy, almost all involving basement excavation with further LMR development applications in Double Bay and Bellevue Hill;
Resolution 699/2026, Part B(i)
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text describes the trial as the first of many steps responding to Council's 23 March 2026 resolution and states that work has commenced on a cumulative excavation and groundwater-flow study for basement construction associated with the LMR reforms in Double Bay and Rose Bay, requested in July 2025 and approved in August 2025.
and ii.that the trial is the first step of many in responding to Council's 23 March 2026 resolution; and iii.that Council has commenced work on a study on the cumulative impact of excavation/groundwater flows arising from the basement construction in Double Bay and Rose Bay associated with the LMR reforms, as requested in its resolution of the ordinary meeting of Council of 28 July 2025 and approved at its ordinary meeting of 25 August 2025.
Resolution 699/2026, Parts B(ii) and B(iii)
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text calls for confirmation that additional qualified and experienced experts will be retained where deemed necessary for development application assessment and advice on development consent conditions.
Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 21 C. Confirm that where deemed necessary, additional qualified and experienced experts will be retained to provide expertise for development application assessment and to advise in relation to development consent conditions.
Resolution 699/2026, Part C
Open original minutes ↗The General Manager was requested to table a report after the six-month trial period.
Request the General Manager table a report post the trial 6-month period. The Motion was put and Carried. Note:In accordance with Council's Code of Meeting Practice a Division of votes is recorded on this matter.
Resolution 699/2026, Part E
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text lists court matters involving expert geotechnical advice, recording consent following section 34 agreements at 28 Hamilton Street and in the first matter at 28-32 Dover Road in Rose Bay. It lists ongoing matters at 37 Newcastle Street, 35-37 Wilberforce Avenue and 7 Collins Avenue in Rose Bay, and 342-350 New South Head Road in Double Bay.
D. Note the following Court matters have included expert geotechnical advice: Case nameAddressStatus MD Living Pty Ltd v WMC28 Hamilton Street, Rose BayConsent granted by the Court following s34 agreement. Council's conditions for geotechnical matters included in development consent. Aurora Rose Bay 2 Pty Limited v WMC 37 Newcastle Street, Rose BayOngoing – Hearing scheduled for 22 October 2026. Applicant amended its proposal to remove one level of basement car parking. RM (No.4) Pty Ltd v WMC 342-350 New South Head Road, Double Bay Ongoing – Hearing on 4 and 5 February 2027 Fyve Developments Pty Ltd v WMC 28-32 Dover Road, Rose BayFirst matter – Consent granted by the Court following s34 agreement. Council's conditions for geotechnical matters included in development consent. Second matter – modification seeking to amend geotechnical conditions – awaiting conciliation. Independence Pty Ltd v WMC35-37 Wilberforce Avenue, Rose Bay Ongoing – awaiting conciliation Jonathon Kontopos v WMC 7 Collins Avenue, Rose BayOngoing – awaiting hearing dates E.
Resolution 699/2026, Part D
Open original minutes ↗The motion was recorded as carried, with 11 councillors listed for and none against.
Request the General Manager table a report post the trial 6-month period. The Motion was put and Carried. Note:In accordance with Council's Code of Meeting Practice a Division of votes is recorded on this matter. For the MotionAgainst the Motion Councillor Ardouin, Councillor Dixson, Councillor Jarvis, Councillor Mitchell, Councillor Parmegiani, Councillor Price, Councillor Regan, Councillor Robertson, Councillor Silcocks, Councillor Torsten, Councillor Woodgate None 11/0 14.Rescission Motion NIL Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 22 15.Notices of Motion 15.1.
Resolution 699/2026, motion outcome and voting division
Open original minutes ↗The source identifies itself as unconfirmed minutes of Woollahra Municipal Council's Ordinary Council Meeting held on 26 October 2026.
Ordinary Council Monday, 26 October 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 2 Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes of the Meeting of Ordinary Council held at the Council Chambers, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, on 26 October 2026 at 6:30 PM.
Document title and meeting details
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the unconfirmed public minutes of Woollahra Municipal Council’s Ordinary Council Meeting held on 26 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council noted the commencement of a six-month trial seconding a geotechnical engineer to assess development applications against its current adopted controls.
- The minutes record six State Significant Development Applications among applications lodged or approved in Rose Bay under the Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, with further applications in Double Bay and Bellevue Hill.
- The resolution records that council has commenced work on a study of cumulative excavation and groundwater-flow impacts linked to basement construction in Double Bay and Rose Bay.
- Additional qualified and experienced experts will be retained where deemed necessary, and council requested a report after the six-month trial.
- The motion was carried 11-0, according to the recorded division.
Why it matters
- Residents near basement developments in Rose Bay, Double Bay and Bellevue Hill may see additional specialist scrutiny of excavation and groundwater issues during the six-month trial. The longer-term effect will depend on the post-trial report and any later council decision.