The planning controls and associated concept scheme has been amended and refined during the rezoning process in response to input from Council and the Community.

Key to the resolution of this scheme for Woolworths has been consideration of the context within Rose Bay, ensuring the project is respectful to the community and its neighbours.

Drawing on community and Council feedback we made many changes to our proposal including:

• Removing 3 units on level 3 to increase setbacks to the northern boundary;

• Increasing the setbacks on level 1, level 2 and level 3 to the western boundary;

• Substantially increasing the landscape buffer to the western boundary;

• Reducing the building height;

• Increasing the balcony setbacks to the east on level 2 and 3 to minimise impact on Old South Head Road and the corner of Albemarle Avenue;

• Reducing the overall internal building area;

• Making traffic changes in response to resident feedback;

• A revised facade design to reflect design and materiality feedback;

• Increased retail activation on Old South Head road as the primary retail street;

• In response to concerns around public access to the proposed pocket park, we have amended the design to exclude public access; and

• We have increased screen planting and green landscaping within the separation zone on Albemarle Avenue, to further improve the street and residential interface.
  

As the project progresses through the rezoning process and subsequent Development Application, Woolworths will continue to seek Community and Council input, with continual refinement to the project, to ensure it will provide an enduring positive outcome for the Community.

The DA proposes 13 apartments.

We are proposing a highly sustainable supermarket with specific sustainability initiatives which could include water sensitive urban design, solar PV panels on the roof and commitment to 100% renewable electricity to reduce the supermarket’s environmental impact, to be determined as part of detailed plans.

In line with Woolworths Group's sustainability initatives, the supermarket will:

• Have zero food waste to landfill

• Be powered by green electricity.

The apartments will be designed to exceed Building Sustainability index (BASIX requirements).

Landscaping planters are proposed along Albemarle Avenue to visually connect with the existing street trees and greenery along Albemarle Avenue and surrounding streets.

Over half of the apartments are proposed to be naturally cross ventilated, to reduce the need for air conditioning.

Supporting solar access studies identify that the proposed development will not reduce sunlight into nearby homes.

Landscaping planter boxes are proposed along Albemarle Avenue to visually connect with existing street trees and greenery along Albemarle Avenue and surrounding streets, and around the resident rooftop space, to create a visual link to the leafy surrounds.

It is proposed to create a new private secure landscaped zone at ground level on Albemarle Avenue.

The proposal has been designed to maintain privacy to nearby homes and apartments through a private secure landscaped zone being approximately 350 square metres and 9m wide with vegetation to provide shade and a visual buffer. In addition to this separation, a set back to each upper floor, away from the boundary was provided.

Landscaping has also been incorporated in balcony planter boxes on upper floors and around the resident podium roof space to create a visual link to the leafy surrounds whilst protecting privacy to the future residents and neighbours.​ This design will continue to be refined through the rezoning and development application, with Council and the community consulted through this process.

A Flood Impact Assessment has been prepared which identifies the existing flooding, the implications of the new proposal and mitigations.

As this is the subject to many aspects outside of our control including the finalisation of the DA, we cannot give an answer at this time.