Dee Why Town Centre

Page Updated: December 12, 2008

Artist impression of proposed Dee Why Town Square from Howard Avenue (Site B DA 2007/1249)

Current News

Gazettal of Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000 (Amendment No. 21)

On Friday 28 November 2008, Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000 (Amendment No.21) was published in the Government Gazette. The plan has the effect of:

To adjust the boundaries of the localities E5 Howard Avenue, E6 Oaks Avenue and E9 Pittwater Road under Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000 (the Principal Plan) and form a new locality (E21 Dee Why Town Centre) that better reflects the function and desired future character of the Dee Why Town Centre.

To make provision for the following matters (amongst others) in relation to development in Locality E21 Dee Why Town Centre:
- land use categories,
- allotment amalgamation, as a means of achieving a co-ordinated outcome and the objectives of the plan articulated in the Desired Future Character Statement for the locality,
- building form (including the calculation of building heights and determination of storeys),
- open space requirements,
To remove the open space zoning of the Council car park site (being Lot 17, Section 16, DP 8172, Lot 18, Section 16, DP 8172, Lot 19, Section 16, DP 8172, Lot 2 DP 526306, Lot 43 DP 341020, Lot 44 Section 16 DP 8172, Lot 45, Section 16, DP 8172 and Lot 46, Section 16, DP 8172).

Interested persons may inspect both plans at the Customer Service Centre of Council’s Administrative Complex, Civic Centre, Dee Why.

Historical Updates

The Warringah LEP Amendment Number 21 is currently with the Department of Planning for their consideration.

The Draft LEP is expected to be published soon in the Government Gazette.

Council is furthering discussions with the RTA in regards to any required refinements to the traffic management measures proposed in the GTA traffic study, developed to facilitate improved traffic flow within the Dee Why Town Centre area. It is envisaged that the measures will be implemented following the determination of the development application, and prior to the conclusion of any works associated with Site B.

The recommendations of the Urban Form Study to facilitate the future growth of the Dee Why Town Centre area are required to be implemented through an amendment to the LEP. This amendment is anticipated to commence following the gazettal of the new standard LEP, anticipated in 2009.

The Joint Venture Stage One development application for Site B has been assessed by Council, however cannot be progressed until gazettal of Draft LEP (Amendment No.21).

Proposed Voluntary Planning Agreement

Council gives public notice pursuant to section 93G of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 of a proposed Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) between Warringah Council, Multiplex Dee Why Pty Ltd (as Developer) and Brookfield Multiplex Developments Australia Pty Ltd (as Guarantor). At its meeting on Tuesday July 22, 2008 Council resolved to give public notice of the VPA for 28 days.

The VPA is proposed to be entered into in connection with Warringah Local Environmental Plan – Amendment No. 21, which was on public exhibition from Sunday February 10, 2008 to Friday March 14, 2008 and proposes to amend Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000. The proposed VPA applies to the land comprised in Lot 1/3 DP 307937, Lot A DP 416469, Lot 1 DP 504212,
Lot 10/11DP 231418, Lot A DP 339410, Lot 7 DP 8172 Sec 16, Lot 1 DP209503,
Lot 1/2/3 DP 212382, and Lot A/B DP 371110, which is also known as No. 884-896 Pittwater Road, 9, 11, 15 and 17 Howard Avenue, 14-16 Oaks Avenue and 28 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why or ‘Site B’.

The proposed VPA and an Explanatory Note prepared pursuant to clause 25E of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 can be viewed Sunday July 27 to Saturday August 23 below or at Council's Civic Centre or Dee Why Library. For more information on the proposed VPA and Explanatory Note call
9942 2340.

The revitalisation of the Dee Why Town Centre moved a step closer on the 5th May 2008 with Council adopting LEP amendments that permit development to transform Dee Why from an older style local shopping centre to a modern regional centre. The LEP amendments will now be referred to the NSW Minister for Planning for his approval.

"Dee Why is a shambles and something desperately needs to be done about the Town Centre,” said Warringah Council Administrator Dick Persson.

"I regret the decisions made by the previously elected Councils left us with such a narrow and disappointing choice for the future of Dee Why. This has been a difficult issue and one that I have been working on for the past five years in my role as Administrator. I am satisfied the worst of all options would be to leave the current LEP in place.

The new State Government Metropolitan Strategy changes the nature of Dee Why and the amendments to the LEP will allow the area to realise this vision of ‘a major shopping and business centre serving the immediate subregional residential population’.

The Mutlixiplex/Vumbaca proposal and Council’s proposal for the Howard/Oaks Avenue carpark site include large open spaces, a mix of residential, retail and commercial uses with substantial streetscape improvements and underground parking.

The Council report I have considered and approved included a number of changes to the proposals following extensive community consultation and independent urban design advice. While I do not like the height of the buildings I am pleased they have been reduced from the original proposal to now be 18 and 17 storeys. I believe the trade-off provides substantial community benefit with the size of the public plaza.

There are a number of features of the Town Centre proposals that offer community benefit:

The creation of a 2,250 sq/m north facing public plaza
The generation of capital to allow the provision of a new and expanded library along with a new community centre and facilities for the community services currently operating out of houses in Howard Avenue

The doubling of the size of Walter Gors Park
Large increase in the number of public parking spaces
Bus layover on Pittwater Road
New traffic arrangements to improve unacceptable delays

I certainly accept this is a very significant planning issue, not only for Dee Why, but for the broader region. Like many residents, I am angry the ineptitude of those responsible for Dee Why’s current zoning has left us with such limited choice.

This proposed LEP will now be forwarded to the NSW Minister for Planning, along with all the information gathered during the consultation process. It will now be up to the Minister to decide whether to accept my recommendation or not,” Mr Persson said.

For any enquiries relating to the Dee Why Town Centre proposals, please contact Council’s Planning and Development Enquiries.

Table of Contents

1 - Dee Why Town Centre Public Exhibition Notice

2 - Council Report 28 June 2007 Dee Why Town Centre Progression

3 - Dee Why Urban Form Study

4 - Dee Why Town Centre Traffic Study

5 - Urban Design Review Report

6 - Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000 (Draft Amendment No A) - Dee Why Town Centre

7 - Proposed revision to draft amendment 19 of the WLEP 2000 prepared by Hassell – Council Carpark Site “A”

8 - Planning report to accompany proposed amendment to WLEP 2000 Dee Why Town Centre prepared by Planning Workshop Australia – Joint Venture Site “B”

9 - Development Applications

10 - Other Council Initiatives

Dee Why is a major commercial and residential area for the northern beaches and as such Warringah Council has been investigating development proposals for the Dee Why Town Centre. A proposal prepared by the Government Architect’s office was previously adopted and the statutory process to amend Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000 (WLEP) to implement the proposal commenced. The amendment proposed to WLEP (draft LEP Amendment No 19) would have rezoned Council’s Howard/Oaks Ave carpark and adjoining sites (collectively known as Site A) and the land now known as the Multiplex/Vumbaca Joint Venture site (Site B). On 28 June 2007 Council resolved to place draft LEP Amendment No 19 on hold after the submission of new schemes by the Joint Venture Group which proposed to substantially vary the Government Architect’s proposal.

Two schemes to rezone the Dee Why Town Centre (Rezoning Proposals) are currently before Council. One is proposed by the Multiplex/Vumbaca Joint Venture in relation to Site B and the other is proposed by Council in relation to Site A. A further draft Local Environmental Plan for the Dee Why Town Centre known as Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2000 (Draft Amendment No A) – Dee Why Town Centre (draft LEP) has now been prepared which, if made, would give effect to the Rezoning Proposals. An independent specialist has assessed the Rezoning Proposals, including traffic flows, public access, open space, community facilities and overall urban design.

The draft LEP, background reports to the draft LEP and two development applications (DA 2007/1249 and DA 2007/1251) will be placed on statutory public exhibition from Sunday 10 February 2008 to Friday 14 March 2008. Various other documents are also being made available for inspection. Further information can be viewed by clicking on the links above.

Exhibition Period

The draft LEP (and background reports), Development Application 2007/1249 and Development Application 2007/1251 and documents accompanying the applications will be on public exhibition for the purpose of the EP&A Act between Sunday 10 February 2008 and Friday 14 March 2008. The Walter Gors Reserve preliminary concept plans and the Civic Centre Site concept study are also available for inspection during this period. All of these documents may be inspected via this website and at Warringah Council’s Principal Office at the Civic Centre, Pittwater Road, Dee Why during Council’s ordinary office hours (Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm). In addition, these documents may be inspected at the following locations during opening hours:Dee Why Library, St David Avenue; Belrose Library, Glen Street; Warringah Mall Library; Forestville Library, Darley Street; Terrey Hills Library, Booralie Road.

A CD containing these documents is available free of charge from Council’s Customer Service Centre or by contacting Council on 9942 2111 (subject to availability).

Artist impression of proposed link from Oaks Ave to Howard Ave

Artist impression of proposed link from Oaks Ave to Howard Ave (Site B DA 2007/1249)