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Published On: March 13, 2024

Local residents are invited to have their say on future plans for Neutral Bay’s town centre.

By JACK KELLY

Community members are invited to have their say on shaping future growth in Neutral Bay’s town centre.

North Sydney Council is encouraging feedback on its draft Neutral Bay Town Centre Planning Study from 27 February until 2 April.

Feedback on the draft planning study is open until 2 April.

The draft planning study proposes improvements to public space and facilities including new plazas on Grosvenor Lane and Rangers Road, a new community centre and an upgrade of the existing centre, widened footpaths along B-Line bus stops, pedestrian links, landscaping and sun protection.

Mayor Zoë Baker said: “With this planning study, Council hopes to enhance the village atmosphere to the centre of Neutral Bay.”

“We know from speaking with the community that there is a real appetite for more inviting public space and community facilities in the town centre, and that’s what this plan hopes to achieve.”

Improvements to the Neutral Bay Community Centre and widened footpaths are proposed.

“It also revises the height limits and design guidelines for new developments.”

The draft study is designed to guide future development in the town centre, which includes the area around Military Road between Ben Boyd Road and Winnie Street.

Community feedback from the Neutral Bay Alive community consultation group, formed in June 2023, helped inform the development of the study.

“The planning study also aims to make Neutral Bay more attractive to businesses so that we’re retaining jobs and services in the town centre,” said Cr Baker.

New plazas in several locations are being proposed.

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The study replaces the Military Road Corridor Planning Study, which was rescinded in 2022 in response to community concerns about its proposed building heights.

While the old study proposed allowing building heights of up to 12 storeys, the new draft study has reduced this
to a maximum of eight storeys for a few sites, with the majority capped at six storeys.

As well as consultation with the Neutral Bay Alive group, Council drew on specialist advice from external consultants to develop the draft study.

The temporary Young St plaza in Neutral Bay.

Community members can view the draft Neutral Bay Town Centre Planning Study and provide their feedback online at HERE or at one of the following locations until 5pm Tuesday 2 April 2024:

Council’s Customer Service Centre, 200 Miller Street, North Sydney, from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays
Stanton Library, 234 Miller Street, North Sydney, during opening hours
Neutral Bay Community Centre, 190–192 Military Road, Neutral Bay, during opening hours.