By ANNA USHER

Developers have by-passed Mosman Council to fast-track a multi-million-dollar housing development on a prime site with four street frontages.

The project involves the amalgamation of 494-500 Military Rd with 516 Military Rd into a 3,207sqm “mega lot” earmarked for 107 new apartments.

Currently, 494-500 Military Rd is home to Honeysuckle Garden nursery, while 516 Military Rd houses Midas Tyre and Auto Service. Both will be demolished to make way for a “shop top” of up to eight storeys, with 3% allocated for “affordable housing”.

The site was declared a State Significant Development (SSD) by NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully on June 12 and will be assessed by the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) – a panel created by the Minns Government to fast-track housing approvals.

Established in December 2024, the HDA allows developers to bypass local councils, granting a three-person panel the power to green-light large-scale projects.

Minister Scully said the reforms are designed to cut red tape and speed up housing delivery in high demand areas.

“It’s great to see strong interest in new housing across the east and north of Sydney after the NSW government got directly involved in the assessment of large-scale housing proposals,” Mr Scully said.

“Greater certainty in assessment times and consistency has meant projects that could have been stuck in councils for years are being brought forward.”

With the SSD declaration in place, the project at 494-500 and 516 Military Rd now moves into an assessment phase, which includes the release of architectural plans, community consultation and a final determination within 275 days.

Mosman Mayor Ann Marie Kimber has slammed the project, warning that a barrage of new housing developments could overwhelm local infrastructure and permanently alter the suburbs character.

“Our schools, health services, transport systems, traffic flow, open green spaces and stormwater infrastructure are not equipped to accommodate such rapid change,” she told Mosman Collective.

“None of this has been properly planned or modelled by the State Government.”

Mayor Kimber confirmed that Council is reviewing the impacts of the Military Rd proposal and noted that the final decision lies with the State Government’s HDA – and not Mosman Council.

“This is deeply concerning,” she said, “particularly given the site includes a cherished community garden. However, this is likely just the beginning.”

Read the full statement from Mosman Mayor Ann Marie Kimber

The NSW Government has enacted some of the most sweeping planning reforms in recent memory, without adequate consultation with Councils or the communities they represent.

These changes have stripped local governments of their authority, allowing developers to bypass Council entirely and seek direct approval from the State, even when proposals blatantly override long-standing, community-led planning controls.

To make matters worse, the Government is now attempting to halve the public consultation period for major developments from 28 days to just 14, further silencing community voices.



Mosman Council is committed to delivering real solutions to the housing crisis, solutions that are strategic, sustainable, and aligned with the values of our residents. What we are seeing instead is a piecemeal and top-down approach that undermines local planning frameworks and disregards the character, infrastructure, and future needs of our community.



The State Government set Mosman a five-year housing target of 500 dwellings, based on what it considered appropriate growth for our area. Yet under the new LMR controls, more than 250 dwellings have been proposed in just one week, over half the target already.



This level of growth, if left unchecked, will have serious and irreversible implications for Mosman. Our schools, health services, transport systems, traffic flow, open green spaces and stormwater infrastructure are not equipped to accommodate such rapid change. None of this has been properly planned or modelled by the State Government.



Our staff are currently reviewing the impacts of the current proposal, but the final decision will not rest with Council. It will be made by the NSW Housing Delivery Authority, an agency whose mandate is to fast-track housing, not to safeguard local values or protect community interests. This is deeply concerning.



Council will be making strong and formal representations to the State Government to mitigate the impacts of this proposal, particularly given the site includes a cherished community garden. However, this is likely just the beginning.


We call on the NSW Government to stop sidelining local Councils and communities. Work with us, not against us. Respect the planning controls developed through years of careful consultation and engagement. This approach fails our communities.