Developer sees red over green

City of Sydney – the country’s first carbon-neutral Government – will fight a “green development” in the Land and Environment Court tomorrow.

The council planned to refuse a five-storey eco-development unless it was give a “voluntary payment” of $589,803.

Sustainability expert Michael mobs, a consultant for the development Fivex, said the building would delete 125 tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution from the air and re-use 700,000 litres of sewage every year.

The Woolloomooloo commercial and retail development would include tri-generation power, water harvesting and public citrus orchids – inspired by Clover Moore’s vision of a green city.

“It is a disgrace that this council recently unveiled its2030 Sustainable Sydney policy, yet is attempting to blackmail a project that will deliver on its objectives under is green policy,” he said.

The council sought the $589,803 payment – on top of the $165,000 in development contributions – because the retail and commercial building exceeded size conditions.

The combined payments, to go towards traffic improvements in the area, represent more than 10 per cent of the development’s $7 million budget – leaving developers short of the $890,000 set aside for the planned initiatives.

A City of Sydney spokesman said floor space ratios could be varied when developers contributed to the public domain.

Most of Fivex Commercial Property’s measures, such as a car-share vehicle for anyone to use and orchids, were rejected as not providing a public benefit, leaving the voluntary payment under a floor space bonus scheme the only way to gain approval.

“An assessment by city planners found the proposed development exceeds height and density planning controls,” the city’s spokesman said.

Fivex Commercial Property general manager Lesli Berger said property developers in Sydney were being held to ransom by councillors, who forgot their green principles for the developers’ dollar.

“This is not about money as we are spending a great deal more money in going to court and proposing to invest in sustainable features, than the $589,803 they are demanding in cash for this rort,” Mr Berger said.

11 September 2008