The PROPERTY DOCTORS, Sydney Australia Novak Properties

EP. 1382 “Mona Vale vs DY: The Reality After New Height Reforms – Let’s Discuss!”

• Mark Novak, Cleo Whithear • Season 29 • Episode 1382

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The Northern Beaches is facing a revolutionary transformation as state government rezoning laws override local council powers. This compelling discussion between property experts examines what happens when six-storey apartments are suddenly permitted within 400 metres of town centres across Mona Vale, Dee Why, and 168 other NSW locations.

We unpack the stark differences between Mona Vale's village atmosphere and Dee Why's established apartment culture, revealing why these changes will impact each suburb differently. The conversation dives deep into community concerns voiced during our recent sold-out information night, where residents questioned how their neighbourhoods might change overnight. What happens when your neighbour's modest cottage becomes a towering apartment block? How will property values respond when some owners develop while others refuse?

Beyond the immediate property implications, we explore critical infrastructure questions that remain unanswered. With schools already at capacity, parking already scarce, and roads congested, can our Northern Beaches communities absorb thousands of new residents? The discussion reveals surprising details about which properties actually qualify for development despite being within the 400-metre zone, and why commercial precincts might soon be surrounded by buildings taller than those in town centres themselves.

Whether you're a homeowner concerned about your property's future, an investor seeking opportunities, or simply a community member who values the Northern Beaches lifestyle, this episode provides essential insights into the coming transformation. Text REZONE to 0460 111 111 to discover if your property falls within these new development zones and what it might mean for your future.

Speaker 1:

After last night's packed event with our community about what's happening with all these changes, we're gonna do a session this morning called the MonaVale versus DY and the impact and the changes, what's gonna happen with current zoning. Stay tuned. Expert property manager cleo with here motor Mona Vale versus DY. What do you reckon?

Speaker 2:

Well, being a passionate Mona Vale-ite, I would have to say I prefer Mona Vale to DY, although I work in DY. But I guess with these zoning changes we might need to get prepared for a bit of a shake-up of our area. These zoning changes we might need to get prepared for, you know, a bit of a shake-up of our area. And DY's kind of set the precedent for what could potentially, you know, change the aesthetic, the look, the culture, everything, Everything could change.

Speaker 1:

More. It's just more and more and more.

Speaker 2:

It's true, it's true, it's true. Um, you know, last night was such a great event and so informative, and we did have so many clients and landlords and community people that are interested in these changes, not only the ones that live in those suburbs affected, but how you know, potentially their investment properties could improve, or what to do in the future. It's all unknown territory, so I guess we're ripping the Band-Aid off, aren't we?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, like you know, the event for people who don't know, and you can watch the event live on our Facebook or my LinkedIn or even Insta, um, but, um, you know, it was a one-hour event. We we sold out within an hour of it, um of it being announced, and there was a short list of hundreds of people that, um, that could, we couldn't, couldn't have. So that's why we made it a live event as well, because they, they couldn't be there. It's too packed, it's booked out. So I just want to say that some of the community members' comments were you know everyone, there was a lot of fresh angles or different angles that I had not considered and I think it was just really interesting hearing some of those questions, plenty of questions.

Speaker 1:

And, if anyone's been unaware or under a rock, the state government's come along and actually and now on a state level switched off local controls in order to allow further density, sometimes six storeys, a lot of them within town centres, within 400 metres. So you know whether it could be a little cottage or two or three or ten. That's 400 metres of village. Some of these places can go six storeys. So people were concerned about what if the three houses next door go six storeys and they don't, because they just love their location, their home. So it is disruptive as well. As you know, I think some people think it's great, so a lot of people think it's not it's true, and you know we've seen some development in monavale, not as much as dy, you know.

Speaker 2:

I'm pretty sure, if you know, something like merriton got built in our town center. There would be a lot of conjecture there because the highest storey unit block in the town of Mona Vale is probably only six storeys. That's just being built now across the road from Mona Vale Public School on the corner of Park Street and we're watching that go up and you know it's on the corner. So aesthetically it does kind of blend because there is apartments. But then further up the street now who knows what could be built?

Speaker 2:

So, um, I guess there's a little bit of uncertainty there in DY. I know that we expect, you know, density it's been like that for you know a long time whether it's these new apartments. There's always been a lot of apartments in DY and development happening. But um, in places like monaval we haven't seen that much. Across the road from the flying fox um park there was three houses and they've knocked those down and they're doing a set 55. So that's still only two stories. Like it hasn't been a big punch in the face. It's's been. You know, it's kind of blending in anyway. So this whole six-storey state ruling is scary for a lot of us that live in the area because yeah, we don't some of us don't like change, we don't want it too congested in there, although you know it does create opportunity and growth and all those things.

Speaker 1:

But yeah, parking is a problem Parking's a problem but there's 170 town centres that have been nominated. So anyone who's watching is thinking how does this affect me with MonaVale or DY? Well, it could be coming next door to you. It's 170 towns. If you do want more information, we've got a SMS we can send straight back to you an auto-reply with all the information there 0460 111 111,. 0460 111 111. Send the word REZONE and it will look up your area. But you know, so this is. I know we're doing Mona Vale versus DY, but this is relevant to 170 town centres.

Speaker 1:

Parking's an issue. So let's be real negative about it, because I think sometimes we can learn even we may be able to learn even more. Like, parking's an issue, you know some people have bought a cute cottage or built a brand new home 400 metres of their town centre in Mona Vale. It would be Pretty disheartening that you've spent, you know, half a million or a million or one and a half million on a beautifully designed home for your family to then find out the harsh reality that you know you can have possibly six storeys to the left and six storeys to the right. That would erode your value.

Speaker 2:

Definitely, and you know your neighbour might do it, and then you haven't done it, you know. So it would be a missed opportunity as well at some point. I also I mean the negative things as well is, whenever you get, you know, high density, it packs the schools. Our schools are already full. Monobow public there's no more room. Sacred Heart in Monobow there's no more room. So I understand the housing crisis and shortage and this is great, but at the same time, does the infrastructure like? Is it supported? Um, if our schools are already full, are they going to build a new school? Like you know, it's all, it's all relative to that. Um, I do understand kids then go to high school, so there there's room, you know again, and it's an ebb and flow, but these are concerns of the community, not just parking, you know.

Speaker 1:

And can the transport keep up?

Speaker 2:

Well, I think this is why Mona Vale's been chosen as one of the suburbs. Yes, I believe Mona Vale, that's the hub of the B line, that's where the bus comes from, that's where it starts and that's where it finishes, and we do have that supported, you know, infrastructure there. And another thing, I guess that is similar with MonaVale and DYS we have those main arterial roadways. We've got MonaVale Road that can take you all the way out to the western suburbs, and then you've got Warringah Road that can take you all the way to the city in Chatswood. So you know, both suburbs have that capability of being able to, you know, go in and out of the beaches quite well.

Speaker 1:

So I do understand from that standpoint that you know we're a good candidate, not that we want it, but we are a good candidate for that reason or and and something that um people may have not realized, um after the Q questions and answers on the informational night last night, was that these town centres, the centre, the core, the commercially zoned areas are actually unaffected. So this state, this statewide sweep of density change, is actually not affecting the commercial precinct, which I thought was a bit weird, because what you're actually going to find is that zero to 400 metres outside of that is going to be higher than the township yeah, it's all residential, it's mostly residential yeah, you know I mean.

Speaker 1:

So that's to give you, like my another example, you'll find that the surrounding 400 meters could be higher than the actual town center. Um, so that's that's interesting. Um, it may be. It may be a little bit of a bump, a good thing for the supporting businesses. So, you know, coffin shops, gyms, doctors there may be a bit of stimulus with that more density coming to the area. Something that I thought was interesting because we had a town planner there last night something I thought interesting ellie mentioned was that, even though it appears that everyone within 400 meters is eligible the actual there's still some controls that will hold some people back and I think you said something like 18 or 36% will be developed of those properties within those zones. The harsh reality is, when they did an overlay of what works, it doesn't work. It doesn't just automatically work if you're within 400 metres of a town centre.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so it's not just a comp lunch for anyone, you know. And another thing I took away was that this is Great word, what a great word, nice word. Yes, it's true, it's true, but I mean, that's what I didn't understand about this the difference between state and council. So I guess in the old days, if you didn't want something, you just complained to council and then they, you know, the da didn't get approved or it got, you know, overhauled or took time, whereas now, it's been aaron brockovich yeah, so yeah, like all these people in monabal could write.

Speaker 2:

You know, I don't, I oppose this, I oppose, I oppose that, and then council gets bogged down, whereas now I guess the opposition is going to be, you know, not a thing, it's just going to come down whether it's compliant or not compliant, simple.

Speaker 1:

Interesting. Mona Vale versus DY. That's our take from speaking to members of the community last night and living in the community for a very long time and um, yeah, I think um, stay tuned, um, stay tuned before I go. It could be switched off. They could, um, they could turn around in a year or two or three and say, okay, we're done, we've got enough property. So, yeah, it's interesting to see how this works out yeah, like if it doesn't work, it won't work.

Speaker 2:

It's a trial and error, so let's see how we go Watch this space.

Speaker 1:

Watch this space. So I'll say it again, guys, before we go. If you want to see what we're talking, the community talking to our town planner and vice versa SMS the number 0460 111 111 and then SMS the word REZONE, and you'll get the bop, bop, bop, or you can become an expert yourself, or watch that video. And, cleo, thank you for coming on this morning.

Speaker 2:

No problem, see you guys. Thank you.

Speaker 1:

Thank you, bye Cheers, bye, bye, bye.