Kingston Foreshore character 'under threat' with Territory Plan change

A Territory Plan variation was published last week to allow the increased height for the building on Honeysett View, but it was made without any public consultation with the community.

It is the second such variation, after the government overturned a ban on hotels in the arts precinct last year.

The latest variation has residents concerned that the foreshore area, home to several heritage-listed buildings, may be “under threat” from future changes made without consultation.

The main change will allow the developer of the $21.65 million block of land on the peninsula, Keggins Homes, to build up to 20 metres high under a raft of conditions, including fitting in with surrounding buildings. That exceeds the overall four-storey height limit that applies elsewhere in the suburb, but there are already numerous of apartments on the foreshore that extend to that height.

Other changes include a three-metre setback for people to walk around the peninsula on the lakeside and ensuring open common areas and pedestrian access through the building at ground level is included.

But Kingston and Barton Residents Group president Rebecca Scouller said residents were worried about the lack of consultation, particularly after the similar variation to the arts precinct.

"Here we are again having the same conversation about scope creep of the foreshore masterplan," she said.

Ms Scholler said the government had promised more transparent consultation on planning. She said the change in building heights potentially impacts amenity in the area, noting there were already parking issues.

The prominent block is expected to be home to a signature building for the foreshore precinct. Keggins Homes' Tim Pan said the plans, while not yet public, were for a residential apartment block with a handful of commercial leases on the ground floor, despite the land's zoning potentially allowing for a hotel.

"We don't want to disturb the current character of the foreshore precinct, we want to add to it, and if you look around there's already a lot of six storey buildings there," he said.