Eastern Sydney’s city planning panel has asked Coogee Bay Hotel to amend its redevelopment plans and address some of the issues raised by the community during the assessment period so a conclusive decision could be made.
Coogee Bay Hotel should provide more information on the amendments before the panel meeting scheduled for 17 March 2022.
Some of the amendments to be clarified include concerns over the building’s height and scale that will impact the community. The owners of the hotel plan to build a six-storey complex along Vicar Street with a height of 23.3 meters. (DA/437/2021)
“A building of such height and bulk will block the views (to the bay, Wedding Cake and Dolphin Point) of many residents who live west of the site and loom over Coogee Bay Road and the scenic foreshore area,” a petition against the redevelopment stated.
“It will change the low-scale, low-key look and feel of the Coogee village centre forever.
The proposed height is twice the legislated planning height limit of 12m. It should be noted that other new developments in Coogee Bay Road have complied with this requirement.”
More than 8,500 have signed the petition to date.
Photo Credit: Ryan James Elliot/Facebook
In January, Urbis, the developer, has written Coogee locals who filed submissions to the development application to ask permission to visit their homes to “prepare photomontages of potential view impacts,” according to one local Rona Wade.
“They came to my place to take photos. One of the group was from the Council who was just overseeing what happened,” a resident confirmed.
Coogee Bay Hotel and the developer have also been asked to enumerate the economic impact of establishing a new supermarket on their site to the existing businesses around the area.
In November 2021, councillors of the Randwick City Council unanimously agreed to a motion to refuse the development and have submitted their opposition to the planning panel.
Listen to the audio recording of the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel meeting with Coogee Bay Hotel on 16 December 2021 below:
As the property market goes from strength to strength, strong demand has fuelled an impressive Coogee median house price increase of 20 per cent, as downsizers, investors, interstate buyers, and young families flock to the eastern suburb for a taste of its beachside lifestyle.
Highlights
The property market rose by 19.97 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021, putting the Coogee median house price at $3,551,000.
Coogee’s median unit price also rose by 10.59 per cent, at $1,375,000 for the same period.
As one of the most expensive suburbs in Sydney, Coogee is a tough property market to enter, being a high-demand market for affluent investors.
House Price Growth
According to data from Property Market Updates, the house price growth in Coogee rose by 19.97 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021. This has led to the increase in the median house price at $3,551,000, up from $2,960,000 in the previous year.
Despite the lockdowns, properties in the Eastern Suburbs, including Coogee, have posted growths in the double-digits, as investors continue to flock to places that tick all their boxes. Buyer demand has been outstripping supply in tightly held Coogee, with only 64 houses sold during this period.
House listings spent an average of 28 days on market. Two-bedroom homes had the most buyers, especially from the young crowd who come from established families.
This suburb remains high up on the list of suburbs to invest in Sydney and with good reason. Coogee is one of the most expensive property markets to get into in Australia. Despite that, it’s still a high demand market, averaging 1,451 visits per property, per realestate.com.au
Unit Price Growth
Growth of the Coogee median unit price was tracked at 10.59 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021. The double-digit increase has placed the median unit price at $1,375,000, up from $1,227,500 in the previous period.
Unit stocks sold for this period reached 338, with half of the transactions for two-bedroom apartments. Unit listings stayed at an average of 29 days on market, with insiders saying there are still not enough stocks to meet demand.
Over the decades, heaps of Coogee apartments, especially those close to the beach, have been redeveloped to high-standard that appeals to investors with discerning taste and affluent backgrounds.
About Coogee
Vibrant Coogee, found in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs, is attractive to both locals and tourists alike. The name “Coogee” is from the Aboriginal word “koojah” which is translated to “the smell of seaweed drying.”
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Coogee became a town in the late 1830s and sealed its popularity as a go-to destination for beach escapades in Sydney in the early 1900s when the electric trams opened. Today, life in this resort town continues to revolve around Coogee Beach, as well as the ocean pools, McIver’s Baths and Wylie’s Baths. Further up north is Gordons Bay, a haven for avid snorkelers.
Houses in this beautiful beachside suburb are mostly apartment rebuilds and condominiums fitting or the lifestyle of the locals. Half of Coogee’s residents are between 20 to 40 years old, who also enjoy an active nightlife at heaps of pubs, bars, and cafes along the main shopping and dining strip on Coogee Bay Road.
However, further at the back and close to the neighbouring suburbs of Randwick and Clovelly are traditional beach houses and Victorian-era cottages, which are highly in demand for young and small families.
Coogee is also popular for landmarks like the Coogee Pavilion and the Coogee Bay Hotel, where numerous community events have taken place for decades.
“I know there are other places to live but I just could not see myself living anywhere else. When you live in a place like Coogee, you do not just have a home, you obtain a lifestyle. Parks, beaches, clubs and community are all in one location.”
Andrew
“I’ve died and gone to heaven. Close to the city, airport, shops, amazing restaurants and cafes, and the perfect BEACH!
Street Adviser
“What can I say about this place? Other than that, I fell in love with Australia and never want to live anywhere else again. Coogee is awesome in every way. Whilst Sydney does have a tendency to be a little on the pretentious side in general this most definitely does not apply to Coogee or ‘The Coog’ as I refer to it. If friendly locals, beautiful scenery, beautiful people, a relaxed vibe, whilst being close to the city and buzz is your thing, then this place is unbeatable.”
An adaptive re-use is an architectural approach that gives new life to old, historic, or sometimes abandoned structures.
The building was shortlisted alongside Cottage Medical, Berry (Nicholas Powell Architect) and The Sydney Retreat (Bronwyn Hanna). The winner for the category was Sub Base Platypus (Lahznimmo Architects), a community recreation and work hub in Neutral Bay.
Almost a Decade to Transform
Originally built in 1966 as a seven-level apartment site on the beachfront, the building’s distinctive brickwork had shown signs of disrepair and much-needed maintenance over the last five decades.
The team behind McGregor Westlake Architecture undertook the project to transform the building. From 2013 to 2020, they carefully revitalised the building and re-mortared all the bricks in place, a highly demanding endeavour given the building’s age.
Photo Credit: McGregor Westlake Architecture
The existing balconies across the 28 apartments have also been expanded and updated with a more modern design and angled form.
Also included in the repair was the construction of a new cafe and restaurant space with a panoramic view of the Goldstein Reserve and Coogee beach.
The carpark next to it, on other hand, was also updated and rid of its ugly metal fence.
Running since 1994, the National Trust awards program recognizes excellence across heritage conservations in many fields, including architecture and design.
“There are diverse range of projects and initiatives recognized this year, and they represent the full spectrum of heritage and role it plays in defining and enriching place, telling the stories of our diverse communities and connecting people,” National Trust Heritage Awards jury chair Matt Devine said.
Crowne Plaza in Coogee has been recognised for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence at the 2021 HM Awards. The award honours the best in the hospitality industry across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
James Wilkinson, the awards’ chief judge and founder, said that this year’s recognition was particularly meaningful amidst the “most challenging in history for the Australasian accommodation industry” due to the pandemic.
“I’m proud to say the entries this year – from chefs to housekeepers, five-star resorts and apartment hotels – were incredible and it was terrific to see so many staff and properties highlight so many achievements in challenging times,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“The quality of the winners and highly commended recipients – a full list can be found below – represents some of the industry’s finest and well done to everyone in 2021 across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.”
Other hotels which shared the honour are Coral Sea Resort in Arlie Beach, Ovolo The Valley in Brisbane, and the Little National Hotel in Sydney.
Crowne Plaza in Coogee is currently under renovation and has completed Stage 2 of the project that involved the refurbishment of 209 rooms, the lobby, and the addition of meeting rooms and event spaces.
New General Manager
The win for Crowne Plaza in Coogee comes as the hotel welcomed its new General Manager, Melinda Lampier and new Director of Sales and Marketing, Benjamin Ferry.
Both executives boast of extensive experience in the hospitality industry as Ms Lampier had senior roles in IHG and Starwood’s group of hotels in NSW, Victoria, Vietnam and Thailand. Born in Bondi, the new boss said that she’s very passionate about Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
“I am a beach lover and this role which sees me return to my roots to help promote one of the most recognised seaside Sydney properties is a career favourite for me.”
Ferry, on the other hand, also worked with IHG in territories like Japan, the Middle East, and the South Pacific.
Advocates of live music have opened a petition to save Selina’s from demolition after the owner of Coogee Bay Hotel, the home of the iconic venue, announced plans for a massive redevelopment.
Chris Cheung, the owner, said that they do not have plans to rebuild Selina’s in the refurbishment. Instead, the venue will be knocked down and replaced with rows of shops, cafes, and a car park if the development application (DA/437/2021) is approved.
However, some Sydney locals are asking Mr Cheung to allocate space for Selina’s in the hotel’s multi-million dollar plans. Nearly 250 people have signed the petition as of press time.
“Some of the $112 million being put into this rebuild [could] be allocated to ensuring there is still a space for live music and culture to continue thriving in the East. Let’s keep the show going on.”
Meanwhile, Shadow Minister For Music And Nighttime Economy John Graham is also in favour of saving Selina’s, which has been around since the 1980s.
“Selina’s is the first test of getting this right or risking losing a Sydney music institution,” Mr Graham said.
“A stage which has hosted so much of Sydney and Australia’s music history – hosting Midnight Oil, Crowded House, the Angels and the Hoodoo Gurus as well as landmark international tours by the likes of Elton John and David Bowie – deserves to be preserved not just as a relic but as a living entertainment venue.”
He said that Coogee Bay Hotel must be granted a Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP) status to preserve the iconic stage. Recently, the NSW Government signed the Liquor Amendment Act 2020, covering incentives for live music venues amidst the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
In May 2021, Enmore Theatre and the strip of Enmore Road in the Inner West became the first Sydney venue to receive SEP status.
Meanwhile, a separate petition was also created to object to the redevelopment plans of the Coogee Bay Hotel. Over 6,500 supported calls for Randwick City Council to turn down the application because this will “change the low-scale, low-key look and feel of the Coogee village centre forever.”
Months following the completion of its building upgrades, the Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club can now add another honour to its name, after receiving recognition for its improved accessibility at an international awards ceremony held in Germany.
The IPC IAKS Award, which is given out every two years, acknowledges sports and leisure facilities with commendable architectural structures and designs that offer all people the opportunity to practise or view sport freely and without barriers.
Allen Jack+Cottier Architects designed and conceptualised a remote surf patrol window overlooking the Coogee beach so people of all abilities would be able to join and contribute to the rescues and safety operations of the Coogee SLSC. The upgraded building was also spruced up with a modernised interior and layout, allowing people with mobility devices to easily navigate the building for the first time.
Photo Credit: Randwick CC
“It allows us to reimagine what the iconic Australian lifesaver looks like,” Tony Waller, the Club Governor of the Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club, said.
Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club was one of 86 contenders from countries like Canada, Japan, Montenegro, Peru, Syria, and the USA.
Other winners from Australia were COX Architecture for both the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne (Silver Award) and the Ken Rosewall Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park (Distinction). COX Architecture alongside Counterpoint Architecture was also recognised for the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville (Distinction).
Residents have won against the plans to change a popular Coogee bus route, the 373 bus from Coogee to City Circular Quay, after nearly 9,000 locals submitted their objections during the consultation period.
Following the outcry, the 373 bus route will continue to travel from Coogee to Randwick, and through the CBD, every 10 minutes during the day as the government ditches its original plans to overhaul Eastern Sydney’s public transportation.
In May, a proposal to cut the 373 bus service along with 20 other routes was immediately met with rejections from the commuters. Transport for NSW also planned on modifying 23 other routes whilst adding 11 new buses.
Photo Credit: Transport for NSW
The overhaul was supposed to encourage people to use the light rail line as the “more sustainable” public transport network amidst the population growth in the area.
However, residents in the southeast said this network involved more interchanges. They staged rallies in Randwick and opened two petitions to save the buses.
Whilst the 373 bus will remain, minor changes will still be carried out for some routes by 5 December 2021. Capacity for buses 348, 356, and 375 will also be improved to help the students in 90 local schools, as gained from the feedback during the consultations.
“We will re-engage with schools to help them understand and communicate relevant changes to their communities,” said Transport Minister Rob Stokes.
“This is a great win for our community but the campaign to Save Our Buses is not over as this Government still has 24 local bus routes on the chopping block,” Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill wrote.
In a statement, leaders of Randwick City have met and agreed to drop the iconic event yet again due to the uncertainty of the pandemic. Despite the easing restrictions in Sydney, an alternative celebration will be prepared for the holidays across the town centres, including Coogee.
Instead of converging at Coogee Beach, this year’s Christmas events will include roaming entertainment, pop-up buskers, and potential village carols with a small number of people at various places. This will give the local choirs a chance to reconnect with an audience after being confined to Zoom and online performances for the last 18 months.
Santa Claus is still expected to drive through town aboard a Christmas bus that will visit public spaces. There will be opportunities to take some photos, albeit with social distancing.
Public artworks will also be on display around Coogee, Matraville and Clovelly.
The Coogee Carols from 2019 Photo Credit: TheCoogeeCarols/Facebook
Former Mayor Danny Said revealed that they had to make the decision to cancel the carols in August since planning for the event requires a longer lead time.
“The uncertainty around what restrictions may be in place in the coming months and the significant planning required to produce these events, means we’ve had to make this tough decision now,” the mayor confirmed.
Meanwhile, vaccination checks will likely be required for those joining in the small-scale celebrations.
After 13 weeks in lockdown, NSW has slowly transitioned to the first stage of the state’s reopening plans as LGAs reached their target vaccination milestones. However, Premier Dominic Perrottet warned residents to expect newly acquired infections since restrictions have been eased.
“This is a natural part of opening up,” the premier announced during the press conference. “We will see case numbers increase and hospitalisations increase.”
“We believe that our conservative approach here ensures that we keep people safe but importantly get people back to work as quickly as possible.”
Editor’s Note: The Blue Ringed Octopus was taken out of the Ross Jones Pool by Scott Benson Jimenez, who scooped it out using a coffee cup and returned it safely to the ocean.
Swimmers in Coogee are advised to take precautions and be on the lookout for a deadly blue-ringed octopus, which was spotted by a young boy at the Ross Jones Rockpool.
The boy and his mother reported the sighting to the Coogee Surf Life Surfing Club, prompting the temporary closure of the pool facility on Friday, 1 October 2021.
Randwick City Council was also alerted to the incident and posted makeshift signs informing the public of the pool’s closure as a precaution. However, an official from the Council said they could not find the sea creature as there were plenty of seaweeds in the water.
Plans to drain the tidal pool were broached to catch the blue-ringed octopus but as there were no other sightings, Council has reopened Ross Jones Rockpool to the public as of the weekend.
Ross Jones Rockpool, built in 1947, is at the southern end of the beach and it’s a popular family spot. The facility is regularly cleaned on a Monday, depending on the weather conditions as the tidal wash usually brings in seaweeds and other creatures.
Meanwhile, blue-ringed octopuses are a common sight on Sydney beaches, especially in the summer season. However, they are very hard to spot as they could camouflage and hide well.
These shy, beautiful marine animals release a powerful venom to protect themselves and could “bite” or inject what they perceive as threats.
Coogee swimmers are advised not to touch the octopus if they find one. In the event of a bite, they must seek medical attention as soon as possible as the venom from a blue-ringed octopus can cause full paralysis that can constrict a person’s breathing muscles, per the Australian Museum.
Did you know that outdoor public pools in NSW, such as Wylie’s Bath in Coogee, have been allowed to reopen, including in areas of concern where the lockdown restrictions are still in effect?
The decision to reopen these public recreation sites, to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, came after the mayors from 12 local government areas (LGAs) appealed to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. The NSW Government has updated its guidelines to include the opening of public pools.
“From Monday 27 September 2021, you will be able to resume swimming at outdoor public pools either within your local government area or within 5km of your home,” the new guideline reads.
Councils with public pools are expected to enforce a stringed COVID-19 safety plan based on the recommendations of NSW Health.
In a press conference a week prior to the reopening, Berejiklian said that the state’s encouraging vaccination rate for the over 16 years old was a factor in the decision. As of mid-September 2021, NSW has reached 81.9 percent (first dose) and 51.9 percent (second dose).
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
“As a result of these positive signs, the New South Wales Government is pleased to announce that from next Monday, all public pools will be open in a COVID-safe way,” the premier said.
“And those COVID-safe plans will be formalised and made public, making sure that we keep community safe as much as possible and prevent seeding, and that all of us appreciate the importance of enjoying the warmer weather and the positive mental health and recreation and exercise.”
In Coogee, Wylie’s Bath has initiated the selling of season passes for 2021/2022. Employment opportunities have also reopened as the public pool is expected to have many visitors for the summer.
However, Wylie’s Bath will not reopen on 27 and 28 September due to a private event on Monday and a “weather hold” on Tuesday. The site was booked for a photoshoot on the 27th, which will help with the public pool’s maintenance fund whilst Tuesday’s opening will hinge on the conditions in the water. Visitors may keep tabs by checking the official site for the announcements.
Meanwhile, visitors to the outdoor pools will be asked to show proof of residence. They must be within the five-kilometre range of the site. QR code app check-ins will also be required whilst the facility will strictly follow a limited capacity. Mask wearing is mandatory except when swimming, eating, or drinking.
