But a group of residents is now mounting a last-ditch campaign to stop a rezoning which has the capacity to deliver 1500 units across three inner west precincts and begin rejuvenating one of Sydney’s most hated and run-down roads.
At Saturday’s Voice referendum,they distributed a flyer outside polling places titled,“The plan to destroy our neighbourhood”,which claimed 60 homes in the Taverners Hill precinct would be demolished in coming years to make way for higher density.
Objections also centre on the loss of a dense patch of trees that residents are calling “the lungs of Leichhardt”. They fear it would remove the habitat of native animals and migratory birds along the inner west GreenWay,and say development should be confined to Parramatta Road.
Four Leichhardt residents spoke against the plan at last week’s council meeting,including Sharon Carey,65,who has lived in the precinct for 30 years.
“What I am stating is not NIMBYism,” she said. “I actually want a backyard,not a balcony. I want to see trees,flowers,birds,brush turkeys,possums. I want to be able to look out my doors and windows and look at the sky,not a wall of units. I want sun to light my house,not unnatural light.”
Carey and other speakers also argued it was “near impossible” to get on the light rail at peak hour;however,patronage on the L1 Dulwich Hill line is still below pre-COVID levels.