Apartment Developments in Crows Nest, St Leonards Spark Protests Among North Sydney Locals

North Sydney locals are getting more and more vocal in protesting a series of apartment developments across the Crows Nest and St Leonards precincts.

Plans to erect several high-rise residential buildings, including a 64-storey tower along Pacific Highway, have residents giving it a thumbs down for fear that these areas would eventually become severely congested.

“There is no need for this massive overdevelopment nor is the necessary local infrastructure (schools, open space, sports facilities, community facilities) sufficient to manage any increase in population arising from additional residential and commercial development,”  the residents said in a statement posted via a Facebook group.

“Our community has always supported appropriate development. What we object to is inappropriate, poorly planned, OVERDEVELOPMENT without the necessary supporting social infrastructure.”



A deluge of development applications (DA) has been filed with the North Sydney Council as the state government started infrastructure work around Crows Nest for its massive Sydney Metro Station improvements. Once completed, this railway system has been projected to grow North Sydney’s population thus the need for more homes in the area.

Thus, developers propose to demolish old low-rise buildings and detached houses to replace these with high-rise towers.  

Photo Credit: North Sydney Council

Though most of these applications are still under deliberation, residents have come together to oppose the overdevelopment. A number of locals say they still prefer living in low-rise homes with terraces as apartment living is not ideal for every family. Residents also point out that the overdevelopment would change the suburb’s character.



“I want us to have a choice and a spread of different housing,” NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes said. “If we fail to meet the housing needs of our existing and future populations we will live in a city that is increasingly divided between the haves and the have-nots.”

Among these developments include:

1. 601 Pacific Highway 64-Storey tower

The tallest building development lodged with the North Sydney Council should provide 516 homes. The proposal is still in the early stages of review.

2. 500-520 Pacific Highway The Landmark

To stand next to the 64-storey building is The Landmark, a 43-storey apartment with 495 homes. The lower levels will have offices.

3. 472-494 Pacific Highway St Leonards Square

Next to the Landmark, this two-tower building has been approved and construction will be finished by 2020.

Photo Credit: Micos Group/Facebook

4. 617-621 Pacific Highway

This will be a 50-storey tower with 195 homes and the first six floors will be a commercial and retail space. North Sydney Council has partially approved the plan to include an arts centre in the building.

5. 575-583 Pacific Highway

Around 82 homes will be available in this 18-storey building.

6. 100 Christie St

Amidst this 36-storey commercial and residential building, the developer has also proposed a  Christie Street Reserve with green open space.

7. 88 Christie St

Construction of this site with three towers and 654 homes is expected to be done by 2023. A public library has been included in this project.

To track some of the development applications, see these links: Development Application 1 | Development Application 2