Homes in an affluent Sydney neighbourhood are set to be demolished after the NSW government approved an $85 million project, despite fierce community opposition.
Seven properties along Rangers Avenue in Mosman will face the wrecking ball after the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure greenlit a 44-apartment complex with 91 car spaces late last month.
The approval was given to knock down 11-23 Rangers Ave despite 174 public submissions – 170 of which objected to the project – and one objection from Mosman Council.
News of the project was made public in May 2025 , in a deal involving six homes estimated at the time to be worth $60 million. A seventh home on the street was later added to the deal.
Key concerns raised in the submissions centred on traffic, excessive bulk and scale and doubts whether the project delivers genuine housing affordability.
“Risking the character and land stability of this street to such a degree for the sake of 10 ‘affordable’ units and 34 multimillion apartments with harbour views makes a mockery of the affordable housing act,” one local resident wrote.
“It is nothing more than a senseless and shameless cash grab.”
Another resident, who has lived in the Lower North Shore suburb for more than 30 years, said the development would ruin the “history and beauty” of the area.
“There is no evidence that local infrastructure can accommodate a development of this intensity without further eroding safety, functionality and residential amenity,” another wrote.
Other locals highlighted the strain the complex would place on local streets.
“I have serious traffic concerns for the residential areas and safety issues for children in particular,” one submission stated.
“This proposed development is completely over the top and far too large. It involves the demolition of good family homes,” another wrote.
“The increase in traffic in this already congested area will be horrific. Also, it will cripple the already burdened infrastructure,” added another.
Others questioned the validity of the project’s affordability claims.
“The development application claims to address housing affordability through a token allocation of affordable dwelling,” one person wrote.
“There is no credible evidence that the apartments will be sold at prices genuinely accessible to those experiencing housing stress.”
Submissions also argued the project risked inflating broader property prices “by setting new price benchmarks and encouraging further speculation and land banking” by developers hunting similar high-density approvals.
Mosman Council objected on the grounds that the proposal represents an overdevelopment of the site and fails to provide an acceptable urban design response.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure said the project will cost an estimated $85,135,825 and create 124 construction jobs.
Property group Savills handled the sale.
Stuart Cox, the director of residential sales for Savills, told nine.com.au approaches were made to the six homeowners last year.
Cox said the approaches were spurred on by policy changes to Mosman’s R2 zone – low-density residential.
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