Dear fellow Mosman community member,

My name is Judith Pearson. Mosman has been my home for most of my adult life.

I am a proud Sydneysider, and I believe Mosman should help build some of the affordable homes that Sydney needs.

So why have I taken the State Government to court over its housing policy?

The State’s Low and Mid-rise (LMR) housing policy is meant to help solve the housing crisis. This is a crucial objective for our community and society. But the policy was rushed and, in its current state, undermines its own intentions.

In Mosman, the LMR won’t achieve the goal of building more affordable homes. We’ll have fewer, very expensive units being built by developers, rather than more, less expensive ones.

The LMR allows the State Government to override local councils’ planning controls with a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores each community's unique character and needs.

The State Government is setting a dangerous precedent of overriding local communities and elected councils, allowing bureaucrats to ignore the voices of those whose daily lives are affected by their decisions.

All communities in NSW, including Mosman, should have a voice in decisions that affect them.

Why Mosman is at risk

1. Well-designed apartment blocks in Mosman are already earmarked for demolition by developers, enabled by the LMR. They plan to build fewer, more expensive luxury units in place of these apartments. This will reduce affordable housing supply, not increase it.

2. In Mosman, it could mean eight to ten-storey blocks on narrow village streets, unsupported by infrastructure upgrades. The LMR's definition of "Town Centre" means the most sensible sites for density (those close to transport and services) won't be redeveloped.

3. The policy has silenced those who speak for our community’s unique needs. Those who live here want to be consulted.

What our Mosman voice is saying

Do we need more homes?

Yes.

Do we need affordable homes for essential workers and our younger generations?

Yes.

Can we build these homes while protecting our community's liveability and environment, and in a way that includes us in the decision-making process?

Yes.

We want Mosman’s voice to be heard

Hundreds of Mosman residents have joined together under the banner of Mosman Matters.

We are not opposing the goal of more housing: we want to see new affordable homes built in Mosman for our future generations. But we believe Mosman’s voice matters when Mosman’s future is being decided.

Our cause is to ensure that new housing development:

1. Includes community input in decisions that affect us.

2. Protects liveability and heritage, so that Mosman remains a vibrant and sustainable place to live.

3. Delivers genuinely affordable homes, not just multi-million-dollar luxury units.

An alternative plan

Mosman Matters is developing an alternative plan to meet the Government’s housing target for Mosman.

With the help of a renowned sustainability-focused urban planner, we are finding ways to build homes sustainably and affordably, with a focus on the most transport-accessible areas of Mosman. The plan will strike a balance between community growth and the preservation of our unique character and environment.

When this plan is ready, we'll ask the State Government to consider implementing it as a constructive, Mosman-specific alternative to their one-size-fits-all plan for NSW.

Thank you for caring about Mosman – its history, its beauty, and its future. Together, we can shape a housing solution that respects our community’s voice while meeting Sydney’s housing needs.

Kind regards,

Judith Pearson