State Overrides Council to Okay $93m Aqualand Roseville Plan

Roseville’s renewal is gaining ground with the approval of Aqualand’s 111-apartment project in the transitioning suburb. 

The state has granted development consent despite Ku-ring-gai Council’s objections to the project’s height and scale. 

Five detached houses will make way for the Woods Bagot-designed apartments across two midrise buildings of 9 and 10 storeys on the sloping 3552sq m site at 2-4 Larkin Street and 1-5 Pockley Avenue. 

The proximity to Roseville rail station is expected to drive further density in the area under the NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development program, which aims to increase density within 400m of public transport. 

The apartment mix will comprise 30 affordable housing units and the balance at market rate, which Planning & Co’s environmental impact statement said would help to address key worker housing shortages in the area. 

Bridge Housing has been identified as the community housing provider wrapped into the project at Roseville. 

According to the design report, the project aims to support essential workers and young residents of Ku-ring-gai who are increasingly unable to secure housing in the area. 

“This project embodies a broader social responsibility—helping shape a more diverse, resilient and connected community for the future,” the report said. 

▲ The Woods Bagot-designed buildings of 9 and 10 storeys step down the sloped site at Roseville.

The estimated development cost of the project is $93.4 million, and the project would create about 150 construction jobs. The project would be built in one stage. 

The Ku-ring-gai Council put in place a revised council-led TOD plan, which allows about 24,728 homes to be delivered in the region at the end of 2025.

It followed backlash from industry over the initial proposal, which would have forced reductions in 19 projects already under way, including about 580 homes on sites where State Significant Developments were already in progress.

Sydney developer Aqualand won approval for its first build-to-rent tower, a 390-apartment tower at 146 Arthur Street at North Sydney, late last year.

▲ The Central Barangaroo project will deliver 2ha of parkland and public areas.

The developer also received the tick of approval to proceed with its plans for Central Barangaroo, the final piece of the waterfront’s $5-billion redevelopment. 

Aqualand won concept approval from the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for its revised masterplan, Modification 9 Concept Proposal (Mod 9), allowing the developer to move ahead with its plans after years of legal battles, community opposition and government negotiation.

Construction was expected to begin last year, and the first stage completed by 2030—but there has been no action on the site a year after Aqualand won approval.