community - 2026-09-03

Plans for up to 450 homes at Lizard Rock withdrawn

Source: www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

The Patyegarang planning proposal at Morgan Road, Belrose, also known as Lizard Rock, has been withdrawn. The proposal would have allowed bushfire-prone land to be rezoned for up to 450 homes and a cultural centre, making its withdrawal significant for nearby residents and the future of the bushland. Northern Beaches Council welcomed the decision on Wednesday, 2 September, after opposing the proposal over what it described as substantial planning, environmental and hazard risks. Community concerns raised over several years included bushfire exposure, evacuation and access, as well as the development's potential impact on the surrounding environment. The proposal involved removing an area of bushland equivalent to around 45 football fields, according to the council. Hundreds of homes would also have been placed in an area identified as having a high bushfire risk. Council said the plans did not adequately address how residents could evacuate or how emergency access would operate during a bushfire. These concerns were particularly important given the number of homes proposed and the site's risk profile. It also argued that the rezoning was inconsistent with key local and regional...