WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION OF DEE WHY
How the ambitious plans to revamp Dee Why Town Centre will impact property values and local businesses
Photography: Markus Andersen
T he h e a d l i ne act o f t h e t ran s for ma ti o n w i ll b e t h e ma g n i f i ce nt $30 0 mi ll i o n Lig hth ou se d eve lo pme n t
FOREWORD Exciting and ambitious plans are set to transform Dee Why Town Centre into the Northern Beaches’ premier commercial and residential district Hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested by Northern Beaches Council and private developers, in a makeover that will deliver an attractive, liveable and thriving CBD by the sea, featuring new parks and other community facilities, better roads, more parking, hundreds of residential apartments, and retail and office space. Our Dee Why Dee Why Town Centre, 18 kilometres north-east of the City of Sydney, covers approximately 36 hectares stretching from Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden in the south, along Pittwater Road, to Dee Why RSL and Dee Why Lagoon in the north. Within these boundaries are mixed-use districts to the east and west of Pittwater Road, along with the Northern Beaches Council Civic Centre, Dee Why Library and some limited car parking. The headline act of the transformation will be the magnificent $300 million Lighthouse development, located on Pittwater Road and Oaks Avenue. The Lighthouse name reflects how the grand structure’s dazzling glass-facade towers will soar, flooding its hundreds of contemporary one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with natural light. Lighthouse will evolve as a four-tower project with an upmarket retail centre, childcare facilities and commercial suites on the 1.44-hectare site, along with a range of resident lifestyle facilities. Without argument, Lighthouse will be the epicentre of Dee Why Town Centre transformation, providing a true village-like open air retail hub for our suburb. A positive effect on real estate prices The infrastructure improvements will have a positive impact on real estate values in Dee Why and the surrounding suburbs, including Collaroy. We estimate that private investments will add close to $1 billion in additional residential and commercial stock to the Dee Why property markets. Time and again, we see property prices surge when an infrastructure project of this nature is announced. And when the project is completed, the true long-term benefits to the economy, community and real estate market will be realised. If you are considering purchasing a property in Dee Why or surrounding suburbs, this brochure is a must-read, as it details the extent of the Town Centre’s massive infrastructure improvements and how they will impact property values in one of Sydney’s most popular commercial and population corridors. Peter Mosedale and Lachlan Yeates, Co-Principals, Raine&Horne Dee Why/ Collaroy and Vincent West, Director, Raine&Horne Commercial Northern Beaches
The future is Dee Why Only minutes from world-famous Manly Beach, Dee Why is at the heart of the Northern Beaches Dee Why’s family-friendly beach benefited from a beautification project a few years ago by the Northern Beaches Council. The fashionable Dee Why Beach Esplanade is now a delightful fusion of cafés and alfresco eateries, stainless steel street furniture, elegant lamp posts and contemporary shower units. In keeping with Dee Why’s wonderful beach, the time has arrived for a world-standard Town Centre to emerge, with integrated public spaces and facilities, more retail activity, expanded office space, housing, parking and pedestrian access. The renewed Town Centre will give Dee Why a CBD, a social hub, an entertainment precinct, and abundant green-spaces. The town centre will combine environmentally compliant water, flora and fauna management, and collectively these improvements will enhance the lifestyle and financial aspirations of all Dee Why stakeholders, including property owners.
Bringing business back to Dee Why Many decades ago, Woolworths, Waltons and other major retail brands were prominent in Dee Why. The major banks were also well represented in the town centre. Since those heady days, many retailers and banks relocated to Warringah Mall and Brookvale. The CBD transformation will return Dee Why to its rightful place as a retailing and banking centrepiece of the Northern Beaches. Since the announcement of the plan, many leading retailers have indicated they will set up shop in Dee Why, and a number of major banks will open local branches. The Dee Why Town Centre project will deliver a level and standard of retailing, which currently doesn’t exist in the trade area.
Dee Why is open for business The blueprint for the Dee Why Town Centre transformation is the award-winning Masterplan adopted by the Northern Beaches Council The Masterplan was created by renowned urban planners Place Design Group, with the help of a Dee Why Working Party comprising local business people and community leaders. Its vision was recognised with an award for Government Leadership for Urban Design from the Urban Development Institute of Australia. In the words of the judges, Northern Beaches Council has prepared an ambitious plan to create ‘an exciting and vibrant place for the future – a centre by the sea’. The judges especially appreciated the balance of higher-density commercial and residential development with open space. Through the Masterplan’s implementation, Dee Why Town Centre will be transformed into the Northern Beaches’ premier commercial and residential district, making it the focus for civic and cultural activities. The key features of the Dee Why Town Centre will include: • The $300 million Lighthouse development, located on Pittwater Road and Oaks Avenue. The four-tower development will add 356 one, two and three-bedroom apartments to the CBD, an upmarket retail centre, childcare facilities and commercial suites. • A central community hub on the Civic Centre site with multipurpose meeting rooms, new library facilities, community health services and a landmark Civic Plaza (corner of Pittwater Road and St David Avenue)
• A new Police Citizens Youth Club Centre on the Civic Centre site (corner of Kingsway and Fisher Road). This project will include parking for 348 cars and will cost $26 million • 560 Council public car park spaces in and around the town centre, with excellent pedestrian connections • A Water Sensitive Urban Design that will improve the management of storm water and make water an attractive, peaceful feature of the Town Centre • A more commuter and pedestrian-friendly environment with new bike paths, laneways and wider footpaths • New open spaces & improvements to existing parks • Building heights no greater than what is currently allowed, except in selected areas where taller buildings may be considered on larger sites • Sculptural landscaping of median islands and nature strips, and opportunities for public art • Other projects, including a revamped Redman Road Plaza, an upgrade of St David Avenue Pocket Park and the restoration of Walter Gors Park. The budget estimate for the transformation of Dee Why Town Centre, based on concept designs for phases 1 to 3, and excluding the PCYC, is approximately $65 million, according to Northern Beaches Council. This expenditure is in addition to the $300 million Lighthouse tower project.
“Council is aiming for Dee Why to be attractive, vibrant and engaging, providing a greater sense of community and pride of place. I can’t wait to see tree-lined streets, bike paths and new parks that will provide the liveable, vibrant town centre we’ve all dreamed of. It’s a really exciting time to be in Dee Why.” FORMER MAYOR MICHAEL REGAN, NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL
Northern Beaches PCYC and Carpark A focal point of the Dee Why Town Centre transformation will be an exciting state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Kingsway and Fisher Road, Dee Why, for the youth of the Northern Beaches Set to open in the summer of 2016/17, the $18 million Northern Beaches Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) building will include: • Two multi-use indoor sports courts • A youth drop-in centre and study area • Three multipurpose community rooms • PCYC counselling space • Café Designed by multi-award-winning Australian architectural practice FJMT, the building will feature a curved vaulted roof and an attractive facade that enhances the street environment. Delivering a parking solution For many decades, inadequate parking has been a major issue for business owners in the centre of Dee Why. Lack of car spaces has forced local shoppers and visitors to commute elsewhere for goods and services. The inclusion of an extra 348 car spots within the new PCYC Centre will deliver a boost to local businesses and encourage more residents to spend larger portions of their retail budgets locally. The PCYC Centre car park will offer 120 spaces for all-day parking for bus commuters. Remaining spaces will be divided between free short-stay parking and paid all-day parking, which can be utilised by commuters.
Walter Gors Park Expansion and upgrades at Walter Gors Park will mean more open space where the community can relax and play - a community destination Walter Gors Park, is located in central Dee Why between Howard Avenue and Dee Why Parade, and is less than a kilometre from iconic Dee Why Beach.
Improvements are expected to include:
Walter Gors Park was previously a small park primarily used as pedestrian corridor between Dee Why Parade and Howard Avenue. Under the planned expansion, it will double in size to become a greenspace destination facility for the Dee Why community featuring:
• Structured screen plantings to enhance the pedestrian experience
• A modern children’s playground • Water features • An exercise area • Outdoor kitchens • A herb garden • Accessible toilets
Artists impression of the new Redman Road Plaza
• New fencing to give the green-space corridor a more defined edge • Improved lighting for pedestrian safety • New pedestrian pavements
• Public art The bigger and better Walter Gors Park will be completed by the end of 2016, while Meriton intends that Lighthouse will provide the community with a seamless transition from the retail centre to the new park.
Artists impression of the new Walter Gors Park
Redman Road Plaza The Dee Why community loves the outdoor lifestyle, so Northern Beaches Council is redesigning Redman Road Plaza to offer more alfresco dining, wider footpaths, new plantings, public art, improved traffic flow and safer pedestrian and cycle access. The development of the tree-lined plaza will begin in late 2016. In the future, there is a prospect that community markets could be held at the plaza, further enhancing Dee Why Town Centre’s status as a destination location for the Northern Beaches community.
Oaks Avenue Drainage Dee Why Town Centre lies at the base of a large catchment and receives water run-off from Narraweena and Dee Why South as it flows to Dee Why Lagoon.
progress along the avenue in stages, terminating with works at Pittwater Road. It is expected this project will be completed by October 2016.
Northern Beaches Council, which has been investigating flooding in and around Dee Why for a number of years, has completed drainage works on Dee Why Lagoon and areas along Dee Why Creek. Further works are planned or are currently under way:
An application has been lodged by developer Meriton for the demolition of existing structures and construction of Lighthouse, a multi-storey, mixeduse development on the corner of Oaks Avenue and Pittwater Road, Dee Why. Lighthouse will provide 356 contemporary apartments, an upmarket retail centre, childcare facilities and commercial suites on the 1.44ha site.
Drainage Works at Oaks Avenue Works have commenced to install new drainage pipes under Oaks Avenue. Identified as the highest priority in the Dee Why South Catchment Floodplain Risk Management Plan (2015), these works will reduce the high risk of flooding in the Dee Why South Catchment, particularly in the lower catchment and the Dee Why Town Centre. Council’s contractor, Ward Civil, has already relocated the pedestrian crossing on Oaks Avenue to allow a culvert to be replaced. Work will then
Artists impression of the new Triangle Park
Meriton Drainage Works
As part of this development, Meriton will undertake drainage works that will also reduce the impact of major flooding in Dee Why Town Centre. The civil storm-water and sewerage works, approved after extensive flood modelling of the development site, will include diverting the existing storm-water system to alleviate previous flooding issues within Pittwater Road and Howard Avenue .
What does the massive infrastructure investment mean for residents of Dee Why and surrounding suburbs? History has shown that infrastructure improvements are strongly associated with growth in property values. Across the nearby Spit Bridge, apartment prices on the lower North Shore jumped by up to 20% following the announcement of a new metro train station for Crows Nest. Similarly, the transformation of Dee Why Town Centre will be a major boost for the local property markets. Currently the average price in Dee Why is about $1.56 million for houses, and $632,500 for apartments, according to research from Raine&Horne Dee Why/ Collaroy. With hundreds of new apartments to be built in Dee Why, along with the massive financial investment in the town centre, the local real estate market represents excellent value right now.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR DEE WHY 876-878 Pittwater Road and 4-8 Oaks Avenue An application has been lodged for the demolition of existing structures and construction of a multi-storey, mixed-use development on the corner of Oaks Avenue and Pittwater Road, Dee Why. The development proposes 64 residential units, 3 retail shops and basement parking. 627-635 Pittwater Road (5 Mooramba Road) An application has been lodged for the demolition of existing structures and construction of a multi-storey, mixed-use development with 145 residential apartments, commercial tenancies and basement parking. Kiah Site - Pacific Parade Works have commenced on the construction of one of two residential apartment buildings approved on the former Kiah Family Centre Site between Pacific Parade and Sturdee Parade. 
Meriton invests in Dee Why’s future The Meriton group is planning a $300 million town centre, which has been christened Lighthouse. It is planned on a site purchased from Canadian group Brookfield for $52 million in 2013. Lighthouse will evolve as a four-tower project with an upmarket retail centre, childcare facilities and commercial suites on the 1.44ha site. Harry Triguboff, who founded and heads Meriton, said the aim of Lighthouse is to provide Dee Why with a pulsating community heart. “We intend to make this new town centre a vibrant destination for Dee Why’s residents – it will give the whole suburb a lift.” It is proposed that the Lighthouse towers, the tallest of which will be 18 levels, will contain 356 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, along with a range of resident lifestyle facilities. The retail centre is to include a major supermarket and covered alfresco dining and café areas. A child-care centre catering for 130 children is planned and three levels of basement car parking will be available to residents and the public. Meriton says the proposed design will give the town centre a happy and relaxed atmosphere by including turfed seating areas, artwork, a native palm avenue, a pop-jet water play area and an entertainment stage.
What the new infrastructure will mean for the commercial sector in Dee Why Retail space values set to rise The retail landscape in Dee Why is set for a major overhaul, because developers are now required to provide more space for parking, loading docks and garbage areas for retail in new developments. This is expected to dramatically reduce the amount of strip retail space. For instance, where a site currently offers 500 square metres of retail space, after allowing for the additional parking, loading and garbage space, it will offer closer to 150 square metres of retail space. This will result in fewer and smaller strip shops in Dee Why, sending retailers – and shoppers – into the shopping centres in Dee Why, Dee Why Shopping Village Plaza and the Meriton development between Howard Avenue and Oaks Avenue. Landlords can expect rental increases in line with the rapid growth of any town centre with short supply and high demand. And with more retail and banking business returning to the town centre, longer leases will promote betterquality tenants prepared to invest in better and
more expensive shop fit-outs. This will enable tier 1 retailers and restaurants to capitalise on the growing population that will be delivered by the town centre restoration. Office Dee Why is fast becoming the medical epicentre of the Northern Beaches, with medical centres, practitioners and specialists establishing offices in new buildings. As a result, the office sector of the market, which had seen an oversupply in recent years, is righting itself. The long-overdue transformation of Dee Why into a cosmopolitan place with restaurants, cafĂŠs and bars, combined with good public transport and professional and medical services within a short walk, will attract downsizers and professionals to come and live in the town centre. This will mean higher prices for office space, tighter yields, lower vacancies and a reduction in the need to provide incentives to tenants.
Dee Why Town Centre FAST FACTS
• Meriton will invest $300 million in the Lighthouse development, which will provide 356 contemporary apartments, an upmarket retail centre, childcare facilities and commercial suites on the 1.44ha site. • Millions of dollars will be invested by Northern Beaches Council to transform Dee Why Town Centre into a premier commercial and residential district. • Private investment is predicted to add close to $1 billion in residential and commercial stock to the Dee Why property markets. • Many leading retailers & banks will be opening in the new Dee Why Town Centre. • The Town Center will boast a Civic Centre, library, community health services, Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), Civic Plaza plus improved and expanded green-spaces. • Dee Why’s shortage of parking will be addressed with 560 Council public car park spaces and a further 348 spaces at the PCYC. • Pedestrians and cyclists will benefit from new bike paths, laneways and wider footpaths. • The risk of flooding will be reduced through major drainage works by the Northern Beaches Council and Meriton. • Retail and office rents are predicted to rise due to increased demand and new development standards that call for more space to be allocated for parking, loading and garbage. • Residential property values are expected to get a boost as downsizers and professionals are drawn to the mix of restaurants, cafés and bars, retail and services in walking distance. • Other initiatives that are set to impact Dee Why include: the launch of a new rapid bus service to the City; the new Northern Beaches Hospital at nearby French’s Forest and upgrades to Mona Vale Road.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this booklet is intended for informational purposes only. It is not appropriate for individuals seeking financial advice.
Development & Growth With proposed development to the Dee Why Town Centre, it won’t only bring Commercial Growth back to Dee Why with businesses that have relocated over the last few years, it will also bring property growth as shown in examples of other Metropolitan Areas such as St. Ives and Alexandria. Over the last couple of years, major development and infrastructure has taken place in these areas and not only has it brought Commercial business to the area, it has increased property transactions & value.
Capital Growth in Median Prices (Units) 20 – 15 – 10 – 5 – 0 – -5 – -10 –
ST. IVES
-15 – -20 – -25 –
KU-RING-GAI 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
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2015
Capital Growth in Median Prices (Units) 21 – 15 – 10 – 5 – 0 – -5 – -10 –
ALEXANDRIA
-15 – -20 – -25 –
SYDNEY CITY 2006
2007
Stats supplied by RP Data
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
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2015
Find out more about how the massive infrastructure investment will impact property markets in Dee Why.
Peter Mosedale
Lachlan Yeates
Vincent West
Licensee , Director & Sales Raine & Horne Dee Why
Director & Sales Agent Raine & Horne Dee Why
Director & Sales/Leasing Raine&Horne Commercial Northern Beaches
0408 177 207
0414 660 033
0403 444 000
pete@rhdwc.com.au
lachlan@rhdwc.com.au
vwest@rhcnb.com.au
Speak with our agents or contact our Dee Why office on (02) 9971 9000
Northern Beaches