512 Dean Street, Albury REF

The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was prepared on behalf of Property and Development NSW (PDNSW), who acted as both the client and determining authority for the proposed works. The project supported the operational needs of Legal Aid NSW, who occupied the existing public administration building and required upgrades to improve functionality, safety and service delivery.

The site at 512 Dean Street, Albury comprised six lots with a combined area of approximately 1,270 m², located within the E2 Commercial Centre zone under the Albury LEP 2010. The surrounding environment was characterised by civic, cultural and commercial uses, including QEII Square, the Murray Conservatorium and the Albury Local Court. The site was not flood prone, not bushfire prone, and contained no mapped biodiversity values or watercourses. Its primary environmental constraint was its location within the Dean Street Heritage Conservation Area (C6) and its adjacency to a State listed heritage item (Music Conservatorium, SHR #00137).

The proposed activity involved minor external building alterations and renovation works, including new aluminium framed glazing to the external stair, installation of a palisade security fence and gate, removal of selected windows and construction of a fire rated block wall to the MSB room, infill of the existing letterbox, and enlargement of the plant room access hatch. These works formed part of a broader refurbishment program, with most internal works undertaken as exempt development.

Key issues identified in the REF included heritage, construction impacts, potential asbestos, and utility coordination. The Heritage Impact Statement concluded that the works would have no cumulative physical impact on heritage significance and only negligible visual impact on the conservation area. Construction impacts—such as noise, dust, access and traffic—were assessed as temporary and manageable through standard mitigation measures, including a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), restricted working hours and SafeWork NSW compliant asbestos procedures. Utility investigations and coordination were also required to avoid service disruptions.

The environmental assessment confirmed that the activity would not impact biodiversity, water, contamination, or operational amenity. No additional approvals were triggered under other legislation, and the works were confirmed as development permitted without consent under TI SEPP Division 14 (s2.89) as alterations to a public administration building carried out by a public authority.

Overall, the REF concluded that the proposed activity did not have the potential to significantly affect the environment, did not require an Environmental Impact Statement, and could proceed subject to the identified mitigation measures. The project was assessed as delivering positive community outcomes by improving the functionality and accessibility of Legal Aid NSW's public services within the Albury CBD.