20 Returning to the background document, it contains a section on fences, gates and retaining walls and states; "In Woollahra the majority of houses with a setback from the street originally had a front fence." As is the case in this particular application or development. The document refers to contributory items and comments as follows:
"As well as fulfilling a practical role the fence presented the house to the street and allowed passers by to obtain glimpses through or over the fence towards the building veranda or front garden behind...original front fences or replacement fences of appropriate materials and designs will compliment and enhance the character of a building while inappropriate fences will diminish the appearance. The street front zone of an individual heritage item contributory building or infill building is particularly important because it makes the major contribution of the building to the character and significance of the streetscape, precinct and heritage conservation area as a whole. In cases where application for alterations and additions relates to a part of the street front zone which has previously been altered and those previous alterations have resulted in the removal or covering up of original external elements and details or the addition of uncharacteristic elements or the addition of inappropriate period detail or structures the council encourages the reconstruction or restoration of those elements and details."
21 Moving to the section of on-site parking, garages, carports, driveways and the background paper states that:
"Rear lanes of heritage conservation area traditionally contained paling fences and pedestrian gates of low scale and simple design. Small timber cottages and terrace houses were built adjacent to back fences. In some lanes such as Pickering Lane, James Street, Bowden Street and Pickering Lane the rear lanes of the heritage conservation area are now lined with roller doors, brick walls and garages with first floor lofts. These structures form an impenetrable barrier between private gardens and the public domain and have an adverse effect on the character of laneways. The small cottages and terraces which originally sat adjacent to fences in rear lanes are now often dominated by inappropriately large garages with first floor additions.
Garages also have been built to street alignments in some properties. As well as forming inappropriate intrusions to streetscapes the construction of these structures results in the removal of street trees and the reduction of the number of on street parking spaces. In addition, the provision of new driveway crossovers often results in the loss of sections of early sandstone kerbing. The inclusion of car parking spaces, carports and garages has resulted in a reduction of soft landscaping and usable open space in the front and rear gardens of many properties of the heritage conservation area. The consequent reduction in the number of trees and the amount of permeable ground surface is increasing pressure on the system."
22 The last portion of the background paper is on street trees and comments "a significant characteristic is mature street plantings both of native and exotic species (and nominates Ocean Street with the London plane trees) to create a deciduous canopy over the entire street in that portion."