10 Dangar St Wickham Mixed-use development

Further to my previous submission i would like this to be included also. I am adding this further submission because in the event of another earthquake as experienced in 1989, the proposal of such a tall apartment building at 10 Dangar St, Wickham may not be suitable, if we have a similar earthquake in the future.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I run a small business here in Wickham, and I've watched this neighbourhood change over the years. What concerns me most about the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street is whether the impacts have actually been thought through properly.

The heritage and townscape issue is what I keep coming back to. A building of this height and bulk will change how our heritage buildings sit in the streetscape. The way the podium meets the tower could fundamentally alter the character of Wickham and the Newcastle city centre. This isn't something that can be worked out later in the design process — it's central to whether this proposal should even be approved as it stands.

I'm also worried about the visual impact on the area. The information provided doesn't clearly show how this will be managed. We need actual drawings and binding commitments, not just general statements about managing impacts. There needs to be something concrete, not vague promises.

Before the community is asked to accept such a significant change to the planning framework, the applicant needs to provide proper evidence and real commitments. The technical issues and broader public interest questions deserve to be resolved upfront.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham (SSD-89869959).

As a parent of young children in this area, I need to flag a serious concern about aviation and crane risk that hasn't been properly addressed in the application. This isn't just about whether the building can physically go up — it's about whether the applicant has actually demonstrated that it can be built and operated safely.

The crane operations alone during construction worry me. A 43-storey building means years of heavy machinery working at height above an already busy part of town. I haven't seen adequate evidence that the risks have been properly assessed or managed, particularly given how close this is to residential areas where families like mine live.

Beyond the crane issue, there are other unresolved problems — flooding, traffic impacts, wind effects on surrounding streets, the design itself, what happens to public spaces, and whether local infrastructure can actually handle it. These aren't small concerns that can be tidied up later.

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham.

I work in hospitality around here, and I've seen how construction projects affect the area. What concerns me is that the applicant hasn't properly shown this development can happen without creating real problems for Wickham, Newcastle West and the Newcastle Interchange precinct.

My main concern is the construction impacts. It's not just about whether a building this tall can technically be built — it's about whether the applicant has actually demonstrated this will be a fair, safe and workable outcome for the area.

On top of that, the hotel pick-up and drop-off arrangements add another layer of concern. It makes the whole application feel rushed and incomplete.

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street in Wickham.

I work in retail locally, and I see firsthand what happens to neighbourhoods when developments like this go ahead without proper consideration of what they actually deliver. My concern is mainly about the affordable housing component and the public benefit claims.

The affordable housing that's being promised needs to have real teeth. Right now it reads like a promise with no binding commitment behind it. There's nothing clear about how long the affordable rents would actually stay affordable, who manages it, how the rental levels are set, or whether what's being offered is genuine public benefit or just a box being ticked. Before we accept a building this large changing Wickham's character, we should have solid answers on these details, not vague undertakings.

On top of that, this area is already copping a lot of pressure. The traffic around here is getting heavier, there's more pedestrian congestion, more bikes, and building keeps happening. Adding another major development means stacking more impact onto a precinct that's already stretched. These things matter and they add up.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street in Wickham. As a member of the strata committee here, I've got a responsibility to look out for what this kind of change means for the buildings and residents already in the area.

My main concern is flood risk. I've looked at what the applicant has submitted, and I don't think they've made a convincing case that a building this size won't create serious drainage and flooding problems for Wickham and the surrounding precincts, including Newcastle West and the Newcastle Interchange. The site is already in a sensitive location when it comes to water management, and adding a structure of this scale without genuinely addressing the impacts doesn't seem right.

This isn't just about one building. A development like this sets the tone for what comes next. It changes what people think is acceptable in this part of the city. The applicant is asking for a major departure from what the planning framework currently allows, and they need to back that up with solid evidence and real commitments—not just assumptions.

I'm also not confident that traffic and road safety issues have been properly worked through. But the flood risk is what worries me most.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street in its current form.

I cycle through Wickham regularly, and I'm worried that this application hasn't adequately addressed how a building of this size would actually work for the area. The impact on Wickham, Newcastle West and the Newcastle Interchange isn't something that's been properly thought through as far as I can see.

A development at this scale would fundamentally change what Wickham looks like and set the tone for how the western edge of Newcastle city centre develops going forward. That's a big decision, and it needs to be made carefully.

What's missing for me is any real evidence that the cumulative impacts have been sorted out, or that the affordable housing and public benefits on offer actually justify asking for this kind of height uplift. They don't seem to add up to a case strong enough for approving something this large.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I manage a building in Wickham and I've been thinking about this 43-storey proposal at 10 Dangar Street. The scale of it concerns me, particularly because I don't think the application has properly shown how the impacts can actually be handled in this area.

Wickham is already stretched for infrastructure, and this location floods. That's not something to take lightly when you're putting a building this tall in the middle of it. Emergency access alone worries me — basement safety, getting people out if something goes wrong, where they shelter — these things matter.

What's really stuck with me is the parking situation. The application doesn't properly address where bicycles and motorcycles are going to go. Combined with what looks like unresolved stormwater and drainage issues, it feels like there are gaps that haven't been filled in. I don't see how you can sign off on a development this size when those technical problems are still hanging.

I'm not against new housing — Wickham needs it. But not at the cost of brushing past unresolved problems with flooding, traffic, wind impacts, design, public space, or infrastructure. That's not a fair trade.

I've lived in this area for many years and I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street. I'm concerned that the application hasn't properly demonstrated how a building of this size can work without serious problems for Wickham and the surrounding area.

The stormwater and drainage arrangements worry me most. The proposal doesn't show clear evidence that the existing systems can handle the extra demand from a development this large. We already deal with drainage issues in wet weather, and I don't see how adding 43 storeys will improve that situation. The application talks about future operational plans, but that's not good enough — these details need to be sorted out now, before anyone approves it.

Beyond drainage, I'm also concerned about the pressure on community infrastructure and the traffic situation around Dangar Street, Charles Street, Hannell Street and the Interchange. There's already a lot happening in those streets with pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and deliveries all competing for space. Adding a building of this scale will make that worse.

What I'm asking for is proper, binding commitments from the applicant on stormwater and drainage rather than vague promises about working it out later. The community shouldn't have to accept such a big change to the planning rules without clear answers to these fundamental questions.

I object to the development for the following reasons.
Traffic implications - Whilst numbers have been provided, any reductions due to proximity to public transport and the use of motel numbers where a car is allocated per room, the fact that the development is under delivering on required spaces per unit taking into consideration the number of persons per unit would be above 1 in most cases, this will ensure maximum predicted rates are met. Therefore a net increase to the area of which it is not reasonably able to handle. If the intent is to bring more people to the area through the mixed use concept then further visitor parking and traffic would be expected.

Size and impact
The effect of shadowing on surrounding properties would be significant due to the size of the proposed development. Blocking of views for those who have recently bought into other properties under construction would also be affected. The noise pollution from building would also be increased due to the necessity for increased length of construction and heavy equipment requirements to complete.

Architecture
The building is not in keeping with the rest of the area. If higher buildings are required then a further thought out and zoned area would be more beneficial than rushed through proposal which forgoes the aesthetic of existing buildings and area. Current zoning does not permit this level of elevation and setting precedent for the entire area would only result in further congested living rather than thought out town planning.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I have mobility concerns that mean I need to think carefully about how developments like this will affect me getting around the area. I'm worried this application hasn't actually shown how it will manage the impacts on people like me.

I live in Wickham and use the Newcastle Interchange regularly. A 43-storey building at this scale needs to demonstrate it won't create unacceptable problems for the local area. Right now, it hasn't done that.

This site floods and the infrastructure here is already stretched. That's serious. We need to know what happens in a flood — how do people get out of basement carparks safely? Where do emergency services go? How do residents actually shelter? These aren't theoretical questions for people with mobility issues.

The real problem is that CPTED and management haven't been properly worked out, and neither has the loading and servicing. Those things matter. You can't just approve it as is and hope it gets sorted later. It needs an independent technical review to sort this out properly.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I work in flood risk management, and I've been reviewing this proposal for the 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street. What concerns me most is whether the application actually demonstrates that a building of this scale can operate here without creating serious problems for Wickham, Newcastle West, and the Interchange precinct.

The streets around Dangar, Charles, and Hannell are already complicated. There's a lot happening in that space — pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, deliveries. It's tightly choreographed. The application hasn't shown me adequate detail on how loading and servicing would actually work, or how basement safety would be managed. These aren't minor details that can be sorted out later. They need to be resolved now, with real answers, not pushed into operational plans after approval.

Given the scale we're talking about here, I think the consent authority needs to take a careful, evidence-based approach. The applicant should be required to work through these issues properly rather than making broad statements and hoping conditions will sort things out down the line.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham (SSD-89869959).

As an environmental professional, I've spent years looking at how major developments interact with their surroundings, and this application concerns me. The scale of this building hasn't been matched with a credible assessment of what it actually means for Wickham and the broader precinct around Newcastle Interchange.

My main issue is the hotel pick-up and drop-off arrangements. The applicant hasn't adequately addressed where this traffic will go, how it'll move through local streets, or what the cumulative effect will be on an area that's already managing significant transport demands. This isn't about whether a tower can technically be built on the site—it's about whether the planning outcome is fair and workable for people who live and work here.

The public domain and road reserve issues compound this. They suggest the application hasn't fully thought through how this development sits within its actual context, not just its theoretical proximity to transport.

I walk through Wickham most days getting to and from the station, so I've got a real stake in what happens with this 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street.

My main concern is community infrastructure. A building this size needs proper supporting services — schools, health facilities, transport capacity — and I don't see evidence the application has actually worked through what that looks like. It's not enough to say a tower can physically stand there. The real question is whether Wickham, Newcastle West and the Newcastle Interchange can handle the extra demand without everything grinding to a halt.

The height and scale of the proposal make this worse, not better. You're concentrating so many people in one spot that the infrastructure gaps become harder to ignore. I'm not against new housing — we need it — but it has to be done properly. Right now this application doesn't show it's been thought through on flooding, traffic, wind impacts, how it fits with existing buildings, what the streets will actually look like, or whether the services can cope.

I'm asking that you refuse this proposal until someone independent has properly reviewed these issues and shown they can actually be resolved. We shouldn't just accept these risks to get housing numbers up.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham.

I work as a traffic professional and have spent years dealing with parking and transport issues across Newcastle. What concerns me about this application is that it hasn't adequately shown how a building of this size can operate without creating serious parking problems for Wickham, Newcastle West and the broader Newcastle Interchange area.

My main objection is the parking shortfall. This isn't just about whether the building can technically be constructed — it's about whether the applicant has actually demonstrated a workable outcome that won't push problems onto neighbouring streets and precincts. The numbers don't stack up.

There's also the separate issue of aviation and crane risk, which adds another layer of concern that makes this application feel premature.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed development at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham (SSD-89869959). I use public transport regularly in this area and depend on the Newcastle Interchange and surrounding precincts working well.

My main concern is the height and scale of what's being proposed. A 43-storey building with that floor space ratio is a massive jump from what the current planning controls allow for Wickham. The application hasn't made a convincing case for why this particular site should get such an exceptional uplift. We shouldn't be expected to accept an impact this big without solid justification.

On top of that, I'm worried about how bike and motorcycle parking will be handled. This part of Wickham is already dealing with a lot of pressure — traffic, buses moving through, pedestrians, cyclists, plus all the new building work. Adding another major development without properly thinking through parking for bikes and motorcycles doesn't make sense.

Before anyone approves this, the applicant needs to provide much clearer evidence about the impacts and give firm commitments that actually stick. I think DPHI and the City of Newcastle should ask for more detailed information, get an independent review done, and put proper enforceable conditions in place.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I work as an architect here in Newcastle, and I've got concerns about whether this 43-storey proposal at 10 Dangar Street has been properly thought through in design terms.

The thing that stands out to me is that the design excellence pathway isn't actually resolved. There's an Alternative Design Excellence Strategy that needs to be completed, and the State Design Review Panel has raised issues that haven't been properly addressed. This isn't something that can be tidied up later during detailed design—it's fundamental to whether this application should be approved now.

From a practical standpoint, I'm also worried about how construction impacts will be managed. The application needs to spell out exactly how that will work, with proper drawings and operational commitments, not just general statements about intentions. Right now it reads as too vague for something of this scale operating in an established precinct.

My broader point is that this needs to be assessed on what it will actually do, not just on the fact it's near the Interchange or general statements about housing. A development this size will have real impacts on Wickham and Newcastle West, and those impacts need to be clearly demonstrated and addressed rather than assumed away.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I work as an urban planner and I have real concerns about whether this application has actually demonstrated that impacts of this scale can be managed properly.

The proposal for 43 storeys at 10 Dangar Street raises serious questions for Wickham, Newcastle West and the Newcastle Interchange precinct. Looking at what's been submitted, I don't think the applicant has made a convincing case that the area can absorb a development this large without unacceptable consequences.

My main issue is what's happening in the public domain and road reserve. The application seems to depend on public domain outcomes, road reserve interfaces and through-site links that aren't clearly endorsed or properly secured. This isn't something minor to sort out later — it's fundamental to whether the proposal should even be approved as it stands now.

I'm also troubled by the design excellence aspect. The material provided needs to actually show how this will be handled — not just through broad statements of intent, but with specific drawings, clear conditions and operational commitments that can be enforced.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the 43-storey development proposed at 10 Dangar Street Wickham in its current form.

As a civil engineer, I've worked on enough projects in this area to know what concerns me about this application. The traffic and road safety issues haven't been adequately resolved. The access arrangements present real problems — the driveway sightlines don't look sufficient, and I'm not convinced the proposal properly accounts for heavy rigid vehicle movements, pedestrian and cyclist activity, or the fact that Dangar Street needs to function as a civic street, not just a service road.

These aren't minor details. When you're looking at a 43-storey building generating this volume of traffic, you need robust evidence that the design can handle it safely. What's been submitted doesn't provide that level of confidence.

I'm also concerned about flood risk. This part of Wickham is already stretched — between existing traffic, public transport, pedestrians, cyclists and other new development happening nearby, the infrastructure is under real pressure. Adding a building of this scale without addressing flood risk vulnerabilities seems like we're gambling with something we should be planning carefully.

I'm odjecting to the height and scope of the building for the following reasons..
It will be about 3X the height of the surrounding buildings and be visually unappealing ie an eyesore
A building of that size and number of dwellings will add to traffic congestion in an area of narrow streets where parking is already limited next to a city railway station.The residential streets are not built to accomodate such a large influx of people and will create safety issues in an area of increasing crime.
The area has also experienced a number of earthquakes which have caused existing buildings in Bishopsgate St to sway. What precautions have been made in this regard for a 43 storey building?