10 Dangar St Wickham Mixed-use development

Dear Assessment Officer,

I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street because I don't think it's been properly assessed for traffic and road safety impacts.

I work in affordable housing advocacy, and while I'm genuinely supportive of getting more homes built in Newcastle, this application hasn't made a convincing case that a building of this scale can work in this location without creating serious problems on the roads around it.

My main worry is the access arrangement. The documents don't adequately address the safety issues with driveway sightlines, heavy vehicle movements, or how pedestrians and cyclists will navigate this space. Dangar Street already functions as a civic street — it's not designed to absorb this kind of traffic without affecting how people move through it. I need to see much stronger evidence that these problems have been solved, not just acknowledged.

On top of that, this part of Wickham is already under strain from traffic congestion, heavy public transport use, and pedestrian and cycling activity. Adding a 43-storey building in the middle of that concerns me, particularly around flood risk in an area that's already showing pressure points.

Dear Assessment Officer,

I have young children who live in this area, and I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street because I have serious concerns about how it will handle stormwater and drainage.

The neighbourhood already deals with complex traffic patterns around Dangar Street, Charles Street, Hannell Street and the Interchange. Adding a development this size without solid proof that the drainage systems can cope isn't acceptable to me.

What troubles me most is that the application hasn't provided clear evidence the existing stormwater and drainage infrastructure can handle it. I've looked at what's been submitted and it's not enough. These aren't issues that should be worked out later through operational plans — they need to be sorted out now, before anyone approves this.

The same goes for community infrastructure. The application glosses over whether schools, parks, and services can actually support another 43 storeys of residents in this pocket.

I object to the scale of the building as the height is not in keeping with current or future plans for Wickham and this side of the Newcastle Interchange. The mixed use development is welcome however the proposed amendment to allow a 133m height of the building (double the current allowance) will drastically change the skyline and the site is not ideally located to support the significant increase in traffic in the area, with limited parking for proposed increased employment and shopping in the retail spaces, and the additional tenancies and short term visitors. The Hannel Street and Bishopsgate corner already presents a safety concern with current traffic, and surrounding streets are intended to have increased one way flows as part of the Union Street development. The proposal also doesn't adequately address the new Honeysuckle precinct development, which will affect traffic movement on the opposite side of Hannel Street and Honeysuckle over the next ten years, and impact the surrounding streetscape. Finally the continues access to the station via a kiss and ride drop off area could be affected, resulting in less people being able to access this space with ease, due to the limiting traffic flow in the area, and live music venues like the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, supported by the local community, do not have adequate protections in the current design from potential noise complaints from buildings above the current height limit.
The proposed development has the potential to create a precedent where any form of development, if large enough, is state significant, rather than meeting a significant community need, and should be reconsidered for how it integrates into the community and the timing of the development should be of high priority given the HCCDC approval of the development nearby.

Does not fit with character
43 storey is far too tall
Traffic concerns
Concerns for infrastructure

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

While I support appropriate housing growth across Newcastle, this proposal is far too large for the site and surrounding area. At 43 storeys, it would be significantly taller than nearby foreshore developments which tend to be 10 storeys or below, and out of keeping with the existing character of Wickham.

I am also concerned about the impact on traffic and parking. Wickham already experiences congestion around the Newcastle Interchange and surrounding roads. A development of this scale, including apartments, hotel accommodation and retail uses, will add substantial pressure to local infrastructure and create further bottlenecks.

The proposal appears to prioritise maximum development yield over compatibility with the existing precinct. Growth is important, but it should occur at a scale that respects the character of the area and the capacity of local infrastructure.
For these reasons, I ask that the proposal be refused or substantially reduced in height.

Thank you for considering my submission.

Another opportunistic proposal courtesy of the early days of the HDA when EOIs weren’t properly scrutinised and developers were led to believe the Department would seriously consider approving height and FSR exceedances at such a scale in Newcastle.

To the planners reading this, I’m sorry you’ve had to endure so many submissions from rightfully alarmed community members. We shouldn’t have to waste our time or yours by objecting to absurdity, but here we all are again!

Hopefully developers settle down as the HDA matures, and accept SSD declarations are not a rubber stamp for such monstrous builds.

I sincerely look forward to well-executed medium to high-density and urban infill across city. Anything better than this!