Bank Street Park Modification 2 - Design Development

The original proposal for Bank Street was green space, community areas, extension of foreshore walk etc.
The proposed amendments are in total contradiction to the community consultation outcomes.
From the original design:
the proposed boardwalk from the original design has been eliminated; the cafe/kiosk/community centre has been removed; there is less greenery, trees, planter boxes; there is increased commercial traffic at the marina; there is increased used of area by dragon boat groups.
One of the primary outcomes of the community consultation with residents was to improve the connection to the harbour and a green space for respite.
The proposed modifications suggest a bias towards enhanced commercial business, being the marina facilities and the dragon boat activities while the local community loses out. Why did the NSW Government, together with the City of Sydney Council go to so much effort to promote new green community spaces and consult the local community if those submission are not going to be ignored.
I totally object to the modified plans for Bank Street.

Upon reading the proposed amendments my understanding is that the size of the marina administration and dragon boat operations will be made larger than planned. In addition I understand the proposed Cafe (restaurant) will no longer be part of the plans and instead there will be food trucks catering for the dragon boat teams on the days they are there. This does not appear to cater for the local community, so why was the Cafe plan deleted? Surely the dragon boat people can also use a cafe, can't they?

Whilst I support the project, I wish to see residential buildings with spaces for shops, cafes and restaurants on the ground floor. As for the residential buildings themselves, I wish to see them have at 30 storeys or more as well as units set aside for public housing and essential workers

but would also like to see the provision of storage facilities for watercraft- kayaks etc for local residents
which appears to have been removed from the original design development

See attachment

Firstly, it is disappointing to receive this notification by snail mail on the eve of the closure of notifications when people are too busy to respond. One can't help but believe this is deliberate. By the time the notification was received and read, it left very little time to consider the implications of this latest modification to the plans. This latest modification is significant and makes the proposed park neither a park or quiet green space as was originally intended. One of the outcomes of the resident consultation was to introduce a community green place of respite. Food trucks and the removal of significant amounts of green space by providing more space to the dragon boat users and the marina significantly alter the original concept and remove the focus of the park as a community area. Its prime purpose now is for the operations of a couple of special interest groups NOT the community. . We were expecting a community cafe, not noisy polluting, untidy looking food trucks.
The amendments propose to eliminate the overwater board walk. One of the the primary outcomes of the consultation with residents was this boardwalk which would improve the connection to water and enhance views for all the community to enjoy.
I strongly object to this modification and the stealth of timing at which it has been notified.

The amendments propose to eliminate the overwater boardwalk. We request that this be maintained as one of the primary outcomes of the consultation with residents was to improve the connection to water and enhance the view. Removing the overwater boardwalk prevents this.

The amendments propose to remove the approved community centre with café/kiosk. The proposed addition of food truck and outdoor dining area suggests a bias to one user of the park only, the dragon boat users. Residents do not wish to have an assortment of food trucks with associated rubbish/storage in this park. One of the outcomes of the resident consultation was to introduce a green place of respite. The addition of food trucks on hard surfaces is the exact opposite of this.

Greenery in the area is proposed to be less than what has been approved, less planted trees and the removal of the approved planter boxes. This doesn’t support on of the key resident consultation outcomes which was for a green park space for the local community to enjoy.

The removal of the community facilities appears to have been replaced with increased marina administrative buildings.

We object to the proposed amendments as these appear to cater principally for the Marina and the dragon boat users, accepting the proposed amendments will result in less of a park for the local community

Some of the proposed amendments significantly degrades the proposed park, which is unfortunate given it bookends a precinct intended to be world class (with the new fish market at the other).
There are some general degradations - such as the removal of some of the waterside boardwalk - but the two main objections:
1 - The removal of the amenities building and increased height of the dragon boat storage area means that the site will be dominated with what is effectively a storage shed.
2 - The inclusion of provisions for food trucks, which never appears in any of the earlier designs, is potentially a marked deterioration in the character of what this park is meant to be.
I can help but see you have corrupted the original designs and turned a champagne compliment to the new fish market into a cheap beer and chips solution. From the very beginning of the consultation process I was impressed with the community engagement and excited about what was designed and planned. Please do not flush that away with pandering to vested interests and last minute penny pinching.

I am writing on behalf of Sloths Dragon Boating Club in regard to the proposed modification to the Bank Street Park redevelopment. We wish to provide feedback specifically on the proposed reduction in amenities.

Our club trains at the existing Bank Street site alongside numerous other dragon boat clubs. During peak season, a single training session for our club alone can involve 40 to 50 participants, with several other clubs training concurrently. While the revised design may reduce the need for the larger amenities associated with the previously planned community building, the proposed reduction from eight toilets to three appears too significant given how the site is used.

Dragon boat training involves paddlers being on the water for one to two hours without access to facilities. As a result, many paddlers need to use the toilets immediately before sessions begin, creating short periods of concentrated demand. Reducing the provision to three toilets would likely place unnecessary strain on the amenities at these peak times, especially when combined with use from general park visitors.

It is also unclear from the drawings whether showers are retained, and if so, how many. Access to changing and shower facilities would be a significant benefit for dragon boat users, particularly for those training before or after work, or for paddlers who travel long distances to access the site. These facilities are especially important during cold and wet weather.

The modification report also indicates that the site may host food trucks and similar vendors. This will increase public visitation and further intensify demand on the reduced amenities.

We are not suggesting that the previously approved eight toilets must be reinstated, but rather that the current proposal appears insufficient for the expected combined use of both the public and the active watercraft community. A modest increase in toilet numbers, as well as clarity and provision around showers, would help ensure the facility supports all users effectively, including the long-standing dragon boating community that has trained at this site for many years.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback. We support the redevelopment of Bank Street Park and appreciate the work being done to improve the foreshore precinct. We simply ask that the amenities provided meet the practical needs of all users, including those training safely and regularly on the water.