Forensic Pathology and Coroner's Court

I am writing to object against the proposal

I have a disability and my family purchased a self-contained 1 bedroom residence for me in Botanica to live independently in the future

The new State Coroner's Court is being built on the site of the NSW Forensic and Analytics complex - a facility with it's access from Weeroona road and well away from Botanica's Main avenue and suburban streets. However, with the new Coroners Court, it is proposed that the entrance be aligned to face Main avenue.

Having the public and car park access on Main avenue is poor planning as it gives visitors to the Court no choice but to drive through the suburban streets of Botanica.

As a person with a disability, I am particularly at risk of harm by this decision as I cross the roads and go about my daily business, particularly when there are high profile cases at the Court attracting large crowds.

It takes only 1 distracted driver to cause loss of life or serious injury. In this age of transparency and accountability, I implore the planners to consider their duty of care for the safety of disabled residents, children and aged in Botanica who are less visible, less mobile and most at risk.

Clearly, the main entrance to our new State Coroner's Court does NOT belong in a suburban area. If you MUST move the Court here, then have the main entrance from it's street address in Weeroona rd or Joseph st

Sincerely,

We do not want the Forenscic Pathology & Coroners court to have any entry into their office from our estate in BOTANICA . We have a lot of children and older people as well as the disabled people from Ferguson Lodge living here in BOTANICA and the extra traffic would risk their lives when they are on the street .

Traffic and Access

· Public entry/exit via Main Avenue is inappropriate because it would compromise road safety and dramatically increase traffic movements throughout Botanica.

· Joseph Street or Weeroona Road should be the designated access to reduce the impact of this development on existing residences and roadways.

· Public entry/exit via Main Avenue would increase traffic on local, narrow residential streets in a suburb that has been designed for local traffic

· The Botanica Estate has been designed with a Central Park. It is a popular children's playground within easy walking distance of residents' homes. It is inappropriate to direct traffic to a high profile government facility through a peaceful residential housing estate.

· Ferguson Lodge, is located within the Botanica Estate. It is the only supported accommodation for people with a spinal cord injury in NSW offering both a permanent home as well as respite accommodation. This development proposal will bring increased traffic to Botanica placing disabled residents at risk.

· If the public entry/exit to the new Forensic Pathology and Coroners Court is via Main Avenue then any visitors heading north will need to find an alternate route through the residential streets of Botanica as Main Avenue only provides an exit southbound onto Joseph Street.

· By its very nature, the Coroner's Court will receive clients from across New South Wales. Many of these visitors will be distressed and there is concern that disorientated visitors to the Coroner's Court will be driving through the unfamiliar streets of Botanica Estate, placing residents at risk.

Heritage

· This development proposal disregards the heritage value of Main Avenue, which was the formal entry c1896 to Lidcombe Hospital when Rookwood Asylum was established. It is graded in the 2002 Lidcombe Hospital Site Conservation Management Plan (CMP) by Godden Mackay Logan as an element of exceptional significance.

· The avenue of hoop pines and phoenix palms along Main Avenue is also graded as an element of exceptional significance in the CMP. Construction of the proposed public entry/exit from Main Avenue, Botanica will require demolition of the historic brickwork and verges and interrupt the streetscape.

· The Gatehouse at Botanica on the intersection of Main Avenue and Joseph Street is heritage listed. If Main Avenue becomes the access road for the public car park the intersection of Main Avenue and Joseph Street will become manifestly more dangerous and expose the Gatehouse to the risk of damage.

Amenity

· This is a development that is unusual by its nature. Its hours of operation can be 24/7 and, at times, will involve distressed relatives, emergency services and media attention. This is a serious issue for Botanica residents who are concerned about the impact this will have on their residential amenity.

· There is also concern for the safety risk to residents of Botanica if Main Avenue is used for the delivery of chemicals for the mortuary and laboratories.

Traffic and Access
* Public entry/exit via Main Avenue is inappropriate because it would compromise road safety and dramatically increase traffic movements throughout Botanica.

* Joseph Street or Weeroona Road should be the designated access to reduce the impact of this development on existing residences and roadways.

* Public entry/exit via Main Avenue would increase traffic on local, narrow residential streets in a suburb that has been designed for local traffic . This will impact on families with small children which already have problems as very narrow walkways for prams. The increase traffic will make this even more dangerous.

* The Botanica Estate has been designed with a Central Park. It is a popular children's playground within easy walking distance of residents' homes. It is inappropriate to direct traffic to a high profile government facility through a peaceful residential housing estate.

* Ferguson Lodge, is located within the Botanica Estate. It is the only supported accommodation for people with a spinal cord injury in NSW offering both a permanent home as well as respite accommodation. This development proposal will bring increased traffic to Botanica placing disabled residents at risk.

* If the public entry/exit to the new Forensic Pathology and Coroners Court is via Main Avenue then any visitors heading north will need to find an alternate route through the residential streets of Botanica as Main Avenue only provides an exit southbound onto Joseph Street.

* By its very nature, the Coroner's Court will receive clients from across New South Wales. Many of these visitors will be distressed and there is concern that disorientated visitors to the Coroner's Court will be driving through the unfamiliar streets of Botanica Estate, placing residents at risk.

Heritage
* This development proposal disregards the heritage value of Main Avenue, which was the formal entry c1896 to Lidcombe Hospital when Rookwood Asylum was established. It is graded in the 2002 Lidcombe Hospital Site Conservation Management Plan (CMP) by Godden Mackay Logan as an element of exceptional significance.

* The avenue of hoop pines and phoenix palms along Main Avenue is also graded as an element of exceptional significance in the CMP. Construction of the proposed public entry/exit from Main Avenue, Botanica will require demolition of the historic brickwork and verges and interrupt the streetscape.

* The Gatehouse at Botanica on the intersection of Main Avenue and Joseph Street is heritage listed. If Main Avenue becomes the access road for the public car park the intersection of Main Avenue and Joseph Street will become manifestly more dangerous and expose the Gatehouse to the risk of damage.

Amenity
* This is a development that is unusual by its nature. Its hours of operation can be 24/7 and, at times, will involve distressed relatives, emergency services and media attention. This is a serious issue for Botanica residents who are concerned about the impact this will have on their residential amenity.

* There is also concern for the safety risk to residents of Botanica if Main Avenue is used for the delivery of chemicals for the mortuary and laboratories.

This development proposal disregards the heritage value
of Main Avenue, which was the formal entry c1896 to Lidcombe Hospital
.

I've lived in the Botanica site at Lidcombe with my family for a number of years now. This is where the proposed Forensic Pathology and Coroners Court will be built. The area has been quiet and family oriented during the years we've lived here. There are many families with young children, many who walk their dogs of an afternoon, many who use the lovely walking paths to jog or walk daily. In the summer time there is much activity in this area with children and families playing, walking, running and generally enjoying the safety this area has provided for many years. The road traffic has been fairly contained with the local residents using the roads to leave and enter the site. If the proposed building is built on this site there will no doubt be much more road traffic coming into and leaving the area. The families and in particular the children using the roads will be at risk. Where the proposal includes a public car park at the Coroners Court with a public entry and exit via Main Avenue it raises considerable concerns for the neighbourhood and the quiet streets we once had. The risk to the neighbourhood will increase exponentially as we battle the congestion this will cause. The privacy we once enjoyed will be intruded upon with so many more people coming into our lovely quiet neighbourhood. The risks to the safety of homes will increase with so many strangers entering our neighbourhood. The risks to the safety of drivers and pedestrians can't be stressed adequately. I urge you to reconsider where the entry and exit will be for the many cars and people this proposal will bring. Instead of using the Main Street entry/exit point, please consider using Weeroona Road instead, where there is no issue with access and which is a main road in and of itself. It is vital that you put yourself in our position, consider whether you have sufficient empathy with the people living in Botanica Lidcombe and show compassion and good sense when making a final decision as to entry and exit points for traffic that will be brought with the proposed Forensic Pathology and Coroners Court. Please consider the people, families, children and the heritage of this site before going any further. Please do it for the sake of those living in the Botanica Lidcombe site. It won't cost you any more to access Weeroona Road but it will cost us lots by way of privacy, increased traffic, damage to streets and the way of life in Botanica and most importantly pedestrian and driver safety. Do it for the sake of your coming into our area and intruding in our sacred space. I'm sure you wouldn't enjoy it if you were in our position. So please consider us first before deciding on where your cars are entering and leaving from. Access via Weeroona Road not Main Avenue!

I have a number of very specific concerns about this development:

1. Traffic safety and access
The proposed entry/exit on Main Avenue is inappropriate as it compromises road safety and would significantly increase traffic movement throughout Botanica itself. Those using such an entry would be forced to navigate residential streets where children regularly walk, play and ride their bikes. There is children's playground area which is frequently used. Also, Ferguson Lodge is located within the Estate. This means that we have disabled residents in wheelchairs that are navigating the streets of Botanica. Increased traffic would pose a danger to residents. The delivery of chemicals for use in the mortuary and laboratories also poses a safety risk for all residents. A Joseph Street or Weeroona Road are better choices for entry/exit. It is impractical and unsafe to have this level of traffic winding its way through suburban streets.

2. Heritage
This proposal disregards the heritage value of Main Avenue which was the formal entry to Lidcombe Hospital. The avenue of hoop pines and Phoenix palm along Main Avenue is of exceptional significance in the 2002 Lidcombe Hospital Site Conservation Management Plan (CMP). An entry/exit here would require destroying historic brickwork and interrupt the streetscape. The Gatehouse is also heritage listed. With increased traffic comes the increased risk that this gatehouse may be damaged.

3. Amenity
This development is by its nature 24/7 and at times involves distressed relatives, emergency services and media attention. This is a serious issue for Botanica residents who are concerned about the impact this will have on their daily lives.

I have a number of very specific concerns about this development:

1. Traffic safety and access
The proposed entry/exit on Main Avenue is inappropriate as it compromises road safety and would significantly increase traffic movement throughout Botanica itself. Those using such an entry would be forced to navigate residential streets where children regularly walk, play and ride their bikes. There is children's playground area which is frequently used. Also, Ferguson Lodge is located within the Estate. This means that we have disabled residents in wheelchairs that are navigating the streets of Botanica. Increased traffic would pose a danger to residents. The delivery of chemicals for use in the mortuary and laboratories also poses a safety risk for all residents. A Joseph Street or Weeroona Road are better choices for entry/exit. It is impractical and unsafe to have this level of traffic winding its way through suburban streets.

2. Heritage
This proposal disregards the heritage value of Main Avenue which was the formal entry to Lidcombe Hospital. The avenue of hoop pines and Phoenix palm along Main Avenue is of exceptional significance in the 2002 Lidcombe Hospital Site Conservation Management Plan (CMP). An entry/exit here would require destroying historic brickwork and interrupt the streetscape. The Gatehouse is also heritage listed. With increased traffic comes the increased risk that this gatehouse may be damaged.

3. Amenity
This development is by its nature 24/7 and at times involves distressed relatives, emergency services and media attention. This is a serious issue for Botanica residents who are concerned about the impact this will have on their daily lives.

I live in Botanica and feel safe running, walking and playing. Having the entry/exit on Main Avenue in this estate will make this a significantly less safe environment for me. There are also many people who are disabled that use the streets of Botanica who are disabled and would also feel less safe. Botanica is my home and not a place of business that is 24/7 and could bring distressed relatives, media and emergency services through my lovely home at all hours of the day.

I live in Botanica and feel safe running, walking and playing. Having the entry/exit on Main Avenue in this estate will make this a significantly less safe environment for me. There are also many people who are disabled that use the streets of Botanica who are disabled and would also feel less safe. Botanica is my home and not a place of business that is 24/7 and could bring distressed relatives, media and emergency services through my lovely home at all hours of the day.

I am a resident at Botanica and take pride in the area and village that I reside in. I am highly concerned about the proposed development plan at Coronor's Court, in particular the public carpark that would link with Main Avenue. I live right off this road and the traffic that is anticiapted by the proposal will damage the not only the peace and tranquility of the village, but puts the heritage items at risk. We have a public park (Central Park), child care (Scribbles and Giggles), and many residential properties right along this road which risk the safety of the families and children surrounding it as well as those visiting - for both pedestrians and drivers! Grevillea Crescent, Botanica Drive, Betty Cuthbert Drive, Palm Circuit are most affected. Grevillea Crescent already faces noise traffic from being closest to the main road (Joseph Street), and directing even more traffic to an adjacent road (Main Avenue) is unjust and inconsiderate for those residents.

The proposed public carpark with public entry and exit at Main Avenue is highly disputed!

The aesthetics of Botanica Estate, and even along Main Avenue as it currently stands, encourages residents and pedestrians to stroll through Botanica, a gated community. We have access to a Water Park, Central Park, a child care centre, a church and a number of bus stops all within walking distance. This enables residents to lower the carbon footprint by leaving our vehicles at home and taking public transport, and also encourages exercising by going outdoors and walking everywhere.

Families with young children (and prams), families with pets, joggers, the elderly, and people who have a disability etc. are all always out and about around the Estate. We take pride in the environment we live in, and most of all its tranquility and safety.

The entry and exit to Coronor's Court disturbs this peace and affects the overall image of the Estate that would have played a strong role in persuading most residents to purchase/choose to live in Botanica. The main entry and entrance must not be put in place.

Hi,
I live on one of the streets adjoining to botanica drive which leads to main ave. I bought a house in the community based on the thoughtful planning of the estate by both the developer and the council. The estate has been planned in a way that it does not encourage through traffic making it safe for kids and older aged resident to cross roads to the Central Park. Most residences in the estate would make sure we drive carefully and slowly in the estate to avoid any unfortunate incident.
By making your entrance on main ave, it effectively puts residence at risk of being hit by drivers heading to your office which in nature would most likely be in distress and confused being new in the area.

We have a fair few concerns in reagrds to this development, some are :
Privacy
Increased traffic
Damage to heritage items
General amenity
Safety of drivers and people

We do not want this building to be approved as we feel that the above mentioned are extremely important and if it goes ahead all will become a huge issue!!

We have a fair few concerns in reagrds to this development, some are :
Privacy
Increased traffic
Damage to heritage items
General amenity
Safety of drivers and people

We do not want this building to be approved as we feel that the above mentioned are extremely important and if it goes ahead all will become a huge issue!!

We have a fair few concerns in reagrds to this development, some are :
Privacy
Increased traffic
Damage to heritage items
General amenity
Safety of drivers and people

We do not want this building to be approved as we feel that the above mentioned are extremely important and if it goes ahead all will become a huge issue!!

Keep our historic residential area as historic residential.

o The Coroner's court has its new public entry/exit (including vehicular exit) from Main avenue, Botanica which will require demolition of the historic brickwork and verges, and interrupt the streetscape, all of which is heritage listed and preserved intact when Botanica was built.
o The demolition of the Senior and Junior Medical officer's residences on the other half of Palm Circuit - buildings of similar era and significance were preserved when Botanica was built
o The proposed traffic flow through Botanica - as Main avenue to Joseph St is left turn (Southbound) only, visitors going Northbound from the new Court and morgue will have no choice but to drive through Botanica - a residential area with many families. This will pose a serious risk to residents including children, and residents of Ferguson lodge who are in wheelchairs
o The traffic studies don't include the fact that Botanica is still being developed (confirmed by para 2.3 of traffic assessment)
o The facility is a 24 hour operation, not appropriate to have public entry and exit from a residential area

I have a few issues in relation to the proposed FPCC. They include;

-No traffic lights were included in the plan which would cause a backlog of traffic
-Public entry/exit via Main Avenue is inappropriate because it would compromise road safety and dramatically increase traffic movements throughout Botanica.
-There is a park near that road and children are constantly around that area. The increase in traffic will compromise the children safety
-Joseph Street or Weeroona Road should be the designated access to reduce the impact of this development on existing residences and roadways.
-Public entry/exit via Main Avenue would increase traffic on local, narrow residential streets in a suburb that has been designed for local traffic not a government facility that will have the public going through it
-The Botanica Estate has been designed with a Central Park. It is a popular children's playground within easy walking distance of residents' homes. It is inappropriate to direct traffic to a high profile government facility through a peaceful residential housing estate.
-Ferguson Lodge, is located within the Botanica Estate. It is the only supported accommodation for people with a spinal cord injury in NSW offering both a permanent home as well as respite accommodation. This development proposal will bring increased traffic to Botanica placing disabled residents at risk. There are residents in wheelchairs using the roads all the time.
-If the public entry/exit to the new Forensic Pathology and Coroners Court is via Main Avenue then any visitors heading north will need to find an alternate route through the residential streets of Botanica as Main Avenue only provides an exit southbound onto Joseph Street.
-By its very nature, the Coroner's Court will receive clients from across New South Wales. Many of these visitors will be distressed and there is concern that disorientated visitors to the Coroner's Court will be driving through the unfamiliar streets of Botanica Estate, placing residents at risk.


-This development proposal disregards the heritage value of Main Avenue, which was the formal entry c1896 to Lidcombe Hospital when Rookwood Asylum was established. It is graded in the 2002 Lidcombe Hospital Site Conservation Management Plan (CMP) by Godden Mackay Logan as an element of exceptional significance.

-The avenue of hoop pines and phoenix palms along Main Avenue is also graded as an element of exceptional significance in the CMP. Construction of the proposed public entry/exit from Main Avenue, Botanica will require demolition of the historic brickwork and verges and interrupt the streetscape.

-The Gatehouse at Botanica on the intersection of Main Avenue and Joseph Street is heritage listed. If Main Avenue becomes the access road for the public car park the intersection of Main Avenue and Joseph Street will become manifestly more dangerous and expose the Gatehouse to the risk of damage.

-this is a development that is unusual by its nature. Its hours of operation can be 24/7 and, at times, will involve distressed relatives, emergency services and media attention. This is a serious issue for Botanica residents who are concerned about the impact this will have on their residential amenity.
-There is also concern for the safety risk to residents of Botanica if Main Avenue is used for the delivery of chemicals for the mortuary and laboratories.

I strongly object to the use of Main Avenue as the access road to the public carpark. This proposal is poorly planned and does not take into consideration the impact that it will have on the residential suburb adjacent to this site.

Reasons for objection:

1. Access from Joseph Street to Main Avenue is only available northbound. Southbound traffic can only access Main Avenue via Botanica Drive. Botanica Drive is a residential street completely unsuitable to the increase in non-residential traffic.

2. Furthermore to point 1, Botanica Drive is bordered by Central Park which is frequented by children. Children cross Botanica Drive to enter Central Park. An increase in non-residential traffic that does not realise the proximity of children will be putting the children in unacceptable risk.

3. Furthermore to point 1, Botanica Drive is narrow and often has cars parked on both sides of the street. This makes it unsuitable to handle an increase in non-residential traffic.

4. The Request for SEARs document in the section titled "Traffic & Parking" recommends using Main Avenue. This document mentions that "access to Main Avenue is via the priority intersection with Joseph Street which provides left-in and left-out movements and a deceleration lane for southbound vehicles".
- The Request for SEARs document intentionally ignores mentioning northbound traffic along Joseph Street. This omission invalidates the recommendation for the use of Main Avenue as full consideration of the impact of this development has not been met as northbound traffic will be funnelled through residential streets.

There are a lot of young families inthe Botanica village. Traffic increase will be a risk to the pedestrians and the general community, considering the fact that there are footpaths which lead to nowhere along Main Ave, for example, at the corner of Main Ave and the entrance to Brooks Circuit.
The building of a mortuary next to Botanica will affect house values, as nobody wants to live next door to dead people (we do not live next to a cemetery).