Forensic Pathology and Coroner's Court

See attached .pdf file.

I am a resident in Botanica Lidcombe, next to where the proposed site for Forensic Pathology and Coroners Court (FPCC) will be located. The main reason I am writing this letter is to object the public entry/exit being on Main Avenue because:
1) Traffic havoc :
The Appendix D1 Parking & Assessment is purely statistical and do not consider the impact on the community living in Botanica estate with the increase in traffic and certainly do not consider the traffic confusion & inconvenience that the public will encounter. FPCC is not a place where public will visit regularly or frequently (such as shopping mall) therefore you need to provide easy access so it is easy to find and easy to leave. If the entry is located at Weeroona Rd, the cross junction will provide easy access to public coming and going out to Rookwood Rd/Amy St/Joseph St. Having the entry/exit at Main Avenue is definitely not going to achieve that, its only going to create inconveniece,confusion and traffic havoc to the public.
2) Main Avenue is heritage listed as one of the road and landscape elements to the old Lidcombe Hospital. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5049732 Even during the residential constructions, this "element" is preserved. Any constructions of additional entry/exit to the FPCC will compromise the aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance or other special value of the heritage we tried so hard to preserve.
3) Increase safety risk : increase in traffic will increase the safety risk to our children who often walk or ride a bike to nearby park, to our pets, and to our elderly as well as to those who stayed at Ferguson Lodge, for people with spinal cord injury

Please see attachment for "proposed alternative entry/exit"

See attachment

since the government invest 100 million on the facility, the road should be directly from the main road such as Joseph St or Weeroona Rd for easy navigate people(traffic).
if they have a new intersection to get into the premise, it can will be more accessible for peopole who traveling from the south.
it is only less than 350 metres from Joseph St to the Existing Raid ( in Premise) which paralle with the Main Rd.

Details of my objection to the proposed location of the public entrance are in the attached document entitled "Joseph Torres SSD 16_7545 Objection Letter.pdf"

refer attached PDF

per attached document

Please see our uploaded .pdf file.

N/A

I write to you today to lodge my objection to the proposed relocation and expansion of the NSW Health Forensic Pathology service and Coroners Court.
As a resident of the Botanica community immediately adjacent to the proposed development, I do not believe that - should the project proceed - it is in keeping with what the former Lidcombe Hospital has become - a home to many, many families, Ferguson Lodge (providing permanent homes and respite accommodation for those with spinal cord injury) and a child care facility.
What was once an adjacent hospital - is no more - hence for the project type to be categorised as - Health & Public Service > Hospitals - is a misnomer.
The area has been populated by residential homes for more than 10 years.
There are a number of reasons why this project should not proceed in the location proposed, if at all, when considering the following:
* Risks to Community Safety.
* Traffic & Access.
* Effect on Heritage sites.
Risks to Community Safety
I believe that the sanctuary and safety that Botanica has provided countless families and children in this time would be placed in irreparable jeopardy given that by its very nature, a mortuary and Coroners Court would invariably attract individuals and groups that could place the local community at risk.
It is not inconceivable that wrongful deaths caused by murderers, criminal gangs or the acts of terrorism are THE most likely reason a deceased person would be subject to Coronial Court examination and review.
Hence, the likely people drawn to the area, would be associates of these anti-social groups.
In addition, 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.
Further, 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.
Traffic & Access
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.
Public entry/exit via Main Avenue is inappropriate because it would compromise road safety and dramatically increase traffic movements throughout Botanica on local, narrow residential streets in a suburb that has been designed for local traffic only.
Effect on Heritage sites
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 residents, general public and the Gatehouse to the risk of injury and damage, respectively.
Recommendation
The Mortuary, Pathology Laboratory and the Coroners Court should be constructed in an area where there would be far less impact on residential areas containing families, spinal care accommodation and child care facilities.
A far better location would be a "green field" industrial or mixed use site with ease of access benefits provided by current and future motorways that would also allow for further expansion, but still provide a suitable "safety buffer" away from the general community for the reasons mentioned above.

Please refer to the attachment for my submission

Please refer to the attached submission

I object to the application in its current form. Specifically I object to the plan to provide access (public or staff) to the planned site through the residential area knows as Botanica Estate.

Please see further details of my objection in the attachment.

I object to the application in its current form. I object that a residential and heritage listed estate known as Botanica Estate is planned as access route to a major government facility that will require 24/7 access. I am a resident in the Botanica Estate and have to deal with personal disabilities that severely limit my mobility. I feel threatened by the thought that people, potentially already distressed, will have to navigate the narrow unfamiliar roads of the Botanica Estate to find their way to the planned new government site.

I urge to revisit the access provisions to the site using the major roads Weeroona Road or Joseph Street for public, staff and delivery access instead of directing traffic into a residential area.

Please see attachment for additional information.

I have uploaded my submission as a file attachment which concerns my objection to the planned access to the Coroner's Courts and Mortuary via Main Avenue Lidcombe.

I see the plans for this access as being totally inappropriate due to the residential nature of the Botanica Estate of which Main Avenue is one of our access roads.

There are many implications regarding increased traffic in a residential area with narrow roads - many blind corners and parking hazards.

I am concerned about the ignorance of the planners of the historical aspect of Botanica and indeed parts of the current Forensic and Analytical facility. Double standards are being demonstrated with private construction having to comply with heritage listing but government construction ignoring the heritage listing and destroying our history.

I am concerned about safety aspects of increased traffic for our residents some of whom come from the facility for those with Spinal Injuries. Excess traffic will hinder all cohorts in our community to freely access our Central Park as pedestrians.

My detailed submission appears as File Attachment 1.

See attached.

See attached.

Please see attached PDF. Extract below

As residents of this estate, we were aware that there were amenities surrounding us. The cemetery, testing facility, forensics lab, freight line. These are all things we took into account when we moved here.
A new morgue should not be placed near a residential area. Where there is an existing morgue, residents already know about it when they purchase their property. This is NOT the case here.
A coroner's court and morgue is not appropriate in this area. Key points are listed below:
There are residential houses right in front of the Morgue!
The morgue will have a negative impact on house prices in the immediate area around the morgue and to a lesser degree further away. Had a morgue been identified when we were purchasing this house, then we would have looked elsewhere.
The morgue will be directly opposite residential properties. Aesthetically unpleasant, even morbid.
As an entrance will be on Main Ave, the following is likely to occur:
* It would compromise road safety and increase traffic movement in a residential area designed for local traffic only.
* Traffic along main Ave will occur at any time, as the morgue will be staffed 24/7. This increases noise in the residential area, as well as traffic.
* The entrance on Main Ave will be used for visitors and emergency services and deliveries. This will mean that distressed families will be using this entrance, media will be camped outside waiting for a story. This will inevitably highlight Botanica Estate in the media. It will increase traffic, parking will become an issue.
* The increased traffic due to the entrance on Main Ave will cause a safety risk to residents. Children play outside, residents walk their dogs.
* If deliveries are to be made through Main Ave, then there is a risk of chemical contamination. Residents are just 50m away.
* Current turning lanes are not adequate for trucks. Joseph St is an 80km road.
* Distressed/disoriented visitors will put residents at risk because they are not familiar with the streets
* Main Ave only allows traffic to exit towards Bankstown (south). If visitors/trucks require to travel to Lidcombe, they need to go through the estate. The roads are very narrow and not suitable for trucks. An increase in vehicular activity puts residents at greater risk. Inversely, vehicles travelling from the south will need to travel through the estate to get to the entrance.
* 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.
* Vehicle traffic will increase around Central Park. This is the main park of the estate and a meeting place for young families and dog walkers. Additional traffic is not appropriate for this area.
* The estate's roads have been designed for local traffic only.
Media attention in the estate will be unwanted every time there is high profile case.
A coroners court will undoubtedly bring the criminal element into the estate. Crime in the area is likely to increase as this is a quiet neighbourhood.
Increase in traffic will increase noise and air pollution.
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.

I am a resident since 2006. The Main Avenue is used by all residents. I object to the sharing of Main Avenue with the public. The entry/exit for the public should not be on Main Avenue.
The Traffic and Parking Assessment Document(para 7.5 of D1) says the area is "isolated" and "pedestrian activity in public areas surrounding the site will be low". This is NOT TRUE. We have over 700 families living here and most of them are young families with little children like myself.
The Community Meeting with Project Director Aaron Smith on 2-Jul-2016 was unsatisfactory. He was asked why the staffs and public car parks need to be separated. His response was that to protect the staffs from visitors who can become EXTREMELY VIOLENT after the visit!! Does this mean that it is alright to expose Botanica residents to violent visitors???
We have over 500 young children and many handicaps on wheelchairs in this estate. Ferguson Lodge is located within Botanica estate and it houses people with spinal cord injury from NSW. Driving along any roads in Botanica needs to be very cautious as we have little children and disabled people.
The document only mentioned that it is building on former Lidcombe Hospital site. Former Lidcombe Hospital DOES NOT exist anymore. It now has over 700 homes on the site.
These are some of the Safety concerns.
* All Botanica residents use Main Avenue. I use Main Avenue at least 4 times a day to send my kids to school and pick up too. If the public entry/exit is on Main Avenue, visitors heading Northbound, will either weave through Betty Cuthbert Drive which has the most number of cars parked on both side of the road, or they have to drive through Botanica Ave where most children crosses that street to go to the playground.
* Public visitors who become distressed with the outcome of the Court decision might drive recklessly along the streets. This will put the residents at risk.
* High profile cases will also attract the public media. Visitors running away or driving recklessly to escape the chase from the media will also pose a danger and safety to our community.
* The residents here will also be subjected to unwanted visitors like child predators, rapists, gangsters, murderers, paedophiles etc who will be traveling through our estate.
* By allowing public to access through our roads, it gives outsider more opportunities to intrude into the privacy of our neighbourhood.
* As the development is 24/7, distressed relatives, media or emergency services will be travelling through the estate.
Suggestion
* Public entry/exit SHOULD USE Weeroona Road that already has a traffic light from the Joseph Street.
* Botanica estate should be shielded from the Forensic Pathology and Coroner's Court so that residents are not disturbed by all the commotions and distressed public.
 
Currently there is a fence along Main Avenue and it separates the residents from the Forensic Laboratory.
Please see attached.


The residents should be separated and shielded from the public.

Afterall, the we as residents have been living in this area for almost 10 years. Any new development should have consideration for those who are already there.