Fort Street Public School

From a helathy built environemnt perspective teh planning is quite comprehensive. For a technincal assessment of the EIS we have forward this to the environmental helath team. They will provide any relevant feedback.
We have three comments only:
We support implementation of the Green Travel Plan, and continue to explore opportunities to maximise active transport options to school, for staff, students and their families. We strongly recommend that the green travel plan actions are done in collaboration with the student body and parents to promote engagement and ownership.

As an established part of the local community, the proposed redevelopment provides opportunities for the surrounding community to access facilities within the school for out of hours use. These have been identified as relating to use of the communal hall, library and outdoor areas.
Maximise green space and tree canopy in the site to mitigate rising temperatures and heat island effects, noting the rooftop gardens as a positive example within the plans

This area badly needs sports facilities - seems like a great opportunity to add something like basketball court. Our children have limited options for playing sport in this area. It would need to be safe and open only during the day so as to stop loitering. Thanks

I am an Archaeologist, myself and a number of other Archaeologists have undertaken localised archaeological testing on Observatory Hill and there is a very significant archaeological resource remaining across the site. Some of this dates to the earliest decades of the colony and would be of state and possibly national significance. There is no requirement in the SEARS for historical archaeological assessment, which is an appalling over site, and any architect who prepares a Statement of Heritage Impact is unlikely to identify the potential or significance of the archaeological resource. The SEARS should include the preparation of a historical archaeological assessment by a qualified and experienced Historical Archaeologist.

Whilst the project appears to be very well considered , I seek the reappraisal of the planned commencement date as a consequence of Covid-19. I have a daughter who is 6yrs old and in 1st class. The disruption to her world has been awful and it is totally ill considered and devoid of empathy if it is believed it acceptable relocating the children to alternative premises just after transitioning back into a normal a routine.
I recommend that the program is adjusted to reflect these concerns and have the new location commence at the start of the 2021 school year.

Re: Proposed development of the heritage listed Fort Street Public School building.
Architect: Edward Henry Rembert

Rembert is regarded as a highly influential practitioner of early modernism within the context of Australian Architecture.
The influence of stylish, pragmatic Netherlandish Architecture, as exemplified by Dudok and tempered by the Australian setting, is apparent throughout Rembert’s own public projects and filtered throughout the works of the younger Architects he mentored, and with whom he practiced.
The Fort Street Public School building is considered a seminal work within the oeuvre of this respected Architect, - its prominent location adding considerably to the recognised significance of this heritage listed item.

Having considered the above in light of the current proposal, one can only conclude that scant regard has been paid to the significance of this heritage building in the NSW Department of Education's drive to over-develop this already restricted school site.
The proposed additions envelop and overwhelm the stark monumentality and strong profile of the school building. Not surprisingly, this has not been adequately addressed within the Statement of Heritage Impact, - a document which serves the agenda of the developer and pays nothing more than lip service to preserving the essence of the building’s existing internal configuration, and outward form.
Therefore, a wholly independent and unbiased assessment of the proposal is required before conditioned approval may be granted and works commenced.
That is the very least we owe NSW heritage and the legacy of this great Architect.

Graeme King
Architect. Urban & Regional Planner. Heritage Consultant

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Please see attached letter

Hi

I am against the temporary relocation of the Fort St Primary school to the proposed location in Ultimo. This location is outside the current school catchment, and will present significant disruption to daily life. We will need to transport our child to and from school each day via public transport of private estimated to add 30-40 minutes to our current commute. Further to this, in support of the school we often attend events, moving the school outside its catchment will again result in additional commute time and inconvenience.

We live in a location where most destinations are a short walk away, thus greatly reducing our carbon footprint, by moving the school this will greatly disrupt our lifestyle choices, live\work in the CBD.

We have the right to public schooling in our catchment. Moving the school further demonstrates the NSW government lack of support for families living in the Sydney CBD. Another example is the development of an expansive park at Barangaroo, but not developing the small children's playground.

What other options were considered? The Abraham Mott Hall and National Trust Buildings and the surrounding land are clearly underutilized by the local community.

Regards
Kelvin Lister
Dana Koifman
Zaklina Blazeski

Please see attached submission

I am very familiar with the site, walking by it several times a week and overlooking it from my home in Kent Street. Whilst the buildings on the site have little architectural merit they do form a very pleasant historic precinct on Observatory Hill and there is harmony and some space between them.

I am dismayed that the architects have designed little more than a series of boxes, filling almost all of the available land. I object to its height and the impact it will have on so many view lines. I disagree with the classification of these obstructions on your website as being low to moderate, when they are anything but, especially from the Agar Steps and from the Harbour Bridge. It’s height also has a very big impact on the views from the Harbour Bridge to the Crown Casino, a building of considerable architectural merit now partly obscured by these boxes.

I also object to the proposed light colour of the buildings. Rather than create something to blend into this very historic precinct the architects have ensured it stands out, repeating the misguided thinking of architects who defiantly resist blending in with colours and moods of historical sites. There appears to be a preference for ugly modern additions in different colours with the sole aim of differentiation as though this were a worthy aim per se.

This crowded architecture will destroy the school precinct on Observatory Hill just as the LEGO block addition destroyed the MCA on west circular quay where a beautiful Art Deco building was wrecked forever.

The neighbouring National Trust building on Observatory Hill was once a hospital in the early days of the colony. Thankfully the hospital was moved when it outgrew the building. With today’s thinking, the lovely classical building would have had an ugly addition. Our forebears had more sense.

This school is in the centre of a circle surrounded by the Cahill Expressway. It is hard to imagine a less healthy site for a school. The circular expressway should be covered over, restoring Observatory Hill to its former state and protecting the lungs of the children. No new development of this site should take place until the Cahill Expressway is covered. Even then the size of the expansion should be limited.

If these public buildings become too small for their purpose we should move the institutions, not destroy the historical settings just because the buildings are no longer fit for purpose. We have so few historical precincts left to protect in the city.

Anne Keating

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PLease see attached comments compiled after consultation with Members of the Millers Point Community Resident Action Group.
Main points are:
1. Construct cycle way before beginning construction work on the school.
2. Complete a more detailed Master PLan of Observatory Hill precinct before commencing work on the school.

I have made a prior submission opposing the application. After lodging this submission, I received late notices from 2 families that they would like to be on the signatories list of families supporting the submission . I have added these 2 families here. This should be read as an addendum to my other submission.

April 28, 2020

Karen Harragon
Director Social and Infrastructure Assessments
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124

Dear Karen,

RE: Exhibition of State Significant Development Application – Fort Street Public School Redevelopment (Application No. SSD-10340)

The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences strongly supports the investment by the NSW Government in upgraded facilities for Fort Street Public School. The Museum, as custodian and manager of the neighbouring Sydney Observatory and as an institution with a shared purpose in education, enjoys a close and collaborative relationship with Fort Street Public School.

We recognise that the enhanced school facilities and proposed shared-use model that this development facilitates will not only have a significant positive impact on the experience of Fort Street Public School students and staff, but also provide enormous potential for greater engagement with the local community, and for expanded and increased collaboration between the Observatory and Fort Street Public School.

I would like to acknowledge the proactive engagement with the Museum and other Observatory Hill Precinct stakeholders by Schools Infrastructure and Fort Street Public School throughout the scoping and development of this project to date, which has resulted in a design proposal that is sensitive and complementary to its context.

As an adjacent site of State Heritage Significance and an active public museum and education facility, we have identified a range of potential risks and impacts from this development on Sydney Observatory, which are outlined below. We believe that open and ongoing communication will help mitigate concerns and plan against potential risks to the Observatory buildings and its significant scientific equipment. I am confident that through continuing close collaboration and joint planning between the Fort Street Public School redevelopment project team and the Museum, these potential risks and impacts can be mitigated promptly and effectively.

If you require additional information or wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact myself or James Rongen-Hall at [email protected]

Yours sincerely
Lisa Havilah
Chief Executive
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
 

Impact: Noise and vibration
Phase: Construction
Current Mitigation: As outlined in SSDA Noise and Vibration Management Report
MAAS comments: MAAS requests ongoing engagement and consultation during planning and construction phases to ensure potential subsidence or structural damage to sensitive heritage structures on the Sydney Observatory site are mitigated to the greatest extent possible.

Impact: Dust
Phase: Construction
Current mitigation: As outlined in SSDA Air Quality Assessment
MAAS comments: MAAS requests ongoing consultation in the planning and construction phases to ensure impacts from demolition and construction dust and particulate matter on Sydney Observatory heritage fabric, particularly the functioning of sensitive heritage telescope machinery, is mitigated to the greatest extent possible.

Impact: Light spill
Phase: Design/Operations
Current mitigation: As outlined in SSDA External Lighting Statement
MAAS comments: MAAS acknowledges the proactive engagement by the design team in early lighting concept design, and commends the commitment to consideration of the Dark Sky Planning Guideline 2016 in ongoing design.
MAAS requests ongoing consultation and engagement with the design team in the detailed design phase to ensure light spill impacts on Observatory astronomical operations is minimised.

Impact: Traffic management and pedestrian safety
Phase: Construction
Current mitigation: As outlined in SSDA Construction Management Plan
MAAS comments: MAAS is concerned that construction traffic will exacerbate the already challenging traffic conditions in the Observatory Hill precinct, and requests ongoing consultation during planning and construction to ensure impacts on the general public and visitors to the Observatory and other institutions in the Precinct can be minimised.

Impact: Heritage
Phases: Design/Construction
Current mitigation: As outlined in SSDA Conservation Management Plan and Heritage Impact Statement
MAAS comments: MAAS commends the efforts of the project team in considering and respecting the heritage values of heritage items in the Observatory Hill Precinct, including Sydney Observatory, in developing the concept design.
MAAS comments: MAAS strongly supports the intention to restore and adaptively reuse the Met Building and Messengers Cottage as part of the development.
MAAS requests engagement and information exchange, and offers its expertise wherever it may be of use, during the research, documentation and restoration of the heritage buildings, and recognise that these works may provide useful insights for our ongoing conservation and planned restoration works on the Sydney Observatory site.

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