Mixed Use Development - 903-921 Bourke St Waterloo

The floor is too high, this will made the traffic here very bad. And the higher floor will block neighbours view.

I strongly object to the proposed amendments for 903–921 Bourke Street, Waterloo (SSD-95997711).

I am not opposed to new housing or the ongoing renewal of the area. I recognise that Waterloo is evolving and that additional housing is necessary. However, my concern is with the scale of this particular proposal, the absence of clear and considered planning, and the way it appears to disregard the established planning framework without providing a convincing justification.
The proposed increase in height is particularly concerning. An increase from approx. 65 metres to 126 metres is a significant change, not a minor variation. This increase is excessive and goes well beyond the scale of anything in the surrounding areas and appears disproportionate and inconsistent with the existing character of the area and the original planning intentions.

The nearby Redfern development has done a great job of enhancing the area and increasing economic activity, but this proposal is beyond what is reasonable.

My concerns include the following:
- The proposed height is excessive and not in keeping with the surrounding areas, and also sets a dangerous precedent
- Lack of proper transport analysis - the area around Bourke St, Lachlan Ave and McEvoy St and are already complete gridlock
- Transport and infrastructure impacts - the proposal adds 233 extra dwellings but only an additional 20 car spaces
- Lack of careful planning and consideration, including an exemption from community infrastructure contributions
- Lack of outdoor spaces for the proposed 580 apartments
- The majority of proposed apartments appear to be studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments, and only 20 three bedroom apartments in the whole complex, and appear to be penthouse style apartments - which does nothing to address affordable housing.
- Wind tunnel effects
- Overshadowing effects on existing dwellings and public spaces
- Lack of proper and fair community consultation

I request that a public hearing be held, so residents' concerns can be addressed in a fair and transparent setting.

Many thanks
Rachel

I oppose any change to the existing approval for the Bourke Street site. The approved 376 apartments will already stretch the Transport and infrastructure in the area, let alone adding another 204 apartments to the development.
The roads in the area are already busy and at times congested without the additional traffic generated by the development including private cars, taxi's, Uber and ride share vehicles.
The bus services in the area are already packed full during peak times and a statement at the recent public information session run by the developer dismissed this issue. The developers consultant said that Transport would review patronage and add more buses. This generally isn't the case, there are not enough bus services to cover the current need and a shortage of drivers is causing services to be cancelled regularly across Sydney.
The distance to train stations from the site is 1km to Green Square and 1.25km to Waterloo. This is between a 15 to 20 minute walk depending which station you use so not that convenient. This will lead to hundreds more share bikes littering the area around the development and the train stations. Users don't care and drop them anywhere usually blocking footpaths. The morning trains at Green Square are regularly full with no room for more passengers.
The public information session had a focus on the level of affordable housing the development would provide, while there is a proposed increase the exisitng approval already provides affordable housing.
The increased number of residents in the development will put pressure on the limited outdoor and open space in the development and further pressure on the existing public parks and local infrastructure, which the City of Sydney council acknowledges. The council are forcing changes on Moore Park Golf Course to provide more open space and that was before these new state significant developments were proposed in the area. The Green Square precinct is already one of the most densely populated areas in NSW so it's unreasonable to keep packing people into the area.
A review of the development proposal has no benefits for residents in the development or anyone living in the surrounding areas, the only benefit is to the developer and once they finish building and leave, it's the local community that has to live with all the issues the overdevelopment creates.

My objection is not to the entire project just the 38 story tower
The tower is grossly out of proportion to all surrounding buildings. It will cause major shadowing. It is of poor design that in decades to come will be seen as an eyesore. It is not in keeping with size of any structures around and should be reduced to original size rather than doubled.

I strongly object to the proposed significant development application to increase building height and add additional apartments to the Dasco Property development in Waterloo.
Waterloo is already experiencing a high level of overdevelopment, with existing infrastructure under significant and growing strain. Local transport networks are operating at or near capacity, with frequent congestion on surrounding road (Bourke Street, Lachlan Street and McEvoy Streets) and overcrowding on public transport during peak periods. Additional residential density will further increase demand on roads, intersections, parking, and public transport services that are already inadequate for the current population.
Increased density without corresponding investment in infrastructure will reduce access to services and diminish overall quality of life for residents in Waterloo.
Further increases in building height and scale will exacerbate these conditions and negatively affect the character and liveability of Waterloo. I am particularly disappointed that Waterloo residents were led by Dasco to believe this development would be different — low rise and more sympathetic to the surrounding area. The proposed changes directly contradict those expectations and suggest a focus on maximising yield at the expense of infrastructure capacity and community wellbeing.
Given the cumulative impacts of ongoing development in Waterloo, the proposed increase in height and additional apartments represent overdevelopment of the site and an unacceptable strain on already constrained infrastructure.
I have been a resident for 25 years and want to continue living here but not overshadowed by compound like structures that tower over the district. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

I write to object to this proposal due to the significant changes to what was previously approved by the City of Sydney. The large increase in apartments proposed is way too many for this area and this particular site, an area that is already saturated with apartments and lack of infrastructure to support. It feels like this proposal has not been thought through and there is a just a quota that is trying to be met, with no consideration of what this drastic increase in building height and number of apartments will have on the neighbouring community.
The roads around this site are already extremely busy, there is already limited open communal space and there isn't enough commercial outlets to support such a large increase. Further, creating apartments these high risks the area turning into a concrete jungle and feeling closed in, something that will impact the wellbeing of those that live in the area.
I am all for creating additional housing, but the previous approval is more than enough and increasing this in line with the new proposal is something that can damage the health and wellbeing of those that live in the area. We need to maintain liveability standards and this proposal reduces liveability standards.
It is very disappointing that there has been no consideration given to the people who currently live in the area and those that will move into the complex - you are damaging people's lives.

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed major changes to the development plans for the former Water Board site (903-921 Bourke Street, Waterloo).

My key concerns as a local resident include:


Visual Impact & Neighbourhood Character: The proposed height is drastically out of scale with the surrounding Waterloo precinct.


Overshadowing: Towers of this magnitude (30-37 storeys) will significantly reduce solar access to neighbouring homes and public spaces.


Infrastructure Strain: A 67% increase in density will place unmanageable pressure on local traffic, parking, and public transport, which are already at capacity.


Wind Impacts: Increasing height to 37 storeys poses a risk of severe wind tunnel effects at street level, impacting pedestrian safety and comfort.

This will be an eyesore in an already dense area. It's impossible to get a seat on the bus home as it is!

I am the owner of an apartment located in close proximity to the site and I object to the DASCO proposal (SSD‑95997711) to substantially increase the scale of development at 903–921 Bourke Street. This proposal represents a dramatic and unjustified departure from what was originally approved by the City of Sydney and undermines planning certainty for existing residents who relied on those approvals.

The proposed height increases, from 12 to 31 storeys and 21 to 38 storeys, are excessive and cannot be considered minor amendments. They fundamentally change the scale, intensity, and character of the development. The increase in dwelling numbers from 347 to 580 apartments, with only 20 additional parking spaces, is manifestly inadequate and wholly disconnected from the capacity of local roads, parking, and services.

The proposal must be assessed in the context of cumulative impacts. Together with other major developments in the area, including the proposed 38‑storey tower at 881–885 Bourke Street (SSD‑80441462), thousands of new residents will be introduced into an already constrained neighbourhood. Public transport services, including buses and peak‑hour trains from Green Square, are already overcrowded, roads and parking are heavily congested, and community amenities such as the local library are operating beyond capacity. No convincing evidence has been provided to demonstrate that these impacts can be adequately mitigated.

From an urban design perspective, the proposed towers are visually overbearing and inconsistent with the established and approved built form of the area. The cumulative effect of multiple oversized towers will also result in significant winter solstice overshadowing, negatively impacting nearby homes and public open space.

This proposal prioritises height and density uplift over sound planning outcomes, infrastructure capacity, and residential amenity. It undermines the planning controls and approvals that residents relied on when choosing to live in this area. For these reasons, the proposal is not in the public interest and should be refused, and I strongly urge the NSW Government to reject SSD‑95997711.

I am owner of an apartment in 850 Burke Street. I am supportive of development in the area. However, I strongly oppose the changes sought for this development. The proposed increase in scale would put a substantial increase on strain on infrastructure in the area. In addition, the development would be visually overbearing and create excessive overshadowing in the area and would likely create a wind-tunnel for pedestrians. This substantial increase in density would also affect the value of the properties I already own in Waterloo, with so much stock coming on market at the same time. I would like scale of the development to be reduced back to the original proposal or at least reduced to a level that is more sustainable for the current level of infrastructure and amenities.

There are major concerns with the increase in scale of the development at 903-921 Burke Street, including:
- A major increase in congestion in an already dense area that has very limited ability (if any) to expand roads to cater for the increase in traffic
- Additional strain on parking and public transport (it is already a challenge to catch a bus in the morning on Burke street or a train in Green Square during peak hour time).
- Limited visible consultation with local residents despite the scale of the proposed change
- The areas has zero existing buildings of a size anywhere near as the proposed one, meaning the new development will stick out like a sore thumb and will open the flood gate to additional developments of similar height, with a compounding effect on the above issues.
Additionally, the proposed extension of 903 Burke Street will completely block the city view for the entire complex I live in, including from the rooftop pool and entertainment area we (owners) paid a significant premium for.

I am writing to strongly object to the proposed major changes to the development plans for the former Water Board site (903-921 Bourke Street, Waterloo).

My key concerns as a local resident include:


Visual Impact & Neighbourhood Character: The proposed height is drastically out of scale with the surrounding Waterloo precinct.


Overshadowing: Towers of this magnitude (30-37 storeys) will significantly reduce solar access to neighbouring homes and public spaces.


Infrastructure Strain: A 67% increase in density will place unmanageable pressure on local traffic, parking, and public transport, which are already at capacity.


Wind Impacts: Increasing height to 37 storeys poses a risk of severe wind tunnel effects at street level, impacting pedestrian safety and comfort.


I request that my objection be formally noted.

I object to the proposed extension of building heights and number of apartments in this proposal. As a nearby owner and resident in Potter Street, the reason for my objection is that the impact on public transport infrastructure and capacity in the immediate area of the project has not been adequately addressed. The increase to apartment and resident numbers already represented by the existing planning approval will severely strain any realistic increase to public transport capacity hat is already planned. The infrastructure of bus stops and capacity from frequency of bus journeys will be unable to be increased sufficient to cover the nearly doubling of apartments and residents under this proposal. The transport system will simply be unable to cope with the increase.

Public transport in the area around Danks, Bourke, Potter and McEvoy Streets is already severely strained. There are many occasions already when buses on the 304 and 320 routes, in particular, are skipping bus stops due to being overcapacity. This is partly exacerbated by untimed scheduling on the 304 loop run. While buses are meant to arrive around every 10 minutes, in practice you often get two or three buses in quick succession followed by a longer gap. Then the next bus to arrive is under pressure from early in its run from Zetland to the city. I've seen many occasions where the bus is full before it gets to the major stop at Bourke and Danks Streets, with a large number of passengers waiting, but refuses to pick new passengers up. And this isn't just on especially busy days or during major events. It happens sometimes on regular weekdays and weekends.

If the current proposal to expand this project is to be approved, it must be accompanied by a new metro station or light rail branch line to cope with the increase. Even a significant increase in bus numbers to every five minutes would likely be inadequate.

As a resident in the neighbourhood and an ESD Consultant, this increase in size and scope at this stage of development seems to be undertaken lightly. Have all ESD impacts for the increased development been assessed?

The impacts of this development will include:
1. Infrastructure strain — the extra residents would place unacceptable pressure on local roads, parking and public transport, all of which are already stretched. Services such as the 304 bus and peak-hour trains from Green Square are already at or near capacity, and buses often pass by because they’re full.
2. Shortage of amenities - Public amenities are already under pressure and are unlikely to keep pace with the additional residents. Even now it can be difficult to find a place to sit and work at the library. This development would add further strain and make an
already crowded situation worse.
3. Visually overbearing development - The proposed height is far too large for its surroundings and is out of character with the existing neighbourhood. Its scale would dominate the local streetscape and create a serious visual impact, undermining the current character of the area.
4. Overshadowing impacts - The two oversized towers proposed at 903-921 Bourke Street, together with the tower proposed at 881-885 Bourke Street, would create significant cumulative overshadowing during the winter solstice, affecting a large area of nearby homes and public open space.

These will have a huge impact on the daily lives of my family and me in the community.

I very strongly object to the project as it is a gross overdevelopment of the site based on what was previously approved, and that the local area is already struggling to accommodate the current number of residents.
In particular, roads, parking, traffic and public transport are of concern to me. Buses in our area, just north of the development site, are unusable at peak times due to overcrowding.
Furthermore, local infrastructure as it exists will not deal with the increase in population in terms of schools, libraries, small and large green spaces and general amenities that make an area liveable. These have been issues for many years, impacting our family directly and I cannot see how that is to be addressed and improved with this over-burdening on the Waterloo area. The government did not supply public high school options for us when we needed them, and this problem will only be further exacerbated by over-development. This has a major impact on all resident's quality of life.
The new proposed height of the building and the overshadowing of the street are completely alarming and will negatively impact the general neighbourhood environment. We live in an area that is entitled to have a residential street environment, NOT a CBD one.
I also note that any engagement with the public about such concerns has been completely woeful. As a long term resident it is only at the very last moment that I have become aware of this attempt to so drastically alter from the approved guidelines and this points to nefarious intent by the developer to completely negate the impact on the people that already live in the area. Our area has supported sustained higher density building to the immediate south for many years and the rules that exist for this type of development are being ignored for this already high density area. Our government should protect our right to have a liveable neighbourhood alongside the necessity for more housing, and they should be looking to suburbs that have not had the already supported the massive increase in population that this location and surrounds has.
Please do not let the increase in the height of the buildings be approved.

Good afternoon,

I am writing to very strongly object to the proposed major changes to the development plans for the former Water Board site (903-921 Bourke Street, Waterloo).

The proposed increase in height—from 12 to 30 storeys on Bourke St, and from 21 to 37 storeys on Young St—is excessive. In fact, I believe the current approved development is excessive. I live across the road from the development in Thread Lane. I own an apartment in the Divercity complex.

The proposed amendment represents a ~67% increase in building scale, which is a fundamental departure from the originally approved concept.

My key concerns as a local resident include:

Visual Impact & Neighbourhood Character: The proposed height is drastically out of scale with the surrounding Waterloo precinct.

Overshadowing: Towers of this magnitude (30-37 storeys) will significantly reduce solar access to neighbouring homes like mine and public spaces. An existing amended DA development across the road from me has already stolen valuable sunshine and darkened my apartment considerably. I cannot afford to lose any more light.

Infrastructure Strain: A 67% increase in density will place unmanageable pressure on local traffic, parking, and public transport, which are already at capacity.

Wind Impacts: Increasing height to 37 storeys poses a risk of severe wind tunnel effects at street level, impacting pedestrian safety and comfort. The existing wind tunnel effects are already severe.

My Waterloo is already the most densely populated area in Australia. I’m constantly having to deal with the worst effects of close living and the proposed amendments to the current approved DA completely ignore the living conditions of current residents in the area.

Anthony Lloyd.

As a local resident, I am writing to express my strong objection to the proposed increases in height for the building development at 903–921 Bourke Street, Waterloo as I feel these are excessive, a major departure from the plan approved by the City of Sydney, and I feel will negatively impact our local community. More specifically, I am concerned for the following reasons:

1. Our local transport services are already struggling to cope with the existing local population volume. For example, the 304 bus and train from Green Square, which I use regularly, are often so full that it difficult to get on and crammed if it is possible to do so. In the case of the 304 bus, this often doesn't stop at all because it is already too full. The proposed extra volume of residents for this development, on top of the many others in the area, will drastically worsen this situation, particularly for the bus.

2. Our local amenities are also already stretched with the existing local volume of population. At the local library, which I use regularly, it is usually very difficult to find a spare seat given the current level of demand for it. The proposed extra volume of residents for this development, on top of the many others in the area, will drastically worsen this situation.

3. As the development site is just a bit north of my building, I am anticipating there would be a significant reduction in natural sunlight coming into our building as well as substantial shadowing of local streets.

4. The proposed extra height of these buildings would dominate the local skyline and undermine the existing character of the neighbourhood.

Given the need for extra housing in Sydney I felt the plan for this site approved by the City of Sydney was reasonable. However, as already mentioned I feel the proposed increases in height are excessive and as such feel the development should be reverted to the original plan.

I object to the changes in the development with material increase in 2 of the towers with limited or no public/local community consultation. The area is already well developed in addition to new developments underway in the waterloo/ green square area. This is not located in a transport hub - no train or metro close by. Reliance on buses is problematic, as these are already overcrowded. Roads in the area are also congested. Such a large increase in units should come with infrastructure. There is limited green space in Waterloo for existing residents let alone the number now being proposed. The height of these buildings is out of character (significantly higher) than anything in the area. More suited to Green Square above the train station.

My submission is attached

Please see attachment