MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

I object to the proposed changes to the M4-M5 Rozelle Interchange, in particular:
- The imposing proposed concrete car overpass ramp located on The Crescent, cutting Annandale off from the Glebe foreshore
- Relocation of the promised Green Link which will now split the connection from Rozelle to Glebe foreshore
- Pedestrian and cycling routes now across 5 sets of traffic lights between Annandale and Glebe foreshore
- Obstruction of the ‘people’s mural’ by the concrete car overpass ramp
- No right turn from Johnston St into The Crescent
The proposed changes appear to significantly impact the access to the Glebe foreshore from Annandale and the proposed concrete car overpass ramp located on The Crescent, cutting Annandale off from the Glebe foreshore, not only appears unsightly but will increase noise pollution to the Annandale suburb.
Annandale has thrived as a community with direct access to the Glebe foreshore. I am concerned the proposed changes will impact the health and wellbeing of local residents including the children attending Annandale North Public School. Also concerned it will adversely impact the level of traffic using Johnston Street (which has public schools) and Booth Street.

This entire proposal is absurd.
- Annandale does not need 7 lanes of traffic in/out of the suburb.
- The intersection under the light rail is confusing. Why don't you acquire the timber yard and bulldoze that? You seem to do that with people's houses.
- This whole intersection could be simplified. Why are there two overpasses? Design this for pedestrian and cyclists.
- The mural should not be obstructed. This has more value to the community vibe than a timber yard.

I object to the modifications to the Rozelle interchange. The overpass is supposed to be underground. Putting it aboveground is unsightly and causes further damage to the surrounding environment.

I object to the removal of the right turn from Johnston St onto The Crescent. It will result in an increase in traffic on my street.

I object to the increase in the number of lanes leading onto The Crescent from the Rozelle interchange. This will cause an increase in traffic on Ross St and will interfere with the village atmosphere of Forest Lodge shops. I also believe this will increase traffic around Forest Lodge Public School and will put children's lives at risk.

I object to the combined pathway and cycleway. They will be disconnected from the foreshore pathway and they are very convoluting and not friendly to the proposed users such as myself.

The proposed modifications show a complete lack of disregard for the original planning consent conditions, poor due diligence by the Government given the size and scale of these modifications (which really should have been scoped at the beginning at the planning process) and most importantly, it shows a complete disregard for the local community of Annandale and the whole notion of creating 'liveable cities'.

Global experience of major toll road construction has demonstrated conclusively that projects like this increase air pollution, encourage more car use, fleece road users with
exorbitant tolls and eventually fill the increased road capacity they create. This modification completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project and
threatens to impose unacceptable negative consequences on the landscape and liveability of our local area. Sufficient consideration hasn’t been given to obvious alternatives such as an underground tunnel running under Whites Creek.

1. Visual impact and obstruction of ‘people’s mural’
This modification will impose hugely on the local landscape in the inner west. A new elevated overpass is completely at odds with local development standards and will have a significant negative visual impact on Annandale and its surrounds. The overpass will also obstruct Rodney Monk’s heritage mural which decorates the northern
side of the light rail viaduct along The Crescent. That mural was commissioned by the Leichhardt Council in 1980 and inspired by political and social movements in the inner west. It is a dearly loved and historically important local artefact that should be protected.

2. Pedestrian access to Bicentennial Park and Jubilee Park
This modification prioritises the needs of motorists, trashing the experience of local pedestrian traffic and making harder for residents to access the public waterfront. Pedestrians walking from the Western side of Johnston Street will have to use an astonishing four pedestrian crossings in order to reach Bicentennial Park (see diagram
below). This pedestrian arrangement should be modified to allow pedestrians to cross direct from Johnston Street to the Park via The Crescent.

3. Destruction of mature fig trees at Buruwan Park
This design proposes to rip up Buruwan Park and all the vegetation at that site including over 70 trees and several beautiful mature fig trees. Removing this vegetation will impact on the liveability of our suburb by removing shade, making our local area warmer and destroying the green barrier it provides between the City West Link and residences. Even if these trees are replaced with saplings, it could take up to a decade for tree cover to return to this site. Any modification to this proposal should make every possible effort to save these trees and vegetation. At a bare minimum, these trees should not be removed until a full Urban Design and Landscape Plan has been completed.

4. Relocation of the green link
This modification would abandon one of the centrepieces of the original design: a pedestrian and cycling green link to connect the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park.
Relocating that green link to the west of the intersection of The Crescent and City West Link ignores the original conditions of consent given for this project and puts the needs of motorists ahead of pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed pedestrian bridge further north up the City West Link creates an unnecessarily
long walk for pedestrians and an unnecessarily high climb of 5+ metres. RMS and the contractors should reconsider other design options for a continuous green link
from Rozelle Goods Yard, across the City West Link into Jubilee Park, including a link to Annandale and the Rozelle Bay light rail stop.

5. Increased local traffic in Annandale
This modification would remove the option to turn right out of Johnston Street into the Crescent which will increase traffic through local streets including Piper Street and Booth Street. These changed conditions will mean increased noise and emissions for residents in Annandale.

Please go back to the drawing board and design a solution which does not have such an adverse and detrimental impact to local residents and actually improves the 'liveability' of the impacted suburbs.

I object to the proposed modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and changes to pedestrian infrastructure in North Annandale.
The proposed modification is contrary to the approved vision and plans previously agreed, and represent yet another disappointing lack of consultation with affected residents and commuters.

As a local resident and parent of young children, my key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
- significantly reduced safety and increased risk for my children, pedestrians and cyclists due to the proposed removal of access over The Crescent to Bicentennial Park and the greatly increased traffic along Johnson Street.
- dramatic increase in 'rat-run' traffic flowing through Railway parade as commuters attempt to get around increased tollways parallel to City West link and the new exchange. This is a quiet family street, with a significant number of small children living in it that will be at risk of accidents with unwary/speeding commuters
- the requirement to cross FIVE (?!) sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent in order to reach the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle Bay light rail stop.
- removal of direct active links to the foreshore, cutting the community off from the area and the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays Precinct, including linking the Light Rail and Bus stops to a Ferry wharf and Metro station.
- urban and landscape design being built before a finalised Masterplan has been approved for the area.
- traffic changes limiting movement around North Annandale, creating further congestion in the local streets of Annandale, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Lilyfield and Rozelle with no planning to deal with these.

I request that the RMS:
- Reinstate the GreenLink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to Bicentennial Park
- Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist connections that are continuous, safe and direct.
- Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the suburbs, the location of the foreshore and it’s potential future development.
- Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force them onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf

Can the RMS please work WITH the community to explore alternate design options to the proposed new car overpass design and the changed pedestrian and cyclist links.
Thank you for considering this submission, and I look forward to the RMS working with local stakeholders to achieve a mutually beneficial solution.

I object to the proposed modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and changes to pedestrian infrastructure in North Annandale.
The proposed modification is contrary to the approved vision and plans previously agreed and represent yet another disappointing lack of consultation with affected residents and commuters.

As a local resident and parent of young children, my key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
- significantly reduced safety and increased risk for my children, pedestrians and cyclists due to the proposed removal of access over The Crescent to Bicentennial Park and the greatly increased traffic along Johnson Street.
- dramatic increase in 'rat-run' traffic flowing through Railway parade as commuters attempt to get around increased tollways parallel to City West link and the new exchange. This is a quiet family street, with a significant number of small children living in it that will be at risk of accidents with unwary/speeding commuters
- the requirement to cross FIVE (?!) sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent in order to reach the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle Bay light rail stop.
- removal of direct active links to the foreshore, cutting the community off from the area and the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays Precinct, including linking the Light Rail and Bus stops to a Ferry wharf and Metro station.
- urban and landscape design being built before a finalised Masterplan has been approved for the area.
- traffic changes limiting movement around North Annandale, creating further congestion in the local streets of Annandale, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Lilyfield and Rozelle with no planning to deal with these.

I request that the RMS:
- Reinstate the GreenLink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to Bicentennial Park
- Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist connections that are continuous, safe and direct.
- Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the suburbs, the location of the foreshore and its potential future development.
- Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force them onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf

Can the RMS please work WITH the community to explore alternate design options to the proposed new car overpass design and the changed pedestrian and cyclist links.
Thank you for considering this submission, and I look forward to the RMS working with local stakeholders to achieve a mutually beneficial solution.

As I live the Annandale area and frequently visit the Foreshore/Jubilee Park with my young children, my primary concern is around negotiating the newly modified intersection between Johnson Street and The Crescent. At the moment I have just one street to cross (the Crescent) which has just three lanes of traffic. Under the new proposal I would have four streets to cross involving multiple lanes of traffic. This is a serious threat to safety and a huge inconvenience to the many families who frequent these parks. Note that there is no alternative pedestrian access to these parks from any of the adjoining suburbs.

There does not seem to be any material need for the modifications to the intersection given that traffic is currently minimal (it's unusual for cars to have to wait more than one set of traffic lights even at peak hour) so the negative impact on pedestrians and cyclists, groups the government is supposedly trying to encourage, seem unjustified.

see attached

The plans for the Crescent and Glebe Foreshore are an abomination - there is zero consideration made for the local amenity, for all the pedestrians and cyclists that use this route to access the city and the foreshore, for all the children who use the foreshore to get to school and play sports. This is all about cars and tolls and will destroy the local environment for ever. The NSW government cares not one bit for the locals of Annandale and Rozelle, and they are making this perfectly clear.

Put simply this is an ugly addition that makes the project simpler and cheaper for the contractor. The original submission was pedestrian friendly, asetically acceptable.
We need to consider the long term impacts on our living environment. A spagetti junction on top of the harbour foreshore has to be a bad option . Please consider the people not cars as a first option,

Global experience of major toll road construction has demonstrated conclusively that projects like this increase air pollution, encourage more car use, fleece road users with exorbitant tolls and eventually fill the increased road capacity they create.
This modification completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project and threatens to impose unacceptable negative consequences on the landscape and liveability of our local area.
The proposed overpass is totally out of step with local development in Annandale and will obstruct a local heritage mural and destroy Buruwan Park. Sufficient consideration hasn’t been given to obvious alternatives such as an underground tunnel running under Whites Creek.

Visual impact and obstruction of ‘people’s mural’
This modification will impose hugely on the local landscape in the inner west. A new
elevated overpass is completely at odds with local development standards and will have a
significant negative visual impact on Annandale and its surrounds.
The overpass will also obstruct Rodney Monk’s heritage mural which decorates the northern
side of the light rail viaduct along The Crescent. That mural was commissioned by the
Leichhardt Council in 1980 and inspired by political and social movements in the inner west.
It is a dearly loved and historically important local artefact that should be protected.

This proposal could be replaced with a slot cut and cover trench running under Whites Creek
to push traffic underground instead of overground and avoid the massive imposition of an
overpass and destruction of the ‘people’s mural’.

Pedestrian access to Bicentennial Park and Jubilee Park
This modification prioritises the needs of motorists, trashing the experience of local
pedestrian traffic and making harder for residents to access the public waterfront.
Pedestrians walking from the Western side of Johnston Street will have to use an
astonishing four pedestrian crossings in order to reach Bicentennial Park.
As a family er regularly cycle down white creeks to get to Jubilee Park and the Fish Markets. This modification is unacceptable.

This pedestrian arrangement should be modified to allow pedestrians to cross direct from
Johnston Street to the Park via The Crescent.

Destruction of mature fig trees at Buruwan Park
This design proposes to rip up Buruwan Park and all the vegetation at that site including over
70 trees and several beautiful mature fig trees.
Removing this vegetation will impact on the liveability of our suburb by removing shade,
making our local area warmer and destroying the green barrier it provides between the City
West Link and residences. Even if these trees are replaced with saplings, it could take up to a
decade for tree cover to return to this site.
Any modification to this proposal should make every possible effort to save these trees and
vegetation. At a bare minimum, these trees should not be removed until a full Urban Design
and Landscape Plan has been completed.

Relocation of the green link
This modification would abandon one of the centrepieces of the original design: a
pedestrian and cycling green link to connect the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park.
Relocating that green link to the west of the intersection of The Crescent and City West Link
ignores the original conditions of consent given for this project and puts the needs of
motorists ahead of pedestrians and cyclists.
The proposed pedestrian bridge further north up the City West Link creates an unnecessarily
long walk for pedestrians and an unnecessarily high climb of 5+ metres.
RMS and the contractors should reconsider other design options for a continuous green link
from Rozelle Goods Yard, across the City West Link into Jubilee Park, including a link to
Annandale and the Rozelle Bay light rail stop.

Increased local traffic in Annandale
This modification would remove the option to turn right out of Johnston Street into the
Crescent which will increase traffic through local streets including Piper Street and Booth
Street.
These changed conditions will mean increased noise and emissions for residents in
Annandale.

I object to this modification to the M4-M5 link due to the following point:
- This plan completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project
- The whole interchange was sold to the community as an underground networks of tunnels, not an overground "eyesore"
- The plan will result in the loss of yet more much needed green space
- The plan will do nothing to solve the greater traffic congestion issues facing the inner west and Sydney in general
- Have an unacceptable and unnecessary visual impact
I would urge the department of planning to reconsider this proposal as it provides very little benefit to the community

Please see attached. This modification is wrong-headed.

Director, Transport Assessments Planning Services
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39 Sydney, NSW 2001
Application: SSI 7485
Dear Director Transport Assessments Planning Services,
I write regarding the proposed modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and changes to pedestrian infrastructure in North Annandale, Rozelle and Rozelle Bay Foreshore area.
I request RMS work with the community to explore alternate design options to the proposed new car overpass design and the changed pedestrian and cyclist links. I am seeking the reinstatement of the safe, direct access from the approved EIS GreenLink to create a continuous green open space connection from the Rozelle Rail yards and Annandale to the foreshore. The GreenLink was more than just a walk way - it put people central to the design, maximising safety, and providing much needed accessible open space for the community now and into the future Bays Precinct design.
I am requesting RMS put people back into the plan – I want you to reinstate your own vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. Work with the community to design a feasible option that brings the best elements from the approved EIS design into the modification.
My key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
• The significantly reduced safety and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists with removed access over The Crescent to Bicentennial Park and the increased traffic along Johnson Street.
• Being required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent as my option to reach the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle light rail stop.
• Removal of direct active links to the foreshore, cutting the community off from the area and the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays Precinct, including linking the Light Rail and Bus stops to a Ferry wharf and Metro station.
• Urban and landscape design that is being built before a finalised Masterplan for the area.
• Traffic changes that limit movements around the suburb and create further congestion in the local streets of Annandale, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Lilyfield and Rozelle with no planning to deal with these.
Alongside these issues my other concerns include:
My submission is asking RMS and the Project Team to:
• Reinstate the GreenLink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to
Bicentennial Park.
• Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist connections that are continuous, safe and direct.
• Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the suburbs, the location of the foreshore and it’s potential future development.
• Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force us onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
• Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.
Furthermore I suggest:
A cycleway and crossing, similar to that created over the City West Link at Victoria Rd

Yours Sincerely,
Name: Toby Petch
Address: 15 Pritchard St Annandale
Email: [email protected]

The current modifications will
1. remove pivotal access from a major road to many amenities and therefore create more through traffic in an already busy area.
2. The reduced lanes coming off the interchange will only create even more delays and congestion
3. The change to the pedestrian pathways and cycleways move them to a very busy motorway as apposed to the initial submission of underground

The proposed modifications will have the following effect on Forest Lodge:

1. They remove the ability to turn right from Johnston St Annandale onto The Crescent. This means that any cars in Annandale wanting to go to The Tramsheds will need to go down Booth St and through Forest Lodge (Wigram Rd and/or Minogue Crescent for heavy vehicles)

2. There is an increase in the number of lanes coming from the Rozelle Interchange onto The Crescent (towards Forest Lodge). The lanes all merge around the intersection of Johnston Street and The Crescent so there will be added congestion on The Crescent/Ross St.

3. The pedestrian pathway and cycleway were supposed to connect to the foreshore pathways but this will be removed from the plans. The pathway and cycleways are now combined, more convoluted and beside a motorway overpass (this was supposed to be underground but is now aboveground).

Dear Director Transport Assessments Planing Services
I am writing to request that RMS work with the community to explore alternate design options to the proposed new car overpass design adn the changed pedestrian and cyclist links. I am seeking the restatement of the safe, direct access from the approved EIS GreenLink to create a continuous green open space connection from the Rozelle Rail Yards and Annandale to the foreshore. The GreenLink provdes a safe and accessible connection between these areas that the new design does not adequately replace.

My key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
1. The significantly reduced safety and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclist moving between Annandale and Rozelle to the foreshore.
2. Removal of direct active links to the foreshore, cutting off these communities from the area and the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays precinct, including linking the Light Rail and Bus Stops to a Ferry Wharf and Metro Station.
3. Traffic changes that limit movements around Annandale and Rozelle and create further congestion in the local streets of Annandale, Rozelle and Lilyfield with no planning to deal with these.
4. The Modification encourage use of cars to access the foreshore areas instead of providing convenient pedestrian and cycling access. It also makes it more difficult and inconvenient for local residences to access public transport stops such as light rail and buses.

My submission is asking RMS to restate the GreenLink proposal, relocate and design pedestrian and cycling connections that are continuous, safe and direct and do not force them onto busy streets and integrate active and direct connections to all active transport, including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.

Yours sincerely
Lyndon Tam
34 Quirk Street, Rozelle NSW 2039
[email protected]

50 years ago induced demand was well known, and yet we continue to ignore it. Global experience of major toll road construction has demonstrated conclusively that projects like this increase air pollution, encourage more car use and eventually fill the increased road capacity they create. Increased pollution and more car use also adds to a significant cost to health.

This modification will impose hugely on the local landscape in the inner west. A new elevated overpass is completely at odds with local development standards and will have a significant negative visual impact on Annandale and its surrounds. The overpass will also obstruct Rodney Monk’s heritage mural which decorates the northern side of the light rail viaduct along The Crescent. That mural was commissioned by the Leichhardt Council in 1980 and inspired by political and social movements in the inner west. It is a dearly loved and historically important local artifact that should be protected.

This modification prioritizes the needs of motorists, trashing the experience of local pedestrian traffic and making it harder for residents to access the public waterfront. Pedestrians walking from the Western side of Johnston Street will have to use four pedestrian crossings in order to reach Bicentennial Park.

This design proposes to rip up Buruwan Park and all the vegetation at that site including over 70 trees and several beautiful mature fig trees. Removing this vegetation will impact on the livability of our suburb by removing shade, making our local area warmer and destroying the green barrier it provides between the City West Link and residences. Even if these trees are replaced with saplings, it could take up to a decade for tree cover to return to this site.

This modification would abandon one of the centrepieces of the original design: a pedestrian and cycling green link to connect the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park. Relocating that green link to the west of the intersection of The Crescent and City West Link ignores the original conditions of consent given for this project and puts the needs of motorists ahead of pedestrians and cyclists.

Given that Climate Change should be our number one priority, this proposal fails in every respect. More cars, more pollution, removal of mature trees plus the adverse effects on health.

To Whom It Concerns,

It appears that the original concept design for The Crescent overpass has been ditched for another ugly, hard surface design that will unfavourable impact the local/surrounding areas and residents, completely ignoring the conditions of consent given for this project.

The modification removes many of the favourable urban design features of the original proposal replacing them with a massive overpass.

These changed conditions will mean increased noise and emissions for residents in Annandale and near suburbs.

The proposed overpass is totally out of step with local development in Annandale.
It obstructs a local heritage mural and will destroy Buruwan Park, removing mature trees when the need for vegetation in urban areas is constantly recognised as critical for natural cooling and oxygen production.

Sufficient consideration hasn’t been given to obvious alternatives such as an underground tunnel running under Whites Creek.

The redesign prioritises the needs of motorists, again, ignoring the experience of local pedestrian traffic, making it difficult for residents to access the public waterfront.
Pedestrians walking from the Western side of Johnston Street will have to use an astonishing four pedestrian crossings in order to reach Bicentennial Park.

This pedestrian arrangement should be modified to allow pedestrians to cross direct from Johnston Street to the Park via The Crescent.

Relocating the green link to the west of the intersection of The Crescent and City West Link ignores the original conditions of consent given for this project and puts the needs of motorists ahead of pedestrians and cyclists.

RMS and the contractors should reconsider other design options for a continuous green link from Rozelle Goods Yard, across the City West Link into Jubilee Park, including a link to Annandale and the Rozelle Bay light rail stop.

sincerely,
Karen Armitage.
Lilyfield

i am writing regarding MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links.
1. The proposed modifications are extremely significant. The proposal replacing a tunnel with an overpass, apart from completely killing the aesthetic of this 200 year old Village and its many heritage listed constructs, it now places all children and seniors and indeed the general community that currently enjoy this family neighborhood in danger due to the proposed new traffic conditions. These modification are so far removed from the original approved plans that its even hard to conceive that someone thought this acceptable. The original consent conditions have been completely ignored and are now rendered irrelevant. One would think that this alone would lend itself to legal action against WestConnex and the state government.
2. Based on these plans access to turning right into The Crescent from anywhere in Annandale is now pushed all through View Street. Your plan cuts off all other access points from the suburb to turn right. This is obviously a mistake as it will funnel all traffic wishing to turn right onto The Crescent into one small single lane suburban street. To get to this street it will then push traffic through the streets around the children's park in Piper Street.
3. Noise pollution from the overpass now becomes a major problem due to the prevailing winds.
4. Access to Bicentennial Park will take an extra 20 minutes to walk there. Access would be extremely dangerous to the point of ridiculous. Our current community feel and access to parks and water will be all but gone.
5. The plan is to remove some 70 trees. What a joke. Have you heard of Global Warming? This will change the suburb for ever and make it a concrete wasteland with no families and resident daring to venture out and enjoy the amazing amenity of life we have now in this Village. People still talk to each other and are courteous and friendly because they enjoy the area and its parks as a community together.
6. Property valuations will drop significantly as the key reasons we live here is because of the Village atmosphere and the access not only to the city but to all of the amenities as outlined above. Will there be compensation for those that bought in the area with the understanding that a tunnel will be built to access and not this ridiculous overpass and the changed traffic conditions it perpetuates.
7. In summary, it appears that all of these changes are based on saving money on this project. Either go back to the original plan and find the funding out of the state budget surplus or find a solution that doesn't put children's lives at risk and impact the health and well-being of the Annandale Village residents.
one final item; you have made it so difficult to provide feedback through the ridiculous online registration process that is both unintuitive and repetitive (each part of the process at its end takes you away from the MOD 2 info) that it appears designed to limit the number of people making submissions. It looks like its just designed for you to say 'we consulted the community' and tick the box without actually doing anything.