MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

This revised plan for the Rozelle bay interchange is being foisted onto the public without adequate time for consideration. It is hard to believe that in 2019 our traffic planners are repeating the same mistake at Rozelle Bay as was made decades ago with the Cahill Expressway at Circular Quay – AS THE CAHILL EXPRESSWAY HAS DESTROYED CIRCULAR QUAY, SO THE OVERPASS AND RECONFIGURED INTERSECTIONS AT ROZELLE BAY WILL DESTROY THE AMENITY OF THE FORESHORE. Why are the traffic planners doing so much for motor vehicles and so little for the local environment, pedestrians and cyclists? Not only are the planners destroying what amenity we have, their schemes are a deliberate attempt to impede people walking from Annandale to the foreshore and the Bicentennial Park by making them cross the noisy roads at four successive crossings instead of one. And for local motorists, the revised plans simultaneously (i) impede the easy movement of cars between Annandale and Glebe Point by making it impossible to turn right from Johnston St into The Crescent, and (ii) increase traffic congestion at the intersection of Booth and Johnston Streets, which is the heart of the Annandale shopping precinct. How can planners continue to ignore the lessons from history and the commonsense approach to city living that is so well understood in progressive societies. STOP THE LOS-ANGELEFICATION OF SYDNEY! RETURN TO THE PLAN THAT WAS PUBLICISED PREVIOUSLY AND STOP THE UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION OF TREES AND PARKLAND!

My partner and I object to the City West Link - Mod 2 as listed in my attached submission. There are a number of aspects that we would like to see reinstated to the original. They include
1. 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.
2. Creating a structure that will maintain the character of the area.
3. Reinstatement of the right hand turn from Johnston Street to the Crescent
4. Traffic changes to limit the traffic being forced onto local streets.
5. Replanting of mature trees to replace those removed for the project to create a habitat for local fauna, a visual barrier to the roadworks and provide filtration of fumes from the ventilation stacks
6. Provide adequate sound insulation for residences. Particularly along Bayview Crescent to alleviate additional traffic noise.
These are some of the issues with the modifications . I have provided a more detailed list in my attached submission.
I have mailed my signed submission as well as submitting it online.

I feel very strongly that the new design for the foreshore is a failure. This design completely fails the people of the inner west who enjoy direct, safe pedestrian and cycling access to our beautiful Glebe foreshore. As an Annandale resident, my family and I are regular users of the Glebe foreshore. We currently have easy and direct access to this space. If the modifications to the plan are approved the access will be difficult and a lot more dangerous for the children of this community who regularly use this space.

The Modifications are entirely negative.
A tunnel should be used instead of the overpass
The pedestrian movement needs further planning and consideration, including cycle use.
The remaining trees adjacent the light rail station must be kept
The planning for pedestrian activity at the Crescent and Johnston Street needs further analysis to support the usage.
Access to the Tramsheds/parking from the Annandale/Lilyfield area needs be better accommodated.

I strongly object to the change of plan to build an overpass at the Crescent in Annandale, instead of the promised original Green Link.

This road project will cause numerous local cyclists and pedestrians to be endangered by having to cross 4 roads in order to get from Annandale / Lilyfield to Jubilee Park.
Cycling to work in the city is now an essential mode of commuting, as the light rail and 470 bus services are overwhelmed during peak hours.
Furthermore, numerous school children use the lights at the bottom of Johnston St to cross the Crescent to access Blackwattle High School and St Scholasticas. Recreational park use is high, by people playing sport, exercising or walkin their dogs.Needing to cross 11 lanes of traffic with 4 sets of traffic lights will inevitably lead to frustration and dangerous attempts at short-cuts.
The project is an eyesore, reducing much canopy which is already sparse in Jubilee Park and the surrounding area on the Crescent

My objection, after reviewing document "M4-M5 Link MOD 2 Modification Report_Main Report_Large fil_" to the design can be encapsulated by the images on page 140 of the report, being:-
Plate 6-8 Photomontage 5: Indicative view west from the corner of The Crescent and James Craig Road (without project), and
Plate 6-8 Photomontage 5: Indicative view west from the corner of The Crescent and James Craig Road (with project)
The planning, with a visually aggressive outcome by way of the excessively high and convoluted pedestrian overpass, will forever be seen as the compromise that it is.
This apparent eyesore could be avoided by dropping "The Crescent overpass" to below the existing City West Link, and thus allow the "Shared user path bridge to be lowered some 5 meters (see page 58, Figure 4-7 Elevation: Indicative view of the shared user path bridge).
Is this engineering for engineering sake, or a constructors cost saving measure?
Further, from past experience of 'photomontarge's used to sell projects', as this is, a comparable photo taken of the completed project, 'will be highly likely' to demonstrate an 'as-built' that is far more intrusive, brutal and inelegant than 'architectural renders' photomontage' on page 140, Plate 6-8 Photomontage 5: Indicative view west from the corner of The Crescent and James Craig Road (with project).

Refer attached letter

Director, Transport Assessments Planning Services
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment​​
GPO Box 39
Sydney, NSW 2001

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 – we want you to reinstate your own vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. Work with us 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 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 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:

POOR CONSULTATION
I’m very concerned with the lack of community consultation around this modification which — if you’re honest with yourselves — is a complete redesign of this intersection. Nearly everyone I talked to a week ago knew NOTHING about this change.

This type of behaviour appears as if RMS is trying to sneak through major changes to our local area and only exacerbates the rift between you and the community.

MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT WE’VE GOT
As a local resident of over 15years myself, my family and friends are all frequent users of our local green spaces. We are particularly lucky to be able to walk down to the water on the Glebe Foreshore to exercise, participate in junior cricket or just walk around the bay to clear our minds. This open space is of huge importance to us and the wellbeing of the people that live in this busy city. Sydney is SO lucky to be on the harbour and we should be doing everything we can to sensitively design infrastructure around this asset — not compromise access through lazy design. The overpass has been dumped in the middle of the plan and everything has been changed to fit around it. You need to change the priorities and put people back as a priority stakeholder in this plan.

PRACTICING GOOD DESIGN
We understand that there are constraints in every design but what is evident in the MOD2 reports is table after table of optimisation for cars and roads and a huge number of disadvantages for pedestrians, cyclists and the internationally recognised asset that is the Sydney Harbour.

A good design would optimise around unique and valuable assets (Harbour/Foreshore) and balance the needs of all stakeholders with special attention paid to those most at risk (pedestrians, cyclists).

HONOURING PROMISES MADE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS
The Approved Environmental Impact Statement at
https://majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/prweb/PRRestService/mp/01/getContent?AttachRef=SSI-7485%2120190227T231413.342%20GMT p8 details several principals which have been completely abandoned by this modification:

● Connect and provide for communities The concept offers a parkland destination that works to stitch together previously separated communities by providing a range of social infrastructure at a central, easily accessible location. MOD 2 fails this principal
● Enhance green links The concept reactivates closed-off land through new green spaces and links. These links strategically establish a new green “interaction” connecting a series of significant yet fragmented [future and existing] green spaces in and around White Bay, Rozelle Bay, Rozelle, Balmain, Glebe and Annandale. MOD 2 removes direct access
● Respond to the local character Respecting and maintaining the unique heritage, industrial character and topography of the Rozelle Rail Yards through interpretation. A massive concrete overpass obstructing a historically significant local mural and concrete plaza — really?
● Revitalise streets for equality of mobility New public spaces and much-needed universally accessible links establish entirely new “public streets” and enhance the surrounding neighbourhood. If, like me, you’ve pushed a heavy pram up long, steep ramps, looked after 3 kids on scooters on their way to the park or volunteered to supervise 60 school kids on their way to the park MOD2 is NOT an enhancement


This 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 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

I have provided my comments in the attachment below. Please read this

To whom it may concern,

I want you to reinstate your vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056, of safe and 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.

My key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
1) 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;
2) being required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent as my option to reach the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle Bay light rail stop;
3) 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;
4) urban and landscape design that is being built before a finalised Masterplan for the area;
5) 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;
6) the lack of community consultation around this modification – I only became aware of this last week; and
7) the loss of greenspace and access to the beautiful foreshore which is so important for the wellbeing of community members.

Yours faithfully,
Kate Gould

The primary functional issue with this modification lies in the disruption of the connections between Annandale and bicentennial park for pedestrians and other active transport users. Currently, active users can enter bicentennial park at the north end of Johnston street via a single traffic light. The modification states "This option would result in a slightly longer pedestrian movement", which is a substantial understatement. From one crossing, it expands to four separate crossings, and will severely impede suburb residents access to one of the key features of the suburb itself. The MOD uses optimistic words to describe this alteration, primarily "Upgrade", and uses the fact that the traffic flows will be better to justify such use. Clearly this is written with only cars in mind. This intersection is not just a vehicle intersection, it is a mixed intersection, and the modification proposed badly compromises active transport users from Annandale and surrounding suburbs access to Bicentennial park.

This rearrangement of the intersection is justified on two grounds - capacity planning for the WHT and improved intersection performance in general (only for cars). Neither are currently essential to the Rozelle interchange process at present, and one clearly hinges on an as yet unapproved project. The Johnston-chapman-cresent intersection should be left as is. If it's performance is noted to be an issue post 2023, redoing it is not in the category of major works, and can be justified then based on actual traffic flows, rather than "trying to get it all done at once" justifications.

kind regards

Dr Justin Skowno

I writing to lodge a formal objection to the changes from the approved plan which 'MOD2' makes.
I agree with the general concerns raised by the Rozelle & Annandale Foreshore Community group in their circular and would emphasise that I personally am most concerned by the reduced ease of access / connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians. The move to emphasis a vehicle thoroughfare over families use of the space is not in line with design principles which were declared original plan and I would urge the modification be either redesigned again or abandoned in favour of returning to the existing approved design.

People living in Glebe often walk or cycle from our homes through Bicentennial Park to Annandale and Leichhardt. Likewise, many people from Annandale and Leichhardt come to the Tramsheds, the Park and to Glebe on foot and by bike. Through these walking and cycling activities, and the shared use of the Park for kids' activities and dog-play, our neighbouring suburbs have close ties. The proposed M4-M5 Link Mod 2 would rudely sever the living link between these communities, by making it difficult and unpleasant to cross between Annandale and Bicentennial Park.

I notice that you use the Orwellian term "active transport". We locals are not so stupid as to swallow that sort of spin. I would prefer that you communicate with us in plain language. The people you are addressing are not mere consumers. We are citizens and residents. This is our locality. You ought to respect that.

I object to this modification, please attached document

thanks Jane Cameron

The new plans for the vehicle overpass and complex pedestrian crossings will deliver a significant hazard to pedestrians crossing from Annandale to Glebe. This crossing over The Crescent is a busy pedestrian crossing, particularly for children. Students who live in Annandale and go to school in Glebe use this crossing at the end of the The Crescent as their route to school. It is very disappointing that the green way seems to have been forgotten. This extension of the parkland and safe route for pedestrians was a bonus for a very controversial WestConnex project. It was an opportunity for the state government to win back some community support.
The proposed complex and hazardous pedestrian crossing will put more local people on the already overcrowded light rail to travel safely a very short distance.

My comments are in the attached. And I Strongly Object to this project!

My Key Concerns are ,

Reduced safety and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists with removed access over the crescent to bicentennial park as a result of increased traffic flow along Johnston street.
Removal of direct link to the foreshore , cutting the community off from the area.

Requesting RMS to explore alternate design options to the proposed new over car pass design and the changed pedestrian and cyclist links.
Seeking to consider or reinstate link to create a continuous open green space from Rozelle yards , Annandale to Glebe foreshore parkland.
Requesting RMS to modify the plan as laid out in TfNSW future strategy 2056.

I believe this plan lacks foresight, not only for the present community but more importantly for generations to come.

I object to The Crescent overpass for the following reasons:
- Unnecessary congestion on The Crescent, Johnston St, Kentville Ave and surrounding neighborhood streets. This will create pollution, traffic noise and a loss of neighborhood amenities;
- No consideration has been given to pedestrian access to Bicentennial Park - the modification means 4 extra road crossings to access Bicentennial Park, this is does not make sense. Priority should be given to pedestrians and cyclists so they can easily and safely access the Park area by crossing at Johnston St/The crescent intersection as we currently do;
- Massive disruption to me and my family as well as other residents during construction. This negatively impacts on our quality of life we currently enjoy;
- The overpass is a visual blight on the landscape and blocks sight lines to the waterfront.
I believe proper consideration has not been given to the Rozelle Interchange Modification and the impact of the proposed overpass at Annandale will have on the neighborhood. Priority should not be given to motorists and their desire to bypass traffic lights at the expense of the local community.