MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

I am objecting to the proposal to replace a tunnel with an overpass contained in The Crescent Overpass and Active Transport Links Modification Report, August 2019, (the Current Proposal), on the following grounds:

Relocation of the Green Link

The original proposal included a tunnel and featured a Green Link, which was to connect the new parklands of the Rozelle Goods Yard directly to the Rozelle Bay foreshore and Bicentennial Park. The Current Proposal re-locates this Green Link and replaces it with ramps and bridges alongside a new motorway overpass. There is no direct connection between the Rozelle Goods Yard and the Rozelle Bay foreshore. In addition, pedestrian and cycle access from the northern end of Johnston Street to the Glebe foreshore will require crossing four sets of traffic lights, as opposed to the current one. Families from Annandale and Lilyfield currently use this crossing at The Crescent as their main access point to the foreshore parkland. This new proposal will make the crossing more time consuming and less safe for children, essentially cutting the suburb off from the foreshore. The Current Proposal lacks real consideration for pedestrians, cyclists and residents, prioritising motorists above all other users of this public space.

Visual impact

The modifications in the Current Proposal will result in a significant and negative visual impact on this area of Annandale. The proposed overpass will dominate and destroy the local landscape—a landscape listed as a heritage conservation area, according to Inner West Council. Such modifications go far beyond the conditions of the original consent.

Noise pollution

The Current Proposal will result in significant noise pollution to people and property across a large area. With prevailing westerly and northerly winds, this will particularly affect a large part of northern Annandale and its many residents.

Removal of right turn out of Johnston St into the Crescent

The current right turn from Johnston St into the Crescent allows motorists to travel from Annandale and surrounding suburbs to Glebe, without using Booth Street, which is already very congested at peak times. Removing this right turn will mean increased traffic through local streets, particularly Booth Street, resulting in increased noise and vehicle emissions throughout Annandale.

Destruction of community

Annandale is a village-like suburb, with a quiet atmosphere and a strong sense of community. Construction of an inherently noisy overpass will have a significant adverse impact on the area. It is a healthy, friendly and supportive community with values the government should be fostering. We believe the proposed modifications will change this detrimentally in every way.

I understand that the reason for modifications to the original proposal are financial. However, a proper cost/benefit analysis that fails to account for the above objections will give a flawed result. The loss of property values and lifestyle of thousands of people in Annandale and its environs seems to have been omitted from these calculations.

For the reasons detailed above, I oppose the Current Proposal and ask that it be modified to encompass a more human-centred design—a design that would allow the construction of a much needed piece of Sydney infrastructure to proceed without unnecessarily destroying so much of what makes this part of Sydney such a wonderful place to live.

Refer attached for comments , objections and suggestions

I would like to lodge my objection to the proposed modification works for the Rozelle Interchange at Johnston St/The Crescent in Annandale.
It is a gross overdevelopment of our historic, village-like suburb and the overpass will be an eyesore of Cahill Expressway proportions.
I also have grave concerns that the increase in traffic this will generate along Johnston St will have a disastrous impact on the children who attend Annandale North Public School in particular, but also those attending Annandale Public School, St Brendan’s Public School, the daycare centres along Johnston St and the numerous nursing homes.
The 400 children who attend Annandale North Public School will now be forced across four crossings to access Bicentennial Park where they attend sporting and other functions. This will be dangerous for the students and accompanying teachers and parents. Residents must be able to access this park directly and not be put in increased danger by having to cross multiple crossings.
Another concern is the removal of the right-hand turn from Johnston St into The Crescent – this will cause an increase in traffic and rat-runs through local roads, in particular Nelson St, Trafalgar St, Trafalgar Lane and View St. In fact View St will be the only street where motorists will be able to turn right into The Crescent and it is ill-equipped to handle extra traffic as it is a single-lane road in this section.
Your current plan will have nothing but a negative impact on our community and I would urge your planners to go back to the drawing board and come up with something that does not destroy the amenity of our neighbourhood and put the lives of our children at risk. Alternatively, the only way forward is the original plan of a tunnel that does not destroy our heritage neighbourhood and put our children in increased danger from the extra traffic your planned modification will generate on our roads.

Please see attachment containing my objections to the modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass

Dear Director Transport Assessments Planning Services,
I write regarding the modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and changes to the 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 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 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 centre 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 concern is:
Currently when heading down Johnston Rd towards The Crescent there is small street on the right before the lights (beside the Tafe) – it doesn’t have a street name. It allows you to turn right onto The Crescent to go towards Glebe. If this is removed then the only right turn onto The Crescent will be from a smaller residential street in Annandale, View Street. As a resident on this street I’m concerned that this will increase our local traffic and cause congestion as View St narrows at the end towards The Crescent and it isn’t an easy street to get out off.

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 them onto busier street, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.

– Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport - including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.

The proposed green link connects the green space on the Lilyfield side of the City West Link to the Annandale side of The Crescent. This is no dierct access to the Foreshore as it was promised originally.
No safe, direct access from Annandale to the Foreshore above the intersection. Lacking connectivity between the light rail, cycle ways, future Metro West and ferry Warf.

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,



Alfredo Arroyo

Please see attached submission.

My family objects to the changes to pedestrian access from the "light rail" side of the crescent to the foreshore parts (Federal and Bicentennial Parks). We take our dogs down to the parks at least twice a day, so access via 4 pedestrian crossings will be onerous and time-consuming, as well as less safe for children. What about a pedestrian tunnel under the Crescent from light rail to foreshore?

As per the attachment

As per the attachment

Firstly your "view on the project" choices is poor. For instance here I conditionally support the project vs modifications. I know you want to make classification easy but you need not resile from complexity for a complex project!

Secondly, my objections to the modifications that alter what was taken to the electorate in March 2019 are attached.

* There needs to be better consideration for pedestrian access to jubilee park, I frequently visit the park on foot with my children, and having to cross 4 or 5 pedestratian crossings over an extremely busy road is impractical and dangerous. Modifications are required to provide direct access to the park via johnston street.

* The current right hand turn from johnston st onto the crescent isn't particularly great, but there needs to be some way to get to the crescent from johnston st, surely this development presents an opportunity to improve the situation not prevent access altogether. The current proposal would just direct more traffic through the annandale village, or people will drive into the car park, and do a u-turn.

* The destruction of the tree's at burowan park seems like a huge waste, I don't see why they shouldn't be valued and incorporated into the design as a feature rather than being destroyed.

* The proposed overpass seems like a noisy, ugly, poorly thought through idea that will significantly impact the landscape of the area. It seems as though the prosed design is purely optimised for motorists use case, with no considering of pedestrians, building a slot cut and cover trench under whites creek would avoid this, and also prevent the destruction of the peoples mural.

I have significant concerns regarding the proposed modifications as per the attached letter.

The proposal does not consider residents and impact to the nature of the area we live in that we are so proud of.
Access to the foreshore must remain and the proposal must be redesigned with safety considerations, access links to the foreshore & traffic improvements that are acceptable to the residents.

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 – 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 is a complete redesign of this intersection.

It 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.


As a parent of two kids who attend Annandale Public and as a local resident of over 10 years myself, my family and friends are all frequent users of our local green spaces. We are particularly lucky to be able to walk, cycle and scoot down to the water on the Glebe Foreshore to exercise, participate in AFL 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.

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 principles 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 principle
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. The design in this submission does none of this.
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 two kids on scooters/bikes on their way to the park or volunteered to supervise 60 school kids on their way to the park MOD2 is NOT an enhancement


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 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

Yours Sincerely,

Wendy Sherrick

The Green Link does not connect to the foreshore as previously promised in the original approval
The visual amenity assessment for the Mod is fundamentally flawed as it fails to recognise the proposal as having a significant and detrimental affect on the visual amenity..
The introduction of the flyover introduces a significant barrier that will be there for a very long time, just like Cahill Expressway which is globally recognised as a big mistake, please don't let history repeat itself.