Mod 2 - Design Changes

MP 07_0158 MOD 2 - Abercrombie Street Precinct
To Whom It May Concern
I am writing as the President of Darlington Public School Parents and Citizens (P&C) association to object to the proposed development by the University of Sydney, MP 07_0158 MOD 2 - Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni. The school is directly adjacent to the western border of the project.
The P&C have major concerns that relate to the impact of the development on Darlington Public School. Significant issues were raised in earlier consultation in relation to the noise impacts of the project's demolition and construction phase on the Darlington Public School.
The University has failed to consider the potential impacts of the construction's noise, dust and vibration on the operation of the school and the safety and wellbeing of the children.
In the period following the Planning Assessment Committee determination, consultation with Darlington Public School community did not occur until 6 August 2013, which was after work on the site had started.
Noise, dust and contaminant levels have already been shown to be above the limits set for the development through the approval process. The standards that the development is required to meet, prior to and during construction, are not adequate for a development
located beside a primary school. Higher standards need to be set to ensure the children are protected from the impact of noise, dust and contaminants, as they will be in close proximity to the development over a long period of time.
Children aged between 3 years old to 12 years old will be subject to high levels of dust, contaminants and noise for long days - potentially from 8.30 am to 6 pm - for a period in
excess of 18 months (Business School) and longer with a subsequent development on site (Student accommodation).
The School faces the development site, it is designed with louvre windows to capture air and light, windows and doors are not allowed t be closed throughout the year - this is because classrooms need ventilation from open windows and doors to stop classrooms from getting too hot and in winter due to the un-flued gas heaters - the windows and doors need to be open to prevent dangerous fumes building up.
At the very minimum air conditioning and glazing is required to be installed in classrooms to mitigate the impact of construction on the operation of the school and safety of the children.
The monitoring of noise and dust is inadequate, for example it is already showing high levels of lead dust, but it does not record the accumulated lead dust that is being dumped on the playground and school desks over a period of time. Complaints were raised during the last DA process about the way the baseline for the noise monitoring was set for the street outside the school and not on the school grounds (on the development side). The noise monitoring cannot accurately measure the mpact on the School. An independent assessment needs to determine the appropriate standards and monitoring for this
development being done this close to this School.
The lack of consideration for the health of the school children is demonstrated in the University locating the car park exhaust and ventilation system within 9 metres of the
kindergarten classroom and playground. The car park exhaust and ventilation system needs to be moved as far away from the children as possible - this is an unacceptable
risk for small children and designed to minimise any impact on them.
Darlington School playground contains asbestos and this has been covered and managed by the Department with asphalt and woodchips. The excavation of the driveway will cut past this area within 2 metres. The excavation and work adjacent to the playground needs to be done during school holidays and have a specific management plan for that area
that manages the asbestos risk during the excavation and any subsequent clean-up to ensure the safety of the children.
The following five conditions need to be met before the development can continue:
1. Higher standards need to be set to ensure the children are protected from the impact of noise, dust and contaminants, as they will be in close proximity to
the development over a long period of time.
2. At the very minimum, air conditioning and glazing is required to be installed in classrooms to mitigate the impact of construction on the operation of the school and safety of the children.
3. An independent assessment needs to determine the appropriate standards and monitoring for this development being done this close to this School.
4. The car park exhaust and ventilation system needs to be moved as far away from the children as possible and designed to minimise any impact on them.
5. The excavation and work adjacent to the playground needs to be done during school holidays and have a specific management plan for that area that manages the asbestos risk during the excavation and any subsequent clean-up to ensure the safety of the children.

Yours faithfully,
Michael Keating
President
Darlington PS P&C

The construction technique and contaminant monitoring on this site presents a very high risk to the children in the attached childcare centre and primary school.

Please see attached PDF

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS DEVELOPMENT MAY HAVE ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT DARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL. AS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY I EXPECT THAT THEY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT WITH INTEGRITY.

My objections are detailed in in the attachment below

I am writing as a parent of a child that attends Darlington Public School to object to the proposed development by the University of Sydney, MP 07_0158 MOD 2 - Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni. The school is directly adjacent to the western border of the project

Please see attachment

There are serious concerns for our children's safety at the Darlington Primary School - see attached document.

I have uploaded a PDF file.

See attached

I understand that we live in the inner city and that land is precious, however the University of Sydney has lots of other space available and the fact that this development is taking place so close to a childrens' school and virtually on top of their only playground is an enormous concern.

Would you like your children subjected to the noise, dust and potential of digging up nearby asbestos for such a long period of time?

It's just not acceptable and the lack of consultation from the University is not fair.

Regards,

See Development objection attached

I have major concerns that relate to the impact of the development on Darlington Public School. The University has failed to consider the potential impacts of the construction's noise, dust and vibration on the operation of the school and the safety and well-being of the children.

Please view Darlington Primary Schools concerns on this development in the attached file.

Application No: MP07_0158 MOD 2
Abercrombie Street Precinct University of Sydney

Date: 19 September 2013

Name: GREGORY BARLOW

Address: 430 ABERCROMBIE STREET DARLINGTON



I object to these modifications for the following reasons:-
1. Deletion of conditions B9, D1 and G1 related to ESD green star rating
I object to the conditions B9, D1 and G1 related to green star being deleted in the proposed modification. These conditions specifically refer to the building achieving a minimum 5 star green star rating (4 star = Best Practice, 5 star = Australian Excellence, 6 star = World Leader).

The condition states:

Ecologically Sustainable Development
B9. The project shall identify all reasonable and feasible design, operational and construction measures required to target a minimum 5 star green star rating. Details are to be clearly identified in relevant construction plans and construction management plans

Abandoning the green star standard would be a breach of the University's own Environmental Policy which states in part:-

"1. Policy Statement
The University of Sydney is committed to environmental best practice, and to the continual improvement of its environmental performance, recognising its obligations both locally and globally.
The University aims to lead in defining best environmental practice, and will set its own demanding standards where none exist."

and



"2.4 The University Estate
The University is committed to sustainable design principles in land-use, transportation, landscape and building planning and construction.
The University aims to minimise adverse environmental impacts of University buildings, landscaping and developments over the whole of their lifespan."

At a recent community information session on 5 September 2013, the Project Director from John Holland said that these conditions should be deleted because the University will not be able to afford the ongoing costs of maintaining the building if they have to meet these conditions. This would be a very unsatisfactory reason for the University to abandon its own key principles "in defining best environmental practice".
The University has committed to building this massive complex and should therefore commit to the conditions that have previously been approved by the Department of Planning in regard to the minimum 5 star green star rating. If the University cannot commit to a minimum 5 star green star rating then perhaps they should scale down the building to a more appropriate size with less costly ongoing maintenance in order to achieve a minimum 5 star green star rating.
I do not believe these conditions should be deleted or watered down in any way. The University has described the proposed new Business School as a "world class facility". The onus should therefore be on the University to set world class standards in regard to environmental sustainability with this new building.

2. Modifications to Level 4, increasing building height and bulk
I strongly object to the proposed change which indicates the addition of a dining area on level 4 in the C pod of the K-shaped building directly opposite residential houses on Abercrombie Street. There was absolutely no built structure or rooms of any kind at all on this level on the plan contained in the Preferred Project Report approved by the Department of Planning in November 2012. The addition of the dining area increases the height and bulk of the building along Abercrombie Street. Residents have always objected to the height and the bulk of the building and, after consultations with the University, accepted what was approved by the Department of Planning.

I also object to the increase in the floor area in the B pod on level 4. Again, this will increase the height and bulk of the building.

I believe that it is unfair and unreasonable of the University now to attempt to increase the size of the building with these modifications. The University should not be allowed to increase the height and the bulk of the building from what has originally been approved by the Department, especially where the building is directly facing residential homes.

I object to the changes on level 4 because it will also mean an increase in the number of people using these areas and therefore an increase in noise affecting residents living close to them.

3. Re-orientation of pods A and B fronting Codrington Street
I am concerned about the "re-orientation of pods A and B fronting Codrington Street". It appears that the angle of the 2 pods is proposed to be much more acute and therefore could possibly have a negative effect on the health of the large Sydney Blue Gum tree which stands between them. The Approval conditions stipulated that this great tree should be retained. The City Of Sydney Council battled along with the community to have this tree preserved and it would be devastating if the tree were now to be damaged in the construction of the new building.

4. Amended landscape and public domain design
The Landscape Design Statement attached to the Modification Application refers to the planting of "locally endemic Blue Gum trees" in Blue Gum Park on the corner of Abercrombie and Codrington Streets. I welcome the planting of many trees in and around the whole Abercrombie Precinct Development (APD) site to replace those cut down to make way for the construction of the APD.

5. Consolidation and centralisation of rooftop plant
I object to the modification which refers to the "consolidation and centralisation of rooftop plant" if this means that increased noise will be generated by the building. Plant equipment will be running 24 hours per day, seven days a week and should be located as far as possible from residential buildings and surrounded by noise attenuation material.


6. Proposed location of café
I object to the proposed location of the cafe in the APD being on the ground level of the B pod of the K-shaped building and facing into Abercrombie Street. It would bring with it increased noise, a large increase in the number of pedestrians on Abercrombie Street, and would generate an excessive amount of rubbish. It would also take trade away from local businesses along Abercrombie Street, many of which are run by local families who will suffer financially if the café is located on Abercrombie Street.

The cafe should be internal to the APD and well away from Abercrombie Street or at least contained within the A pod which points towards Codrington Street and the Sports Centre.
I object to the cafe operating outside of normal business hours. It is unfair of the University to propose to generate further unnecessary noise in the neighbourhood after business hours.

7. Proposed position of open terraces
I object to all open terraces on the B and C pods in the APD which are oriented towards residents' houses on Abercrombie Street. They would adversely affect the amenity of local residents through a large increase in noise caused by people using the terraces. In addition these terraces would impinge on the privacy of those residents living in close proximity. The terraces should be moved to the side of the building facing the existing Economics and Business Building and restricted to use in business hours only.

The University, where possible, should keep its noise within the confines of the University grounds, which is consistent with the University's own Environmental Policy.

As an affected local resident, I hope that the Department will take the objections I have raised into consideration when making its decision on this application.

Yours faithfully,

Greg Barlow

see document attached

I am attaching 2 files: one which sets out my objections to the modifications and one which sets out in detail my concern about the noise, dust and vibration impacts of the development on Darlington Public School and the children there.

I am attaching 2 files: one which sets out my objections to the modifications and one which details my concerns about the effect of the noise, dust and vibration from the development on Darlington Public School and the children there.

RAIDD's submission is attached.

Please find attached.