MOD 7 - Open Water Surf Facility

Once again, Newington residents are not receiving information that is likely to have a major adverse effect on the quality of life of this beautiful suburb. Even if we do stumble on the information - like the GPOP project - we have only days to absorb the intent or mount a protest .
A few residents, like myself, first heard of the Urbn Surf Modification 7 through a personal note in letter box last Friday. ( Another floor adding 5m height to Urbn Surf, new parking more lights, more noise on Newington - proposal to remove trees and presumably increasetrading hours?) There was an outcry at the noise to Newington units when it was being built, and the lights and noise pollution.
Meantime, the calamitous GPOP also proposes to use the car parks next to Urbn Surf to park their construction vehicles and machinery while they undermine Newington - and the Light Rail project enters Hill Rd ( for the other huge construction project, Carter St, at precisely the same location as Urbn Surf. What is going on?
As a slight aside, but relevant to what it has proposed; Newington, in its entirety, should have a modern national heritage order on it. As the first solar village in the world, as the only monument to the athletes of the most successful Olympics held in Australia. Designed in concert as part of the architecture of the SO G - the Pierre de Coubertin Park dedicated to the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, and home to the Athletes Memorial is the centre of this community including more than $1m of recent of community infrastructure. What we are seeing instead is destruction by stealth. Plans to dig up the streets, undermine the parks for use as parking space - while the main car park at the shopping centre, also has proposal to start building high rise unit blocks on it. Meanwhile, all around us, multi-storied unit blocks rise around up. We are the lungs of our surrounding local communities and 'not available and undeveloped space'. We have bike tracks
Urbn Surf should never have been built there when what was needed was a high school - even more important with all the highrise units building around. We never needed artificial surf - nor the Northern Beaches sewer outfall diverted through this area.
We object to it and ask for the Department to review the disruption and chaos you are inflicting on us. This proposal will damage the value of our homes: and the noise and lights shining into homes willl destroy the peaceful enjoyment of our lots. And for what? I know of no-one local who has ever even used Urbn Surf.
Finally, please extend the timeline for response so that Newington residents can be advised of their proposal. I believe the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure have known of this for at least three months. We have had four days.

The current proposal significantly alters the height and usage of Events Hill. This will impact residents of Newington. No documentation has been provided regarding the additional noise created by the usage of the area for spectators. No lighting plans have been provided addressing the impact of night time increased lighting although the architectural plans appear to show 2 very tall light posts to be installed in that area.
The application should not be approved until proper noise and light reports are provided.

I live near the Urbnsurf facility
They are poor neighbours who have significantly disrupted the quality of life if people living nearby. In addition the lights and noise negatively impact native animals living in the reserve nearby
The new proposal includes large lights. The facility has a history of shining lights towards residential buildings and the nature reserve. The lighting in the diagrams provided appears to excessively bright and positioned on high poles that will light up the reserve disturbing endangered diurnal birds, and disrupt the circadian rythms of local residents

The design of Events Hill is a 5m height increase, which faces my suburb of Newington. I am concerned about a return to the bright lights and noise which caused distress to residents in my building a few years ago, including bright lights affecting people's sleep. I appreciate that your Department responded to community concerns last time and request that you disallow this modification which is likely to negatively affect the residents of Newington.

The RAS of NSW is supportive of the proposed amendments.

I support the project

In response to Application SSD-7942-MOD-7 and proposed modification i STRONGLY OBJECT to:
1. Design of Events Hill including a 5m height increase and structural, which may result in increased number of spectators and vehicles
The reasons for my objections are:
a/ increased noise from patrons and facilities PI system that would impact on residential properties at Newington.
Poor noice containment and ineffective noise management persisted and have already been evident during this facility operation.
b/ increased traffic movements, already heavily congested Hill Rd and Holker St, and additional disturbance to patrons and visitors to the Sydney Olympic Park Parklands
c/ adverse impact on leisure and recreation time and using Parklands during weekends and public holidays

Newington Residents are concerned with UrbnSuf's current Major Project Application (SSD 7942 MOD 7) for a number of reasons:

Background:
Previously there were many official complaints made to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in regards to to UrbnSurf's loud music, intercom announcements and the impact of the height of the flashing neon lights which were disrupting Newington Residents and their “Right to Quiet Living” which also included the impact on the protected natural wildlife in this area.

After your Department received many complaints from Newington Residents and carried out their own investigation, Residents concerns were heard and action was taken with UrbnSurf. They now comply by removing loud music, announcements and bright flashing lights which all ceased in 2025, restoring peace back to Newington Residents.

Concerns with Modification 7 (SSD 7942 MOD 7):
With this newly submitted application the project in question will be at a huge cost to UrbnSurf, which leads to what are UrbnSurf’s future business plans:

Why is UrbnSurf spending all this money to redesigning an Events Hill which is to supports large number of spectators?

Are they planning on growing regular events, making it an interstate or overseas facility to hold large events?

What hours would events be operating and how often?

What are the big white poles which stand higher than the 5meter spectator stand in the plans?


Important Factor with Modification 7 (SSD 7942 MOD7):
While the design, plans and pictures all look lovely, the major concerns for Newington Residents are:

The HEIGHT of the Event Hill which is going to be increased by 5metres, which means Newington Residents will be overlooking UrbnSurf and not the current natural bush setting.

The POSITION of the Event Hill which will be facing towards Newington Residents and it will act as a funnel with noise due to height and position.

The NOISE will be increased as it will travel due to the height and the direction set out in the plans of the Event Hill.

What compliance will UrbnSurf be required to ensure LIGHTING and NOISE will not impact Newington Residents like previously?

How will local traffic be impacted with the changes to this facility?

While Newington Residents understand this is a great facility being offered to the general public, our concerns are that with the application which has been submitted by UrbnSurf, if approved it appears residents will be once again impacted by noise and lights.

From the plans it doesn’t appear the UrbnSurf has taken previous concerns into consideration with the design height and even the placement of the Event Hill.

I have just been informed of this project & can find no reports of expected noise or light pollution & how that may or may not affect Newington residents.
I am a new resident, but am advised that in the past both of these have been an issue & caused distress to residents until rectified.
Until these concerns are addressed & explained, I object to the proposal

RE: UrbnSurf’s current Major Project Application (SSD 7942 MOD 7)

As a resident of Newington we have previously been subject to non stop loud music, loud PA announcements and flashing fluro lights through our windows and unable to enjoy our homes & balconies.

Many complaints were made by residents and after investigation by Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure these real concerns were addressed and we have been able to enjoy our homes again with these concerns completely removed.

With this new major project application that has been submitted our concerns have been raised again for that reasons:

Height of the Event Hill which will be increased by 5 metres. At that height residents will be able to see it from their units, this impacts the bush views that we all have.

Direction of the Event Hill which is going to be facing Newington Residents and with both the height and direction the NOISE will be directed towards us.

Lighting of this Event Hill not mentioned in the application, however in the plans you can see two large white poles towering over the area. Lighting needs to be addressed as it is not acceptable that we have to live with bright lighting reflecting on our TV’s and through our windows.

Noise will increase will due to the height and direction of this proposed Event Hill.

What future plans does UrbnSurf have with submitting an application for these new features and how will it affect Newington Residents if this application is approved?

The questions we should be asking is what plans do UrbnSurf have to justify the cost that they will be spending if the plans are approved?

Are they going to be increasing events, how often, operating hours, numbers of spectators?

What expectations leads to UrbnSurf wanting increase spectator area to this size?

More spectators equals more noise, traffic, parking disruption to the local area. Have all these concerns been considered or addressed with this application.

To whom it may concern
As a local resident of Newington I have received a letter outlining planned changes to Urbn Surf, which include a modification to the height within the complex and installation of an events grand stand area.
I have reviewed the online documentation and it appears that this height increase is to the lowest point of the current grass hill which would see only a 1-1.5m increase at the highest point.
I am concerned that if I have misinterpreted the drawings, that the 5m height increase is to the highest point this would create an unsightly view from Newington and given that this event seating area is facing Newington this would increase the level of unwanted noise pollution from crowds and sound systems.
There were issues with Urbn Surf for some time after opening where loud music was played constantly from early until late in the day, along with light pollution from the large light stands. It took a considerable time and effort to get Urbn Surf to rectify these issues.
I can happily say, that these are no longer issues and we enjoy using the restaurant facility at the park, although do not use the surf park.
These requested modifications appear to be changes by stealth; get the park in place and then modify to an events arena rather than a surf park where people can learn to surf.
With any changes that are approved for modifications to the facility, I would want to see that we are no worse off after these works for line of sights views, noise and light pollution into my property, impacting my quality of life.
I am also concerned about the impact of additional traffic and parking in our quite neighbourhood.
Kind regards.

I am concerned in relation to the height increase, the impact of that height increase and of the lighting on Newington residents. There have been issues before in relation to sound which Urbn surf rectified which was appreciated but there is not enough detail in relaton to the height, lighting and impact on Newington residents.

Please refer to attached submission.

As a resident of the Newington community I am happy for development but would appreciate that any adjustments made to the site do not interfere with our ability for quiet living. This includes respecting our right to avoid sound and light pollution especially at unsociable hours.

Local Newington residents are letter dropping and advocating objection to the project.
Reason being noise and as stated in print-"Newington residents are currently enjoying 'Quiet Living' but this may change again with UrbnSurf current application.
My apartment is close to UrbnSurf and I have no issue with noise from the facility.
On the other hand I receive noise from traffic on Holker St. At times loud vehicles & motor bikes from Hill Rd. Emergency vehicles on both. UrbnSurf is beyond these streets.
Events at ACCOR and Showgrounds create noise far greater than UrbnSurf can generate.
The apartments have double glazing and can cut out most of noise. As can a TV or radio.
I am sure all the above would apply to any resident objectors.
I support the project.
Good Luck UrbnSurf.

The reason I object is because UrbnSurf cannot be relied upon to uphold the social part of their submission in terms of prolonged and ongoing disturbance to residents. I have attached a detailed summary of emails and a document with my experience in trying to get the business to stop its noise disturbance which was constant and, in the end, despite a promising early engagement with the business, they did nothing to listen to me or the community and effectively told us that they will not do anything about it i.e. social impact and remediate it until the government bodies had to step in. I still retain videos of all the noise over many months referenced in my attached note/s. It caused me significant stress and anxiety and mental ill health.
This proposed hill is going to be quite tall; sound and noise will catch the wind more and transmit it over long distances. I am okay with this development subject to lowering the height of this hill and having strict conditions that reiterate that there will be absolutely no noise pollution for residents surrounding the facility including speaker systems, there will be no lights and brightness being shone beyond the facility (which by the way along with noise is also cruel to the surrounding reserve and birds and animals).
In short, due to the terrible track record in upholding basic social considerations of light and noise pollution, and the risk this poses to further accentuate this not only to residents but also the wildlife in the reserves surrounding the facility, this development proposal should only be agreed based on the limitations I have noted.
It is also quite disturbing that there was no notification sent to potentially impacted residents about this development and I am writing this to you only because I found out by chance from a neighbour. This is not what a proper and fair planning and approval process would do.