Modification 4 Five Ways - Extension to Construction Hours

I write to lodge a formal objection to Modification 4 to the approved development, as a resident living immediately adjacent to the site. I object strongly to the proposal because it would intensify the already significant disturbance caused by construction activity, particularly in relation to noise, vibration, sleep disruption, and the cumulative loss of amenity for nearby residents. The impact on my household is not abstract or theoretical: we have a newborn child, and the proposed changes would materially worsen an already difficult living environment.

The principal issue is the unacceptable increase in acoustic disturbance. Construction noise is not merely an inconvenience; in a dense urban setting it becomes a constant intrusion into the home, especially where work is extended into periods that would ordinarily be reserved for rest, family life, and recovery. Even where works are described as “managed,” the reality for adjacent residents is that audible impacts are continuous, unpredictable, and difficult to avoid. For a household with a newborn, the loss of quiet periods is especially serious because infant sleep is fragile, easily disrupted, and essential to both the child’s development and the wellbeing of parents. The proposal would therefore impose a real and ongoing burden on our family life.

Vibration is an equally serious concern. Our home is directly affected by the proximity of the site, and we are already aware of the physical effects of construction activity through floor tremors, structural rattling, and repeated low-frequency disturbance. These effects are not limited to what can be heard; they are felt throughout the dwelling, including during the day and, if hours are extended, at times when the household should be able to rest. Vibration is particularly troubling where a newborn is present, because it can startle the child, interrupt sleep cycles, and create prolonged stress for parents trying to settle and care for an infant. It is unreasonable to expect an adjacent household to absorb this level of disturbance without meaningful limits.
The modification is also inconsistent with reasonable expectations of local amenity. As Council has observed, residents in this area are well aware of construction controls and have already experienced the impacts of nearby major projects for several years. That context matters. It means the community has not been sheltered from disturbance; rather, it has endured a prolonged period of construction pressure. Approving further extension or intensification of works would compound that burden and erode any remaining expectation that homes in the vicinity can provide a place of peace, recovery, and ordinary domestic life.
I am particularly concerned that the application underestimates the cumulative impact of nearby development activity. Construction noise and vibration do not occur in isolation. When several projects operate in the same locality, the effect is multiplied, not reduced. The result is a broader decline in acoustic comfort, more frequent disturbance, and increased stress for residents trying to maintain normal routines. For a household with a newborn, cumulative impact is not a technical concept; it is the lived reality of being unable to predict when rest will be interrupted, when the child will be woken, or when the household will again be exposed to intrusive noise and vibration.

For these reasons, I request that Modification 4 be refused.

I support the project

I am a nearby resident and am already experiencing significant disruption from the current construction works. The noise is frequent and intrusive, including loud mechanical sounds such as reversing beeps, heavy impacts, and jackhammering. These works have materially affected my ability to sleep, work, and enjoy my home. The proposed modification would further extend these impacts by increasing Saturday construction hours to begin earlier in the morning and introducing construction activities on Sundays.

This represents a substantial intensification of construction impacts on surrounding residents, particularly as weekends are typically the only period available for rest and respite from weekday disturbances. In my view, the proposal fails to adequately consider the cumulative noise burden on the local community. Extending construction into Sundays effectively removes any guaranteed quiet period for residents, which is unreasonable in a dense residential area.

I am particularly concerned that:
- The nature of the works includes high-impact, high-noise activities that are not minor or intermittent;
- The surrounding area is heavily residential, with many occupants working from home or requiring quiet during weekends; and
- The proposal does not appear to include sufficient mitigation measures to offset the increased hours.

Given the above, I respectfully request that the proposed extension of construction hours be refused. Residents should be afforded reasonable periods of relief from construction impacts, and the current proposal does not achieve an appropriate balance between development and amenity.

The extended working hours will not provide a place of rest for the residents. I am totally against this Modification request.
Sunday in particular and the night works will carry across the area not allowing and providing the residents / occupiers a time of rest.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: SSD-66826207-Mod-4

I wish to strongly object to the application to amend condition D3 Hours of Construction.

I live directly across the road from the site, and my bedroom is facing the development.

If the application was approved, it would ruin my weekends completely for the 18 months to two years that the construction will take place. I will not have any relief from construction noise!

It would be impossible to sleep in on weekend and the continuous noise and vibrations in the afternoons will impact on my family life and my ability to entertain at my own home on weekends.

The conditions that are in place at the moment are a reasonable balance between the development and the needs of the local residents.

I urge you to refuse any changes to the hours of construction.

Kind regards

Ms Dru Cox

I object to the proposed modification to extend the construction hours from 8am-1pm to 7am-5pm on Saturdays. The reason for this is that I am mostly housebound with chronic illness and I need a quiet environment to be able to rest to manage my illness and quality of life. I am concerned that the extended construction hours will result in increased noise for longer periods of time which will negatively impact my health and well-being.