New Eileen O'Connor School

Re: Objection to the Proposed Development – Eileen O’Connor Catholic School, 84 Gavenlock Road, Mardi (SSD 67173718)

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to object to the proposed development of a three-storey school at 84 Gavenlock Road, Mardi. Having reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement and its technical appendices, I submit that the development is fundamentally flawed, legally non-compliant, and unsafe, and should be refused in its current form.
1. Traffic and Road Safety Impacts
Underestimated Traffic Generation: The Transport & Accessibility Impact Assessment (Appendix R, pp. 31–42) fails to model school peak periods. Queuing and congestion on Keefers Glen and Gavenlock Road are ignored, contrary to SEPP (Transport & Infrastructure) 2021 cl. 2.111, which requires safe and efficient transport outcomes for educational facilities.
Inadequate Road Capacity Assessment: Keefers Glen is a narrow residential cul-de-sac. Benchmarking against regional arterial roads is misleading and breaches DCP 2022 Ch. 3.1 (Car Parking & Access), which requires context-based assessment.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety Ignored: No safe crossing points or separated foot/cycle paths are proposed, breaching the Austroads Guide to Road Design (Part 6A) and exposing children to risk.
Parking Deficiency: On-site parking falls short of DCP 2022 minimum ratios, ensuring overspill into Keefers Glen.
Construction Traffic Deferred: The Preliminary CTPMP (Appendix T, p. 6) defers construction traffic planning until a builder is appointed, breaching EP&A Regulation 2021 Sch 2, cl. 6.
Cumulative Impacts Ignored: The report does not assess traffic interaction with St Peter’s Catholic College, in breach of EP&A Act s.4.15(1)(b).
Ground for refusal: Unsafe and inadequate traffic planning, inconsistent with statutory and local planning controls.
2. Noise and Acoustic Amenity
Baseline Monitoring Deficient: The Noise & Vibration Assessment (Appendix U, pp. 17–18) is based on short-term monitoring, not the 7-day standard required by the EPA Noise Policy for Industry 2017 (NPfI).
Outdoor Noise Underestimated: Intermittent, high-level playground and PA system noise was ignored, contrary to EPA guidance.
After-Hours Use Excluded: The report concedes that evening/weekend use of facilities (sports, assemblies, community hire) has not been assessed (Appendix U, p. 26), breaching EP&A Act s.4.15(1)(b).
Vague Mitigation Measures: Generic references to barriers provide no enforceable design, breaching DCP Ch. 3.3 Noise & Vibration.
Construction Noise Ignored: No modelling against the Interim Construction Noise Guideline (DECC 2009), contrary to regulatory standards.
Cumulative Noise Ignored: Noise from St Peter’s College has not been combined with the proposal.
Ground for refusal: Non-compliance with NPfI 2017 and ICNG 2009, leading to unacceptable amenity loss.
3. Flood Risk and Emergency Access
The Flood Impact Assessment (Appendix EE, p. 21) and Flood Emergency Response Plan (Appendix FF, p. 14) admit that evacuation routes will be cut during 1% AEP and PMF events, isolating the site.
The NSW Floodplain Development Manual (2023) requires not only raised floor levels but also safe evacuation routes. These have not been demonstrated.
The school is designed for children with disabilities, who may require assisted evacuation. Approval without proven evacuation safety risks breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and the EP&A Act s.4.15(1)(b).
Ground for refusal: Unsafe flood evacuation and non-compliance with statutory floodplain management guidelines.
4. Bushfire Emergency Management
The Bushfire Emergency Management Plan (Appendix RR) confirms reliance on Keefers Glen as the sole access route. Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 (PBP) requires dual safe evacuation routes for vulnerable uses.
The interaction of flood and bushfire risks has not been assessed, contrary to NSW RFS guidelines.
Details of hydrant access, defendable space, and APZs are incomplete.
Ground for refusal: Non-compliance with PBP 2019 and failure to ensure life safety in concurrent hazard scenarios.
5. Architectural Design, Height, and Privacy Impacts
The Architectural Design Report (Appendix I) describes the school as “predominantly two-storey” but in reality introduces three-storey built form at the northern ends of the wings. These sections will appear as full three-storey blocks when viewed from Keefers Glen and Brickendon Avenue, creating an imposing institutional bulk inconsistent with the surrounding one- to two-storey residential neighbourhood.
This bulk and scale directly conflicts with the planning intent of the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 and Development Control Plan 2022, which require new development to respect and integrate with the prevailing low-density residential character of Mardi.
Furthermore, the upper-level verandahs and learning spaces will enable direct overlooking into neighbouring backyards and homes, resulting in a significant loss of residential privacy. This impact breaches both the residential amenity provisions of the DCP and the broader objectives of the EP&A Act requiring protection of neighbourhood character and amenity.
Ground for refusal: Excessive building height, visual bulk, and overlooking, contrary to the LEP and DCP provisions for residential interface areas.
6. Social Impact
The Social Impact Assessment (Appendix KK, p. 12) is biased towards benefits and fails to assess negative impacts, including:
Loss of residential amenity and neighbourhood character,
Increased noise and traffic danger,
Reduced property values,
Cumulative stress on local infrastructure.
This omission breaches EP&A Act s.4.15(1)(b) and (d), which require full consideration of social and economic impacts.
Ground for refusal: Incomplete and unreliable assessment of social impacts.
7. Legal and Policy Non-Compliance Summary
The proposed development fails to comply with:
EP&A Act 1979 s.4.15(1)(b) – inadequate consideration of environmental, traffic, safety, and social impacts.
Central Coast LEP 2022 – inconsistent with local character and amenity objectives.
Central Coast DCP 2022 – breaches in traffic (Ch. 3.1), noise (Ch. 3.3), privacy, and rural-residential character (Ch. 5.51).
SEPP (Transport & Infrastructure) 2021 cl. 2.111 – inadequate traffic and safety outcomes.
EPA NPfI 2017 & ICNG 2009 – flawed acoustic assessment.
NSW Floodplain Development Manual 2023 – unsafe evacuation provisions.
Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019 – inadequate bushfire evacuation and APZ design.
Requested Outcome
I respectfully request that Council refuse the DA in its current form on the grounds of serious non-compliance and unacceptable risk.
Should approval be contemplated, Council must at minimum require:
Independent peer review of traffic (including a change of entry point to the school via Gavenlock Road) , noise, flood, and bushfire reports;
Strict conditions limiting building height to two storeys along Keefers Glen;
Enforceable acoustic barriers and restrictions on PA/bell usage;
A prohibition on after-hours/weekend use unless subject to a separate DA;
Proof of dual safe evacuation routes for flood and bushfire;
Full compliance with DCP car parking ratios and additional on-site parking.
Conclusion
This proposal represents a serious threat to safety, amenity, and local character. It fails multiple statutory tests under the EP&A Act and associated instruments. I therefore urge Council to refuse the DA in its current form.
Yours sincerely,

The proponent has not followed proper and effective stakeholder engagement and consultation as required by the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). I am a direct neighbour of the Project, located at unit 1-10 Keefers Glen, just 20 m from the boundary of the school and I have not been engaged at all nor been made aware of the Project until now.

I have attached my detailed letter outlining my concerns and considerations.

Kind Regards,

Gabriel Harding-Davis

Dear NSW Government,

As an educator with a deep commitment to inclusive education, I am writing to express my wholehearted support for the proposed Eileen O’Connor Catholic School at Tuggerah.

This specialist school is not just a welcome addition—it is a critical necessity for our region. Every child deserves access to a learning environment where they are supported, understood, and given the opportunity to thrive. Yet, many children with disabilities on the Central Coast are currently without suitable educational pathways. Families are often forced to travel significant distances or accept limited options that cannot meet their child’s unique needs.

The Eileen O’Connor School will address this gap. Backed by the Catholic Schools Broken Bay network, it will offer highly trained staff, therapeutic supports, and purpose-built facilities designed to cater to diverse and complex needs. This is not just a building—it is a place where children with disabilities will be empowered to learn with dignity and belonging.
From an educator’s perspective, having a dedicated space that fosters both academic and emotional development for students with disabilities is transformative. It allows us to tailor learning, provide consistent support, and work in genuine partnership with families.

Named after Eileen O’Connor, whose legacy of compassion for the disadvantaged continues to inspire, this school embodies the values we strive to instil: inclusion, respect, and care for every individual.

I urge Council to endorse this project. The Eileen O’Connor Catholic School will change lives—not only for its students, but for our broader community. Let us take this opportunity to invest in a more inclusive future.

Cobbs Village is a quiet little hamlet consisting of approximately 160 strata run residences. Streets leading to our village are almost exclusively used by those who live here. Most streets are no more than laneways, many ending in cul-de-sacs. Proposal lists address as “84 Gavenlock Road”. Many residents mistakenly thought the build was to be at the industrial end, where there is ample land, no houses, therefore, no disruption, chaos or impact on our everyday lives. Instead, it will be sitting the back fences of residential homes with street fronting and entrance on a tiny, crooked street called “Keefers Glen”. It also states access to new school at Gavenlock Road would have adverse impact on operation of existing college. No-one is concerned about adverse impact on Cobbs residents. We have no problem with St Peters college as buildings and activities are set well back from surrounding homes.
Brickendon Avenue will be worst affected as driveways, play areas, outdoor lessons will be directly behind our back fences. Demolition, excavation, heavy trucks and machinery, up to 100 workmen on site daily. Naïve of us to think we will escape some degree of damage to our properties. School will be taller than our homes, block sunlight and allow people to look into our backyards. We are a residential suburb, not a suitable site for a large special needs school, especially one that sits just meters from boundaries of homes along Brickendon Avenue.
Upon completion we will be subject to noise from outdoor learning and play areas, P.A systems, mechanical plants, vehicles delivering students. Proposal suggests we close our windows if bothered by noise from outdoor activity. We in Cobbs Village obviously sit on the bottom rung of the Care ladder. Many residents work from home. Construction noise will impact greatly. Some have one or more dogs. Extra noise and movement will cause non-stop barking and will disrupt residents and school activities.
Elderly residents are not equipped to protest online, being uncomfortable with technology. Was this done intentionally to limit number of objections? This area is residential, totally unsuitable for a project such as this. None of us need the disruption and noise, or a huge building almost touching our back fences.
Consulting with local estate agents advise that a build such as this, in a residential area such as ours, will have an adverse effect on the value of our properties.
What monetary compensation will the church offer for loss of privacy, disruption to every aspect of our lives and the devaluation of our properties?
To say our lives will become a nightmare during construction and upon completion, is not an understatement. It is a fact!!

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development of the Eileen O’Connor School behind my property on Brickendon Avenue, Mardi. While I support education, I believe this particular site is entirely unsuitable for a school of this scale and function, for the reasons outlined below.

1. Inadequate Infrastructure and Road Access:
*The proposed school site sits within a small residential community designed for a maximum of 160 homes.
*Streets such as Keefers Glen and Brickendon Avenue are narrow and already experience high congestion during peak hours. *Adding school-related traffic will severely compromise road safety, especially for children and pedestrians.
* The school is proposing only 61 on-site parking spaces, yet requires 71 teacher spaces alone, not including:
- Additional staff
- Visitors
- Parents for drop-off/pick-up
- School buses and delivery vehicles
This shortfall will result in significant overflow parking on already crowded residential streets.

2. Existing and Worsening Parking Issues:
*Many of the homes in this area are duplexes, meaning double the number of residents and vehicles per block.
*On-street parking is already scarce. The development will add unsustainable pressure to an area that cannot accommodate more cars.
*Overflow parking from the school will likely result in:
- Illegal parking on verges and driveways
- Reduced access for emergency vehicles
- Constant inconvenience for residents

3. Noise Pollution:
*The existing school of St Peter's (which is further away from my home) already generates significant daily noise:
- Loud outdoor play sessions (three times per day)
- Overhead PA announcements throughout the day
*Therefore the proposed Eileen O’Connor School will be much closer, amplifying this impact.
*This would directly reduce my ability to enjoy my home peacefully and affect quality of life, especially for those who work from home (as I do) or have young children.

4. Severe Privacy Loss:
*Even with the current school (St Peter's) at a greater distance away than the proposed school, students can already see directly into my backyard and master bedroom.
*With the new school positioned closer, this issue will become far more intrusive, leaving mey with no privacy in our own home or yard.
*This is unacceptable in a residential zone and constitutes a major breach of amenity.

5. Devaluation of Property:
* The combination of increased traffic, lack of privacy, constant noise, and the industrial-scale use of a residential site will substantially devalue my property.
*Like many in the area, I invested in a quiet, low-density suburb. This proposal undermines that investment and will have lasting financial impacts on myself and local families.

6. Inappropriate Use of Land:
* The development of the Eileen O’Connor School in this location represents an incompatible use of land. It introduces institutional-scale activity to an area with infrastructure designed only for low-density housing.
* The impact will be felt by all residents of Mardi, not just immediate neighbours.

I respectfully urge Council to reject this development application for the Eileen O’Connor School based on:
1. Inadequate traffic and infrastructure capacity
2. Impact on residential safety, parking, and access
3. Loss of privacy and liveability
4. Devaluation of neighbouring properties
5. Incompatibility with the character of the local community

Thank you for considering this submission.
Yours sincerely,
Sharn Lenton

I am writing to submit my formal objection to the current proposed access points for the Eileen O’Connor Catholic School development. I would like to make it clear that I support the establishment of this much-needed school, which will provide essential education for children with special needs — a service that is currently scarce in the area. However, I object to the proposed access points, which are unsustainable, impractical, and do not take into account the current traffic conditions and impact on local residents. My concerns are outlined as follows:

1. Access Should Be via St Peter’s Catholic College Entrance
To ensure continuity, better traffic management, and minimal disruption to the local community, I strongly believe the access point should remain the same as that currently used by St Peter’s Catholic College. This location is more suitable to handle higher traffic volumes and is already integrated into the area’s existing traffic flow. Alternatively, if relocation is required, the rugby pitch area could be used for school development, and the pitch could be reinstated elsewhere within the grounds.

2. Brickendon Avenue – Inadequate for School Traffic
Brickendon Avenue is not suitable for single-lane traffic at all times. In the past month alone, from 12–5 pm, parked vehicles have created a single-lane bottleneck, causing delays and frustration for residents trying to access Hawthorn Place, Keeflers Glen, Richmond Mews. The introduction of additional school traffic will only worsen this, especially during school drop-off and pick-up hours.

3. Keefers Glen – Inaccurately represented in the report
The statement that Keefers Glen “generally accommodates a single lane of traffic in each direction and is subject to a 50km/h speed zoning” is inaccurate. Due to sharp bends and road width, this area functions more like a single right-of-way, particularly during peak periods (7–10 am and 2:30–6 pm). This area already suffers from high residential density, and additional school-related traffic would cause significant congestion during critical hours.

4. Outdated Traffic Study (2023 Data)
The 2023 traffic data used in the assessment is now two years old, and it does not reflect current conditions. With post-COVID-19 changes, workforce return, and population shifts, traffic volumes have increased significantly, particularly with more families moving into the area. This outdated data should be revisited, and a new traffic study must be conducted to accurately reflect current and projected traffic conditions.

5. Incomplete Trip Data and Ongoing Congestion
The Transport Impact Assessment shows 71 inbound and 14 outbound staff trips between 8–9 am and 2:30–3 pm. However, this doesn’t account for 57 staff movements, many of which likely occur during other peak traffic hours (up to 6 pm). These unaccounted trips will contribute to afternoon congestion, further impacting residents’ ability to access their homes.

6. Lack of Pedestrian Infrastructure
The lack of formal footpaths in Keefers Glen, Brickendon Avenue, Deloraine Glen, and Wagners Place is a serious concern. Students from St Peter’s Catholic College already walk these roads, and the development will increase pedestrian foot traffic on unsafe, unpaved verges, which are often privately maintained by residents. This not only increases safety risks but also encroaches on residential property and adds maintenance costs for homeowners.

7. Pacific Highway Incidents Affect Local Roads
When incidents occur on the Pacific Highway, Woodbury Park Drive and surrounding roads absorb excess traffic, creating high congestion levels. The proposed school traffic would compound this problem and needs to be factored into any impact analysis.

I fully support the development of the Eileen O’Connor Catholic School and recognize the importance of its educational mission. As a mother, with children who hope to attend a sister school in the area, I welcome the opportunity this project brings. However, I must strongly object to the proposed access points due to inadequate road infrastructure, outdated and inaccurate traffic data, the lack of pedestrian pathways, and the significant negative impact on local residents — concerns that have also been acknowledged by council and remain unaddressed.

I respectfully request that the proposed access points be reconsidered, and that alternative solutions be explored to ensure the development proceeds in a way that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and minimal disruption to the surrounding community.

Thank you for considering my concerns.

I object to the school land being subdivided and hence having the access onto Keefers Glen. Keefers Glenn is in a small strata village, designed for Cobbs village residents and visitors only. It was never assumed a subdivision and new special needs school would be built. It is a narrow, misshapen lane with 2 dog legs where only one vehicle can safely navigate in the lane itself and the passing vehicle must stop to give way. It has two more sharp dog legs onto Deloraine and Wagners. The residents struggle with this lane already. Particularly as school teachers and students park on the narrow nature strip and the new school will be at least 20 car parks short.
The area was not designed for such a large school , particularly with the transports needs of disabled students. No child is allowed walk to school and the majority live in other suburbs to the south. The garbage trucks have to often do 3 point turns on our roads.
The application led people to believe that the school was being built on 84 Gavenlock Rd Tuggerah, which comes off an industrial area and has a purpose built entry and road into the main school (St Peters) . There is no reason the school couldn’t be built on the same corner of land, but have its entrance at 84 Gavenlock Road. There is ample room for the existing internal road to continue to where the proposed car park is and the new school building could back onto Keefers instead of face it.
I believe the diocese wish to remove any burden of the new school from their students, parents and staff and place it all on Cobbs strata village for two reasons. One, so the new school has minimum impact on their environment and their students dont have to see severely disabled/high needs students disembarked from buses. This could be detrimental to the prestige of the college and may deter enrolments. The other most obvious reason is to save money. They are only laying a small section of bitumen and a token 30m? footpath that leads to no where. The rest of the lane is unfit for purpose yet they have not included any upgrades. To say the reason the entrance is on keefers is due to the students having pride in their own entrance is farcical. Im sure they’d have more pride and belonging, going through the entrance on Gavenlock with every other student, instead of being hidden away in a corner.
The road has an island where it joins Brickendon which trucks and buses would have to drive over to make the turn.
The burden, daily disruption and impact on the quality of life and the subsequent devaluation of homes in Cobbs village will be significant. Particularly in Keefers and Brickendon where the homes adjoining the new school sit much lower and will have people in a 3 storey building looking into their back yards and those below the bus pickup/drop off will have the passengers having full view of their yards. The filling in of the dam is very concerning as there’s already significant run off from the site.
The majority of residents appear to accept the school being built, however they don’t want the diocese to shift the burden to the community and a totally unsuitable road system, when it is perfectly feasible for the new school to have access off Gavenlock road

The project addrsss is 84 Gavenlock Road Tuggerah but the school proposal is to access via Keefers Glen Cobbs Village which was beyond reasonable. Cobbs village and surrounding streets are designed for a small community of 160 residents, and Keefers Glen is a very quiet and narrow lane that cannot cope with the traffic & parking needs according to the proposal, also it will lead to significant impacts to local residents’ quality of life due to pollution from school buses, traffic from staffs and noise pollution. the school buildings are designed too close to the surrounding residential properties without proper consideration the impacts to the surrounding residents. I object to this project.

As a resident of Mardi I object to the use of a minor narrow suburban street to be the main access point of the proposed school. The main access point must be from GavenLock Rd (or branch off existing Gavenlock Rd access into St Peters school).
Keefers Glen and it's feed-in roads off Woodbury Park Drive are not suitable for high traffic or large traffic (such as buses).
The local area is already suffering from significant congestion and inappropriate parking at school drop-off/pick-up times due to the pedestrian access into St Peters. The overtaxed local infrastructure cannot support a main entrance or additional traffic flows, particularly buses, as it is already at capacity. Please enforce Council recommendations that all vehicular access is via Gavenlock Rd.

I object this project and provide a letter

I don't think this project will be a good idea for the residents of Keefers Glen, Brickendon Avenue and surrounding streets. Cobbs Village is not built to withstand the amount of traffic building a new school would bring. Cobbs Village is a quite estate that should be able to stay the way it is. If the traffic was directed to the front of the school via the front entrance then I don't really see an issue but if they were to make it dual entrance then it would impact the people and the roads that are already there. If I had known this was in the works then I would definitely not have purchased a house in this area as the traffic from the back fence was already bad enough and having another school there would make the traffic unbearable which is not what we expected when we bought in Mardi.
I hope you take my concerns into account as I feel they are valid as I pay my rates and I live close to the back school gates.

I currently live on woodbury park drive. The amount of traffic that already uses this as a short cut is horrendous. I support the building of the school but I dont support the main entrance being into keefers glen. The roads aren't set up to handle the extra traffic, busses and not to mention the overflow of cars that wont be able to park in designated carpark. I along with many other residents do support the school but the entrance needs to be off gavenlock road and not onto keefers Glen.

Traffic and parking issue and safety
Noise and disturbance of school and construction
Loss of privacy
Loss of environment
Safety of construction vechiles and busses
Operational noise of school, bells, children
We all have pets the noise will impact them
People driving on our property like they did before St Peters restricted access and cars on Keefers
Loss of property value
Council has already Said no to the application and you want to force it through knowing 99% of people dont want the school

We are retired and home
Our concerns are as follows;
The noise of construction
The traffic the construction on will create, parking access for these people while it's being created
The road access is poor, even if you widen the road Keefers Glen access is through two cultersac's via wagners and Brickendon, this will create conjestion throughout all of cobbs vilage and have a flow on impact around the whole community
Noises the busses will make and congestion if the school goes a head
The loss of privacy and our property valuation will be impacted, we know because we saught advice
Huge saftey concerns around how much traffic this will create.
People will be able to see into my house from class rooms, whish I am highly disturbed about
The loss of habitat behind our house
The noise from the school, the drivway being behind our homes and play area
The fact that council said no and the school wants to push a head regradless
We don't want the school being built, let along the access
There are trees there that have been there for YEARS and that will distub the white ants there, which will look for a home elsewhere and make their way into our homes, the loss of the native birds
We have pets and they will be disturbed by the noise and impact the school will have
We are strongly objecting to this school in any capacity being built in that area.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed use of Keefers Glen, Mardi, as an access road for the new Eileen O’Connor Catholic School in Tuggerah. I strongly urge the planning authorities to abandon this access proposal in its entirety. Keefers Glen and the surrounding residential streets are completely unsuitable for the type and volume of traffic that will be generated by this school for the following reasons:

1. Keefers Glen is Inherently Unsuitable:

Keefers Glen is a narrow, residential street not designed to handle large volumes of traffic. It was built to serve a small number of local residents and is already constrained in terms of parking and maneuverability.

The proposed use of this street for a student drop-off and pick-up, and access to a 61-space car park, will introduce daily congestion, and create significant safety risks for residents, including young children.

Importantly, I do not support any road widening, reconfiguration, or traffic modifications to Keefers Glen or the surrounding streets. The street should not be considered at all for any form of school access — temporary or permanent as we have already experienced considerable traffic disruptions from the exisiting St Peter’s Catholic College with senior students and staff parking on Keefers Glen and being used as dropped off by parents, the situation became so unmanageable that the exisiting school has to lock the padestrian access gates.

2. Traffic Impacts Will Be Severe and Ongoing:

The school is expected to:
* Educate up to 200 students,
* Employ at least 71 teaching staff, and
* Host up to 100 construction workers daily during the build phase.

These volumes will place immense pressure on the existing road network. Local streets were not designed to support this level of traffic and will suffer from:
* Constant congestion during school peak hours,
* Inadequate on-street parking for residents and their visitors,
* Increased risk of vehicle and pedestrian accidents, and
* Decreased quality of life for residents due to noise, and disruption to the access of homes via the only way of entry.

This is not a temporary inconvenience — it is a permanent degradation of a quiet suburban neighbourhood.

3. Case Study: St Gabriel’s School, Castle Hill – A Cautionary Tale:

The traffic conditions surrounding St Gabriel’s School in Castle Hill, clearly illustrate what can be expected.
* Drop-off and pick-up at St Gabriel’s spans from 8:15am–9:00am and 2:00pm–3:30pm, generating substantial traffic. With staff arriving and exiting from 7:30am-8:30am and 3:30pm-4:30pm.
* Located on a four-lane arterial road (Old Northern Road), the school still causes daily congestion and frequent traffic accidents.
* Queues regularly stretch 500 metres or more, despite the presence of a 100-metre internal access road for vehicle stacking.
* St Gabriel’s employs over 100 staff for a 200 student facility, suggesting the Diocese’s current staffing estimates for Eileen O’Connor are either negligently inaccurate or deliberately misleading.

If a purpose-built access road on a major thoroughfare cannot prevent traffic chaos at St Gabriel’s, it is completely unacceptable to channel similar traffic through Keefers Glen, a far smaller, residential-only street with no capacity for such use with serious implications in the surrounding roads.

4. Gavenlock Road: The Only Suitable Access Point

The Gavenlock Road entry to St Peter’s Catholic College, which already borders the propose school site, is:
* Wider and better suited to high vehicle volumes,
* Connected to main arterial roads such as the Pacific Highway, Wyong Road and the M1,
* Located in a mixed-use zone, away from residential housing.

Gavenlock Road offers a safer, lower-impact alternative that aligns with smart urban planning, traffic engineering, and community wellbeing. If traffic safety and minimal community disruption are priorities, then Gavenlock Road must be the designated access point.

5. Concerns Regarding Educational Model:

While this submission primarily opposes the use of Keefers Glen as an access route, I also feel it is necessary to raise community concern regarding the suitability of the school model itself.

Contemporary educational research increasingly supports the inclusion of students with disability in mainstream school settings, through the use of specialised support units or inclusive education programs, rather than in segregated special schools.

Evidence from organisations such as the Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education (ACIE) and reports commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission consistently show that:
• Inclusive settings produce better academic, social, and emotional outcomes for students with disabilities,
• Students in inclusive classrooms benefit from peer interaction, shared resources, and broader community integration,
• Segregated environments can reinforce social isolation and stigma, even when intentions are well-meaning.

Building a standalone special school—particularly one operated by a private religious body—may not reflect best practice in 21st-century inclusive education. The significant investment in this model could arguably be better allocated toward integrating support units within existing schools, improving both outcomes and equity.

6. Requested Actions

I respectfully request that:
1. The use of Keefers Glen as a school access road be completely abandoned and removed from consideration.
2. The planning process formally rule out any traffic redirection or road changes to Keefers Glen or neighbouring streets.
3. A revised access plan be submitted that utilises Gavenlock Road as the primary and only access point.
4. A full and independently conducted Traffic Impact Assessment be undertaken, comparing these two options, with transparent community consultation.

Keefers Glen is not and will never be a suitable road for school access — not with its current configuration, and not with any proposed modifications. It is irresponsible and unsafe to introduce high-volume, daily school traffic to this street. The experience at St Gabriel’s proves this will lead to congestion, danger, and lasting community harm.

The proposal must be abandoned completely and replaced with an access plan via Gavenlock Road, which is clearly the only viable and responsible option.

Thank you for your time and serious consideration of this objection.

I am writing to formally raise my concerns and objections in relation to the proposed development of the Eileen O’Connor School within our local area.

While I acknowledge and respect the importance of providing quality educational facilities, particularly for children with additional needs, I believe the current proposal raises several significant issues that require urgent review before any approval is granted. My objections are grounded in the following points:

1. Traffic, Parking, and Road Infrastructure

The proposal does not appear to include any comprehensive plans to address the substantial increase in traffic and parking demand that will inevitably result from a school of this scale. The surrounding roads are not currently equipped to manage this volume of traffic, particularly during peak school hours. Without proper upgrades, this will cause congestion, increase risk to pedestrian safety, and place a strain on existing infrastructure.

2. Construction Impact on the Local Community

The construction phase, involving heavy vehicles, machinery, and associated works, will cause considerable disruption to a small and otherwise quiet community. This includes potential damage to existing roads, increased noise pollution, dust, and ongoing safety concerns. These impacts will not only disturb the daily lives of local residents but may also cause longer-term damage to public and private property.

3. Long-Term Noise and Environmental Disruption

Post-construction, the daily operation of a school will bring ongoing noise, increased traffic volumes, and general activity that is incompatible with the current nature of our quiet residential area. This change in the character of the neighbourhood must be considered carefully and respectfully.

4. Road Access and Upgrades – Gavenlock Road and Tuggerah Strait

It is imperative that any and all access to the new school is directed solely via Gavenlock Road. This road and its connection from Tuggerah Strait will require significant upgrades to support increased traffic volumes safely and efficiently. The current state of Gavenlock Road does not meet the standards necessary to act as the main thoroughfare for a development of this nature.

Given the concerns outlined above, I respectfully request that the current proposal be reconsidered until such time as:
• Comprehensive traffic and infrastructure assessments are completed.
• Clear and enforceable plans for road upgrades, particularly along Gavenlock Road and Tuggerah Strait, are confirmed.
• Construction impact mitigation strategies are developed and communicated to the local community.
• Consideration is given to the broader and long-term impact on the character and amenity of the area.

I trust that the views of the community will be given due weight in the decision-making process, and I welcome the opportunity to engage in further consultation should it be required.

Support The School, Do not support acess to school via keefers glen.
Heavy congestion which will bottleneck throughout the smaller streets and two ends of woodbury park drive.
it will devaluate house property as people will not want to buy on a busy street or neighbourhood
Enterance for school should be from Gavanlock road so that all trafic straigh in to pacific highway instead of through residential small streets.
rest points in attached file.

My objection is based on the access via Keiffers Glen and surrounding streets including Brickendon Avenue and neighbouring streets. The roads are not designed for high traffic volume. The impact on local residents are to this point (prior to the school deciding to close access off Keiffers Glen a few weeks ago) was significant.
There have been many near misses with local residents with residents forced to erect their own signs to request drivers to slow down, not double park and be aware of.children in the area. Even on weekends now, it can take one truck parked to entirely shut down access through Keiffers Glen.
This included traffic flow, double and triple parking during drop off and pick up times, residents needing to install temporary fencing on their properties to stop cars parking and turning on their lawns and the speeds of cars on surrounding streets including Brickendon Avenue.
The impact has also seen residents unable to carry on their daily business due to roads and driveways being blocked. The disruption this development will cause is significant especially with the additional students in an area that cannot handle the current numbers.
If access via Keiffers Glen is required this should be for pedestrian traffic only.
The other concern is the development of the multi purpose hall and the use it would receive outside of school hours for local clubs and groups. This means constant high traffic volumes and noise during evenings with many residents needing to leave for their daily commutes prior to 5am. This will impact their ability to sleep and quality of life.
While I support the growing needs of the school, there has to be balance and collaboration with neighbours. The plan to increase flows via Keiffers Glen then there needs to be a balance with local residents. This proposal is way out of whack and needs to be redesigned.