Non Race Day Events at Royal Randwick Racecourse

I oppose to this project on the basis of:
1. Noise Pollution.
As a local resident, we are being bombared from 6am with construction noise currently and then road works frequently overnight. Further noise until 10.30pm from these events is not welcome. It is not just noise from the events but then noise from the event goers as they leave the venue at night which is a concern.

2. Safety Concerns
Safety concerns, particularly, regarding the school with increased pedestrian and car congestion on the days of the events. Local road facilities and traffic concerns are already congested with just day to day use. These events will add to this. Fix the road congestion first and then we can consider increased events. The trafficability of Doncaster Ave is woeful since the bike lanes.

3. Inadequate Paths/ Toilet Infrastructure.
There is inadequate local facilities such as public toilets and widened and even pathways to accomodate the increased local foot traffic from these events. Both myself and other residents often witness public urination in the streets, unruly behaviour, people wandering into traffic, people wandering over the roads and private property as the paths are congested every single race day from events held at the race course. I do not want more of this behaviour, especially into the night from this proposed submission.

4. Potential for Increased Local Crime.
Increased people form these events increase the risk of increased crime, especially drug use/ drug sale, unacceptable behaviour and road rage (from excessive traffic). As a resident, a parent and property owner, I do not feel this is acceptable. Keep larege events to more suitable venues such as The Entertainment Quarter and Homebush and leave local racecourse residents alone. We are already fed up with the increased construction (and associated noise, ess, littler and parking concerns), traffic, abyssmal state of Doncaster Avenue between Alison Road and Anzac Parade where cars can barely pass, trucks take out the traffic lights repeatedly and traffic crawls at best. Please do not add to this by approving this submission at this stage.

I oppose to this project on the basis of:
1. Noise pollution. As a local resident, we are being bombarded from 6am with construction noise currently and then road works frequently overnight. . Further noise until 10.30pm from these events is not welcome. It is not just noise from the events but then noise from the event goers as they leave the venue at night which is a concern.
2. Safety concerns, particularly, regarding the school with increased pedestrian and car congestion on the days of the events. Local road facilities and traffic concerns are already congested with just day to day use. These events will add to this. Fix the road congestion first and then we can consider increased events. Doncaster Ave is woeful since the bike lanes.
3. Inadequate paths/ toilet infrastructure. There is inadequate local facilities such as public toilets and widened and even pathways to accomodate the increased local foot traffic from these events. I witness public urination in the streets, unruly behaviour, people wandering into traffic, people wandering over the roads and private property as the paths are congested every single race day from events held at the race course. I do not want more of this behaviour, especially into the night from this proposed submission.
4. Potential for increased local crime. Increased people form these events increase the risk of increased crime, especially drug use/ drug sale, unacceptable behaviour and road rage (from excessive traffic). As a resident and parent of smll children and property owner, I do nto feel this is acceptable. Keep larege events to more suitable venues such as The Entertainment Quarter and Homebush and leave local racecourse residents alone. We are already fed up with the increased construction (and associated noise, ess, littler and parking concerns), traffic, abyssmal state of Doncaster Avenue between Alison Road and Anzac Parade where cars can barely pass, trucks take out the traffic lights repeatedly and traffic crawls at best. Please do not add to this by approving this submission at this stage.

To whomever this concerns.
I am opposed to the proposed project.
I am a home-owner within close proximity to the racecourse and I have a toddler.
We also live close to the significant developments taking place along Anzac Parade and Todman Avenue, which already generate a significant amount of noise and traffic issues. We have experienced concerts at the racecourse previously and they are extremely loud and carry on much later than my child's bed time, which makes it difficult for them to sleep. There are unpleasant consequences when their routine is not followed, as would be the case for any toddler, but especially for a neurodivergent child.
The proposal of up to ten events per year, over potentially three days each, is too much. The noise pollution and traffic congestion that would create would be detrimental to the racecourse's neighbours.
We also enjoy a calming view over the racecourse, which is one of the reasons I purchased. I purchased with the understanding that there would be race days and accepted that. I did extensive research pre-purchase and was aware of Randwick Council's proposed developments along Anzac Pde, however, this non race day proposal from the ATC was obviously not a factor in my decision, and would have influenced my decision, had it been such.
Interestingly, I am also a former member of the ATC. It seems strange to me that the ATC would need this development to take place for financial reasons, and instead appears unnecessarily ambitious and greedy at face value.
The area around Royal Randwick includes alternate venues such as Allianz stadium, the SCG, the old showgrounds and Hordern Pavillion, as well as Centennial Park, Moore Park and NSW Uni campuses. These venues provide ample opportunities for events and adding more events into the area would be very unfair to the local community and residents.
I urge the NSW government to consider the availability of alternate venues that already exist in the area, as well as the additional hazards that would be faced by residents.
I am happy to be contacted to discuss further and would appreciate being kept updated on this submission.
Kind regards,
Karen Hasson

I object to this project on account of the noise it will generate, especially the allowance for outdoor music events. A project like this must have serious limitations on the decibel levels emitted. The Future Music Festival, which was mentioned in Section 1.3.3, created a horrific amount of noise. The windows, walls and floorboards of our 120 year old house shook intensely for the duration of the festival. It was impossible to even hold a conversation within the house and painful to listen to. Without stringent limitations on the permitted decibel levels, I strongly object to this project.

I am writing to formally object to the application for the proposed 10 non-race day events per year at Royal Randwick Racecourse. While I appreciate the potential benefits such events may bring, I believe the negative impacts on local residents and the surrounding community far outweigh these benefits.
1. Noise Pollution:
One of the primary concerns is the anticipated noise generated by live music events. The racecourse is located in a residential area, and the sounds associated with large crowds and amplified music could severely disrupt the peace and quiet that residents currently enjoy. Noise from these events will extend late into the night, impacting families, children, and those who work early hours. This not only affects the quality of life but can also have long-term effects on the mental well-being of the residents.
2. Increased Traffic and Safety Hazards:
The additional traffic from attendees at these events will create congestion in our area, particularly on weekends and holidays when these events are likely to take place. The influx of vehicles will increase the risk of accidents, especially for pedestrians and children. Our roads may not be equipped to handle the surge in traffic, and there is a strong possibility that emergency services could be hindered in their response due to traffic jams.
3. Parking Issues:
The racecourse’s parking facilities may not be sufficient to accommodate the number of visitors expected for these events. This could result in overflow parking in residential areas, leading to blocked driveways, limited access for residents, and potentially increased tensions between event-goers and local residents.
4. Disruption to Local Services:
Local services, such as public transport and emergency services, may be stretched during these events. The increased demand for taxis, buses, and emergency responders could lead to longer wait times and diminished service quality for residents.
5. Impact on Local Businesses:
While some may argue that the events could benefit local businesses, the reality is that many residents may choose to avoid the area during these times due to the associated noise, traffic, and parking challenges. This could negate any potential economic benefits to local shops and services.
6. Environmental Concerns:
Hosting large events may lead to environmental degradation in our community. This includes littering, increased waste management requirements, and potential damage to local flora and fauna. The area around the racecourse is a valuable ecological space, and the introduction of regular large-scale events could disrupt local wildlife.
In conclusion, while I recognize that events can bring a sense of community and entertainment, the specific proposal for 10 non-race day events at Royal Randwick Racecourse poses significant concerns for residents in the vicinity. I urge you to consider these points seriously and reject the application.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope you will consider the concerns of the local community when making your decision.

Dear Janith, Please find attached DoE's comments for your consideration.

Thank you,

My family and I oppose the proposed project as the Australian Turf Club is going against its core business of racing and hospitality by wanting to stage additional music festivals, concerts and large scaled events across 365 days.

As outlined in Section 3 of the Project Description, for Royal Randwick to stage 10 events per annum with no cap on music festivals, it will attract more drug and alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour on the streets, public urination, traffic congestion and noise pollution within the area. Furthermore, Royal Randwick plans to stage most of their events in the 'Spectator Field' which is much closer to homes/ residential dwellings.

The events that are planned are always louder and stay on longer late into the evening than originally planned. Whenever there are events at the racecourse, the house shakes from the thumping music well past 10.30 on a Friday night. In addition, all day on Saturdays when there are events on, we cannot get our car out of the parking space as the traffic is bumper to bumper all afternoon and sitting at a standstill. There arer hundreds of taxis blocking the road. Drunk people walk up and down and urinate in the street, throwing cans of beer on the footpath. People try to go down the side of our house to jump the fence into the racecourse when an event is on. Everything about these events causes havoc for the neighbours.

Kensington Public School, located on Doncaster Avenue, is in very close proximity to Randwick Racecourse.
Parking and traffic congestion around the school currently provides significant safety and access challenges for parents and their children.
Currently, major racecourse usage is on weekends only.
To operate non-race day events Monday to Friday will almost certainly impact the school community in a significant negative way, adding to the to the abovementioned existing challenges.
Monday to Friday the following are already problematic:
-Safety at drop off and pick up of children has recently been negatively impacted by the narrowing of Doncaster Avenue by adding a bicycle lane which many cyclist still do not use, creating additional danger.
-The left turn out of Todman Avenue into Doncaster Avenue in the morning peak creates huge congestion and arrogant road use, Doncaster would have been far better as a one-way northbound from Todman if good planning had been done instead of narrowing Doncaster with the bicycle lane, creating the current safety hazard for the school.
-The pedestrian crossings over Anzac Parade near Todman Avenue and Duke Street are both poorly programmed such that pedestrians cannot a perform a complete crossing in one go since the addition of the light rail. This often means that children are tempted to "jay-walk" across on the red walk sign due to the unrealistically dysfunctional long wait to complete a full crossing.
This is a safety problem which I fear will end in tragedy if not fixed with better programming and a pedestrian crossing timing system.
To add more events with these current problems in the near vicinity of the school requires some better planning than has been exhibited thus far.

I am strongly in support of this project and am frustrated by the intentionally misleading and frankly bizarre misinformation related to it:
- The project will establish a Community Benefit Fund, offering $1 million initially and at least $750,000 annually to aid the Walcha and Uralla communities.
- The wind farm's construction phase will generate approximately 400 jobs, with 16 permanent roles for local service and technician positions.
- With a capital investment of $1.9 billion, the project will inject hundreds of millions into regional NSW, fostering job creation and skill development.
- Wind energy is significantly more cost-effective than new fossil fuel generation, eliminating air, water, and land pollution from coal burning.

Thank you for the opportunity to voice community support for this endeavour.

The proposed changes will have an adverse impact on surrounding residents of Randwick racecourse. Doncaster Avenue Kensington is heavily populated by residential buildings. Kensington Public School is also located on this street. The nature and scale of events that the DA would permit would adversely impact the operation of the school, including before and after school care facilities, and compromise the safety of the children with increased traffic volumes on what is already a very congested street.
Based on the proposal, a worst-case scenario would be for an event to be held up to 3 consecutive days, ending at 10.30pm each day with 15,000 people in attendance. In practice disruptions would last longer than this given the provisions for set up and dismantling of the event commencing at 6am. Such a scenario is unacceptable, and punitive for local surrounding residents. It represents health and safety hazards.
The stakeholder consultation referred to in the proposal has been inadequate as there has been very little awareness of such a consultation process taking place. Residents and other impacted parties (eg students) would not have had an adequate opportunity to outline their concerns. It is not clear whether the liqht and noise pollution testing described is suitable and adequately severe to take into account the many residential buildings which directly adjoin the racecourse boundary along Doncaster Avenue.
A recent precedent that could be considered is the Travis Scott concert held at the SCG last week. Even from kilometres away the noise pollution was unacceptable. The traffic congestion that ensued before and after the event was a safety issue. To compound the situation in the future by permitting similar events at the racecourse would negatively impact the community.
Sydney has many world class venues to host the events being considered as part of the proposal eg the Olympic Park precinct. These are purpose built to accommodate the thousands of people, cars, extreme lights and noise associated with such an event, which is not the case at Randwick racecourse. These other venues are also located a suitable distance away from existing high density residential areas, with adequate public transport links for patrons to use. Holding these types of large scale events would be more safe and feasible at somewhere like Olympic Park rather than the racecourse. Thanks for considering my submission.

Submission to Major Projects NSW: Impact of Non-Race Day Events at Randwick Racecourse on Local Residents

Introduction

This submission addresses the significant negative impacts that non-race day events at Randwick Racecourse have on local residents, particularly those living at 159 Todman Avenue. It highlights issues of traffic congestion, noise pollution, lewd behavior, road rage, and various inconveniences experienced by residents during recent events.

Impact on Local Residents

Noise Pollution

Residents of our apartment block, particularly those in units 1 through 6, have reported extreme noise disturbances during non-race day events. The combination of honking horns, shouting, and insults from road rage incidents has led to a distressing living environment. Continuous noise pollution not only disrupts daily life but also affects mental health, leading to increased anxiety and discomfort.

Traffic Congestion

Traffic congestion on Todman Avenue has become untenable during event days. As vehicles merge into a single lane to turn onto Doncaster Avenue, significant backups occur, making it nearly impossible for residents to navigate their local area. This congestion severely impacts our ability to perform essential errands, such as grocery shopping, particularly on weekends.

Lewd Behavior

There has been a noticeable increase in lewd behavior from individuals attending these events. Many intoxicated individuals have been observed engaging in inappropriate conduct, especially near the light rail stations. This not only creates an uncomfortable atmosphere but also raises safety concerns for residents, particularly families and children.

Road Rage and Inconvenience

The frustrations caused by traffic congestion have led to heightened incidents of road rage. Continuous honking and aggressive interactions among drivers create an intimidating environment for residents. This aggression often spills over into verbal altercations, further disrupting the peace of our community.

Recent Experiences

During the most recent event, residents experienced overwhelming disturbances. Continuous honking, along with swearing and insults exchanged between drivers, significantly affected the quality of life in our apartment block. The noise and chaos were particularly acute during peak traffic hours, reinforcing the need for action to mitigate these effects.

Conclusion

The negative impacts of non-race day events at Randwick Racecourse on local residents cannot be understated. From noise pollution and traffic congestion to lewd behavior and road rage, these issues contribute to a declining quality of life for those living in close proximity to the venue. It is imperative that measures are taken to address these challenges, ensuring that local residents can enjoy a peaceful and safe living environment.

Recommendations

1. Traffic Management Plans: Implement more effective traffic management strategies to minimize congestion and ensure smoother traffic flow during events.
2. Noise Control Measures: Establish noise restrictions and enforce penalties for excessive noise during events to protect residents from disturbances.
3. Increased Security: Enhance security measures around the light rail and surrounding areas to address lewd behavior and ensure public safety.
4. Community Engagement: Foster better communication between event organizers and local residents to address concerns and improve the overall event experience.

By taking these steps, Major Projects NSW can help ensure that non-race day events at Randwick Racecourse do not continue to negatively impact the lives of local residents.

There will be too much noise from the racecourse, from vehicles, and pedestrians walking past.
There will be too many pedestrians accessing the area. There will be an increase of antisocial behaviour, including public urination, as many people who attend events would also consume alcohol.
There will be too many cars travelling down a narrow road, and parking will be negatively impacted.

I am writing with some concerns about the proposal to have more events at Randwick racecourse. I don't object to markets consumer roadshows or cultural events such as art shows or even private events. I'm writing because I object strongly to music events based on our past experience of the way these events have been managed by the ATC.

For a number of years a regular concert was held at Randwick racecourse called Future Music. This event made it impossible to move in this area. Resident's cars were parked in, in their driveways. People were arrested doing drug deals outside my house. The noise was unmonitored and hellish. The windows and doors on my house shook from the noise. The aftermath was hideous with drunk and drugged idiots roaming around outside my house for hours. We had to lock our gates to our homes it was so bad. We went to the council. We went to the ATC and absolutely nothing was done about the disaster that this brought on our suburb and if you think it's only me, many people were involved in the council meetings to try and bring this situation to a close. No doubt the Australian turf club had a bag of money that they handed to some dill at the council who kept it going until finally the promoter went broke.

I noticed that the flyer that we received from the Australian turf club said that 5 to 15,000 people would be involved in these events. They are obviously not people going to markets or cultural or consumer roadshows. They are obviously in numbers that mean concerts are what this is meant to allow. I strongly object to the racecourse being used for concerts because of the above information about how bad it was in the past. I already know that the Australian turf club will do nothing if we complain about noise or antisocial behaviour, because I've complained many times in the past and absolutely zero happened from any of those complaints. I also know I'm probably wasting my time since this will no doubt be approved by council and state government.

Also, I would like to note that there are regular concerts in Centennial Park and we never hear anything from those concerts because they are PROPERLY managed. Yet every time there is a concert at the turf club we can hear everything including the commentary from the stage. We feel that the turf club is so powerful with so much money behind them, they think they can get away with absolutely anything including trashing their neighbourhood and everyone who lives in it. The Turf club is known for not following the liquor laws - just look at a typical race day to see that - I’ve had to call ambulances for people who’ve collapsed with alcohol poisoning! And as I said during the Future Music years, many drug dealers are caught plying their trade outside my house. I’m so fearful of going back to those days - and not once a year but 10 times! On top of all the public drunkenness on race days that’s many more days of problems than we’ve had before.

I have never worked out why the Turf club doesn't hold its concerts in the middle of the racecourse instead of right at the edge where everybody lives? Perhaps if they were better neighbours and they did that, they wouldn't get as many objections to their crazy proposals. I suppose I should be grateful that the proposal to have skydiving into the racecourse seems to have died a death, but every time we think their hairbrained schemes are over, something else arrives in the mail. Anyhow, I object to this latest proposal and would like to be kept informed of what is happening with this project.

I live in Doncaster Ave near Ascot St which is an entry/exit point for the Racecourse and am concerned at the prospect of more events being held at the racecourse, particularly of an evening.
Currently busy race days result in congestion on Doncaster Ave as traffic is unable to freely exit onto Alison Rd. This often leads frustrated drivers to sound their horns, disturbing the neighbourhood. Pedestrians, some inebriated, choose to exit the racecourse onto Ascot St in order to be picked up by ride share (uber/didi) from Doncaster Ave, exacerbating the general level of congestion and noise as patrons await their rides. Racecourse management must be aware of this ongoing problem but have not addressed it. With this proposal, non race day events will finish after dark and I fear that traffic congestion, pedestrian activity and noise will be worse than that currently experienced after race days.
I have reviewed the Noise Impact Assessment and not seen reference to the influence of reflected noise. During race days, noise is reflected off a 5 storey apartment complex on Ascot St into the rear of my house. Race calling is considerably loader & clearer in my back bedroom, which is oriented away from the racecourse, than my front bedroom which faces the racecourse. Given the increased density and height of buildings close to Anzac Pde in Kensington, I believe that reflected noise should be considered when modelling likely noise impacts on residents, particularly from proposed music stages.
I don't believe that the racecourse should be proposing to host non race day events. Late finishing events will disturb the neighbourhood and there are a number of other venues in Sydney better suited to hosting such events.

Alcohol causes problems, people talk louder even scream and residents nearby could be woken up with some have to get up early on weekends 4 and 5 am shift workers so 10:30pm finish is unfair and their is the noise of more cars. Events should be during day alcohol and fireworks free which create more noise and pollution and we are in a climate emergency.

Firstly, our address (18-20 Alison Road) has not been included as part of the noise review despite being closer than any other residential area, other than Doncaster Avenue. I would like the report to show how we are affected.

The noise from the two festival events held last year were disruptive to us, a family with a toddler and a newborn, living in an mortgaged apartment opposite the racecourse with single-glazed windows. The prospect of 10 more 3-day festivals over summer will be mean disruption, both in terms of the sound from the festivals, but also the festival-goers who smash glass against the corner of our building as they walk up Alison Road.

We are residents living on Doncaster Avenue near the Kensington Public School. We love living in Kensington, which is close to public transport, Centennial Park and to the Racecourse.
We love attending large events in the area, and regularly go to the Moore Park Stadiums for sporting and cultural events. They are well run and there is appropriate security before and after the events.
Sadly we do not support any further Non-race day events at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, because the events that they do run are very poorly managed after the events.
After each race day, 100s, if not 1000s of people walk from Alison Road down Doncaster avenue, many towards the Doncaster Hotel. Over the last 12 months, we have seen the following after Randwick Racecourse events:
- Physical assaults and fights, in which police and ambulance had to be called (my children had to witness numerous people bruised and bloodied and still fighting while walking to Centennial Park, despite police and ambulance in attendance);
- People urinating (men and women) in the gardens and front yards of residents;
- Dancing in the middle of the street, preventing the flow of traffic (not to mention dangerous)
- yelling, screaming, and abuse of Local residents;
- people passed out from drunkenness along the road, and on the property of residents
- an enormous amount of litter, rubbish, alcohol bottles left all along Doncaster Avenue

There are many other incidents we could describe, but we do not feel safe on these race days. The application by the Australian Turf Club for further non-race day events should be opposed.
If any such proposal is to be granted, there should be an assessment of the current safety and security of those leaving current Randwick race course events, such as the Everest next weekend. It is not enough to say that once they leave the racecourse it is not the responsibility of the Australian Turf Club. There is a duty of care to those patrons leaving the events, and also the residents of Kensington to ensure our location is safe, but also so that these wonderful events can be run.
There should be more safety officers all along Doncaster avenue, monitoring the people who have just left a Royal Randwick event.

Thank you for considering the effects of such an application on the Local Residents.

I am objecting to the proposal SSD 63536466 to increase the use of Randwick Racecourse for non-race day events.
The entry from Doncaster Ave creates a massively increased traffic movement on event days in the neighborhood. On these event days it can take 30 minutes just to navigate the 1km distance along Doncaster Ave from Anzac Pde to Alison Rd which normally takes 5 minutes. The entry point for taxis and pedestrians at Ascot St is a barrier creating congestion in a residential area.
The loud, noisy and drunken behavior of customers doesn't reflect the existing neighborhood character and after events we must put up with public urination openly about our homes. A more suitable entry point would be on High street where there are no residential buildings to disturb homes.