Redevelopment of President Private Hospital

Nil Response attached

There needs to be an expansion of health facilities in our area. As a previous employee I support the proposal.

Fully supportive of this proposal. Any investment in infrastructure that suports the health and well being of commuity members (particularly the mental health) should be applauded.
One observations:
1) The adeuqacy of on-site car parking. The number of car parking spaces incorporated into the design of the project needs to better consider the potential implications of staggered (and overlapping) worker shifts. The car parking capacity has been based on the average peak daily worker numbers (102 for AM periods), but fails to acknowledge that staff finishing their shift will do so after the next shift of workers arive for duty. This result in more demand for on site parking that needs to be accomodated within the deveopment. To refer to the prevalence of off site parking on near by roads, fails to acknowlegde that these are small and quiet local roads wihtout the ability to safely accomodate the spill over parking. More permanent parking needs to be accomodated into the design.
many thanks
Nick Francesconi

The heritage building that will be demolished as part of the alterations and additions has heritage value. There aren’t many buildings of heritage value in this area, or Australia in general, and I strongly believe we need to protect those we have.

Firstly, the proposed demolition of Hotham House is totally in conflict with the recent Heritage protection which came about after many members of the local community voiced their concerns against it. It is one of very few historic buildings left in our shire and we want to keep it.
Secondly, I believe Sutherland Shire Council has declined this proposal or similar development applications twice in the past by deeming it as not appropriate for the area. The local area has been peacefully residential for over 60years and this proposed development will intrude on the peace, tranquility and quiet enjoyment of residents. Bidurgal Ave contains elderly residents who take walking as exercise in the local streets and bear in mind that these residents came to this street well before the facility was built. I can recall the facility promising my parents and neighbours that there would never be any future expansion outward or upward.
It is clearly evident from viewing the plans that the proposed redevelopment will be most invasive to Bidurgal Ave residents, specifically impacting on No 6, however also negatively impacting on No 5, No 3 and No 1. The development has proposed to demolish 2 existing residential houses in Bidurgal Ave and if this occurs it will ruin the residential nature of the street, and create increased health and safety risks to the children, elderly and other local residents who use this road.
Bidurgal Ave is not an arterial road however should these plans be approved it will become one. Bidurgal Ave and other local street residents will suffer from loss of existing street parking due to facility staff and visitors not wishing to pay for parking. There also appears to be stairway access from Bidurgal Ave into the facility grounds alongside No 6 Bidurgal Ave which indicates that the facility is already expecting this to occur. This entryway access will automatically create a security risk to nearby residents without going into further detail.
The proposed facility will negatively impact on those residents with more than one vehicle in the household, which is relevant to most households in Bidurgal Ave; elderly residents who have daily medical care visits; visits from family or friends; food or other deliveries; and regular service providers such as lawn mowing, cleaners, gardeners, or even Police or Ambulance if ever required There will be non-existent parking for these vehicles. Bidurgal Ave is a narrow road and cannot accommodate heavy traffic or more vehicles than it already does. The proposed development will compromise and further decrease access to residential parking as the construction and other related workers and facility visitors will be using the immediate local streets for a very long period given the substantial size of the project.
In addition, the construction will produce unwanted and excessive noise, creating prolonged unwanted disruption and permanent disruption of the current peaceful environment and relaxed lifestyle.
The timing of this proposal raised immediate questions given it was just prior to the 2020 Christmas break and occurred during a pandemic ( Covid - 19 ), which has been extremely distressing for all. This proposal release appears to have been structured knowing there would be limited exposure to the community during the Christmas holidays and decreased distribution of the local Leader newspaper thereby minimising the potential submissions against the proposal. The proposal has already been declined twice by Sutherland Shire Council for this area yet developers have persisted in going over their head. This automatically raises questions over it's integrity.
The Leader Newspaper quoted that Macquarie Health Corporation deputy chief executive David Wenkart stated that "The redevelopment will provide employment for upwards of 700 hundred jobs to predominately local healthcare and construction workers" and that there will be new hospital entrance from Hotham Road to facilitate easier access 110 inpatient beds providing surgical, medical and rehabilitation care plus a 72 bed mental health facility. The immediate area is not structured for such an impact and cannot sustain such an impact.
Many local residents and concerned Sutherland Shire Community residents have asked via Facebook what they can do to prevent this proposal and have been provided the link to the DPE portal however given the complex nature of registering etc on this portal, particularly for elderly or non computer educated residents, I fear their strong opinions and concerns against this proposal may not be heard.
The significant development proposal is not something that the local area can accommodate or assimilate to and for all the reasons stated above, in all sincerity, I request that the proposal be declined.

I am writing this submission to object to the proposed project. I don't find the classification of alterations and additions as clearly articulating what is being proposed as this is not only a total redevelopment of the existing site but also includes additional properties purchased by the hospital to expand the hospital beyond it's originally intended capacity. The proposed redevelopment encroaches on a residential zoned area not suitable for a commercial operation of this size. My residence is already adversely affected by the hospital in that hospital staff and service providers servicing the hospital park across my driveway on a daily basis and take the very limited parking spaces we have available for home owners and our visitors. To add further pressure to this currently unacceptable situation will pose additional risks in relation to safety and capacity.
If the hospital is allowed to keep purchasing residential homes to convert them into commercial operations, where will this stop? How many other homes in this area will be adversely affected by expanding a commercial operation in a residential area?
The increased traffic this proposed development will bring via additional beds, additional hospital services, additional patients, additional visitors, additional service providers will present a significant safety risk to the many children that play in the surrounding streets and the high number of elderly residents that walk the streets (because of the lack of footpaths in the surrounding streets) because whilst there is proposed car parking to be provided, it is evident from other hospitals in the Shire that due to the cost of parking in these car parks that people will continue to park in the surrounding streets.
The impact this will have on the residential value of surrounding properties also needs to be considered. The two new town houses that have been built at the corner of Bidurgal Ave and Hotham Rd cannot be sold at present and when they are sold it will be at a significantly reduced value due to the proposed development. If approved, then this proposed development will affect many other houses due to an expanding commercial operation in the middle of a residentially zoned area.
The impact of noise for the local residents should also be a consideration as the expanding operation will be even closer to residential homes and the loud noise of garbage collection and other services isn't suitable for a residential area.
The increased traffic will place significant safety risk along Hotham Road and President avenue because these roads are already significantly at risk with current traffic loads from the connecting Grays Point area, thoroughfare to the east of the Shire and the daily bank up of traffic in the morning due to school drop offs to St Catherine's catholic school, where the traffic banks back past Hotham Rd on a daily basis.
Therefore, I object to a commercial operation not fit for a residential area to be allowed to grow their operation significantly presents a major safety and risk to the residents of the affected area.

As a long time Sutherland Shire resident, I totally object to the demolition and desecration of Hotham House which is listed on the NSW State Heritage list.
Why have Heritage lists if they are ignored. As a Private Hospital, this development will not provide for the general public and often not even residents of the Sutherland Shire.
The hospital could be extended, by purchasing properties to the north and/or to the west of the existing hospital. Surely this is preferable than to destroy a heritage listed property. Or as a Condition of Development, Hotham House could be relocated to a suitable parcel of land at the expense of the Developer. This work would have to be carried out under strict heritage guidelines.

Being a resident of Bidurgal Ave I feel the application for the redevelopment of president private hospital will have a huge impact on my family & our neighbours
* there is the street parking, we are a household of 4 cars which at times we struggle to find parking in our small & narrow street not to mention if you add construction workers & then on completion staff, patients & visitors will do
*an increase in traffic in our small streets creates a safety risk for local residents and children, many of whom would be walking to local schools in the area
*not to mention the already existing traffic congestion that builds up on Hotham Rd & how many near misses there are when trying to exit from Bidurgal Ave onto Hotham Rd
*emergence service vehicles may not fit between parked cars which would create a huge safety risk
*major increase in ongoing noise & air pollution during the lengthy building process
*no more privacy for us & for those in the immediate area as users of the hospital will see directly into our yards & homes
* there is the potential for unsettling of building foundations whilst a major construction is underway & ultimately devaluing our home & others in our neighborhood
This major redevelopment in our quiet residential street remained undisclosed until recently & even then I don’t feel like adequate time was given for those to have their say. It came during Christmas holiday period where many would be away or preoccupied.

Dear Mr Stokes,

I'm writing this letter to express my concern about the development proposal for the renovation of Sutherland Private Hospital - application No SSD-10320 at address 369-381 President Avenue Kirrawee.
According the proposal the hospital will be significantly extended. This extension will create several problems for local community and for the Shire. Firstly, under this proposal the development company is going to demolish Hotham House which is one of the rare heritage buildings of our Shire. Secondly, this development plan will create huge parking and traffic problems because the extension of the number of parking spots does not correspond to the extended number of beds. People will park their cars in our front yards! Also, as we all know, a traffic problem will become a safety problem. Increasing the traffic in low density population area with already narrow and congested streets will only increase the risk for local people and especially children. I have two daughters who use Hotham road every day when they go to their schools from my house and it is already risky to cross it. Needless to say, that increased traffic will bring more noise and pollution.
I'm asking you that you reject this proposal as unsuitable for this area and ask the developer company to redesign this project in a more suitable manner for this area without demolishing our heritage and increasing risk for the local residents.

Thank you in advance,
Ivan

Please find attached my submission of objection to Application SSD10320 - President Private Hospital

Hi
As you are aware, the proposed President Private Hospital development is going through Planning Industry & Environment.
In the proposed plans, it has been noted that the Historical House on 65 Hotham Road, Gymea is going to be demolished !
I am urging you not to destroy this historical house that is one of the Shire's last Federation homes that has been preserved for many years to make way for the Hospital carpark which will impact the entire surrounding areas and community.
With the development underway all this will be destroyed.
Justification for choosing the most beautiful building
for a better car park at the cost of removing a historic building can in no way be seen to increase the significance of this area.
Furthermore, there is a clear negative impact in terms of residents.
This has been for the last 28 years since my family and I have lived here is safe and family based community!
We can not park our private vehicles safely on the street, as it is so narrow when you have cars parked across from each other; imagine how dreadful and dangerous it will be if such a huge development is approved.
The impact will be devastating!
Please reconsider your decision and say NO to destroying our community.
Thank you for your time.
Mary Evangelou
(Resident of 1 Bidurgal Avenue, Kirrawee)

Hi,
I have been a resident in Sutherland shire for 30 years. In particularly I live in Kirrawee, and I venture daily between gymea and Miranda . This community has always been a safe, quiet and friendly area. I go for morning runs and take my nephews and nieces for bike rides in this area. I was absolutely devastated when I heard of the proposed development of president private hospital and the demolition of our historical and our last federation house with architecture from world war 1.
This development can’t not and will not go through!
The people in this community haven’t been entirely aware of such a development. The impact of the development will impact all residents as well as our emotional well-being with many residents already anxious with such a development being proposed. I urge you to reconsider and stop such a project from commencing. Already resident have started a petition and we will not give up on our historical house or our quiet community. The construction has been approximately estimated till 2024. Are you aware of the impact that will have on each house hold and it’s residents?
I understand the project which is being proposed is to benefit others however there is a hospital only 3.8 km away and there are many services in the shire which offer mental health support such as headspace at Miranda and beyond blue which anyone can call and seek support.
As you can see I hold my view very strong I will continue to say NO to this project!
Regards,
Elizabeth resident of bidurgal avenue

Please find attached Agency response from Heritage NSW

As a resident in Bidurgal Avenue, the "alterations" of President Private Hospital will have a significant impact on us personally.
* With the hospital increasing to 3 stories, hospital patients, visitors and staff would directly look into our backyard, invading our privacy.
*Currently our road is already very narrow due to staff parking in the street. This will only increase with a larger hospital, allowing residents less street parking than what already exists.
* Emergency vehicles will not be able to access the hospital, via Bidurgal Avenue, due to the narrow nature of the road, cars etc. This will become a safety issue.
*President avenue, is already grid locked during peak times, and often throughout the day. With the proposed development, you would not be able to exit onto president avenue at all. This is also a regular spot that has frequent accidents, increasing fatalities and generating more gridlock on our already highly used roads, that have not kept up with the current infrastructure.
* Major increase in ongoing noise and air pollution during the lengthy building process. Increases in the amount of cars, delivery trucks, engines starting at all hours, plus again increased traffic flow, in an already busy street.
* Elderly residents within the street, will not be able to have outside assistance, due to lack of parking and ability for those to assist without parking a fair distance away - which many services would not do.
* The numerous young children in the street, will no longer be able to play safely with the increased traffic and speeding cars increasing the risk of an accident.
* Potentially unsettling the foundations of my home, whilst devaluing the property that we have owned for 19 years.
* When we bought our house 19 years ago, the council assured us that the Hospital would not be EVER allowed to go above the height they are now. This would be a violation that the Sutherland Shire Council made, when we purchased our home.
* As a homeowner, residing directly behind the hospital, this would have a personal impact on the lifestyle that our children have grown up in. Our children would personally feel uncomfortable swimming in the pool, with visitors etc, being able to see everything that they are doing, which is a massive invasion of privacy.
* These additions to the hospital are not required in this residential area, that will see significant impacts on many residents. The other hospitals within the shire are not located in a highly residential area. Sutherland Hospital, is still undergoing renovations. Patients should be heading to the other hospitals within our area, as there are plenty to choose from.
* Personally this would have a diverse impact on the neighbourhood in which we have resided for the past 19 years. Negatively impacting our environment and impacting on our family home and lifestyle.
I would like you to take these points into consideration, and think if this was your home and street, would you like the impact that this would have on not only you and your family, but other residents of the Sutherland Shire. There would be no actual benefit to the Sutherland Shire if these alternations go ahead.

Increased traffic after completion with the intersection of Hotham road and president ave already at capacity.
Unsuitable location for such a large operation .
Noise hinder after completion - ambulance , medical staff getting in and out of cars before and after night shift.
No more street parking .
Safety concerns around mental health unit .
The need to demolish a heritage listed building as part of project .
Change of landscape by an uncharacteristic building in area.
Noise hinder during construction.
Heavy vehicle traffic during construction in a residential area that can’t handle this kind of traffic .
Unwelcome encroachment into our area is proposing to knock down two existing homes no 2 and no Bidurgal ave as part of development .
Sutherland shire Council has already declined the application proposal twice , why are local residents and the council being ignored . It is clearly obvious that such a significant business operation needs to be built somewhere more appropriate.
Our local area and streets are simply NOT STRUCTURED TO ACCOMMODATE such a MASSIVE BUSINESS OPERATION and will not likely sustain the impact .

To whom it may concern, I live in a property, which I own, just 300m from the proposed extensions to President Private Hospital. I am appalled that such a major addition to this Hospital is happening when the surrounding streets are VERY narrow. As I drive down Bidurgal Ave each day and turn right from Hotham Rd into President Ave that process is already fraught with risk as to the volume of current car traffic on Hotham Rd let alone the challenges associated with safely turning right from Hotham Rd into President Ave. In addition there are very few on-street parking places already available and from my experience of visiting other Hospitals in the Shire and beyond, local non Hospital site parking is all but impossible. Our small streets of Badto, Bidurgal and Balgang will be gridlocked. I strongly object to the location of this major hospital re-development. That its additional services are necessary is not in question, just the location of the hospital itself.
Kind regards, Paul

I live in the immediate area where this project is being proposed. Here are my main points of object:
- This is an unsuitable location for such a large project - both during the construction and once the project is operational
- This project will significantly change the landscape and livability of the residential neighbour around the proposed project
- The construction phase of the project will create significant dust pollution, unsafe traffic conditions, and an overall upheaval on our neighbourhood
- There has been insufficient detail and commitment in the plans around the working hours during the construction
- Significant noise will be created during the significant excavation works that will need to be undertaken during construction
- General operations after the project is completed will also generate significant noise - ambulances, medical staff, patients, etc.
- There will be heavy vehicle traffic during construction in a residential area that has not been designed for such traffic. There has already been a significant increase in traffic from other large projects around this area that has adversely affected the safety of the residents as they walk and drive around the area.
- The main intersection of Hotham Road and President Avenue is already over capacity and further traffic volume increases during project construction and after project completion will only further the current problem.
- There will be insufficient on-site parking for construction workers during construction of the project resulting in further congestion and safety issues for residents of surrounding neighbourhoods. Specifically, this will jeopardise essential services for the area including garbage trucks, trades/services providers, fire trucks, ambulances, etc. We have already had to require signage to prevent parking on certain streets during garbage collection periods. This problem will only get worse.
- On-site parking after project completion is grossly inadequate. The two proposed underground car parks will not be enough to support the users of the facility and it has been allocated as "Pay for Parking". This will result in users parking on residential streets in and around the facility clogging our streets and once again jeopardising the ability for essential services to service the area. This is especially problematic for my street as it is a cul-de-sac with only one way in and out of the area.
- The project also calls for a heritage building of the Sutherland Shire (Hotham House) to be demolished as part of the development. The NSW State Government approved it for Heritage Listing in April 2020 after a public outcry. It appears that our legitimate concerns as a Sutherland Shire community are once again being ignored.
- In general this project --
- Acts against the legitimate concerns of local Sutherland Shire Residents (as the Sutherland Shire council has already declined the application proposal twice)
- Increases the safety risks of living and traveling through our neighbourhoods
- Will result in the significant reduction of already reduced parking options
- Jeopardises resident access to essential Services
- Compromises privacy and personal Safety for residents
- Results in an unwelcome increase in noise and traffic on all surrounding streets.
- Results in the demolishing of a significant piece of Sutherland Shire heritage

I wish to register that I am AGAINST the proposed President private Hospital Development as detailed within Application number SSD 10320. I place on record I am not against progress although when considering the application there are issues that prohibit me as a local resident, owner / occupier, from supporting the development. I reside and have done for 43 years within a close by key hole cut de sac to President hospital, parking within this street is difficult at the best of times, with the proposed development, construction workers, then staff, visitors and professionals will avoid the paid parking in the hospital and block streets that are nearby, just like happens at Kareena Hospital, Caringbah, I doubt that emergency service vehicle's could enter and turn in our street should such be crowed with additional parkers, a safety concern for residents and families. The volume of traffic upon President Ave particularly at peak times is now at a level where that Ave is gridlocked, additional vehicular traffic will only make it worse and the safety of pedestrians using this area will be endangered. In our Street resident children enjoy the opportunity to use the street for play and socialising this will disappear should the development proceed.
Whilst I am far enough away from the development not to be viewed from the development within my home I feel the additional vehicular , people movement in my area causes me concern about privacy and personal safety, I am in my twilight years and believe should this development proceed my personal freedom and well being will be compromised.
Our Area in the main is peaceful and we enjoy comfort and privacy, I strongly believe should this proceed that peace, privacy and comfort will be diminished.
The streets surrounding this development are not designed to cater for additional movement of traffic, parking and pedestrian movement without safety being compromised, proposed access to the hospital from both President Ave and Hotham Rd demonstrate that the developers anticipate increased movement of vehicles, and pedestrians.
Hotham House upon Hotham Road was approved by the N S W State Government for Heritage Listing, it is my understanding that plans are underway to demolish that heritage home, it is clear community support for the retention of this part of our history is high, progress is welcome although not at the expense of the loss of our history,
It is clear that the community has lived with President Private Hospital in its present state and size for many years and as such as a community and individual I cannot see why we cannot continue to live with a hospital the same size and service delivery style many years into the future, re-build certainly although not to the size detailed in the application.
To allow this application to proceed goes against the wishes of the Sutherland Shire Council, the vast majority of residents surrounding the proposed development, the public who pass through this area when accessing services and facilities in the surrounding area, rebuild the hospital but allow those that will be impacted upon the right to live in peace, comfort, privacy and safety by restricting the development to a size and structure that suits the environment and residents who have embraced and supported the present, President Private Hospital and will continue to do so only if our concerns are noted and addressed to our satisfaction.
Progress is supported but not to the detriment of the community.

Hi there,
As a new home owner within Bidugral Avenue, Kirrrawee, i object to the scale of this project moving forward. We purchased this property due to its peaceful, safe residential nature and we feel this street and adjoining streets will be significantly compromised with the approval of this project. Not only does the current proposal significantly disregard height limits in residential areas, impacting privacy and devaluing properties within the street, it also encroaches heavily on adjoining streets with the demolishing of two properties within Bidurgal avenue. There are plenty of sites within the Sutherland shire where this would be better suited, this is not one of them.

We as residents of this area have concerns with the following:

Street parking in Bidugral Avenue and adjacent streets is already challenging and narrow: The streets are already narrow and overcrowded, if this submission goes ahead in its current form, we will need to cater for construction workers, staff, visitors etc. This will not be possible and will not only create a significant safety risk for people who live in the street, but also makes it very challenging for other services and residents to enter the street.

Intersection at president avenue already extremely busy: The Hotham road/north west arm road and president ave intersection is already treacherous. We already see a number of motor vehicle accidents within this intersection, again this will just overcrowd the area, creating more risk to safety. Proposed entry and exit points on both Hotham Road and President private are too close to this already dangerous intersection.

Encroachment in Bidurgal Avenue (residential street): The proposal is not only disregarding height restrictions, but is planning to knock down two properties in Bidugral Avenue. This is a residential street! This will significantly impact privacy and safety of the people that call this street their home and goes against zoning rulings that we have in place within the Sutherland Shire Council. We purchased property in this street due to his quiet, safe nature. This will be seriously compromised and puts at risk our properties being de-valued as a result.

Hotham House: This is again on the agenda to be demolished. Why have these ruling in place for the safe guarding of residential history if this can easily be overruled. Very disappointing.

We/I as a local resident, fully support ongoing growth and development of the sutherland shire to create a better community for tomorrow. However this pocket of the sutherland shire is simply NOT the area for this sort of construction. This is by no means an 'alteration' of an existing site, this is a completion demolition and largely a new build. This is appears to be a bending of the rules for the zoning of this area, which is extremely disappointing.

I hope you take all of the above into consideration as you work through.

Thanks,

I most strongly object to the demolition of Hotham House for a myriad of reasons, as follows
*The heritage listing of this beautiful house should not be overruled by another committee who are not represented by the local residents
*The impact on the surrounding streets will be intolerable for all concerned in relation to parking, privacy and security of personal property
*The reason for the granting of the demolition is questionable as the local area is serviced by a very large hospital and this private hospital is not accessible by the average local residents for any emergency situation
* government in recent times have approved multiple large residential buildings in the surrounding area but the current transport infrastructure has not been improved to accommodate the increase in population growth therefore another project that increases traffic and congestion should be revised. So then including the Hotham house as part of a smaller development would be acceptable
*Personally I have happy and fond memories of this house and farmland that used to be here in the 1960’s. As a place of beautiful and peaceful times in the past is now a sad sea of concrete. The demolition of the house, the last remaining memory, will be a terrible thing for the history of the area and us the people who want it to retained
Pease please please rethink this project and stop the demolition of a local and national gem
Thank you Tim