Redevelopment of President Private Hospital

Submission Objecting to President Private Hospital redevelopment.

My wife and I wish to STRONGLY object to this proposal for the reasons detailed below. We both objected to the previous application which was refused by Sutherland Shire Council and are concerned that the people who objected to that application were not notified of the current proposal.

The Grounds of our objection are:

(1) Heritage: Hotham House was built in 1912 and the ballroom added in 2013. The Shire has very few remaining early buildings and the loss of 1 especially one as substantial and with such a history as Hotham House is significant. Once a heritage building is gone it is gone for ever. The Hospital has not tried to design a new hospital that could preserve the House. The building could be used for Hospital Administration with minimal need for alterations. Alternative BCA solutions are often used for Heritage buildings to minimise works that impact on Heritage features.

(2) Parking : The 158 spaces proposed are insufficient for a 182 bed facility. When I have had family members in hospital I have observed that there are usually 50% or more patients with visitors at peak visiting times (i.e 91or more spaces required 4 to 8pm weekdays just for visitors). The staff parking numbers do not address that at shift change over times both shifts are present at the same time so there is potentially up to 150 staff spaces needed at shift change times. Some of the A.M staff are administrative staff that are on site till 5 pm or later and overlap with visiting times. The walking route to the station is very dark at night and shift workers are unlikely to use it but instead will drive. On page 89 of the EIS it says peak hour traffic has not been estimated yet surely this one of the first things they should have addressed

(3) Is parking to be Paid parking? The documents do not indicate whether it is or not. However other local hospitals have introduced paid parking and discourage staff other than doctors from parking onsite. As a result near Sutherland Hospital and Kareena Private Hospital surrounding residential streets are congested with staff and visitor parking for up to 800 m from the hospitals.

(4) President Ave access: Despite the EIS saying vehicular access from President Ave is not advisable there is access to the main parking from President Ave. Construction of a median to stop vehicles entering or leaving the site by right turns is not proposed. I regularly drive along President Ave and on numerous occasions I have observed vehicles obstruct traffic travelling west along President Ave by stopping in the right hand lane waiting for a gap in traffic so they can enter the site. With that entry going from accessing 20 odd spaces to potentially 158 this problem is going to worsen. This is also where there was a creek historically and there is a large underground pipe that feeds into Dents Creek so there is potentially for that area to be flood affected from overland flow.

(5) Hotham Rd Access: The spot chosen for access off Hotham Rd is where the grade from the street to the site is steepest and is going to need major changes to the footpath and adjacent land and this may impact on the roots of the existing large pine. Also it will probably require the relocation of a high voltage power pole which may not be feasible.

(6) Landscaped Area in R2 zone. I could not find an indication of whether the proposal complies with the 35% landscaped area development standard applying to the R2 part of the site but it appears to be well under. No Clause 4.6 submission was in the documentation submitted.

(7) Landscaping Plan : the submitted plan is not for this proposal

(8) Loss of 27 trees : this on top of a number of trees removed by the hospital in the last 10 years or so leaves the site very barren and detracts from the green character of the area.

Please find my submission attached as Submission-by-Colin-RYAN.pdf.

I am a resident of Gorada Avenue, which is directly opposite President Private Hospital, across President Avenue. I was concerned to read of the scale of the proposed development and expansion of the hospital due to the impact on local residents.

Firstly, the number of cars that park on street in Gorada Avenue is already problematic. There are a large number of cars that park on the street, both residents and a number that I can only assume are connected to the hospital. The street is narrow and as a result of the parked cars, to pass any other vehicle you currently must pull over into gaps to let the other pass. This happens regularly. Any additional volume of cars parking on our street would result in it being almost impossible to drive in or out of our street. We are a street and local community with a lot of children who ride bikes and play in the cul-de-sac. I am also concerned about any increased traffic in our street from a safety perspective.

Secondly, the intersection of North West Arm Road and President Avenue already struggles with the volume of traffic, specifically when turning onto President Avenue or right into North West Arm road from President Avenue. Increased traffic at this intersection would have a significant impact on traffic flow and safety for local residents. This is also a busy pedestrian intersection and the pathway for local residents walk to two local primary schools – Kirrawee Public and St Catherine’s.

I oppose the scale of the redevelopment for the above reasons.

See attached file

Please find attached EES response

Covering letter and submission attached objecting to the demolition of a heritage listed item on the subject site

Hotham House has been an important part of Gymea’s history for more than a century. Sutherland Shire Historical Society strenuously objects to the plan of its owner Macquarie Health Corporation, a private health organisation, to demolish this iconic structure.
Over the years it has had a number of uses and still remains in sound condition. It is a landmark that Sutherland Shire Historical Society and many other local residents do not want to see destroyed. This fine representative example of a Federation-style residence is a significant link to Sutherland Shire history as it was the centre of a large poultry farming enterprise when this was the main primary industry in the district. It was also an important social centre for local people in what was then an isolated area.

In April last year, with the endorsement of the NSW Government, Sutherland Shire Council included Hotham House on its heritage schedule. This intact example of a pre-World War I residence is unique in Gymea and should not be demolished. In contrast, Hurstville Private Hospital has successfully incorporated historic Louden House, known as Meryal, into its site. Why can’t this be done in Gymea? We want to see the few scarce reminders of Shire history and heritage retained for future generations.

A rarity in Gymea, Hotham House demonstrates a number of NSW historic themes as detailed in Jennifer Hill’s assessment (for Architectural Projects) and more recently in local resident Kim Hatherly’s submission to this inquiry. Ms Hatherly’s extensive research into the history of Gymea in preparation for her forthcoming history of the suburb is thorough; it sets a high bar for local history. This submission does not attempt to restate the comprehensive work done by these two practitioners.

Both agriculture and industry themes are evidenced in the history of Hotham House. This residence was not only the centre of a large poultry farm, but because of the scale and innovation of its operation it assumed the semblance of an industrial undertaking. As Kim Hatherly comments, GBA Heritage’s assertion that technological advances made in poultry farming did not occur in the house itself is a ‘semantic exercise’. It is also a nonsensical argument. Do these consultants really expect to find a sophisticated poultry business operating out of a residence rather than from adjoining farmland?

The theme of commerce, in both its positive and undesirable iterations, is demonstrated in the history of Hotham House. In the 1920s Starr-Bowkett Society draws were held in the ballroom, as the owner Albert Tildesley was secretary of the innovative Balmain and Rozelle Starr-Bowkett Building Society. Society members entered a draw for a loan – rather than submitting an application – an important innovation for those unable to qualify for bank loans to start a business or for a house purchase. Unfortunately, in 1927 Tildesley’s career with this organisation came to a sudden end after his misappropriation of funds was discovered.

The themes of leisure and social institutions are demonstrated in the way in which the Hotham House ballroom served as an important social centre in the interwar years for an area where the nearest school of arts was either at Cronulla or Sutherland.

The theme relating to the development of towns, villages and suburbs, especially the outer suburbs, is relevant to the history of Hotham House. As Sydney suburbs – many with an extensive tram network – expanded in the 20th century, rural enterprises serving the city markets moved further out. Between the Cooks and Georges River the St George district, although known as ‘the salad bowl of Sydney’ in the late 19th century, was rapidly becoming suburbanised and as a result many rural industries moved further out to Sutherland Shire.
While Hotham House began life as a homestead for a poultry farm, in the post-World War II years it was a suburban residence at a time when the population of Sutherland Shire skyrocketed. The trend to move to the outer suburbs was led by young families attracted to the prospect of cheap land. This part of Gymea was particularly attractive for its proximity to the Sutherland-Cronulla railway line which opened in 1939. Commuting into the city for work was now feasible.
(References: Beverley Earnshaw, The Land Between Two Rivers. The St George District in Federation times, Kogarah Historical Society, Sydney, 2001, p. 17 & Pauline Curby, Independent Minds, a history of St George Girls High School, UNSW Press, Sydney, 2016, p. 27)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Uninformed commentators have sometimes suggested that Sutherland Shire has little history of interest. It was thought that the dearth of early 19th century sandstone constructions and the lack of evidence of a convict presence indicated a ‘new’ area devoid of ‘real ‘history (which of course ignores the Dharawal people who have had a vibrant presence in the area for thousands of years, and many of whom still keep a connection to the area).

While European settlement did occur in this district much later than, for example Ryde or Randwick, there are significant historical reasons for this. The Georges River was a barrier to movement from Sydney and early white settlers, intent on finding fertile land for growing food, bypassed the mostly uninviting soil of what is now Sutherland Shire. Port Hacking was dismissed as ‘too shoal’, to quote Mathew Flinders, and was considered to lack potential as a port facility. Another significant barrier to settlement was the land monopoly of the Holt-Sutherland Estate which encouraged leaseholds but was an impediment to freehold purchase of land. In addition, despite the popularity of its beaches and glorious waterways from the early 20th century to the present, these assets held little interest for people, many of whom were unable to swim and who, unlike Pacific Islanders, lacked a tradition of either body surfing or board riding.

These are just some of the reasons that the Sutherland district did not attract Sydneysiders in any great numbers for a century after white settlement. Therefore, many local heritage items are 20th century structures which are integral to Shire history. For example, the heritage houses at 26 Castlewood Avenue and 79 Woolooware Road South, Woolooware, described as ‘fine examples of the California Bungalow style’, are part of this pattern.

Other heritage listed buildings/sites include this eclectic selection:

• Yowie Bay boatshed, a ‘landmark along the waterfront ‘and a ‘rare example of pre-20th century construction’ is ‘representative of commercial boatshed typology’.

• Monro Park, Cronulla provides evidence of ‘interwar civic beautification works’, as well as being the site of early education in the Sutherland Shire. In addition, the war memorial in the park ‘commemorates members of the community associated with WWI and WWII’.

• Brinsley's Joinery Works provides evidence of important early commercial activities in Sutherland Shire. The building has ‘the potential to yield information about the practice of joinery workshops … and is a rare example of an early 20th century joinery workshop, an important typology in the state’.

• Cronulla School of Arts demonstrates the development of community life in Sutherland Shire in the early 20th century. The building is ‘a rare example of important typology in the area as the Federation School of Arts’.

(See https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/search-for-heritage/search-for-nsw-heritage/)

As with these listed items, Hotham House is an integral part of the pattern of 20th century development in Sutherland Shire, as a site of agricultural and commercial enterprise, social interaction and later a suburban residence.

I feel very sad at the thought of Hotham House being lost to the Sutherland Shire. I moved to Gymea in 1965 as a 10 year old, living on the Kingsway end of Hotham road until my marriage. When my daughter started pre-school in 1984 she became friends with the daughter of the family who lived in Hotham House, so I saw how lovely it still was. In 2000 I began a BA as a mature aged student at Sydney University; one of my three majors was History. I researched and wrote a number of essays relating to the Shire, which can be found in the Local Studies Department of Sutherland Library. Our Shire is sadly lacking in historical places relating to colonialisation, we have amazing Indigenous sites which are cared for and promoted. We have a tiny remnant of Turpentine Forest on the corner of Oak road and President Avenue. We have very few homes of the age of Hotham House. I feel strongly that the development could incorporate the building as it is, building around it for the future needs of the Hospital. Just as Green Park Hotel at Paddington will become part of St Vincents Hospital mental health unit so could Hotham House be a warm and welcoming place for those in need of care and support with their mental health issues. Appendix 14 queries the significance of the home's Heritage value "The description of a “large, individually designed Inter-War brick house” and a “representative example of an Inter-War architectural style” could apply to hundreds of thousands of houses in any of the older suburbs in Sydney. " Yes, it could and does apply to those other houses, in older suburbs. Despite being the 'birthplace of Australia' there are not hundreds of thousands of inter-war homes in the Sutherland Shire. In 1939 the population of the Shire was just under 20,000, which is why the few examples of inter-war house construction is important to keep and maintain. I am not part of any local group, I just care strongly about the area in which I live, where I've raised two children, who still live here (after forays to the inner city) and where my grandchildren are learning to love 'The Shire'.

See attached letter

See attached letter

Heather Vincin
1 Badto Avenue
Gymea NSW 2227
RE: Alterations and Additions to President Private Hospital Kirrawee (SSD-10320)
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you to object to the submission listed above. I am raising this objection for the following reasons:
1. Footpath access from Badto Avenue to Hotham Road.
Badto Avenue has a pedestrian walkway leading to Gymea Bay Road, which is currently utilised by not only residents of Badto Avenue and the surrounding streets, but also current employees of President Private Hospital. The walkway sees families pushing prams, families with little children, children riding their bikes, people walking their dogs, the elderly walking up to do their shopping and people walking to and from the train station. The walkway that leads onto Badto Avenue does not lead to a footpath. This sees pedestrians walk in the middle of Badto Avenue. Badto Avenue is a busy and narrow avenue and currently poses a risk to pedestrian traffic. If this proposal is to go ahead, it will see not only an increase in vehicle traffic but pedestrian traffic, which will see pedestrians having to walk in the middle of the road with the high possibility of an accident occurring.
Pedestrians also currently cross at the intersection of Badto Avenue and Hotham road to proceed to Clements Parade. This is already fraught with danger. With this proposal there will not only be an increase in pedestrians and traffic at this intersection, but an increase risk in a pedestrian/vehicle accident.
2. Street Parking
As previously mentioned Badto Avenue is narrow, when cars are parked on either side of the avenue, it becomes even narrower and down to a one-way road. Large vehicles struggle entering and exiting without causing damage to parked cars. This poses a risk to the residents of Badto Avenue in the event of a medical emergency or fire. Currently President Private Employees and visitors park in Badto Avenue. If the proposal is to go ahead it will see an increase in staff and visitors parking in our Avenue.
3. Traffic Increase
There has been a notable increase in traffic utilising President Avenue, Hotham Road and Clements Parade due to the surrounding increase in infrastructure in the Gymea and Kirrawee area. By going ahead with this proposal we will see a further increase in traffic due to the proposed 700 employees of President Private Hospital and the visitors of a possible 182 patients. It is currently difficult enough entering and exiting Badto Avenue due to the increase in traffic as well as poor vision of oncoming traffic from President Avenue due to vehicles parking on Hotham Road. With this proposal it will make it even more hazardous trying to exit either left or right onto Hotham Road due to a further increase of traffic.
There are already traffic risks at the intersection of President Avenue/North West Arm Road/Hotham Road, which sees multiple crashes annually. If this proposal is to go ahead, there will be an increase in traffic utilising this intersection, which will result in an increase in accidents.
I have also witnessed delivery vans trying to enter into President Private Hospital, being unable to enter the current driveway on Hotham Road and causing a road blockage at the intersection. With the proposed increase in hospital beds, one would assume there will be an increase in hospital deliveries and an increase in traffic congestion.
If this proposal does succeed, the surrounding areas will see an increase in trades vehicle and trucks utilising our streets. This will cause congestion, major delays, parking issues, an increase in noise from demolition and construction, pollution from demolition and construction and road blockages to name a few. The proposed location is not suitable to handle this level of construction and traffic.
4. Parking
As mentioned above there is limited parking on Badto Avenue and Hotham Road, however what street parking spaces available are always utilised. The proposal has stated that there will be an increase from 45 beds to 110 surgical, medical and rehabilitation beds as well as 72 mental health beds, a total of 182 beds. To accommodate this increase it is proposed that there will be 700 employees at President Private Hospital. Although 700 employees will not be at President Private Hospital at one time, one would assume to operate a hospital effectively that there will be approximately 350 employee’s onsite during the day. The proposal has stated that there will be a two basement car park, however it doesn’t state whether it is a combine staff and visitor parking lot, time-limited parking lot or paid parking lot. If the hospital is at full capacity, one would assume that there could be the possibility of at least 182 visitors visiting patients on a daily basis. Therefore to reduce parking congestion around the surrounding areas the two basement car parks will need to accommodate this. The architectural drawings Part A state that there is 161 proposed parking spots (146 standard spots, 12 accessible spots and 3 drop-off spots). This seems like an inadequate number of parking spots for a hospital with 182 beds and potentially 350 staff members on at one time.
5. Location of Mental Health Facility
The proposal is for a 72 bed mental health facility. There a many different categories of mental health patients. Some which pose a risk to not only themselves, but to others. The proposal doesn’t state the category of mental health patients being treated at the facility. If the potential patients pose a risk to themselves, my concern is that the facility is on two busy roads (President Avenue and Hotham Road). If a patient absconds from the facility due to poor mental health they will exit directly onto Hotham Road and/or President Avenue. This could see a potential accident. My other concern is if a patient does abscond onto Hotham Road it leads onto a busy train line at the end, with a scalable fence. This train line (T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line) can see up to 14 trains per hour. The last thing, we as a community need to see is a fatality near our homes due to a patient absconding.
In the event a patient does self-harm, will President Private Hospital treat these patients on-site or will they be transported to either Sutherland Hospital or St George Hospital? Due to the traffic congestion it could impede on emergency vehicles accessing the facility and/or area of an incident which could then delay in timely treatment given to a patient.
The area surrounding President Private Hospital is densely populated. Our community consists of a diverse age range of residents, from the young to the elderly and vulnerable. Our community sees families play in their front yards, ride their bikes, elderly living alone and feeling safe etc with minimal risks posed from people. With this proposal we will see a possible risk of mental health patients wandering our community posing a threat to all. The proposal does not state whether it is a secure facility, deterring patients from absconding and causing harm. It also does not state whether the patients are high or low risk and whether they will be granted day release, as many Mental Health Facilities allow.
6. Hotham House
Hotham house was heritage listed in April 2020. However, if this proposal goes ahead it will see it being knocked down to make way for a larger facility. Hotham House was once upon a time a well preserved Federation house, however Macquarie Health are currently deliberately neglecting maintaining Hotham House so that the only option is for them to knock it down. If Macquarie Health succeeds at this proposal the Sutherland Shire will lose one of its remaining link to its rural history.
7. Patient Care
I was a patient of President Private Hospital twice in 2020. Both admissions were during the Covid-19 pandemic. My first admission I had no concern in the operation of President Private Hospital. On my second admission, I noticed a rapid decline in patient care and safety. I was later informed that the Hospital was operating in a pandemic without vital medical personnel such as infection control, Quality Manager, educators, human resource department, Work Health and Safety personnel, administration manager and dietician to name a few. I am concern that President Private Hospital cannot operate 110 surgical and medical bed and 72 mental health bed hospital effectively and safely with patient safety and care at the forefront if they cannot operate a 45 bed hospital as per hospital accreditation standards.
8. Previous Applications
This current development proposal has already been declined twice by the Sutherland Shire Council. This raised many concerns with the residents, as the Council has deemed the proposal unsuitable for the location. The name of the Application is “Alterations and Additions to President Private Hospital”, however it appears from published documents on the planningportal.nsw.gov.au website that it is an actual demolition of the existing site and a rebuild of a facility (see appendix 11 traffic report 1). There is also discrepancies noted in the supporting documents found on the planningportal.nsw.gov.au website (Appendix 11, Traffic report 1) and the letter sent to residents. The published document states that there is to be a four level basement car parking area, however the letter states that it is a two level basement car park. This discrepancy does not give confidence in the proposal, as it appears just by one document that there are changes in the design of the facility that the resident have not been informed about adequately.
From the points I have listed above I implore you to consider the proposal by Macquarie Health as the risks outnumber the benefits.
Kind Regards,
Heather Vincin

There are very few heritage houses in the Shire, it seems ridiculous to destroy one when with a little extra planing the hospital could be expanded by going up or building over the existing carpark space.

Any proposal to the hospital should aim to conserve Hotham House for future generations. The building is a rare example of Federation style for this area. Its importance cannot be underestimated for the history of the Sutherland Shire. There is a scarcity of quality heritage buildings compared to other areas of Sydney. Therefore I trust you will do all in your powers to ensure that this rare example - a jewel in sea of mundane suburbia - will be retained.

SSC has already delicined this application twice. This application acts against local Shire residents requests. NSW State Govt approved Hotham House as heritage protected in April 2020. This proposal is located on an already treacherous intersection. This intersection will become worse during development for a long period of time. Once completed, there will be an increased traffic load with insufficient street parking. This proposal will mean a greater demand on already insufficient street in neighbouring streets. Motorists are currently unable to pass two vehicles along side of each other in Bidurgal Avenue, with resident parking only. This will in-turn jeopardise essential services in the area. Privacy will become an issue for any homes in the Bidurgal, Avery Ave, Hotham Road and surrounding streets. Local resident privacy will be impacted by hospital residents and staff. This development will lead to a huge increase in noise and traffic. The intended residents of the proposed Mental Health Unit raise concerns about unstable and dangerous people wandering in the area. This has always been and continues to be an issue at Sutherland Hospital. It has not been disclosed if the proposed Mental Health Unit will be a secured unit, guarded or intended for use as a 'scheduling' unit by Police.

we object to the project and refer you to our attached letter.
we request that our personal details be withheld.

SUBMISSION AGAINST PROPOSED PRESIDENT PRIVATE HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT
Corner of President Avenue and Hotham Road, Kirawee, 2232 (Sutherland Shire)

Healthcare facilities are of great benefit and importance to any community. I agree such facilities are needed in the Shire, especially mental health facilities.

However, I am greatly concerned about the adverse impact the proposed expansion of the current hospital/mental health facilities is likely to have on the area surrounding the development. My concerns include:

- The demolishment of the heritage-protected 1912 Federation Hotham House (I so enjoy the visual impact of the building)

- Major safety risks at the already busy intersection of Hotham Road, President Avenue and Great North Arm Road, including the potential danger resulting from the entrances and exits to the hospital complex being in such close proximity to the intersection

- The likelihood of a massive increase of through-traffic using the two-lane Bath Road overpass across the railway line. There is already traffic build up at the intersection of Bath Road and Clements Parade

- The increase in traffic and the decrease in parking availability inconveniencing those living nearby or accessing the 734 apartment block and the two shopping centres in Flora Street (one currently under construction)

- The increase in traffic and the decrease in parking availability for the school pick up that occurs in Clements Parade and Bath Roads

- The reduction of street parking to possibly zero for residents in surrounding streets, both during construction and once the hospital is fully operational. Moreover, the surrounding and nearby streets are already narrow. If cars are parked on both sides of the road, the passage of essential services delivery (eg. garbage and fire trucks, trades and service providers) is likely to be impeded and potential traffic jams could be created as cars wait to be able to proceed past each other (as what currently happens in nearby Clements Parade)

- The privacy and safety of surrounding of residents being comprised, particularly as the buildings’ windows overlook directly into neighbouring properties.

- The overall increase in noise and traffic in what are already noisy and busy streets, including across the railway line into Clements Parade, Bath Road. Flora Street and Hotham Road

- The potential for increased multi-dwellings in the area further increasing traffic and reducing parking availability (such as has been approved for the ten-dwelling affordable housing block in Clements Parade which only has only two car spaces).

Given my concerns and those of others in the locality, it seems obvious to me that such a significant business operation needs to be built in a more appropriate locale, one where the roads and infrastructure can support the needs of such a development. Please note I have no objection to the design of the building, just its locality.

I thank you for your consideration of my concerns and urge you to reject the development proposal.

Yours sincerely
Josette Wunder

The proposed President Private Hospital Development application has already been declined by Sutherland Shire Council twice, for good reason! The area does not lend itself to a larger development, and the intersection the hospital sits on already poses a major safety risk. The proposed new entry point is at an incredibly dangerous point on Hotham Road with very low visibility. I know because I live directly across the road and have experienced and witnessed many near misses attempting to turn out of my drive way - almost daily. The proposed car park is strictly 'pay for parking' - which will only reduce street visibility with more cars parked on the road. Essential services in the area will be jeopardised with increased numbers of cars parked on both sides of the road - who do I lay blame on when an ambulance or fire truck cannot fit through the already narrow streets? This hospital was never built to be a large service - with another private and a public hospital only a short trip down the road in a more suitable location. This local street is simply not structured to accommodate such a massive business operation and it will come at an absolute detriment to the area.

Aside from being an unsuitable location and a safety risk for the community, I am disgusted at the disregard given to heritage listed Hotham House. What does this say about the process and importance of heritage listings - that it simply does not matter? It is important to me as a 29 year old, that my future family can benefit from the remaining history in the Sutherland Shire. The local community put such effort in to ensuring this became listed in 2020 - knocking this down would dishearten any further local community efforts!

I would urge you to recognise that such a significant business operation needs to be built somewhere more appropriate. Working in healthcare myself, I appreciate the need for access to hospital and healthcare facilities for the community - but this is not the place!

I am opposed to any alterations and additions to President Private Hospital that require demolition of 'Hotham House' or which do not respect its heritage values. 'Hotham House' is one of the oldest intact buildings in Gymea. While other suburbs might be rich in Federation-style architecture, Sutherland Shire has very few examples. It is intimately associated with the agricultural history of the suburb. It is well-preserved, has fine lead-light windows and is a local landmark. Once it is demolished, it is gone forever. It cannot be replaced. If this redevelopment is of such 'state significance' (like Crown Casino !), it begs the question why has the state government not already invested in equivalent state significant facilities at Sutherland Hospital? It is simply unacceptable to demolish a building that is of local historical significance and which Sutherland Shire Council has already determined complies with the criteria under the NSW Heritage Act for listing on the LEP as a heritage item. The minister should not override the community will.

We do not have an objection to the hospital upgrading, however the changes need to support and fit in with the local area. The current plans will cause undue stress on the area and need to be reconsidered.
1. Three stories is too high - Two stories would be a reasonable compromise as this is a residential area.
2. Privacy Windows - We would request that all windows along the North Side (Bidurgal Avenue) be privacy glass. Our residence is a corner block and the current plans will look straight into our backyard, we have teenage children and want them to feel secure hanging out in the back yard.
3. Traffic - since the South Village development completion, Hotham Road has become increasingly busier with the additional traffic caused by this shopping centre, now with Woolworths also in construction we would expect to see further increase along this route. The small train bridge from Avery Avenue to Clements Parade is continually backed up and entering onto Clements Parade is difficult. My children walk this way to High School and continually complain that it is getting hard to cross the road. There is also the Primary School on Clements Parade, this small road is becoming very unsafe with cars parked allowing only 1 way traffic, my concern is the with another development added to this area there is going to be an accident that could have been avoidable.
5. It should be specified that the 2 levels of parking be free for staff, patients and visitors (there could be a 2 hour limit on visitors). This will encourage people to use the underground parking.
4. It is a shame that Hotham House hasn't been factored into the plans (it would make a beautiful reception area), it is disappointing the hospital administration could not come up with a plan that incorporates our history. To date we have not seen evidence that the hospital administration cares about the community, it would be beneficial if they could be more considerate of the current surroundings.

Good afternoon,

Please find attached my submission against DPE Development Proposal SSD10320 - President Private Hospital Kirrawee NSW 2232, for your review and response.

I have been advised that this or a similar proposal has already been declined twice by Sutherland Shire Council and recall when the proposed demolition of Hotham House was vetoed approximately a year ago after significant public outcry, yet here we are again, with these non-community minded developers, who likely do not even live in our shire, persistent in their quest to decimate our heritage buildings and disrupt local Shire residents’ right to a tranquil lifestyle for their own gain.

Main points of objection:

• To demolish Hotham House would be to destroy one of the few historic buildings we have left in our beautiful shire. We cannot let this happen.
• To raise the initial level of buildings up to 3 storeys would not only be out of character for this quiet residential area but also a gross invasion upon local residents privacy. Multi – level buildings will impact significantly on the immediate area residents, particularly the elderly and single person households in relation to their ongoing mental health and physical safety. Shire residents have a right to a privacy on their own properties and living alongside a multi – level building of this nature would be like having a permanent drone hovering over your house, with strangers looking in your windows, front and backyard areas, 24/7. There does not appear to have been any consideration for the existing local residents health and safety in this area.
• In relation to further safety risks:
o the intersection of Hotham Road/ President Ave/Grays Point Road is already a dangerously busy intersection, particularly when turning right or left from Grays Point Road or Hotham Road into President Ave. in addition, attempting to enter Hotham Road from Bidurgal Avenue, in either direction, is dangerous given President Hospital Staff currently park along Hotham Road and in Bidurgal Ave, therefore visibility for residents entering Hotham Road from Bidurgal Ave is extremely limited. This can be frightening if you do not see vehicles coming until the last second, particularly from the direction of the President Hospital, where there has already been a number of near misses. These safety risks will no doubt escalate if this proposal is allowed to proceed.
o Bidurgal Ave is already becoming a traffic chicane given many households in the street have multiple vehicles, therefore with 10 times the amount of staff working at the hospital, it would become impossible for residents to park on the street given the hospital operates 24/7. This is without considering a lengthy period of construction where hundreds of workers/site visitors/staff would require parking. There has been no consideration for the existing Bidurgal Ave residents who may be chronically unwell or elderly in relation to where their service providers would park eg. lawn mower service, house cleaner, daily medical assistance/carer, ambulance or police, let alone visitor such as family and friends. Bidurgal Ave is too narrow and cannot sustain such an increase in traffic without consequences in relation to the safety of those currently using this area.

Hotham House needs to remain where it is as part of our proud Shire heritage and the residential area surrounding this proposed development is simply not structured to accommodate such an immense and ongoing business operation.
For the reasons stated above and as detailed in my below additional submission, I am asking you to do whatever is in your power to ensure that the proposed demolition and building proposal does not proceed.

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 60 years and this proposed development will intrude on the peace, tranquillity, 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 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 8, 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 its 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 strongly request that the proposal be declined.