Residential development with In-fill affordable housing - East Walker Street, North Sydney

I make the following points regarding to objection of the proposed development for 173-179 Walker Street, North Sydney.
a) I object to the applicant propose to build big buildings which will accommodate several hundred residents and many cars. The buildings will increase traffic noise and congestion on ou r Walker and other local streets.
b) I object to the applicant propose to create problems for entry and exit access to our Belvedere building because of increased peak traffic.
c) I object to the applicant propose to reduce solar sunlight.
d) I object to the applicant propose to completely block of our beautiful harbour views.
e) I object to the applicant propose to loss of my property values.
f) I object to the applicant propose will definitely cause shadowing seriously to my and many other units in our building and will block our morning sunshine.

I make the following points regarding to strong objection of the proposed development amendments for 173-179 Walker Street and 11-17 Hampton Street, North Sydney.
1) I object to the applicant proposing a design whereby the developer is attempting to build huge buildings which will accommodate several hundred residents and related cars. The excessively large buildings will increase traffic noise and congestion seriously on our Walker and other local streets.
2) I object to the applicant proposing a design whereby the developer is attempting to create problems for entry and exit access to our Belvedere building because of increased peak traffic.
3) I object to the applicant proposing a design whereby the developer is attempting to reduce solar sunlight.
4) I object to the applicant proposing a design whereby the developer is attempting to completely block of our beautiful harbour views.
5) I object to the applicant proposing a design whereby the developer is attempting to build buildings height that is incompatible with adjacent residential apartments.
6) I object to the applicant proposing a design whereby the developer is attempting to loss of my property values.
7) I object to the applicant proposing a design because the proposed high rise buildings will definitely cause shadowing seriously to my and many other units in our building and will block our morning sunshine.

I object to the project. The proposed development with 30 storeys will significantly block the view of neighbouring buildings (including residential) particularly on the east and south side. It will substantially impact the value of these buildings. For the building at 168 Walker Street, it has not reached half capacity in the building. This means that those residents that are moving in or are pending settlement do not have an opportunity to submit their concerns on this proposed development. Thank you for considering the objection.

As echoed in many of the objections, residents of nearby buildings will be severely affected by the approval of this project.
The proposed height of the building being 30 stories will completely block the views and sunlight , and accordingly quality of life for the surrounding residents of Walker Street. Further, Walker Street has already reached a congestion point in traffic during peak periods, and this will be more of an issue when the Redham House School on McLaren Street opens. Affordable housing is merely a mechanism for the developers to have the project approved, and may likely result in poorer quality housing under the guise of 'affordability'. Further, given the location of the project, it is unlikely that the housing will be very affordable . The fact that North Sydney Council as well as residents of Walker Street have submitted objections is significant, and the NSW Government should take these objections seriously given the project will affect these individuals the most. Moreover what is most concerning is the number of times that a proposal for this project has been attempted and rejected. The number of times this has been attempted and knocked back should be a clear and irrevocable indication that the development is not in the public interest, particularly where there has been very strong pretty much unanimous local consensus that the proposal is unacceptable.
Experts have commented on the specific reasons why the project cannot proceed, and I agree with these issues, such as:
- Major traffic issues- being congestion, access to the site, access of first respondents, garbage trucks, access to schools
- Major loss of views to nearby apartments
- The large and wideness of the project will overshadow the surrounding dwellings.
- many other issues as reflected in the other submissions.

This project is significantly not in the public interest, and should not proceed.

As a new resident in the Aura apartment complex on 168 Walker Street I object to this proposal at East Walker Street. Aura residents have only recently settled the apartment purchases and have therefore have limited time to be consulted on this proposal. In addition, many apartments at the Aura have yet to be sold and therefore these future residents are being unduly penalised because they will not be in a position to be consulted on this project which will impact their properties for many years. New residents at the Aura will loose their opera house, harbour bridge and harbour views without adequate consultation. The proposed development is too big and too high and is creating overdevelopment in the area, particularly given the number of schools in the close vicinity to this proposed project. The traffic situation across Miller street and its surrounds is already highly congested at school drop off and pick up, prior to the opening of Reddam house and the full sale of the Aura. The existing road infrastructure cannot handle additional high rise developments and their related traffic.I am not adverse to developments in the area, however the magnitude of this project, including the number of apartments and car spaces, should be reduced in order to protect the local streetscape and balance the needs of other residents in the area.

Dear Relevant Authority,
I am writing to express my strong objection to the proposed development at East Walker Street, North Sydney
. This project poses numerous significant issues that will severely affect my family and the broader community. I urge the committee to reject this project for the following reasons:

1. Severe Light Pollution and Environmental Impact
The extensive use of glass curtain walls will cause severe light pollution, particularly in the afternoons when sunlight reflects directly into my home.
This reflection will increase indoor temperatures, leading to discomfort and higher energy costs for cooling.
The environmental impact of such excessive glass usage has not been adequately addressed in the development plans.
2. Loss of Views and Visual Amenity
The project will completely obstruct my family’s views, including the cherished sea views we currently enjoy.
The major view corridor to the west of the site will be blocked, resulting in a significant loss of visual amenity not only for my family but for the entire neighborhood.
Such an obstruction will permanently degrade the quality of life for residents in the area.
3. Unmanageable Traffic Congestion and Access Issues
The proposed development will create severe traffic challenges:

Existing congestion: The Walker and Berry Streets intersection, located only 50 meters from the site, already experiences constant queuing and heavy congestion.
Insufficient traffic analysis: The traffic report fails to adequately address the impact of the additional vehicles generated by the development. It also overlooks the fact that Berry and Miller Streets are the only exit routes for the precinct.
Access difficulties:
The site is on a one-way lane leading to a dead-end, with no room for turning due to a heritage-protected median garden strip.
Northbound access is limited, and southbound access requires unsafe U-turns or crossing through queued traffic.
Garbage trucks already struggle to reverse down the lane, and the situation will worsen with this development.
Construction vehicle access: It will be nearly impossible for construction vehicles to navigate the site, leading to additional disruptions.
4. Future Traffic Overload
The proposed development ignores the cumulative traffic impact from other major projects in the area:

168 Walker Street: A development adding 386 apartments, significantly increasing vehicle numbers.
45 McLaren Street: Over 100 new apartments planned.
Western Harbour Tunnel: The new on-ramp will exacerbate congestion at key intersections.
Reddam School: Opening in January 2025, the school will add considerable traffic during drop-off and pick-up times.
110 Walker Street: A 57-storey building will bring substantial additional residents and vehicles.
5. Community and Safety Concerns
During peak hours and school times, the area already experiences gridlock.
Additional traffic from this development will compromise emergency vehicle access and pose serious safety risks to pedestrians, especially children attending two schools within 100 meters of the site.
The development’s strain on the road infrastructure will leave residents struggling to navigate basic ingress and egress.
In light of these critical concerns, I strongly urge the committee to reject this project outright. The negative impacts on the community, traffic conditions, and local environment far outweigh any potential benefits.

Thank you for considering my objection.
Sincerely,
Guanglong Li

The high height of the project will be very abrupt, which affects the city appearance and environment and the quality of life of the surrounding residents, especially the residential buildings with 200 meters near the project, which is a disaster. Sydney Harbour is the only one for everyone, and the construction of the project should not affect the feelings of the 300 to 500 families around them.

Summary. I strongly oppose a development that blocks iconic views but, more importantly, adds to the traffic congestion in Walker St, endangering drivers and pedestrians. The development also presents to Government a short-term, cynical Affordable Housing proposal. I struggle to see any merit in this project and my arguments against the development are expanded in the attachment.

This development will block 85-95% of the harbour views from our apartment. It is an oversized development which will obstruct the harbour/city views for a considerable number of residents within the newly constructed Aura Aqualand building. Many of these residents recently purchased these new apartments and paid high dollars for the views. I object to this development and believe a much lower construction of a 10 storey limit would be acceptable and would avoid further submissions by the residents of Aura Aqualand. The harbour views are to be enjoyed by other surrounding residents and this enormous building take that all away for them.

See attached submission
*Please withhold any personal names

We write to object to the proposed development at 173-179 Walker Street and 11-17 Hampden Street, North Sydney. Our objections are based on the following:
1. Severe impact on views: The proposed 30-storey building and 12-storey building (amongst others) will significantly obstruct the views from existing properties in the vicinity. This obstruction will not only diminish the aesthetic and recreational value of these properties but also negatively affect the quality of life for current residents.
2. Substantial Impact on Property Prices: The introduction of such a large development is likely to lead to a depreciation in the value of neighboring properties. The market dynamics in the area suggest that an oversupply of housing, particularly in such a concentrated form, can lead to a decrease in property values, adversely affecting the financial well-being of current homeowners.
3. Occupancies at 168 Walker Street, North Sydney: The newly constructed apartment building at 168 Walker Street has only reached about 40% occupancy. It is unfair to the residents who are in the process of moving in or have bought but not yet settled to be deprived of the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the new development. Their input is crucial as they will be directly impacted by the proposed construction.
In light of these concerns, we request that the planning authorities to reconsider the approval of this development. It is essential to ensure that the interests of existing residents and property owners are adequately protected and that any new development is in harmony with the existing community and infrastructure.
Thank you for considering our objections.

Too much traffic with new schools on Walker st

Submission to the Department attached that sets out objections.

I attach a detailed analysis of the traffic flaws of the project which shows the location cannot support additional cars beyond the status quo. It in ridiculous to locate parking for a high-rise development at the bottom of a cul de sac having only one ingress and egress, through an already overloaded intersection, critical to the access to the Western Harbour Tunnel. The result would be irredeemable congestion and danger to both motorists and pedestrians. The traffic plan submitted with the development submission used generic models which might be suitable for a grid street plan on flat land, but whose use for this situation is entirely unprofessional.
The reduction in the number of parking spaces does not make the proposal viable. The attached real-world analysis was based on a smaller vehicular population than that now proposed.

Two further proofs show the flaws of the proposal:
1. the proponent has used the State Significant Project process to forestaff a like;y defeat in court due to the traffic and other issues;
2. The rumoured attempt by the proponent to get direct access to the Warringah Expressway, bypassing the impossible vehicular access via Walker Street and the Berry Street intersection.

i attach a detailed analysis of the traffic implications.

Please see attached submission.

Greg and Evelyn Cummins

I object to this proposed project for all the reasons outlined previously, in my previous submission.
Key is:
This proposed project is too big a scale. The current Walker Street / Hampton Street infrastructure and access does nor support a development of this scale.
Traffic on Walker Street and surrounding streets during school drop off/ Pick up hours and the peak travel times, is beyond capacity.
Emergency services access: this is impossible given current road structure.
This proposed project would certainly de-value hundreds of existing properties on Walker, Hampden, Miller, McLaren Streets and surrounding streets.
I do not believe that any of this proposed project will be legitimate so-called "affordable housing".
This project cannot be permitted to proceed.

I object to this proposal and its proposed amendments for the same reasons set out in my Submissions (SE74227956) dated 31.7.24. The proposal does not satisfy Requirements 4 and 6 of SEARS.

The increase in construction vehicles operating near the schools creates serious safety hazards for children, especially younger ones, during school hours. The potential for accidents is a considerable worry.

1. Scale of Development - it will literally overwhelm every other nearby building due to its horrendous monolithic construction
2.Loss of Vista and Views - there will be unacceptable view loss and shadowing to hundreds of apartments, including The Belvedere, The Heritage, McLaren Apartments, The Harvard, Vantage Residences, and The Miller.
3. Economic Loss - property values will be negatively and unfairly impacted from this grossly oversized development – particularly the neighbouring Heritage Terraces, which will be totally compromised.
Affordable Housing - this positioning of the proposal adds little or no value to the amenity of North Sydney – it is a ‘high end’ real estate build.
4.Traffic Congestion - current traffic challenges will be significantly amplified; the area cannot sustain what is already in place let alone add to its demise with the proposed development.
5.Lack of Public Interest - it is an ill-considered greedy, flawed commercial attempt to steal current residents of their hard-earned amenity and lifestyle, under the cynical guise of ‘affordable housing’.

I object to the object based on my original submission sent on the 1 August 2024.
Additionally I would like to add the additional following comments:

My major concern is that there is a diagram for the shadow pattern 9:00 AM at some time during June with no further patterns for the season. The winter solstice occurs around the 21 June with the sun rising at 06:58am at an altitude of 33°. During this period, the diagram suggests that there would be no shadowing impact on our apartment or most surrounding residential buildings which is correct. However, and most importantly, the summer solstice occurs around the 21 December with the sun rising at 05:40 at an altitude of 79°. This is a 45° variation, and I estimate that the proposed building will completely block direct sunlight from the east for up to six months of the year. This has not been adequately demonstrated with in the shadow pattern and will have a very marked effect on sunlight in an already very densely populated high-rise area.

With the opening in July of the Aura apartments in McLaren Street , traffic during both the morning and afternoon peaks between Ridge Street, down Walker Street to Berry Street, and including McLaren Street is already beyond capacity, resulting in frequent traffic jams. The opening of Redham House School, along with the completion of 45 McLaren Street, will add even more congestion to this already limited area. Furthermore, a 30-storey building will exacerbate the situation, particularly with traffic attempting to enter Hampden Street, the only access point from Walker Street to the proposed development.

Redham House Schoolat 41 McLaren Street, is set to open in late January 2025, and we have been informed that it will accommodate 1,340 students. With the addition of teachers and support staff, the total number of people on the premises will exceed 1,500. This will significantly increase the flow of commuters through the area, and the construction of another apartment complex around the corner will only worsen the traffic situation.

The proposed 30-storey height of the building is completely out of context for the North Sydney area, where all buildings conform to the slope from Miller Street down to the edge of the Warringah Expressway.

While I acknowledge that development is essential for the growth of Sydney and North Sydney, the height of the building, along with its significant shadow impact and design, does not contribute positively to the area.

Kind regards,

Frances Eriksson