Residential development with in-fill affordable housing, Larkin Street & Pockley Avenue, Roseville

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally object to the State Significant Development (SSD) proposal, the details of which are currently under assessment. While I acknowledge the comprehensive nature of an SSD application, I find the current proposal to be significantly deficient in its assessment of traffic volumes, particularly concerning roads that feed into the Pacific Highway within the immediate vicinity of the development.

My primary concern is the apparent lack of consideration for traffic impacts beyond the Pacific Highway itself. The proposal, as presented, fails to adequately account for the substantial and escalating traffic volumes on arterial and local roads that serve as critical feeders to the highway. Specifically, MacLaurin Parade in Roseville, among other similar thoroughfares, is already experiencing significant congestion and stress due to existing and recently completed or ongoing residential developments.

The current approach to traffic assessment in this SSD appears to operate in isolation, failing to integrate the cumulative impact of recent and concurrent developments in the area. Several new residential projects have either just reached completion or are in various stages of construction within the surrounding suburbs. These developments have, and will continue to, introduce a considerable number of additional vehicles onto the local road network. The traffic generated by these new residences disproportionately affects feeder roads such as MacLaurin Parade, as residents utilise these routes to access major arterial roads like the Pacific Highway.

Consequently, any traffic assessment that focuses solely on the Pacific Highway, or that does not fully incorporate the actual and projected traffic increases on these feeder roads, will inevitably present an inaccurate and understated picture of the SSD's true impact. This oversight leads to a flawed understanding of the development's contribution to existing traffic challenges and the potential for exacerbated congestion, increased travel times, and reduced road safety for residents and commuters alike.

Therefore, I strongly urge that a full and comprehensive re-assessment of traffic impacts be undertaken. This re-assessment must specifically include:

A detailed analysis of current traffic volumes on all relevant feeder roads leading to the Pacific Highway, with particular emphasis on MacLaurin Parade, Roseville. This should involve updated traffic counts and modelling that reflects the current reality, not outdated data.
A robust cumulative impact assessment that thoroughly integrates the traffic generation from all new residential developments recently completed or currently under construction within the development's influence area. This assessment needs to project the additional vehicle movements these developments contribute to the local road network.
An accurate projection of the SSD's traffic generation and its distribution onto the local road network, in conjunction with the aforementioned cumulative impacts. This should identify specific pinch points and areas of potential severe congestion on feeder roads.
A comprehensive evaluation of the capacity of these feeder roads, including intersections, to accommodate the combined traffic volumes. This evaluation should also consider pedestrian and cyclist safety, and the potential for increased demand on public transport infrastructure.
Without such a detailed and integrated traffic assessment, the true impact of this SSD proposal cannot be accurately determined, and appropriate mitigation strategies cannot be effectively planned or implemented. Approving this SSD without a thorough understanding of its full traffic implications on feeder roads would be irresponsible and would undoubtedly lead to significant and avoidable adverse outcomes for the local community and regional traffic flow.

I request that this objection be given full consideration during the assessment process and that the proponent be required to provide a revised and comprehensive traffic impact assessment that addresses these critical deficiencies.

I strongly oppose the proposed residential developments (SSD-77825469 and SSD-77829461) due to the significant traffic and safety concerns they raise. Together with recent developments in Maclaurin Parade, Pacific Highway, and Corona Avenue, these proposals would introduce over 400 new apartments, and the associated increase in vehicles, into a small, already congested area.
This precinct has only one access point for travel to the City/Chatswood: a right turn from Maclaurin Parade onto the Pacific Highway. This intersection is already overburdened during weekday peak hours, with frequent delays due to vehicles travelling southbound on the Pacific Highway blocking the intersection and not allowing vehicles from Maclaurin Parade to turn right onto Pacific Highway. It is not uncommon to wait through several traffic light cycles before being able to turn, often leading to dangerous gridlock as vehicles become stranded in the middle of the intersection, with the potential to block traffic flow in both directions. I have personally been involved in an accident caused by this exact issue as a vehicle turned onto Pacific Hwy from Maclaurin Parade in order to make the traffic lights, and collided with me as I was in the far left-hand lane, having already turned onto Pacific Hwy.
Equally concerning is the right-turn from the Pacific Highway into Maclaurin Parade for southbound traffic. The turning lane is short and cannot accommodate more than a few vehicles at a time. With increased demand, the overflow will likely block the rightmost lane of the Pacific Highway, creating a serious safety hazard and further impeding traffic flow.
Given these conditions, the area cannot safely or efficiently support the additional traffic volume these developments would generate. A comprehensive traffic impact assessment must be conducted, and the development should be paused until realistic infrastructure upgrades, such as additional access points and intersections, are planned and committed to.
Thank you for your consideration.

I have lived on the North Shore for over 10 years, in beautiful character homes in Roseville and Pymble. I have significant concerns regarding the proposed residential development on Pockley Avenue, Roseville. Specifically, the potential impact on traffic congestion and safety, as well as the loss of the area’s unique character are major issues that need to be addressed.

The roads in this small pocket of Roseville are already congested, particularly during peak hours. Access out of the area on to Pacific Highway is limited to three points (Maclaurin Pde, Corona Ave and Findlay Ave). Access in to the area is limited to these same three streets, with only Maclaurin Pde providing access when travelling south on Pacific Hwy. Only two of these three roads allow access out of the area to both directions of the highway and the only safe option, during peak hour, is via the traffic lights at Maclaurin Pde. It is already impossible for more than one to two cars to enter the intersection to head south on Pacific Hwy, during peak hours, seven days a week. Currently, the proposed development area of seven houses would contribute ten to fourteen vehicles to the traffic congestion, at most. The recent developments, in addition to the two apartment developments that are currently underway, are going to lead to an unacceptable increase in traffic volume and congestion. The addition of new residents and vehicles (over 200 parking spaces are proposed for this one development) will only exacerbate this issue and significantly increase safety risks for both drivers and pedestrians. Pockley Avenue and the surrounding streets are not equipped to handle this increased traffic volume, and the traffic impact assessment severely underestimates the impact this development will cause both in the short term during construction, but more importantly, in the long term post construction. Further, should an incident occur, access and safe passage for emergency services would be severely impacted raising further concerns regarding this proposed development.

In addition to my concerns regarding traffic congestion and safety, Roseville is renowned for its leafy streets, charming homes, and distinct neighborhood identity. The proposed development's density and design does not align with the character of the suburb and appeal of the area. Privacy for local residents will be severely impacted with residents in the apartments being able to look directly in to neighbouring, single dwelling properties. I find this entirely unacceptable.

I believe the issues of traffic congestion/ safety and loss of local character are paramount, and any development that fails to address these concerns adequately should be rejected. Alternative locations for such developments need to be considered to address the State’s TOD and affordable housing requirements.

I attach a submission compiled by the resident's group of West Roseville, which I entirely support with respect to the above development. I concede that development has to occur in order to provide new housing in line with the governments planning requirements; however considering the pocket of Roseville we live in, the existing and ongoing difficulty with accessing Pacific Highway due to traffic congestion and the need for an adequate means of evacuation in the event of a bushfire, the issue I have is with the number of units proposed in this and future developments in this specific area.

I am concerned with the impact on traffic with this development. There is already traffic gridlock for vehicles trying to enter the Pacific Highway from Maclaurin Parade and this project will exacerbate the issue (particularly with SSD-77825469 running in parallel).
If this project and SSD-77825469 are to proceed in their current intensity, significant infrastructure works will be required to manage traffic flow, including emergency vehicle access.

I currently live within the area and I am soon moving to be neighbouring this project. I strongly object to this project for a number of reasons.

Firstly, this is a massive over development.

Secondly, it will take sun and light from nearby properties.

Thirdly, It is already chaotic to get out of Maclauren Pde onto the pacific highway but adding another potential 250cars will be absolute mayhem.

I attach a submission compiled by the resident's group of West Roseville, which I entirely support with respect to the above development. I concede that development has to occur in order to provide new housing in line with the governments planning requirements; however considering the pocket of Roseville we live in, the existing and ongoing difficulty with accessing Pacific Highway due to traffic congestion and the need for an adequate means of evacuation in the event of a bushfire, the issue I have is with the number of units proposed in this and future developments in this specific area.

I am concerned about this development because of potential traffic congestion. Current development plan has 111 new apartments and up to 78 parking spaces. Considering the limited width of Larkin street, it's going to be challenging to enter and depart from our residence for work and other life functions, especially during busy rush hours. It also poses a potential fire safety and emergency risk: in the event of a fire or a medical emergency, the fire engine and ambulance would be blocked from access by construction work, endangering lives by prolonging rescue time.
This problem is unlikely to end after construction. The sheer number of apartments and parking spaces to be built suggests large traffic volume, which Larkin Street is not prepared for. I ask that you reconsider. the building project in light of these concerns.

My submission setting out the reasons for my objections to this project is attached.
Yours sincerely
Rebecca Sladescu

I remember clearly the 1994 bush fire in our West Roseville area. There were embers flying in our backyards and a shortage of water and it was terrifying. We could easily have a similar fire again which could rapidly escalate to a disaster similar to the recent fires in Los Angeles. These development approvals must be paused until evacuation capacity is independently reviewed and addressed.
If driving from the north to access our area you need to turn right on the Pacific Highway and there is no right turn arrow. At times it is very difficult and with two thirds more cars this will be almost impossible. This will mean cars will sit and wait on the turning bay and spill out onto the Pacific Highway, disrupting south bound traffic. There will be many accidents as drivers become impatient.
Having lived in this area for over 50 years I know the area cannot cope with the proposed scale of development planned for this area in West Roseville. Traffic flow on both Corona Avenue and MacLaurin Parade is regularly impeded by parked cars effectively reducing these roads to one way traffic. This presents a serious risk during bushfire evacuation and also emergency services trying to enter the area. Currently the area contains 362 existing dwellings, with an additional 427 dwellings proposed. Existing dwellings account for 553 car spaces, while planned developments will add 686 more not including second vehicles or increased on-street parking. This will strain evacuation routes and emergency access.

I am objecting to this development due to environmental concerns. This area is unique with many threatened species in the area. There is an endangered micro bat population in the vicinity. Powerful Owls are in the area and often observed, water dragons are in abundance. Birds there are many species of birds and frequently come and land on our back deck. With more than double the dwellings this will soon disappear. How can a small area like this more than double its occupancy?
There are no green spaces in this area. If you want to go and sit in a park you must get in your car and travel! I know one small area at the end of Pockley Avenue has been allotted but this needs to happen and it is not a level area anyway. With another 400 dwellings (units) being proposed you will need a lot more area for green space. Developers do not care as long as they sell the units.
Bushfires are another major concern and are projected to increase significantly. Approving further development in West Roseville without addressing bushfire evacuation risk is negligent and has life-threatening consequences. Bushfire studies have concluded that precincts with only three exit roads should accommodate a maximum of 300 - 600 households to ensure safe evacuation. The West Roseville precinct currently has 766 dwelling planned and existing so well above this threshold.

I am writing to formally oppose developments SSD-77825469 and SSD-77829461 for the following reasons:

1. Overdevelopment and Traffic Congestion
The two proposed developments would add 289 residential units. Combined with other nearby developments—7, 9, and 11 Pockley Avenue; 4A, 6A, 6, 8, and 10 Maclaurin Parade; the Roseville Memorial Club site; and the recently completed 1–3 Corona Avenue—the total rises to 427 new units and an estimated 686 additional vehicles. This scale of development will place enormous strain on already congested local roads, especially Maclaurin Parade. The traffic congestion will significantly affect daily commutes and emergency response times.

2. Environmental Impact
The developments pose a serious threat to the local environment. The Blue Gum High Forest is a critically endangered ecological community and home to approximately 40 native animal species. These projects risk permanent destruction of habitat and biodiversity, which cannot be restored once lost.

3. Bushfire Risk and Emergency Evacuation Concerns
According to bushfire simulations conducted by Ku-ring-gai Council, both proposed developments are located in areas classified as "very high risk" in the event of a bushfire. During the 1994 bushfires, 12 homes in this area were completely destroyed. In the event of a similar disaster, traffic in and out of Maclaurin Parade would likely be completely cut off, making evacuation and emergency access impossible.

Conclusion
I strongly urge the planning committee to reject these development proposals and stop further development proposals. Approving them without major upgrades to local traffic infrastructure and a detailed bushfire evacuation strategy would put the local community at unacceptable risk. While I understand the need for housing, developments of this scale must be sustainable and responsible. Without clear plans to address environmental impacts, traffic congestion, and bushfire safety, these proposals are detrimental and irreversible.

I am concerned with a number of aspects of the project:
1) the height of the proposed development and consequent overshadowing of my property (no shadow diagram)
2) the new road between Pockley Ave and Shirley Rd
3) traffic in streets with insufficient width and access to Pacific Hwy
4) the number of buildings, and therefore the duration of the build, and the ongoing noise and traffic chaos during the build
5) the effect of the project on the Environmental Living zones immediately next door
6) the effect of the project on the water and sewerage infrastructure (already old and somewhat strained
More detail on the above points:
1) Having installed Solar panels at significant cost under the governments Solar program, it is distressing to note the potential overshadowing of the property and therefore the panels. Any impact on the solar will cost $100's per quarter in increased electricity costs at a time when this is already under pressure from rising costs. The proposal includes higher buildings than the T.O.D. and without a shadow diagram it is impossible to gauge the effect. The buildings are not graduated in height and therefore sit up against the houses not included in the development, even with the proposed setback.
2) the new road proposed between Pockley and Shirley does nothing to ease congestion onto Pacific Hwy. Traffic is already badly affected by the existing developments in Maclauren Pde and the Roseville RSL club and the proposal shows 5 more developments in the immediate area, meaning the nightmare will continue for YEARS. The most recent development in Corona Ave saw the repeated flattening of traffic lights on the corner of Pacific Hwy and Maclaurin because of the limited access, with all traffic being funneled through Maclauren.
3) The current developments in this immediate area have been ongoing serially for years and this will only get worse with this proposal, which will add hundreds of cars to the only city bound access point. In addition, the proposed road will add to traffic as cars will cut through from Pacific Hwy towards Shirley and on to Lady Game drive to avoid the lights and cameras around Eton Rd and Pacific Hwy. Perhaps changes to the Corona and Pacific Hwy intersection to allow southbound traffic should be considered, as well as moving the pedestrian crossing on Pacific Hwy to the Train station down to the Rifleway and the acquisition of one of the bordering buildings there to widen the access to Larkin lane and the Council carpark.
4) There are 5 buildings in total in the Pockley Avenue proposal. So far the existing builds have taken approximately 2 years each to completion. Multiply that by 5 buildings, even allowing for concurrent builds (more trucks at same time) means the access to the area will be severely impacted both during the build and after with the volume of cars. The Roseville Club development can stop traffic for 10 minutes at a time as each double-bogey truck attempts to reverse into Larkin Lane (some need more than 12 goes to get in). This starts around 7:00am and is ongoing all morning and sometimes into the afternoon. The nois from this is loud, and this is even before construction starts. How will this be whilst 5 buildings go up in Pockley?
5) Immediately adjacent to Pockley are two stormwater and run-off feeds to Little Blue Gum Creek, one starting up at the Rifleway, the other starting up near Corona and running along Nola Ave. These join together and feed into the main creek and are in fact the source. The Nola feed runs alongside the current Maclaurin development and has been repeatedly polluted with filthy water and diesel pollutants during the build, affecting the flora and fauna in the Environmental Living zones surrounding the creek. Between the noise pollution and the bad water there has been a significant (noticeable) decrease in the wild life in the area. The noise at time makes it impossible to work from home, and this will only get worse during the project builds. In addition, there is no consideration to the effects the development will have on the volume of water flowing down into the creek. Any increase in volume and consequent erosion could severely affect those properties bordering the creek. Who will pay for rectification of any damage?
6) No information has been provided concerning the Water and Sewerage plans. They will need an upgrade to handle 5 new high-rise buildings, and this lack of information is a major concern for people living 'downstream' from the developments, and for the waterways as well.

Hello,
I object to the above projects for the following reasons:
In case of evacuation because of a Bush Fire there are not enough exit roads to allow people to escape. Already Maclaurin Pde is congested and if there is a serious Bushfire there is a high probability that people will die due to the excessive number of people in the planned 330 plus new Units. Extra cars street parking will further restrict emergency vehicles access and of course general access to highway.
There will also be environmental concerns such as water runoff. There is currently garden space on the Pockley island and excess water can drain away through the soil and the gardens. The construction of all the extra units will increase the amount of concrete and the water will not be absorbed and the creek on the low side of Alexander Pde will overflow into back yards etc.
Maximum households per road exit for safe evacuation during fire
A background study on bushfire management conducted on behalf of KurinGai Council in 2005 (Cova et al, 2005) concluded:
• There should be no more than 300-600 households for minimum number of 3 road exits.
• This is, however, a highly conservative estimate given it assumes:
1. A stationary climate
2. No change in fire behaviour in a rapidly warming climate
3. Orderly behaviour of residents during exit (e.g., no one returning home because they forget their pets/passports/jewellery etc.)
4. No entry into the area by emergency services (which in any case is not possible given parking means Larkin Lane, Larkin Street, Pockley Avenue, McLaurin Parade and Corona Avenues are all effectively one-way streets. NB the parking on these streets will only increase with additional households).
• The ‘problem’ in a sense arises if we have 4 road exits in Pockley-Shirley. However, I think it would be fair to argue a) the study is now 20 years out of date and it does not include the above assumptions. It is very difficult to turn right onto Pacific Highway from Maclaurin Pde and how do you plan to manage traffic from the feeder streets onto Maclaurin Pde, This development is only 330 apartments but so many apartments have been planned with the rezoning that the overall increase in vehicle numbers will be over 1,000.
I have seen no evidence that the developers, the Land and Environment Court, the NSW Gov, or KurinGai Council etc have considered the effects of a changing climate.

The proposed project will create traffic gridlock at the peak times of the day and parking is already hard to come by in that area. In that same blocked area (Corona Ave, RSL rebuild and McClarin Pde) there are three very large apartment buildings already in construction, those alone are going to cripple and add pressure to an already strained intersection at the cnr of McClarin Pde and Pacific Hwy. This intersection is the only safe place to turn right onto the pacific highway for the whole pocket area including Findlay Ave. Of an evening trying to turn right into Maclarin Pde from the pacific hwy is impossible to do on a green light. I am breaking the law each and every time going after the amber light with my whole family in the car which is extremely unsafe. But there’s NO other way unless you sit in traffic at that time for another 20- 30mins and go all the way down to William street via boundary and Archer just to make. Left hand turn into Findlay Ave. I get that there needs to be more affordable housing and on the train corridor is ideal but this pocket cannot handle this project. More infrastructure needs to be put in place first to sustain a safe community and environment for those already and have been living in the area for many years!

To the State Significant Development Assessment Panel,
Subject: Objection to further Development Proposals – Due to Unresolved Pacific Highway Issues
I am the owner of a property on Findlay Avenue in Roseville which lies in close proximity to numerous developments. I write to object to proposals moving forward until longstanding traffic issues related to the Pacific Highway are properly addressed.
Background
My husband and I have lived in this neighbourhood for over 10 years raising our children here. Over this time, I have developed a deep understanding of the area’s challenges, particularly in relation to traffic congestion and access in and out of our community.
Concerns Regarding Traffic and Access
My primary concern is the severe limitation of vehicle access between our neighbourhood and the Pacific Highway. This issue has persisted for years and is now being compounded by the cumulative impact of new high-density developments, both approved and under construction, particularly around Roseville Station and on the western side of the Highway.
The Pacific Highway, due to decades of underinvestment, is not equipped to handle current traffic volumes, let alone the increased load from additional developments. Traffic signal patterns strongly favour Highway through-traffic at the expense of access from side streets, compromising the daily needs and safety of residents.
Specifically:
Our neighbourhood can only be accessed via Maclaurin Parade, Corona Avenue, or Findlay Avenue.
There is no right turn from the southbound Pacific Highway into either Corona or Findlay Avenue.
The right turn at Maclaurin Parade is unprotected, causing frequent delays and risks.
Southbound exit from the neighbourhood is only available via Maclaurin Parade at a traffic light.
This constrained access raises significant concerns, not only for residents’ day-to-day mobility but also for emergency situations. Our area borders bushland to the west, and limited exit routes pose a real danger in the event of a fire or other emergency.
Moreover, three multi-storey developments are already underway in the immediate area, and we understand that developers have acquired additional sites for further high-density housing. The cumulative impact of these projects has not been properly assessed in terms of vehicle access or traffic safety.
Request for Action
I respectfully urge the SSD and associated authorities to:
Conduct a comprehensive traffic impact assessment that accounts for cumulative effects across all current and proposed developments in the area.
Pause any approvals of further high-density housing until these access issues are addressed.
For decades, the Pacific Highway, has failed to meet traffic demand. Without substantial upgrades or a bypass, increasing residential density will only worsen a situation already at breaking point.
Conclusion
I object to any further proposed developments and to any further dense residential construction in the area until the State commits to resolving the fundamental traffic problems associated with the Pacific Highway. Any meaningful planning for higher density must begin with fixing access infrastructure, not after the fact.
Yours sincerely,

A concerned member of the neighbourhood

I am writing to bring to your attention the serious risks associated with the proposed developments at 2-16 Pockley Avenue, 1-5 Pockley Avenue, and 2-4 Larkin Street, Roseville. The submission outlines several key points that highlight the need for urgent action.
The West-Roseville precinct is highly vulnerable to bushfires, with limited evacuation routes and increasing residential density. The proposed developments will add hundreds of new dwellings and car spaces, significantly exceeding safe evacuation thresholds. This poses a grave risk to residents, as demonstrated by scientific evidence and historical precedent.
Furthermore, the proposed building heights will result in overshadowing, detracting from the streetscape and the character of the neighbourhood. The increased density will also lead to traffic and parking congestion, complicating evacuation efforts during emergencies.
Environmental concerns are equally pressing. The developments will increase water runoff, potentially harming local ecosystems and waterways. Additionally, the endangered microbat population in the area is threatened by habitat disruption due to construction activities.
Given these risks, I strongly urge the NSW Government to halt all development approvals in the West-Roseville precinct until evacuation capacity is independently assessed and addressed. It is crucial to ensure that development aligns with safe evacuation thresholds and complies with planning regulations to safeguard public safety and the environment.

Whilst I support the principle of increasing housing density around major transport hubs, I urge that the implications for local traffic and emergency evacuation be given serious consideration. The proposed increase in population carries significant risk to life in the event of an emergency such as a bushfire, due to the current limitations of access and egress in this area.

The residential pocket encompassing Findlay Avenue, Alexander Parade, Kings Avenue, Corona Avenue, Pocklye Avenue, Larkin Street, and Larkin Lane has only three exit points to the Pacific Highway—via Corona Avenue, Findlay Avenue, and Maclaurin Parade. Of these, only Maclaurin Parade has traffic lights to assist with turning right onto the Pacific Highway. The turn from Findlay Avenue has no traffic control, and Corona Avenue only allows a left turn. This makes both everyday traffic management and emergency evacuation difficult and dangerous. These risks are further evidenced by the multiple accidents and fatalities that have occurred at these intersections.

An easement exists between Findlay Avenue and Dulwich Road, and opening this connection would provide an essential additional route for both emergency egress and to relieve local congestion.

It is worth noting that our property at the lower end of Findlay Avenue is restricted from increasing density due to Rural Fire Service (RFS) guidelines and local council planning controls, citing inadequate fire evacuation access. It is difficult to understand how, at a state planning level, such a significant increase in population density can be proposed in direct contradiction to those local and state RFS assessments. To ignore this conflict would represent a serious failure of duty of care to current and future residents.

I strongly urge that any increase in residential density in this area be accompanied by comprehensive planning to improve access and egress for both daily traffic and emergency situations. Specifically, opening the easement to Dulwich Road should be prioritised, alongside upgrades to local traffic controls and evacuation infrastructure.

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

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed developments at 2-16 Pockley Avenue, 1-5 Pockley Avenue, and 2-4 Larkin Street, Roseville. The submission highlights several critical issues that must be addressed to protect the community.
The West-Roseville precinct is a bushfire-prone area with limited evacuation routes. The proposed developments will increase the number of dwellings and car spaces, far exceeding safe evacuation thresholds. This presents a serious risk to life and property, as established in independent bushfire evacuation research.
Moreover, the excess building heights proposed for these developments will lead to overshadowing, negatively impacting the streetscape and the overall aesthetic of the area. The increased density will also exacerbate traffic and parking congestion, further straining evacuation routes and emergency access during bushfire emergencies.
Environmental concerns are also paramount. The developments will contribute to increased water runoff, potentially affecting local waterways and ecosystems. Additionally, the endangered microbat population in the area is at risk due to habitat disruption caused by construction activities.
In light of these issues, I urge the NSW Government to pause all development approvals in the West-Roseville precinct until evacuation capacity is independently reviewed and addressed. It is essential to align development scale with safe evacuation thresholds and enforce compliance with planning regulations to protect public safety and the environment.

I am writing to bring to your attention the serious risks associated with the proposed developments at 2-16 Pockley Avenue, 1-5 Pockley Avenue, and 2-4 Larkin Street, Roseville. The submission outlines several key points that highlight the need for urgent action.
The West-Roseville precinct is highly vulnerable to bushfires, with limited evacuation routes and increasing residential density. The proposed developments will add hundreds of new dwellings and car spaces, significantly exceeding safe evacuation thresholds. This poses a grave risk to residents, as demonstrated by scientific evidence and historical precedent.
Furthermore, the proposed building heights will result in overshadowing, detracting from the streetscape and the character of the neighbourhood. The increased density will also lead to traffic and parking congestion, complicating evacuation efforts during emergencies.
Environmental concerns are equally pressing. The developments will increase water runoff, potentially harming local ecosystems and waterways. Additionally, the endangered microbat population in the area is threatened by habitat disruption due to construction activities.
Given these risks, I strongly urge the NSW Government to halt all development approvals in the West-Roseville precinct until evacuation capacity is independently assessed and addressed. It is crucial to ensure that development aligns with safe evacuation thresholds and complies with planning regulations to safeguard public safety and the environment.