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

Safety and wellbeing concerns of residents must be addressed. The proposed developments could lead to serious catastrophic scenarios in not-too-distant future.

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 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 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 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 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-77829461 running in parallel).
If this project and SSD-77829461 are to proceed in their current intensity, significant infrastructure works will be required to manage traffic flow, including emergency vehicle access.

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.

My submission setting out the basis for my objection to this project is attached.

Yours sincerely

Rebecca Sladescu

The State proposed an FSR of 2.5, the Council proposed a max of 1.8. The submission is for 3.25. The towers are far taller than any of the apartment buildings currently in the area and will overshadow the area putting other properties totally into shade particularly when the topography of the area is taken into account. The land size does not make it a State significant development. The developer bought two parcels of land from two different agents that are not linked - there is a road in between This cannot be considered as a single development. This is not possible. The roads and infrastructure are not there to deal with such a large scale development without limiting the opportunities for the development of a cohesive community. The proposal is for a monstrosity equivalent to the Blues Point Tower. A more realistic development needs to be considered for the land in line with the original guidelines and in sympathy with the current redevelopment of the area.

SSD-77825469 & SSD-77829461
My objection to these developments falls under 2 categories:
1. Building height & Density
2. Traffic impact & Infrastructure
Building Height & Density
The Developer's design is excessive in its height and exceeds the TOD height controls by approximately 6 meters. Notwithstanding, the current multi storey developments this residential area have been limited to 6 storeys which blend within the local environment. The density of this development would be more appropriate in a no-residential area such as the Pacific Highway. The Developer is obviously maximizing the design and height taking into account the bonus for affordable housing however, I'm not sure what affordable would be in Roseville?
Traffic impact & Infrastructure
McLaurin Pde is currently the only point of access to the Pacific Highway if heading south. All ready this intersection is continually blocked by traffic on the highway . Adding another 285 parking spaces in these developments together with the current development in McLaurin Parade and the Hyecorp development on Pacific Highway is only going to exacerbate this problem. There needs to be a proper Traffic Management Plan developed for this intersection with Transport for NSW. McLaurin Parade is not designed for large construction vehicles and it has been extremely dangerous during the construction of the development called Rosewood and this proposed development is so significantly larger.
In summary I believe the proposed development is excessive and will have a detrimental impact on the existing environment and as such I believe the current design should be rejected and the developer asked to resubmit a more compliant and sympathetic design.

I am writing to object to the Larkin/Pockley development due to traffic and pedestrian concerns. With the new developments I am concerned that the road leading from Kings Ave up to Mclauren is already heavily congested due the road narrowing, inadequate parking, curb/guttering inconsistencies and access points to Mclauren from Nola and Larkin (upper and lower). Pedestrians (especially children) walking through this area especially in peak times are often hard to see and the visibility during the morning peak is hampered by the sun glare. I have witnessed pedestrians often trying to avoid coming to serious harm from vehicles.
Also of concern, particularly during peak times, there is traffic backed up to Nola Lane attempting to get through the traffic lights onto the Pacific Highway. This is compounded by the intersection being blocked by traffic on the Pacific Highway. By adding additional vehicles to the area this will not allow easy access for existing residents from Kings, Alexander and Findlay. The intersection at Mclauren and the Highway is becoming highly dangerous due to drivers not queuing at Boundary Rd right hand turn and continuing up to Mclarin and doing illegal turns further hampering congestion out of McLaurin. A comprehensive traffic study needs to be conducted of the area beyond Larkin/Pockley as the development affects more than these 2 streets. And a realistic parking plan and pedestrian access plan need to be included. I am just hoping that you are also looking at fire and emergency management of this precinct as well. If access is hampered then a lot of lives and homes could be lost.

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.

This project along with the other SSD across the road are not appropriate for this area.
Firstly the height of these projects are out of line with any surrounding houses or apartments. They will dwarf any remaining houses or apartment buildings in the same streets. The excuse of providing affordable housing is laughable. It is simply a cash grab by the developers. Putting a 15 year limit on this provision makes a mockery of the reason to provide affordable housing.
The developer made a very poor attempt at community consultation and their reports are an absolute waste of time that would just be a copy and paste exercise used for several different projects. I live in the area and did not receive any information flyers about these projects and was not aware of any drop in sessions.
Any green space being provided in these projects will not be for community use and benefit. It will be for residential use only.
There is not enough car parking provided for the amount of apartments being built. There is no way these small local streets would cope with the increased number of cars.

Please see my comments obtaining to the major project on Pockley and Larkin in Roseville

I object to this development going ahead as the West Roseville area faces bushfire risks, and with very limited evacuation means. I remember the 1994 bushfire in which many homes were lost and we were lucky that the wind changed which saved our area as water and help was very limited. Evacuation capacity and the scale of development must stay within safe evacuation thresholds.
Pockley Avenue homes were built in the early 1920s for the soldiers that returned from the WW1. Most were built by the same builder and are the same design or mirror images. Pockley Avenue was named after Captain Brian Antill Pockley who was in the Australian Army Medical Corps. Captain Pockley was the first Australian casualty in WW1. Pockley Avenue has very well maintained family homes and now it will be gone for future generations.
Looking at the plans the driveway entrance to the units is in MacLaurin and is dangerous. It should be in Pockley to reduce the risk of an accident.
Another issue is traffic. We cannot exit our area now in the morning peak times. The number of dwellings is doubling from 362 at present adding an additional 404 dwellings which are under construction and approval. The number of cars is more than doubling. At certain times of the year in early mornings driving up the steep hill you are blinded by the sun rising from the east and with cars parked on both side of the street - impossible.

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:

1. Our neighbourhood can only be accessed via Maclaurin Parade, Corona Avenue, or Findlay Avenue.
2. There is no right turn from the southbound Pacific Highway into either Corona or Findlay Avenue.
3. The right turn at Maclaurin Parade is unprotected, causing frequent delays and risks.
4. 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:

1. Conduct a comprehensive traffic impact assessment that accounts for cumulative effects across all current and proposed developments in the area.
2. 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.

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.

Whilst I agree with the increase in housing required next to major transport hubs, I wish for the local area traffic increase to be seriously considered as it has potential to put lives at risk during fire evacuation. The pocket of houses from Findlay Avenue, Alexander Pde, Kings Avenue, Corona Avenue Pocklye Avenue, Larkin St, Larkin Ln, only have 3 access points out to the Pacific Highway, on Corana Ave, Findlay Ave and Maclaurin Pde. There is an easement that could connect Findlay Ave to Dulwich Rd. This would open up more access and egress routes in case of emergency.

In terms of traffic, we ony have 1 traffic light which we can turn right onto the Pacific Highway from this pocket from Maclaurin Pde. We can turn left only onto the highway at Corona Avenue, we can turn left or right at Findlay Avene where there are no lights. Local area traffic management is a serious consideration, as the current egress with the current density is inadequate for everyday access and egress onto the Pacific Highway. There have been multiple accidents and deaths at these intersections. Opening up the access to Dulwich Ave would also reduce traffic congestion.

We live at the bottom of Findlay Avenue and are not allowed to increase the density population on our block due to the RFS risk of increasing population in an area where there is not adequate fire escape routes according to local councils and state Rural Fire Service. How you can at state level significatnly increase the risk and put so many lives at risk with this huge population density increase is gross negligance. I urge you to consider this and allowing for better fire access and egress routes as well as better everyday traffic management. Thank you.

I am writing to express my deep 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 ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
Firstly, the threat of bushfires and evacuation constraints in the West-Roseville precinct is a significant concern. The area is bushfire-prone and land-locked, 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 peer-reviewed bushfire evacuation research.
Additionally, 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. Moreover, 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.