St Catherine's School - Upgrade

I object to the amended 200 car space plan for St.Catherine's School because it is grossly inadequate. As a resident of Santa Marina Avenue, during the course of the School day many of our parking places are taken by Teachers and Students/Visitors to the School. St.Catherine's also run many activities during the evening which currently make it impossible for residents to park near their homes. We have a Driveway and this is often blocked whenever St.Catherine's hold events.
In closing, surely a Parking facility with a requirement of 850 to 1000 parking spaces would be more adequate for the proposed new facilities in light of how difficult it has been for residents over the last 20 years with the increased demand for parking spaces in the area.

I completely endorse this project by St. Catherine's. Not only will it generate new jobs within the community, but will also provide an invaluable swimming centre which is sorely lacking in the Waverley community. It will not hinder traffic or cause disruptions to the community but rather provide more parking spaces. To the community members objecting this, they are only looking at the short term as opposed to the larger picture. St. Catherine's school contributes generously to the community, both in spirit and in their after care/holiday programs. To deny the school this project would be to deny the community a future of new resources.

We love to support good education for children, however there are some existing problems between school and local residents. We often can not get out my car park or could not get in to my car park because bad mannered parents parked in my drive way many times.We saw some parents parked in disabled car park area many times.Parents also stop on the pedestrian crossing which will result in a serious accident. As an adult, we all should show how to care for other people and how to behave in public to children. I read the article in the DailyTelegraph, and I was very disappointed about principal's comment. She seems totally fine with ignoring local people.She said it is a community problem,well I think it is the school problem.
I oppose totally the expansion of the school with issues such as noise,dust,noisy trucks,more cars dropping off and picking up children,construction noise,contractors parking in an already over parked area,reduced sunshine from a very tall building ,loads of screaming from excited girls especially on sports days.
As residents we already suffer from early mornings,into the afternoons,and into the evenings,with noise and car parking issues.

I am an owner/occupier of a unit in 33 Albion Street and have been in residence for almost 28 years, In recent times, particularly the last five years or so, I have found it increasingly difficult to find a parking space in my own street or adjacent cul-de-sac - for which I pay an annual fee - and have often had to revert to parking some distance away (e.g. Prospect Street) which is very awkward when I have shopping etc to carry. Moreover, the parents of the school's students invariably drive large vehicles and more often than not take up 1-1/2 car spaces with little or no regard for local residents. The meagre number of additional parking spaces in the proposed DA is totally inadequate and if approved will only exacerbate the parking problem for local residents. I therefore strongly object to the proposed DA as it stands.

I would like to OBJECT to the expansion of St Catherines school.

As a parent in the local community, I support the need for schools to improve their facilities. I have reviewed the St Catherine's plan and believe that it is thoughtful and compatible with the existing school structures - using what is currently redundant space. While construction may provide some temporary disruption - I do not expect there to be any change to traffic issues and I believe that the long term benefits to the local community (both those fortunate to send kids to St Catherines and others invited to use the facilities) outweigh the negative issues.

i object to the lack of proposed car parking proposed and strongly support Waverley Council's request of an appropriately sized drop off an pick up point ON SITE. As, currently in the mornings cars are backed up all the way down McPherson Street to beyond the Clovelly turn off, as well as all the way down to the Murray St round about. this blocks all of the traffic trying to get out of Bronte and these are the only 2 alternatives. If the school wants to expand it must provide adequate car parking and drop off / pick up locations off the streets, so the rest of the suburb can function.

I object on the following grounds:
At present there is chaos and congestion with drop offs and pick ups, teachers park on the street already as there is only 56 parks on the site for a staff of 202. The new DA includes a 500 seat theatre and a 250 capacity aquatic centre which will be open 6 days a week from 6 to 8. For this large increase of traffic St Catherine's is providing only 19 extra spots.

They are already flaunting the height and FSR restrictions, now they intend to go further. This DA is a high intensification of a landlocked area. The only solution is for the school to get an extra campus as other Eastern Subburbs schools have when they have reached their capacity.

I see a big problem

I am writing to object strongly to the Masterplan DA and Stage 1 proposals currently before the Department of Planning & Environment as lodged by St Catherine's School, 26 Albion Street, Waverley.

I object to further overdevelopment of the School campus with all new buildings reaching over the allowable height of 9.5 metres and part over 19 metres. I object to the justification for this excess being that many buildings on the site already exceed 9.5 metres.100% over the height limit for the area.
I object to more buildings exceeding the allowable density, or FSR (floor space ratio) of 0.6:1. Already the school is 50% over the density for the zone, and 1:1 is proposed, taking it to more than 80% over the limit. Open space, trees and gardens on the site are vanishing.
The excessive size of this proposal contrasts the school starkly with surrounding residential property. Buildings already loom over homes, blocking light, air and views. This will get worse.

I object to the lack of a comprehensive and sustainable transport plan. The school is increasing its dependence on individual car based transport for over 600 of its students, clogging up all surrounding streets for drop offs and pick-ups. A new entry on Macpherson Street will draw students away from the Albion Street bus hub, not towards it;
I object to the school's expectation that teachers, staff, cleaners and other services people must park in local streets because the school does not provide enough on-site parking;
I object to proposed year round, regular use of the new indoor heated pool complex, and more noise and disturbance coming from early morning and evening swimming sessions putting more strain onto local streets for parking;
I object to the likelihood of more noise and disturbance coming from more events at the new theatre and entertainment terrace, relying on local streets for parking;
I object to the lack of adequate parking on the school site. The school relies on local streets, including for teachers, volunteer and office staff, and tradies vehicles during construction.
All other landlocked private schools in the region provide staff and visitors with an on-site parking station. Why not St Catherine's?

I object to St Catherine's not taking into account cumulative effects of congestion from nearby developments including Loretto at 363-7 Bronte Road, Bronte RSL at 113 Macpherson Street, and 60-place Child Care Centres each at 23 Macpherson Street and Bronte Bowling Club,16 Wallace Street.

St Catherine's is diversifying into commercial activities and should comply with planning controls for parking, on site drop off and pick ups, active travel, hours of operation, caps on student numbers and the provision of annual lists of major events to Council and the Precincts.

Yours faithfully
Helene Zampetakis

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

RE: SSD 6339 St Catherine's School Campus Master Plan and Stage 1 development

I live in the Waverley LGA near the school.

I am writing to object strongly to the Masterplan DA and Stage 1 proposals currently before the Department of Planning & Environment as lodged by St Catherine's School, 26 Albion Street, Waverley.

I object to further overdevelopment of the School campus with all new buildings reaching over the allowable height of 9.5 metres and part over 19 metres. I object to the justification for this excess being that many buildings on the site already exceed 9.5 metres.100% over the height limit for the area.
I object to more buildings exceeding the allowable density, or FSR (floor space ratio) of 0.6:1. Already the school is 50% over the density for the zone, and 1:1 is proposed, taking it to more than 80% over the limit. Open space, trees and gardens on the site are vanishing.
The excessive size of this proposal contrasts the school starkly with surrounding residential property. Buildings already loom over homes, blocking light, air and views. This will get worse.

I object to the lack of a comprehensive and sustainable transport plan. The school is increasing its dependence on individual car based transport for over 600 of its students, clogging up all surrounding streets for drop offs and pick-ups. A new entry on Macpherson Street will draw students away from the Albion Street bus hub, not towards it;
I object to the school's expectation that teachers, staff, cleaners and other services people must park in local streets because the school does not provide enough on-site parking;
I object to proposed year round, regular use of the new indoor heated pool complex, and more noise and disturbance coming from early morning and evening swimming sessions putting more strain onto local streets for parking;
I object to the likelihood of more noise and disturbance coming from more events at the new theatre and entertainment terrace, relying on local streets for parking;
I object to the lack of adequate parking on the school site. The school relies on local streets, including for teachers, volunteer and office staff, and tradies vehicles during construction.
All other landlocked private schools in the region provide staff and visitors with an on-site parking station. Why not St Catherine's?

I object to St Catherine's not taking into account cumulative effects of congestion from nearby developments including Loretto at 363-7 Bronte Road, Bronte RSL at 113 Macpherson Street, and 60-place Child Care Centres each at 23 Macpherson Street and Bronte Bowling Club,16 Wallace Street.

St Catherine's is diversifying into commercial activities and should comply with planning controls for parking, on site drop off and pick ups, active travel, hours of operation, caps on student numbers and the provision of annual lists of major events to Council and the Precincts.

I have strong objections to the scale of the St Catherine's development. It is an overdevelopment of the site as it's construction will infringe height limitation at .9mts it is in excess of the allowable height limits by 100%

As a resident I am concerned at the impact of parking on resident streets surrounding the school. Our streets currently can occasionally count on after hours parking when school hours are over and during school holidays. This will now be made further problematic by the extension of public hours at the school due to pool and theatre activity and the year-round nature of the proposed facilities.

The on-site parking arrangements for such a large increase in population numbers are inadequate. The access to the school site for pick up and drop off needs to be within the school grounds and not occasion an alteration to existing street access.

Thank you

I am strongly opposed to the St Catherine's Master Plan.
The additional pressure it will place on parking in the area as well as impact on the passage of local transport and cyclist safety. Parents dropping their children to school already double park, and/or park in no parking areas and open car doors on to cyclists , all of which are major hazards.
Further development in order to increase student numbers and the 7 day week use of the theatre will further exacerbate these current hazards.

THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION MUST BE ADDRESSED BY THE SCHOOL AS PART OF IT'S DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
I haved lived a few streets away from St Catherine's School for the last 8 years. The traffic congestion around the school from 8am to 8.30 is extreme. My driveway is constantly blocked by parents picking up or dropping off their children and I have witnessed many unsafe driving and parking practices from both the girls and their parents as they become frustrated with the traffic congestion.
In general the parents and the students seem to be oblivious to the people that live in the surrounding area. I have witnessed many life threatening incidents for students and others as a result of the dangerous parking and driving practices of students and parents. For example I recently saw a parent on a pushbike with a young child on the back who was travelling with another young child riding her bike who was forced off the footpath onto a busy road because a parent parked illegally to drop off her child who then had to go and retrieve her bag from the boot of the vehicle and completely blocked pedestrian access to the footpath and the ramp. I very rarely see any St Catherine's girls walking to school or riding pushbikes. Most of them seem to be dropped off or picked up. The other major problem is parking. The teachers and older girls that drive park in the surrounding streets taking up the precious few on street parking spaces that are available in the area.
Trying to walk past the school at the end of the school day is almost impossible as the girls congregate around the school entrance near the bus stop waiting to be picked up. Even with a teacher present they all seem oblivious to the fact that they are blocking the whole of the footpath.

Re. St Catherine's D.A.
As a resident of Waverley (in the near vicinity of St Catherine"s ) may I say at the outset that i have no quarrel with the concept of the right of a property owner to improve that property within the legal, regulatory and community guidelines prevailing. HOWEVER, I do have issue with a property owner planning to alter/enhance/enlarge the footprint of that property to the detriment of both nearby residents and the wider community.
It is then in a spirit of protest and alarm that I submit the following
1. This application contravenes in many ways ...... Overshadowing height, floor space ratios, noise and dirt pollution, traffic conflict and extended (7 days a week) operating hours.
2. It would appear also that the applicant should no longer be considered other than 'commercial' and as such should be subject to an altered set of guidelines. 3.As a resident (already suffering public transport 'gridlock' each morning).....making a trip from Waverley to Paddington a MARATHON, I cannot contemplate the extent of further disruption as building work proceeds on Macpherson St. access....Stage1.......... This huge undertaking takes absolutely NO account of any other possible expansion in our area over the foreshadowed 15 year plan for constant upheaval in the confined position. 4.The applicant has a property 'landlocked' by residential blocks and public access streets and yet has shown no will to provide any significant internal vehicular access to help mitigate some of the horrific traffic disruption /congestion over a long time, both NOW and in the future. The prospect of a 15 year 'plan'(for residents and pupils!) is SO daunting that any 'positives' for the applicant ? seem.......? 5.The stated reasons for much of the building, combine information about the expansion of pupil enrolments, the need for bigger and better state of the art entertainment and sporting facilities and other assorted educational spaces...... M y response ? 1.With the finite footprint of land within the surrounding Waverley, Bronte, Randwick areas, unless families' birth ratios alter significantly WHERE will the more than 250 ish students be sourced? From further afield? And if so.....won't SIGNIFICANT additional traffic be generated from WITHOUT the supposed local catchment area? No opportunity then for an environmentally compliant Walk to school programme....
2.With the extended hours' use both of sporting and entertainment facilities won't even more traffic/parking problems be a reality, with lighting, activity and noise ? 3.Why is there no evidence of serious attention to a foreseen problem of MORE vehicular activity by the inclusion (and planning for) a vehicular access pathway THROUGH the school property, with a 'school ownership' traffic control plan in place well in advance? You will no doubt have received many submissions, with valid,concise, concerned comments, so I'll not belabour points any further.
As a teacher myself, I appreciate the importance of a thriving vibrant campus and I wish St Catherine's School success as they move purposefully towards quality achievements.
This application does not however, meet guidelines, nor is it reasonable, fair or sensitive to the area.
It would seem that the "dreams" do not equate with the limited site location. (Rather like trying to make a suit with only sufficient material to actually make a jacket.)
Waverley Council has supported the local community by rejection of the plan as submitted.
I strongly now request your intervention on our behalf.

To NSW Department of Planning,

I wish to strongly object to the above DA.

My details are as below:

Catherine Davitt
4/3A MacPherson Street
Waverley 2024
Telephone 9387 6082

I have read the privacy statement and I agree to my name and details being published on your website or shared by others, including the proponent. I have never made a donation to a political party.

The Objection is as follows:



Over the years St Catherine's has had a piecemeal approach to improvements/building on their landlocked site. They are at present in breach of the local planning FSR and height restrictions. They are planning to go even further, apparently with impunity. The 500 seat theatre with a fly tower of 19.02 is over twice the current height.

They have not taken into account the impact of this theatre and the 250 capacity aquatic centre in regard to parking. They have actually commissioned two parking surveys 5-7 mins walking distance from the school. Parking spaces which are in fact used by the ratepayers. In these surveys, especially that of Lyle Marshall & Associates, there are recommendations after listing the parents' parking infringements on how to deal with the CURRENT problem. The school has not implemented one of these recommendations. In fact the Headmistress, Juilie Townsend, has arrogantly stated in the Daily Telegraph on-line version of the 14th November that "parking is a community problem, not a school one". I beg to differ as the photos on the below link show. Parking and congestion is very much a school caused problem. And what has the school done to address that - added 19 extra spaces to their already 56 on site! So for a aquatic centre that will be opened 6 days a week, from 6 am to 8pm , the onus is on the residents to provide the parking. And that is even without the theatre patrons who the school has already stated in their "community consultations" will be offered to other schools around the area. The school is behaving like a commercial enterprise and needs to be treated like one.

https://picasaweb.google.com/cathydavitt/StCatherineSParking?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7yj5-_r4CWtQE

15 of the photos above are of - the fete day on May 10th - an event which is one of the 128 projected if the DA is approved.

There is no comprehensive and sustainable transport plan. 60% of the students are dropped off, causing congestion in the already overloaded MacPherson St and Leichhardt St and if the Waverley Parking Rangers were interested, enough revenue to sustain many local projects. 71% of teachers drive (of 202 employees). With only 56 on site parking, they are cluttering up the local streets. The school has said, once more from the mouth of Julie Townsend in the same Telegraph article that "parking is prohibitedly expensive". There is absolutely no concern or care about the well being of the residents in this Anglican School.

There are other developments going on in the area. Across the road from St Catherine's is a Childcare centre - for under 5s (also with inadequate parking). So the mix of both sets of parents trying to park and drop off their children, although you can't just drop off 5 years, is a set up for a serious incident. There is also a childcare being built in Wallace St - a narrow tiny street which leads onto to Albion then MacPherson. And of course down the road there is the Bronte RSL. None of these developments have been taken into account by the school. And in fact when Andrew Grech(Fiinance Consultation for St Catherine's) was asked about this at a community meeting(it is a requirement of the Director General's Department that the school do list the other developments), he had no idea what the other developments in the area were. This DA was prepared only with the school's perceived needs in mind.

It is a landlocked school. There is not enough land to build what the school wants. The school should do what other Eastern Suburbs schools have done and obtain another campus. AT $63 million available, money does not seem to be a problem.

Regards
Cathy Davitt


PS The link above should give you the photos. They tell a fantastic story. I would be grateful if there are any problems accessing this link that someone in the department could contact me. Thanks

My objections to the St Catherine's plan are based on concerns regarding parking in the area and also the traffic congestion at pick-up time. If they had made some efforts to address the parking issues it is likely that I would not have objected to their proposal at all. I understand the needs of private schools to be competitive.

I propose to block this development, it is unnecessary and is going to create a huge amount of problems for the area. My main concerns are around increased traffic, problems with parking, the noise and dust from the building works.

The school is giving nothing back to the local area.

This is an email pleading the Planning Department of NSW to review the impact the planned 62million dollar development by St Catherine's School Waverley will have on the local residents and businesses in terms of parking.

To build a 500 seat auditorium which is planned for commercial use without having to provide parking in a high density location is just bad planning, the principle of the school has no sense of community in my eyes as a local resident and business operator, if the parents have raised this amount of money they should build an underground car park.

I plead with the State Government to really look at this project, the view is the development of the 500 seat auditorium and 3 swimming pool complex is over a long period of time hence no impact on parking, this is a really stupid statement from the Principle of St Catherine's , we are highly intelligent people that live in Waverley and no matter how you look at it, there must be adequate parking station build to cater for this high use development.

The local streets are already over loaded and the local shopping village suffers due to the lack of parking, this is just another added situation that will see Charing Cross Village become another Paddington with vacant shops and no local shops to support the local school.

Regards

Elizabeth O'Neill

Creator
Table Tops in a Box
shop 1/306 Bronte Rd
Waverley NSW 2024
M: 0400401448
W:www.tabletopsinabox.com.au

The NSW Department of Planning & Environment
Major Projects Assessments
Planning Service
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
RE: SSD 6339 St Catherine's School Campus Master Plan and Stage 1 development
I am writing to object strongly to the Masterplan DA and Stage 1 proposals currently before the Department of Planning & Environment as lodged by St Catherine's School, 26 Albion Street, Waverley.
* I object to further overdevelopment of the School campus with all new buildings reaching over the allowable height of 9.5 metres and part over 19 metres. I object to the justification for this excess being that many buildings on the site already exceed 9.5 metres.100% over the height limit for the area.
* I object to more buildings exceeding the allowable density, or FSR (floor space ratio) of 0.6:1. Already the school is 50% over the density for the zone, and 1:1 is proposed, taking it to more than 80% over the limit. Open space, trees and gardens on the site are vanishing.
The excessive size of this proposal contrasts the school starkly with surrounding residential property. Buildings already loom over homes, blocking light, air and views. This will get worse.
* I object to the lack of a comprehensive and sustainable transport plan. The school is increasing its dependence on individual car based transport for over 600 of its students, clogging up all surrounding streets for drop offs and pick-ups. A new entry on Macpherson Street will draw students away from the Albion Street bus hub, not towards it;
* I object to the school's expectation that teachers, staff, cleaners and other services people must park in local streets because the school does not provide enough on-site parking;
* I object to proposed year round, regular use of the new indoor heated pool complex, and more noise and disturbance coming from early morning and evening swimming sessions putting more strain onto local streets for parking;
* I object to the likelihood of more noise and disturbance coming from more events at the new theatre and entertainment terrace, relying on local streets for parking;
* I object to the lack of adequate parking on the school site. The school relies on local streets, including for teachers, volunteer and office staff, and tradies vehicles during construction.
All other landlocked private schools in the region provide staff and visitors with an on-site parking station. Why not St Catherine's?
I object to St Catherine's not taking into account cumulative effects of congestion from nearby developments including Loretto at 363-7 Bronte Road, Bronte RSL at 113 Macpherson Street, and 60-place Child Care Centres each at 23 Macpherson Street and Bronte Bowling Club,16 Wallace Street.
St Catherine's is diversifying into commercial activities and should comply with planning controls for parking, on site drop off and pick ups, active travel, hours of operation, caps on student numbers and the provision of annual lists of major events to Council and the Precincts.
Yours faithfully
Lisa Holmes & Martin Ricci
Waverley NSW 2024