Sydney Football Stadium Stage 2 (Design, construction and operation)

see email from Mary Pinnock attached

I wish to object to Stage 2 of the Sydney Football Stadium. This project will cause a major loss of amenity to residents in nearby surrounding areas. It is excessively large, given that Sydney also has the new Parramatta Stadium and the fact that Homebusgh is to be upgraded. Providing a car park will encourage people to use the roads. These roads are already clogged due to high population densty in the area. Any plans to widen roads would result in narrower footpaths and set backs for residents as well as increased traffic with accompanying noise and pollution. There is also a threat to tree cover should trees be removed from an area in desperate need of as much green cover as possible to reduce heat and provide public amenity. Extra traffic would be directed onto South Dowling Street and the Eastern Distributor, roads already heavily congested. Adjoining roads trying to access South Dowling street and the Eastern Distributor would experience even greater delays. A smaller stadium with access by public transport alone would be a much more acceptable option.

Thank you for allowing the community to respond to the EIS. I am a resident of Centennial Park and my family and I treasure the park and it’s archaic trees and open green spaces.
I did not support the demolition of the original Sydney Football Stadium because I did not believe that it was necessary for the people of NSW to pay for a rebuild when a much less expensive remedy was available. Now that the stadium is knocked down, I am concerned about the gigantic size of the planned new stadium, as I believe it will adversely impact the parklands and it’s heritage surrounding neighbourhood. The huge size of the stadium dwarfs the trees of Kippax Lake, which is a peaceful green retreat for residents and visitors to the area. Moreover, the massive stadium will not sit well with the surrounding Paddington precinct. The stadium will overwhelm the surrounding historic area reducing its appeal and charm.
I’m also greatly concerned about the traffic in the Moore Park area. It is already congested on weekends and a massive stadium will only make traffic gridlock more unbearable. It doesn’t seem to make sense to build a large stadium in an already congested area that does not have adequate public transport. The light rail is not equipped to deal with the situation. Furthermore, the Moore Park Master Plan is supposed to reduce car parking on the parklands and allow people to enjoy the green open spaces. I strongly object to any car parking on the grasslands of the Parklands.
I have witnessed the recent damage to the Parklands caused by the Tibby Cotter bridge and the light rail. We have lost much valuable parkland and the number of playing fields have been cut up or lost. I am worried that pedestrian traffic caused by the stadium will further cut up the playing fields.
I am writing to strongly oppose the building of a stadium as it will diminish the beauty of the Parklands and it’s surrounding areas.

There was neither public approval nor credible justification ever given for the demolition of Philip Cox’s award winning Sydney Football stadium. Accordingly, the need for any replacement stadium, such as the proposed redevelopment, cannot be established and has not been demonstrated. 

Furthermore, the redevelopment DA does not sufficiently address the impacts of slow moving trams with a 4 minute headway and attendant traffic congestion, together with the likely disruption in the streets of the surrounding localities.

If vast amounts of public money is to be again wasted on a new stadium, then it must be an accessible stadium, because the only credible justification that the Government made for the destruction of the Sydney Football Stadium was it’s less than satisfactory accessibility. However, it appears that the proposed design does not provide for a continuous accessible path from the stadium through to Driver Avenue. 

The proposed stadiums bulky design with a bowl roof form will likely increase the height of the stadium and seems over high and inappropriate in its context, adjoining Sydney Cricket Ground, and within a heritage conservation area.

Ideally, spectators need to be discouraged from using cars. to attend events. However, I fear that, If and when a new stadium is built, spectators will now have the additional disincentive to use public transport and instead, drive to SFS and SCG fixtures, because trams, with a headway of 4 minutes, will likely not have the capacity to move crowds like the former bus service did, efficiently moving large crowds in a staged manner with full buses leaving as new empty buses pulled in behind waiting to be filled and with additional buses pulling in behind them. Accordingly, traffic congestion will likely become gridlocked, especially so, if a reduction in on-site car parking is not prioritised. Provision must also be made for adequate bicycle parking facilities that must be ready from the opening date..

Parking must not be allowed within Moore Park. Moore Park and Centennial Park parkland is visited by more than 20 million visitors each year. This precious parkland must be preserved and protected, and must not be used as a spectators carpark.

All trees standing n the vicinity of the proposed stadium must be preserve. Trees should not be removed simply to provide for pedestrian access from Moore Park Road, Moreover, the application does not appear to provide any plans to replace lost trees. 

I am concerned with parking and traffic management in regards to demand for private travel to the stadium. Also concerned that public transportation is inadequate and needs better planning.
Finally, further loss of mature large fig trees would be completely unacceptable.

In more detail:
Build a transport management plan that keeps people out of cars: the proposal does not discourage people from driving to events. Traffic congestion will worsen if a reduction in on-site car parking is not prioritised. Additional public transport services and adequate bicycle parking facilities must be operating from the moment this stadium opens to meet demand.
Keep parking off Moore Park:More than 21 million people visit the Moore Park and Centennial Park parkland every year. We must ensure this parkland is protected, and not used as overflow parking for private vehicles.
Call off the chainsaws for trees near the stadium:tree removal to accommodate pedestrian access from Moore Park Road has not been justified, and this application does not outline any plans to replace lost trees

Please see attached submission

Please see submission attached

To whom it may concern,
The present design is too large for it's location.
Reduce the scale of the new stadium: the ‘bowl’ roof form will increase the height of the stadium to its east and west. This is bulky and excessive next to a heritage conservation area.
Build a transport management plan that keeps people out of cars: the proposal does not discourage people from driving to events. Traffic congestion will worsen if a reduction in on-site car parking is not prioritised. Additional public transport services and adequate bicycle parking facilities must be operating from the moment this stadium opens to meet demand.
Keep parking off Moore Park: More than 21 million people visit the Moore Park and Centennial Park parkland every year. We must ENSURE THIS PARKLAND IS PROTECTED, and not used as overflow parking for private vehicles.
CALL OFF THE CHAINSAWS FOR THE TREES near the stadium: tree removal to accommodate pedestrian access from Moore Park Road has not been justified, and this application does not outline any plans to replace lost trees.
Sincerely,
Jack Whiddon

• Build a safe, accessible stadium: A key justification the Government made for demolishing the Sydney Football Stadium was it’s lack of accessibility, however the proposed design includes very poor outcomes for a continuous accessible path of travel from the stadium to Driver Avenue.
• Reduce the scale of the new stadium: the ‘bowl’ roof form will increase the height of the stadium to its east and west. This is bulky and excessive next to a heritage conservation area.
• Build a transport management plan that keeps people out of cars: the proposal does not discourage people from driving to events. Traffic congestion will worsen if a reduction in on-site car parking is not prioritised. Additional public transport services and adequate bicycle parking facilities must be operating from the moment this stadium opens to meet demand.
• Keep parking off Moore Park:More than 21 million people visit the Moore Park and Centennial Park parkland every year. We must ensure this parkland is protected, and not used as overflow parking for private vehicles.
• Call off the chainsaws for trees near the stadium:tree removal to accommodate pedestrian access from Moore Park Road has not been justified, and this application does not outline any plans to replace lost trees.

To whom it may concern,
Please find attached a submission on the Sydney Football Stadium Stage 2 (design, construction and operation) from BIKEast.
Thank you.
Regards
Jim Hope
BIKEast vice-president

Rugby AU submission is attached

four submissions

This submission is made on behalf of Fox Studios Australia (FSA). FSA objects to approval being given to the application in its current form. FSA has particular concerns that the proposal in its current form will materially affect the FSA studios from functioning as a film and television production facility with purpose built sound stages and that the assessment of the likely impacts of the proposal which has been carried out to date is inadequate and likely to understate the true noise and vibration impacts which FSA will suffer during construction.
The attached letter and report sets out in detail the concerns FSA.

Paddington-Darlinghurst Community Working Group
Convenor: Will Mrongovius 41 Selwyn St. Paddington, mob 0407 418 780
email: [email protected]

Your ref: SSD-9835

17 July 2019

Ms Karen Harragon
Director
Social and Other Infrastructure Assessments
NSW Department of Planning and Environment


Dear Ms Harragon,

Sydney Football Stadium (Stage 2 Design, Construction and Operation)
State Significant Development Application (SSD-9835)

The Paddington-Darlinghurst Community Working Group is the largest community group bordering the Sydney Football Stadium precinct. Our members are local residents and business owners who use the precinct and surrounding parklands on a daily basis, are SFS patrons and experience both the positive and negative benefits associated with SFS events.

We have reviewed the development application and accompanying documents for the replacement football stadium. We wish to object to the DA as it does not sufficiently address the impacts of event attendees and traffic congestion to the surrounding community.

Whilst we understand that the DA relates to land under the control of the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sports Ground Trust, we are concerned that many of the comments and plans are based on assumptions relate to the maintenance of the status quo.

As guiding principles the consent conditions should take the following into account:

• No loss of public open space.
• Plans for events at the SFS should recognise the need to co-exist with regular users of Moore Park, which was a gift to the people of Sydney. By necessity event patrons will use the Park as a thoroughfare to their event however the Park should not be taken over by commercial interests for activation activities. The Park should still be available to the community for regular passive activities.
• The local community supports the removal of on-grass car parking from Moore Park as identified in the Moore Park Master Plan 2040.
• Planning needs to support a greater reduction in private transport journeys to events.

Of particular concern to the community is the Transport Assessment as indicated below.
1. Transport Assessment

1.1 Integrated ticketing
Current experience with integrated ticketing, to events such as the Royal Easter Show and at ANZ and Bankwest Stadiums, shows there are still some flaws in the system eg. club membership cards, rather than tickets, are not always successful in activating turnstiles. These glitches need to be eliminated to support greater use of public transport to events.

1.2 Key Pedestrian Routes
The key pedestrian route along Greens Road should be switched to the eastern side of Greens Road, adjacent to Victoria Barracks, to reduce the noise impact of event goers, particularly after night time games. The majority of these homes are bald faced terraces and residents can step directly out of their homes into the flow of pedestrians.

1.3 Pedestrian Route Assessment
1.3.1 The Tibby Cotter Bridge has been available for use by event patrons since 2015 and is not heavily patronised by SFS event attendees. As it is not closely situated to the proposed SFS exits it is unlikely that there will be significant changes in pedestrian behaviour.
1.3.2 Fitzroy St capacity. This has long been the preferred route for patrons walking to/from the SFS from Central Station and local restaurants as it is the shortest route. It is also the final sector of the Moore Park Road cycleway linking to Bourke St. Game days present some challenges to local residents trying to walk or cycle against the flow of event patrons on narrow footpaths. The footpath needs to be widened.
1.3.3 Seymour Place, running between Flinders Street and Selwyn Street Paddington, is also used as a pedestrian route. As the footpaths are not wide enough for pedestrians or prams, patrons typically walk along the roadway. Funding should be made available to make this into a Shared Pedestrian zone.

1.4 Moore Park Road cycleway
It appears counter intuitive to build a cycleway that may encourage event patrons to cycleway to events and then close the cycleway on event days with a provision for use by pedestrians. With good design it should be possible for the cycleway to remain in operation on event days. If there are random closures it will be a disincentive for regular cycleway users, encouraging more car journeys.

1.5 Post-event Pick-Ups
If no provision is made for post event pick-ups these will continue to be dispersed to local streets. For example, Greens Rd is frequently used for this purpose. This creates additional noise and unsafe traffic behaviour impacts on local residents.

1.6 Precinct Car Parking
With the removal of on-grass parking on Moore Park, as foreshadowed in the Moore Park Master Plan 2040, there will be a reduction in the number of parking spaces available. The Transport Assessment does not take this sufficiently into account.

1.7 Coach Parking
There should be no coach parking on Moore Park Road. The southern kerbside area should be used for other purposes such as a taxi rank or pick up area for point to point transport.

1.8 Taxi Rank
We welcome the proposed taxi ranks on Moore Park Road. Event patrons randomly crossing the road after games present a significant traffic hazard and safety risk.

The proposed rank location for Moore Park Road heading west is in the wrong location to maximise usage. It should be located to the west of the Oatley Road lights. The further away it is, the less likely it will be used by less regular event patrons. Any rank is also likely to be used by patrons of SCG events and needs to be more visible.

The ranks should be in use at all games. If not, event patrons will not feel confident that they will provide a reliable transport option.

1.9 Rideshare Geo Fence
The Transport assessment focuses on traffic and pedestrian movements but there should be consideration of the adverse impact on residents of local streets of both a geo fence and a failure to provide an authorised rideshare collection point. Otherwise ride share pick-ups will continue in local streets like Oatley Road and Greens Road.

1.10 Moore Park Precinct Event Operations Plan
This plan needs to be updated to incorporate changes such as rideshare.

2. Accessibility
We support all efforts to make events inclusive and accessible to anyone wishing to attend. However the plans seem to focus on mobility parking, lifts and toilets within the venue and don’t seem to appreciate the broader range of issues faced by event patrons.

2.1 Driver Avenue access
The current plans for Driver Avenue display steps as the only method of access. Where is the ramp for people in wheelchairs, using walking sticks, on crutches, pushing a pram etc.?

2.2 Post game pick up point
Limited Mobility parking will be available to patrons with a mobility parking permit in MP1. However not everyone with an accessibility issue will be eligible for a permit eg. a child temporarily on crutches. If there is to be genuine accessibility at the venue there needs to be a post game pick up point located nearby.

2.3 Pedestrian routes
Pedestrian routes need to be flat and well lit at night. Currently, for example, the footpath along the southern side of Moore Park Road adjacent to Moore Park is raised in a couple of sections because of tree roots. The footpath on the eastern side of Driver Avenue adjacent to MP1 slopes from east to west and is uneven in sections as a result of works on utilities. These types of maintenance issues need to be factored in to improve accessibility for patrons.

3. Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy
The types of anti-social behaviour that local residents have experienced over the past couple of years typically include public drunkenness, urinating in the streets and on private property, dumping of rubbish including glass bottles, shouting offensive language at opposition fans. They are primarily associated with two sporting codes (rugby and soccer) and specific events such as the Sydney Sevens and A-League rivalry games.

The strategy does not include sufficient detail to reassure local residents that these issues will be dealt with effectively eg. the Rugby Sevens event has allowed patrons to leave the venue through the day, encouraging excessive drinking at local hotels where prices are cheaper. Some A-League supporter groups with drums drink outside the Captain Cook Hotel on the corner of Moore Park Road and Flinders St shouting ugly chants. Although some people might regard this as colourful atmosphere, residents find it unduly intrusive.

The plan should address this and other issues at nearby licensed premises

4. Event Restrictions
We support the continuation of the restriction on concerts to 6 per year.


As stated previously, the local community has significant concerns about the current development application. Any approval should be conditioned as follows:

1. The Applicant is to acknowledge and support the removal of on-grass car parking from Moore Park as identified in the Moore Park Master Plan 2040 as soon as possible, commencing in 2020.
2. The Applicant accepts the responsibility for providing, on Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust Land, any additional parking requirements as a result of this development.
3. The Transport Assessment should be reviewed and amended.


Yours faithfully,


Will Mrongovius
Convenor

Build a safe, accessible stadium: A key justification the Government made for demolishing the Sydney Football Stadium was it’s lack of accessibility, however the proposed design includes very poor outcomes for a continuous accessible path of travel from the stadium to Driver Avenue.
Reduce the scale of the new stadium: the ‘bowl’ roof form will increase the height of the stadium to its east and west. This is bulky and excessive next to a heritage conservation area.
Build a transport management plan that keeps people out of cars: the proposal does not discourage people from driving to events. Traffic congestion will worsen if a reduction in on-site car parking is not prioritised. Additional public transport services and adequate bicycle parking facilities must be operating from the moment this stadium opens to meet demand.
Keep parking off Moore Park:More than 21 million people visit the Moore Park and Centennial Park parkland every year. We must ensure this parkland is protected, and not used as overflow parking for private vehicles.
Call off the chainsaws for trees near the stadium:tree removal to accommodate pedestrian access from Moore Park Road has not been justified, and this application does not outline any plans to replace lost trees.

Justification for the redevelopment has still not being demonstrated.
The DA does not sufficiently address the impacts of traffic congestion and disruption to the surrounding community.

In your submission, you can call on the Government to:

Build a safe, accessible stadium: A key justification the Government made for demolishing the Sydney Football Stadium was it’s lack of accessibility, however the proposed design includes very poor outcomes for a continuous accessible path of travel from the stadium to Driver Avenue.
Reduce the scale of the new stadium: the ‘bowl’ roof form will increase the height of the stadium to its east and west. This is bulky and excessive next to a heritage conservation area.
Build a transport management plan that keeps people out of cars: the proposal does not discourage people from driving to events. Traffic congestion will worsen if a reduction in on-site car parking is not prioritised. Additional public transport services and adequate bicycle parking facilities must be operating from the moment this stadium opens to meet demand.
Keep parking off Moore Park:More than 21 million people visit the Moore Park and Centennial Park parkland every year. We must ensure this parkland is protected, and not used as overflow parking for private vehicles.
Call off the chainsaws for trees near the stadium:tree removal to accommodate pedestrian access from Moore Park Road has not been justified, and this application does not outline any plans to replace lost trees.

I object to the bulk and scale of the design in a heritage area. I object to the continued parking on Moore Park despite Centennial Park & Moore Park's intention to remove on grass car parking. I object to the lack of a transport strategy to avoid congestion in the area. I object to the proposal for media screens to encase the stadium now or in the future and the excessive signage proposed.

I particularly object to the incorrect information in Appendix Q to the EIS.

The SCGT is subject to an Environment Protection Authority “Notice of Preventative Action Number 1003904 dated 29.6.02” (available on the EPA website) which at paragraph (10) provides:
“Number of Concerts
No more than four (4) concerts per calendar year may be held on Trust land, including the SCG and the SFS.”
A variation of Prevention Notice Number 1517780 dated 2.12.13 was issued to the SCGT however this did not amend or increase the number of concerts able to be held on Trust land.
Appendix Q to the EIS, which was prepared by the SCGT, says at paragraph 2.1 Event Frequency:
“The former SFS maintained a restriction on the number of concert events via a Noise Prevention Notice issued by the EPA. The Notice restricted concert events to a maximum of 6 per year with an average of 4 per year over any 5 year period. This restriction will be maintained in the redeveloped SFS.”
Appendix Q to the EIS is incorrect in that the EPA allows a maximum of 4 concerts across both the SCG and SFS and not “…a maximum of 6 per year with 4 per year over any 5 year period.” at the SFS.

The conditions of consent must be clear as to the maximum number of concerts able to held across the Trust land.

I object to removal of existing trees. Human traffic flow can easily move around objects and will be a far healthier process with trees.
There needs to be more emphasis on encouraging public transport and cycling to events.

I am concerned about the Stadium development and design principles which will not sit sympathetically in the historic parklands.

I object to any increase in the Number, type and duration of events which will impact on the wider area as Moore Park and Anzac Parade are major arterial roads. The lack of a retractable roof is a major flaw in design and will add to the noise and light pollution.

The Relationship between the SFS redevelopment and Moore Park is important and the proposed design will dominate the People’s Park Moore Park which is unacceptable.

The Visual impact and Overshadowing of the new design. It is too high and too bulky.

The Heritage aspects of Kippax Lake and Moore Park are ignored.

There should be alarms bells going off as the building is likely to negatively impact Busbys Bore - an artesian basin - the geotechnical reports need to be conducted by several independent groups or impact on nearby homes could be another lawsuit. Flooding and Groundwater impacts cannot be underestimated.

Ancillary land uses and commercial activation should not be permitted.

While car parking should be removed from parklands, NO additional parking on the parklands ANYWHERE should be built. The Light Rail was built as a transport solution and carparks should not be built at ES Marks or Golf Course!


I note that the project is already overbudget according to Daily Telegraph which reflects the Business Case which stated it had a cost/build ratio of less than 1. This project is an irresponsible waste of public monies.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/allianz-stadium-redevelopment-cost-blowout-raiders-remember-greatest-grand-final/news-story/4975f105c06fca4234ab74a293333abe