Sydney Olympic Park - Site 53 Mixed Use Development - Stage 1

Dear Sir / Madam

re Mixed Use Development, Site 53, Sydney Olympic Park

Firstly, the planning department is to be congratulated on creating the opportunity for high rise to be built next to a train station - truly a rare event in Sydney.

However, given the site's proximity to a station with regular trains to Lidcombe, and given the lack of housing stock in Sydney, and given future proposals to link the area directly to Parramatta via light rail, I can only wonder why this proposal has been restricted to 14 storeys? This to me sounds like a terrible waste of a great site.

The location of the building is diagonally adjacent to existing structures that are well above this height, and the location of the site is considerably lower at the southern end than those existing buildings. That means that the new structure will be dwarfed by the architectural structures on the Eastern side of the road further towards the Brick Pit and opposite the station.

Given these facts, why has the height been so limited? On completion, the top floor will be barely visible from halfway down Australia Avenue heading south, and I would roughly calculate, invisible from Underwood Road.

Why are designers not making use of the ample availability of sky above the site, which is unimpeded by any existing thing other than some air, to make use of the proximity of the site to existing and future transport infrastructure?

I would recommend the site be raised to at least match the existing structures on Australia Ave, and preferably top them by a considerable amount. I would say that at least one of the structures should top out at 28-30 storeys, and the site offer approx. 1100 apartments, of a decent floor ratio, which would be more in keeping with the nature of this site. This would also allow for water views, which a 14 storey building would not for the majority of residents. Such a design would retain the footprint profile and green spaces that currently exist in the design.

I would also encourage both planners, architects and builders to adhere to very strict sound proofing measures in the designs of these apartments. Let us build this building once, not have to rebuild it or retrofit it because soundproofing was not properly installed or designed.

I would also recommend most strongly and unequivocally that balcony rails have a minimum height of 1300mm, and not the dangerously low 1000mm height, which as I understand it is recommended by the Australian Building Codes Board.

I would also recommend that sufficient thought be given to communal spaces for use by the residents. These would not just be a pool or gym, but things like meetings spaces as well as play areas that can be booked and used by residents.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my feedback.