Sydney University - Abercrombie St Precinct

I think this is a proposal which is not excessive in size and a sensitive improvement to the local area.

This development is over-the-top for the area - it's built hard up to a school and towers over the (already meager) playground space, cutting off sunlight.

The allocation of green space also seems to be very meager, given the scale and intensity of the rest of the development.

I object to the current form of this development proposal. The increased traffic will be a real problem, especially with the car park entrance close to Darlington Public as presently planned. We already have b ig problems with traffic in the morning, particularly. This is a serious safety issue.

There also is inadequate green space in the new plan.

Furthermore, at its present height/position, the business school looks set too loom over the playground of Darlington school in a way that will seriously detract from the pleasantness of this important space for our children.

please see attached - i object as i have a 6 year old attending & next year my 3 year old will be attending. for the attached reasons i am uncomfortable & concerned about this development

This would have serious concern of my children's learning opportunity at Darlington Public School. I am concerned about the traffic, noise but most importantly, dusts. My children both have athma and if this project gets approved, they will struggle to get through the day.

I hope the government appreciate children's learning opportunity in safe environment.

Kind regards

To Whom It May Concern

I am writing as a parent of a child that attends Darlington Public School regarding the proposed development by the University of Sydney, MP 07_0158 – Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni. Darlington Public School is an inner city school servicing the suburbs of Chippendale, Darlington and parts of Redfern. The school is directly adjacent to the western border of the project.

I have major concerns that relate not only to the construction phase, but also the proposed development in its current form. Specifically, I have significant concerns that its size, scale, and use of the land will adversely impact the Darlington Public School and its children.


The following points highlight the areas that require review given the unacceptable risks that they pose for the basic health and welfare of the children and the school's capacity to continue to develop a high level of pre-school to year six education:

Construction phase

1. Access point to the development site for all trucks and deliveries.

The proposed access point for the site is on Abercrombie Street and is directly adjacent to the school classrooms on their North East border of the school site. Locating the access point for trucks would:

• produce unacceptable levels of noise and vibration in the school classrooms that border that entrance – year 2, 4, 6 and both kindergarten classes. This is also particularly significant for the 2 kindergarten classrooms which face the development to the north with only glass panels and glass doors on that side.

• create an unsafe corridor for school children and parents that walk, or ride to school along Abercrombie Street (north side). This includes many unaccompanied but young children entering and leaving the school.

• create an unsafe car drop off and pick up point on Abercrombie Street (the main drop off point at the school).

• reduce the drop off and pick up point area for numerous children who are transported by car.

Serious traffic incidents, involving the safety of children and parents, in Abercrombie Street and Golden Grove Street pedestrian crossings, are currently the subject of ongoing discussions with the Road and Traffic Authority, Police, City of Sydney, Darlington Public School and the Darlington School & Community Association. To create an additional point of traffic density in Abercrombie Street (and as this will increase traffic down a hill - to the Golden Grove Street pedestrian crossing), is an unacceptable risk to the welfare of the students and operation of the school.

The Transport Impact Assessment incorrectly states that “the main school access for students and other pedestrians is the Golden Grove frontage main gate”. While this is the gate closest to the school office, it is not the main access, as it only has three car parking spaces; the others are taken by the high density residential complex opposite the school. It is also not the main entrance as the Darlington Public School drawing area is predominantly to the east towards Redfern and Chippendale. The children walking to school are coming from this larger part of the drawing area and walking along Abercrombie Street or being dropped off from the parking spaces with lower residential parking. This parking is necessary for a school with a 60 place pre-school.

It needs to be stressed that the University of Sydney properties are the only properties that would be impacted by the entry point being in Codrington Street or Darlington Lane. Proposing an entry point in Abercrombie Street will force trucks and plant to be transported through residential and school areas to the project site. The more direct route is from City Road to Codrington Street and will allow access directly into the project site without passing through residential areas or the proposed access that is within metres of classrooms, or across the footpaths and pedestrian crossing that children use to access the school.

The Transport Impact Assessment notes that the only rationale for not using Codrington Street is that it is a 'pedestrian spine' , which is incorrect as during the construction activity the whole site will be in very limited use by the University's 'pedestrians'. In addition, these pedestrians, predominantly adults, are better able to navigate driveways and construction zones, presenting a lower safety concern.

The Environmental Assessment does not address these issues sufficiently. There is no recognition of the impact on the amenity of the classrooms and play areas of a development of this scale, particularly on primary age students who will be expected to learn or play within a few metres of extensive demolition and building works.







2. Air quality

There are significant concerns that the demolition and excavation on the site will have an adverse impact on the health and safety of the children at Darlington Public School, and in particular on the classrooms and play areas that border or face the development site.

The Environmental Assessment states that “parts of the Precinct, such as the potential fill areas, may contain contaminants at shallow depth; Disturbance of the fill areas may produce dust containing elevated levels of contaminants, particularly asbestos fibres or lead. Dermal contact, inhalation and ingestion of contaminants may occur when the ground is uncovered e.g. during building works or excavations.”

There is no recognition in the assessment documents of the risk of dust and contaminants on children who will spend significant hours of the 24 month construction phase in play areas and classrooms within metres of the demolition and construction site. There is no risk assessment in regards to the large number of 3 year olds (a particularly vulnerable population for dust contaminants) that start at the 60 place preschool each year.

The assessment of risk of dust and contaminants must also be extended to the classrooms inside the school due to the fact that Darlington Public School is not air-conditioned and has un-flued gas heaters, so that all year round the classroom windows must be open in order to provide enough air flow in summer and ventilation of heaters in winter

The current proposal provides an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of the children. The proposal must be varied or halted if precautions cannot be taken to protect the children from the air pollution that will be caused by the demolition, excavation and construction phases.

As this project will continue for five years the impact on the school and children also needs to be considered for the long-term impact on the health of school students, their education and amenity over the length of the project.

3. Noise impacts

There is significant concern that increased noise from the construction site on the border of the school will have an adverse impact on the learning environment and welfare of students at Darlington Public School, and in particular on the classrooms and play areas that border or face the fence line.

The project's Noise Impact Assessment concludes that noise associated with construction activities has been found to exceed the noise management level of the Interim Construction Noise Guidelines and that this assessment of noise impact has been based on a 2m high acoustic barrier being installed on the western boundary of the site adjacent the school.

This level of noise impact is unacceptable for the learning environment of the school and as noted above, the school is even unable to shut windows to address noise levels.

As this project will continue for five years the impact on the school and children needs to be considered for the long-term impact on the health of school students, their education and amenity over the length of the project.

Development phase

1. Scale of the new Business Building

The new Business facility building will be seven stories high, and with its location in the North West corner of the school playground it will cause a large shadow effect over the majority of the playground.

What consideration has been given to this impact, and the requirement for natural light for the play areas, making it a suitable area to play?


2. Use of the land for other purposes

The school has had an ongoing discussion with the University regarding use of the ovals and other open space areas for the children to use for playtime and sporting activities. At this point a good solution has not been reached. Given that the University is proposing this development it would be a benefit if grounds adjacent to the school could include a multi-purpose 'open space' that would both benefit the school and the community. Can this be proposed and evaluated with all the stakeholders?

It is noted that the University values the balance between buildings and open areas on its main campus. How has this been taken into consideration with a similar view in the Abercrombie Precinct?

3. Ongoing access point and traffic congestion on Abercrombie Street.

As per the current development plan, the proposal calls for an underground car park to be built for the student accommodation and University staff. The car park will accommodate 185 car spots, and its entrance will be on Abercrombie Street, at approximately the same point of the construction access.

The concerns raised above about the access point to the construction site are the same for this car park access point increasing the risk to school children's safety, in an area that has already been highlighted through the respective organisations (Council, Police, and RTA). The increased traffic flows and access point are an unacceptable risk to the children who attend the school. There is no justification for this level of risk to a school community, particularly as the University has another street frontage without school or residential issues (the University being the only stakeholder for Codrington Street) and an access street internal to project (Darlington Lane).

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a parent of a child who attends Darlington Public School. I would appreciate if a more detailed assessment
of the impact on the school could be carried out in consultation with the school and the concerned parents.
Concerns include - noise impacts on the adjacent classrooms during and after construction, shadowing onto
the school, vehicle access from a point of frequent primary
school pedestrian traffic and dust impacts during construction.
Thank you for your further consideration of these issues.
Yours faithfully
[Name Withheld]

To Whom It May Concern

I am writing as a parent of a child that attends Darlington Public School regarding the proposed development by the University of Sydney, MP 07_0158 – Abercrombie Street Precinct, Syd Uni. Darlington Public School is an inner city school servicing the suburbs of Chippendale, Darlington and parts of Redfern. The school is directly adjacent to the western border of the project.

I have major concerns that relate not only to the construction phase, but also the proposed development in its current form. Specifically, I have significant concerns that its size, scale, and use of the land will adversely impact the Darlington Public School and its children.


The following points highlight the areas that require review given the unacceptable risks that they pose for the basic health and welfare of the children and the school's capacity to continue to develop a high level of pre-school to year six education:

Construction phase

1. Access point to the development site for all trucks and deliveries.

The proposed access point for the site is on Abercrombie Street and is directly adjacent to the school classrooms on their North East border of the school site. Locating the access point for trucks would:

• produce unacceptable levels of noise and vibration in the school classrooms that border that entrance – year 2, 4, 6 and both kindergarten classes. This is also particularly significant for the 2 kindergarten classrooms which face the development to the north with only glass panels and glass doors on that side.

• create an unsafe corridor for school children and parents that walk, or ride to school along Abercrombie Street (north side). This includes many unaccompanied but young children entering and leaving the school.

• create an unsafe car drop off and pick up point on Abercrombie Street (the main drop off point at the school).

• reduce the drop off and pick up point area for numerous children who are transported by car.

Serious traffic incidents, involving the safety of children and parents, in Abercrombie Street and Golden Grove Street pedestrian crossings, are currently the subject of ongoing discussions with the Road and Traffic Authority, Police, City of Sydney, Darlington Public School and the Darlington School & Community Association. To create an additional point of traffic density in Abercrombie Street (and as this will increase traffic down a hill - to the Golden Grove Street pedestrian crossing), is an unacceptable risk to the welfare of the students and operation of the school.

The Transport Impact Assessment incorrectly states that “the main school access for students and other pedestrians is the Golden Grove frontage main gate”. While this is the gate closest to the school office, it is not the main access, as it only has three car parking spaces; the others are taken by the high density residential complex opposite the school. It is also not the main entrance as the Darlington Public School drawing area is predominantly to the east towards Redfern and Chippendale. The children walking to school are coming from this larger part of the drawing area and walking along Abercrombie Street or being dropped off from the parking spaces with lower residential parking. This parking is necessary for a school with a 60 place pre-school.

It needs to be stressed that the University of Sydney properties are the only properties that would be impacted by the entry point being in Codrington Street or Darlington Lane. Proposing an entry point in Abercrombie Street will force trucks and plant to be transported through residential and school areas to the project site. The more direct route is from City Road to Codrington Street and will allow access directly into the project site without passing through residential areas or the proposed access that is within metres of classrooms, or across the footpaths and pedestrian crossing that children use to access the school.

The Transport Impact Assessment notes that the only rationale for not using Codrington Street is that it is a 'pedestrian spine' , which is incorrect as during the construction activity the whole site will be in very limited use by the University's 'pedestrians'. In addition, these pedestrians, predominantly adults, are better able to navigate driveways and construction zones, presenting a lower safety concern.

The Environmental Assessment does not address these issues sufficiently. There is no recognition of the impact on the amenity of the classrooms and play areas of a development of this scale, particularly on primary age students who will be expected to learn or play within a few metres of extensive demolition and building works.







2. Air quality

There are significant concerns that the demolition and excavation on the site will have an adverse impact on the health and safety of the children at Darlington Public School, and in particular on the classrooms and play areas that border or face the development site.

The Environmental Assessment states that “parts of the Precinct, such as the potential fill areas, may contain contaminants at shallow depth; Disturbance of the fill areas may produce dust containing elevated levels of contaminants, particularly asbestos fibres or lead. Dermal contact, inhalation and ingestion of contaminants may occur when the ground is uncovered e.g. during building works or excavations.”

There is no recognition in the assessment documents of the risk of dust and contaminants on children who will spend significant hours of the 24 month construction phase in play areas and classrooms within metres of the demolition and construction site. There is no risk assessment in regards to the large number of 3 year olds (a particularly vulnerable population for dust contaminants) that start at the 60 place preschool each year.

The assessment of risk of dust and contaminants must also be extended to the classrooms inside the school due to the fact that Darlington Public School is not air-conditioned and has un-flued gas heaters, so that all year round the classroom windows must be open in order to provide enough air flow in summer and ventilation of heaters in winter

The current proposal provides an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of the children. The proposal must be varied or halted if precautions cannot be taken to protect the children from the air pollution that will be caused by the demolition, excavation and construction phases.

As this project will continue for five years the impact on the school and children also needs to be considered for the long-term impact on the health of school students, their education and amenity over the length of the project.

3. Noise impacts

There is significant concern that increased noise from the construction site on the border of the school will have an adverse impact on the learning environment and welfare of students at Darlington Public School, and in particular on the classrooms and play areas that border or face the fence line.

The project's Noise Impact Assessment concludes that noise associated with construction activities has been found to exceed the noise management level of the Interim Construction Noise Guidelines and that this assessment of noise impact has been based on a 2m high acoustic barrier being installed on the western boundary of the site adjacent the school.

This level of noise impact is unacceptable for the learning environment of the school and as noted above, the school is even unable to shut windows to address noise levels.

As this project will continue for five years the impact on the school and children needs to be considered for the long-term impact on the health of school students, their education and amenity over the length of the project.

Development phase

1. Scale of the new Business Building

The new Business facility building will be seven stories high, and with its location in the North West corner of the school playground it will cause a large shadow effect over the majority of the playground.

What consideration has been given to this impact, and the requirement for natural light for the play areas, making it a suitable area to play?


2. Use of the land for other purposes

The school has had an ongoing discussion with the University regarding use of the ovals and other open space areas for the children to use for playtime and sporting activities. At this point a good solution has not been reached. Given that the University is proposing this development it would be a benefit if grounds adjacent to the school could include a multi-purpose 'open space' that would both benefit the school and the community. Can this be proposed and evaluated with all the stakeholders?

It is noted that the University values the balance between buildings and open areas on its main campus. How has this been taken into consideration with a similar view in the Abercrombie Precinct?

3. Ongoing access point and traffic congestion on Abercrombie Street.

As per the current development plan, the proposal calls for an underground car park to be built for the student accommodation and University staff. The car park will accommodate 185 car spots, and its entrance will be on Abercrombie Street, at approximately the same point of the construction access.

The concerns raised above about the access point to the construction site are the same for this car park access point increasing the risk to school children's safety, in an area that has already been highlighted through the respective organisations (Council, Police, and RTA). The increased traffic flows and access point are an unacceptable risk to the children who attend the school. There is no justification for this level of risk to a school community, particularly as the University has another street frontage without school or residential issues (the University being the only stakeholder for Codrington Street) and an access street internal to project (Darlington Lane).

I wish to object to this development. I have 6 objections.

1. The basement access driveway needs to be moved from next to the public school on Abercrombie St. It it’s current position it endangers kids and funnels traffic unnecessarily into the residential part of the suburb. It should be moved to Darlington Lane to limit the impact of traffic movement on both residents and school children.

2. The park on Abercrombie St should be retained. It is an important amenity for local residents.

3. Stage 2 of the development which would knock down a number of buildings on Abercrombie St including a child care centre, The Shepard Centre deaf children facility and a residential college should not go ahead. It will radically alter the streetscape opposite residential dwellings on Abercrombie St. The current buildings on Abercrombie St fits the scale of the existing streetscape.

4. Plans for this development should be changed so residents can walk through the facility and use it as a foot transit route to City Road. It needs an inviting entrance or entrances on Abercrombie St and entrances on Darlington Lane. A number of terraces on Darlington Rd would need to be removed to allow foot traffic through the development and then onto City Road or other parts of the University's campus.

5. The University is going to remove Rose St which will remove alot of public parking. The University should provide alternate local residential parking in this facility or elsewhere.

6. An enormous amount of public space (a road, 2 parks and a lane), an important amenity for local residents, will be lost to the community. Residents want 24/7 access to some park and/or courtyard space in this new mega development.

Thank you for your attention,

Tim Brunero

I object to the construction that will take place next to Darlington Public School for a number of reasons, but the main one is that I believe there will be health and safety issues during the building, such as asbestos dust (as there is asbestos in the grounds surrounding the school) and exposure to other noxious materials which I don't want my or anyone elses child exposed to.

Please refer to the attachment

ATTENTION: DIRECTOR, METROPOLITAN AND REGIONAL PROJECTS NORTH

My Name: Brian Pollard
Address: 396 Abercrombie St, Darlington, 2008
Application: UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY ABERCROMBIE PRECINCT REDEVELOPMENT
Application No: MP07_0158

I hereby object to this development on the following grounds:-

1. An enormous amount of public space (a road, 2 parks and a lane), an important amenity for local residents, will be lost to the community. Residents want 24/7 access to some park and/or courtyard space in this new mega development.

2. We want a more open design. Entrances for local foot traffic to enter/transit through the mega development must be welcoming/freely accessible.

3. We want the carpark entrance to be on Darlington Lane - to stop cars being funneled into Codrington/Abercrombie/Golden Grove streets. And also to keep them away from our kids who are accessing the primary school.

4. We want more car parking in the building - to reduce competition for street parking between the 7000 new foreign students and local residents.

5. The Stage 2 development should not go ahead. The existing buildings should remain as their scale fits in with the existing streetscape. The existing car park at the City Rd entrance of the University, or other University land, should be used for part of this development.

6. We want the height of the 7 storey central pillar of the mega development to be reduced as it is overwhelming for local residents.

Application Name: University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment
Application No: MP07_0158

I object to this application as it currently stands for the reasons stated below:-

1. An enormous amount of public space (a road, 2 parks and a lane), an important amenity for local residents, will be lost to the community. Residents want 24/7 access to some park and/or courtyard space in this new mega development.

2. Residents want a more open design. Entrances for local foot traffic to enter/transit through the mega development must be welcoming/freely accessible.

3. Residents want the carpark entrance to be on Darlington Lane - to stop cars being funnelled into Codrington/Abercrombie/Golden Grove streets. And also to keep them away from our kids who are accessing the primary school.

4. Residents want more carparking in the building - to reduce competition for street parking between the 7000 new international students and local residents.

5. The Stage 2 development should not go ahead. The existing buildings should remain as their scale fits in with the existing streetscape. The existing car park at the City Rd entrance of the University, or other University land, should be used for part of this development.

6. Residents want the height of the 7 storey central pillar of the mega development to be reduced as it is overwhelming for local residents.

7. Residents are concerned about the possibility of asbestos being found on the site of the proposed development and want assurances that they will not be exposed to this deadly material.

I am aware that asbestos was discovered in the Darlington Public School playground which is adjacent to the site of the planned development. There is a distinct possibility that more asbestos will be discovered on the site of the proposed development once construction starts. As a local resident and the father of a child at the school, I am concerned that this will have a grave effect on all the children at Darlington Public School and the residents in the area. The University must make clear what it is going to do to protect the residents and schoolchildren.


Regards,
Colin Sharp,
392 Abercrombie St,
Darlington,
NSW 2008.

Re: University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment. Application no
MP07_0158

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a Darlington resident with teenage children and I with to express my objection to the proposed development of the Sydney University Abercrombie Precinct.

First of all, the proposed development is on an inappropriate scale for this edge of the university. Darlington is made up predominantly of 19th century two-storey terraces and the proposed seven level tower block is completely out of scale with the area. Such a building would have been fine in the
centre of the university's main campus - not on the fringes. This will set a dangerous precedent for any further development in Darlington.

The proposed development - including the provisions for the building process - will have a severe impact on the children and staff at the local primary school - Darlington primary school. Not only will the development, as displayed on the plans, overshadow the playground, but the site access to
parking will impact on children walking to and from the school and will also be a hazard both for residential and students walking in the area. The department needs to have a careful look at how this development would affect
the health and safety of the children and staff of the school, as well as all the other pedestrian users of the area.

The very provision of such a substantial amount of parking will only encourage more care use in the area. The university is already very well located for ease of access to public transport - there is no need for such excessive parking provisions, and certainly not where the access points
threaten the safety of children and will surely increase congestion in the area. A car park located with access points on the major arterial roads of City Road, Parramatta Road or Cleveland Street, would have been a better alternative, if such a car park was deemed to be necessary.

Finally, the plan proposes to reduce considerably the accessible green space in the Darlington area. This should be reviewed.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Craig

Attention Peter McManus
NSW Planning & Infrastructure

Submission: University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment (MP07_0158)


Dear Sir,


Please find my submission by way of objection below to the proposed University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment.

This project is absolutely monstruous. It will mean the death of Darlington. It is far far too big and too close to our homes. It destroys all the trees lining the street and removes the only tiny park that was left in that block. It looks like a bunker that has no place in such a historic residential suburb.

If this goes along, we can expect another 2 to 3 years of hellish noise during construction and continuous congestion for ever apart from this horrid bunker. Over several decades, the University has progressively removed anything they don't like from the main campus by dumping all their rubbish (storage facilities, demountable buildings, even shipping container with rock samples with ventilation rumbling over night on our doorstep for decades. This latest assault is by far the most damaging as it virtually obliterates all green space from the neighbourhood with this massive bunker.

The trees and the park should not be removed. Buildings should be behind it to hide their bulk and protect the environment. In any case such a large department and structures should be build within the main campus, which has lots of space, with the massive expansion of multistory buildings lining the main avenue to the quadrangle from City Rd and along City Rd and around the Seymour Centre. It cannot expand to choke the whole suburb. There must be limits. Why should we suffer so that they can get rid of all their rubbish?

Apart from strongly objecting to the bulk and size. Truck access during any construction and vehicule access afterwards should be towards Darlington Lane via City Rd. From my 25 years experience with the Shepherd Centre, Mandelbaum House and other constructions, trucks regularly unloaded in the middle of the night making a startling racket. Abercrombie Street is already congested every morning. There is no traffic plan to cater for such a large number of people once it is constructed.

The Sheppard Centre was a complete waste of 'charity' money (I seem to recall), as it has never been used, and it is hard to object to building something more useful provided it is in keeping with the streetscape. But I object to the demolition of Mandelbaum House, which was also built in the last 20 years. It is a new building that is in character with the street and I had no objection to it when it was built. It is just the right type and size building for this site, except that there should be NO entertainment on the roof at night, which has caused loud disturbance year after year until Police took action. It makes no sense to demolish it to build very much the same, but uglier building. It is a waste of public money. The Abercrombie St frontage should mainly for accommodation or 2 story building, possibly higher but recessed a bit or with slopping roof, similar to original terraces or to Mandelbaum House.

NSW Government and Council should not allow such wastage. Such a major department is out of character for the area. It should be confined to the main campus where it belongs. The open space in this precinct should be returned to the original ratio, allowing for moderate progressive height that can be hidden behind the trees lining the street. No trees on Abercrombie St frontage and the remaining park at the corner of Abercrombie should be removed. It is the only open space left in this area.

I am strongly opposed to the 'bunker' mentality of this design with a continuous blunt face wall along Abercrombie St, three or more story high of concrete and glass. This is very ugly and will deface our street. There is also a possibility of overshadowing our side of the street in winter from 3 pm as it is on the North side. The office towers and blocks must be masked from the street by trees and leave open corridors and green spaces onto Abercrombie St. The proposed project is totally out of character as it stands. Quite frankly, I consider it a bit of an insult to the residents, when the University has at least 6 vast ovals, dozens of smaller green spaces and tree lined alleys all over the main campus. The University cannot offload so many building onto the Abercrombie Street Precinct. Our suburb (what the Uni has left of it) is not a dumping ground.

I am also opposed to removing the only tiny park left on the whole area at the corner of Abercrombie St and Codrington St. This is why bought my house in the first place. There used to be bands of parots, lorikeets, sulphur crested cockatoo and other Australian birds when there was still a green corridor with other areas in the neighbourhood, including the main campus. The Uni appears to be planning to cut down all the trees on Abercrombie St, to leave a few shrubs inside that bunker. This is totally unacceptable. The trees and the park must remain.

The Uni claims to be green and environmentally sensitive, but it is clear that, as with the Avenue from the main gate on City Rd to the Quadrangle, after redevelopment last year, all the trees will been removed and the natural space will be tiled over leaving a few token shrubs looking like something from Waiting for Godot. This Avenue now looks like a hospital ward. So much for being environmentally sensitive. All life has been destroyed on this ancient tree lined avenue. What is so green about it? I don't want Abercrombie St to look like that. Removing any sign of nature and concreting over everything is not my idea of a green environment.

Increased traffic is another serious problem and the underground parking projected would just replace the parking lost on the surface in the area. It therefore cannot cope with the massive 7000 visitors planned for this block. It will only exacerbate the problem.

These are only a few of the problems with this project. I therefore opposed the whole concept as shown on the plan. The bulk must be reduced and the type of building must not destroy the appearance of this terrace-lined street. Large and tall building must not be placed right along Abercrombie Street. This is a residential area and should remain so.

Yours sincerely,

Maurice Thibaux
374 Abercrombie Street
Darlington NSW 2008
Australia
+61 (0)2 9318 0346
Mob.: 0401 723 841

Major Projects Assessment
NSW Department Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 2009
Sydney NSW 2001

22 June 2011

Attention: Director, Metropolitan and Regional Projects and North

Dear Sir,

Objection: University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment (Sydney University's Darlington Campus, bounded by Darlington Lane, Abercrombie Street, Darlington Public School, Proponent University of Sydney) Application no. MP07_0158

Please do not make my name available to the Proponent, the interested authorities or on the Department's website.

As someone who moved to Darlington in 1992, I have seen quite a few changes to the area over the last few years but none that have concerned me quite so much as Application no MP07_0158. I object to this proposed development for the following reasons:

1. It

Major Projects Assessment
NSW Department Planning & Infrastructure GPO Box 2009 Sydney NSW 2001

22 June 2011

Attention: Director, Metropolitan and Regional Projects and North

Dear Sir,

Objection: University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment (Sydney University's Darlington Campus, bounded by Darlington Lane, Abercrombie Street, Darlington Public School, Proponent University of Sydney) Application no. MP07_0158

Please do not make my name available to the Proponent, the interested authorities or on the Department's website.

As someone who moved to Darlington in 1992, I have seen quite a few changes to the area over the last few years but none that have concerned me quite so much as Application no MP07_0158. I object to this proposed development for the following reasons:

1. It’s a business and commercial concern, massive in scale and complexity that does not suit an area where private citizens (and their children) live. There’s a sense of being pushed out of this neighbourhood by the ever-expanding University of Sydney campus.

2. What is proposed is much larger and higher than what it will be replaced, with a high rise tower block in a non-high rise area, setting a precedent. There will be up to fifty percent more shadow over Darlington Public School playground and Abercrombie Street during wintertime.

3. Community land (a park, street and laneways) will be gone forever, never able to be regained. The plans do not compensate for this loss: more thoroughfares are required to enable easy public passage from one side of the site to the other.

4. A car park situated too close to a primary school, when there is than adequate space for it to be situated elsewhere on campus.

5. Construction noise: For some young students at Darlington Primary School, a large proportion of their entire primary school life will be spent alongside construction noise, vibration and long disruption, significantly lowering the quality of their environment and education.

5. On completion the daily movement and noise from an anticipated 7,000 more people and vehicle traffic to an already dense area, that for the last three years has been also severely impacted by thousands of visitors attending CarriageWorks and the weekly Eveleigh Markets.

6. The incompatibility of these buildings with the iconic heritage and historic streetscape of Abercrombie Street.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Yours sincerely,

Major Projects Assessment Dept Planning & Infrastructure GPO Box 2009 Sydney NSW 2001

23 June 2011 University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment Application no MP07_0158


As a Darlington resident I object to this proposed development for the following major reasons:

1. Inappropriately sited over-scale commercial-style development causing loss of amenity

2. Overshadowing of school playground and Abercrombie St

3. Provision of land for public purposes substantially reduced and public amenity lost through tree and roadway removal

4. Inappropriately sited, unnecessary car park adding more traffic to residential streets.

5. Dangerously and unamenably located car park entrance on a primary school pedestrian route.

yours sincerely

rosie wagstaff 27 wilson lane darlington [email protected]

As a resident of Golden Grove St I strongly object to this proposed development.

The infrastructure is struggling to handle current traffic as it is a major thoroughfare. By increasing the University footprint it will only lead to more traffic, less parking for residents and more noise.

As a resident of Golden Grove St I strongly object to this proposed development.

The infrastructure is struggling to handle current traffic as it is a major thoroughfare. By increasing the University footprint it will only lead to more traffic, less parking for residents and more noise.

Parking is constantly unavailable, and the assessment of less than 60% after hours and on weekends is absurd. It is consistently full, and as it currently is, most nights and on weekends I have driven around the block for up to 30 minutes waiting for a parking spot remotely near my house.

This development will only make it worse.