Sydney University - Abercrombie St Precinct

see attachment

I am writing in my capacity as the parent of a child enrolled at Darlington Public School to object to the proposed development.

As the attached document makes very clear the development will impact very severely upon the amenity of the school by overshadowing the yard and radically increasing traffic flows around the school, as well as further restricting the already limited amount fo open and green space near the school by building on the site of the existing park on the corner of Abercrombie and Codrington Streets.

More importantly, I believe there are serious health and safety issues associated with the construction process. As outlined in the attached document construction is likely to result in large amounts of dust and other refuse entering the school, further reducing the school's capacity to use the playground area and introducing the possibility of asbestos and other dangerous materials entering the school area. The negative health impacts of this will be made more significant by the fat the classrooms are not airconditioned and therefore have windows open most of the year.

More importantly though, the noise of the construction process will have a severe and ongoing impact on the children at the school. As the plans make clear the construction process will continue for up to five years, with active construction taking place over two years. During this time the students at the school will be exposed to constant noise, much of it directly adjacent to their classrooms and playground. Because there are not alternative play areas it will not only not be possible for them to move away from the noise during lunch and recess, but lunch and recess will bring higher levels of noise and exposure to dust.

As the parent of a child enrolled at Darlington I believe this is totally unacceptable. The proposed development will have a severe and ongoing effect on my child's education and is likely to negatively affect her health, as well as exposing her to dangerous materials such as asbestos.

Nor, because of the extended time frame, will these impacts be confined to a relatively short period. Instead they will continue through almost her entire time at Primary School.

Given the above, and the other matters referred to in the attached letter, I urge the department to reject this proposal.

Yours faithfully

James Bradley

Attached are my concerns about the project's impact on the adjoining school and its community

Please see attached submission. In addtion to the comments made in the attched PDF, I would very much like to see an inclusion of more open space for the benefit of both University students and the local community. Open spaces within the university eg: Cadigal Green are heavily utilised by the community during "off peak" uni times (after hours and weekends) . The provision of addition space further helps the university integrate into the local community as well as benifiting the univeristy population.

As Attached

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”.1 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 crossings 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'2, 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.”3 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
1 ARUP Transport Impact Assessment, March 2011, (Appendix P, p17)
2 ARUP Transport Impact Assessment, March 2011, (Appendix P, p17)
3 SKM, Phase 1, Environmental Assessment, Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment Project, March 2011 (Appendix K – 6.3.1; 6.3.3).
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.4 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. Appropriate precautions will need to be taken and monitored during demolition, excavation and construction phases.
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.
4 Marshall Day Acoustics, Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment Project Noise Impact Assessment, March 2011 (Appendix L, p24) 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 multipurpose '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 am concerned the university is not providing enough consideration to the welfare and interest of young kids such as my own. Please refer to the attached objection.

As a parent to a child at the nearby school, I am concerned this development will be detrimental to her safety, health, education, and happiness. Please see details in attached document.

As a concerned Darlington resident I object to this proposed development for the following 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 park, tree and roadway removal

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

5. Dangerously and non-amenably located car park entrance on a primary school pedestrian route.


1. Inappropriately sited over-scale commercial-style development

1A The proposed development is vastly larger in mass and height than currently existing built environment. It would alter the area’s character and reduce its amenity to an unacceptable degree. The current streetscape of Victorian residential terraces, a pub and three small-scale education-related buildings is appropriate for a shared residential/university/primary school area.
The proposed development of a massive three level slab plus seven level tower block is inappropriately sited and unacceptable. The tower block should be deleted from the plan and the remainder substantially reduced in its height and bulk.

1B The existing three level 19th century pub appears to have been used as a precedent to justify an three level proposed height right up to the site perimeter. This is unacceptable: the pub is modest in its footprint, corner location and local clientele, integrates visually with the nearby terrace residences of the same age and style and does not constitute a slab dominating an entire block.
Any development of this site should be maximum two levels to reflect the dominant existing buildings on the street.

1C The tower block introduces high rise to a low rise, largely residential area. This is unacceptable.
Any tower block should be sited elsewhere on the university’s campus, where high rise already exists, away from its residential borders.

1D Several visual representations of the proposed tower block render the tower at about 50% translucency to reduce its visual impact. This is misleading, unethical and indicates the University is well aware of the negative impact this tower block would have on the area if built.
Visual communications should accurately reflect the real impact of the proposed development.


2. Overshadowing of Darlington Public School playground and Abercrombie St

The shadow diagrams indicate that in winter, the massive scale of the proposed development so close to the sites boundaries would cause up to 50% of Darlington Public Schools playground and Abercrombie St to be in shadow. This is unacceptable.
The proposed buildings should have their heights substantially reduced and be set back so the School and street experience no more shadow than they already do.


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

The existing park bordering Abercrombie and Codrington Streets plus several roadways have been subsumed into the proposal’s internal open space allocation. This directly contradicts the object of Section 5 (a)(iv) of the EP&A Act: the provision of land for public purposes.
Additionally, numerous mature trees from the existing park, lanes and streets are proposed for removal. The proposal indicates that majority of new trees would be planted in the internal open spaces of the proposal and the park would be removed to make way for part of the development.
Green space and trees should be sited on the development’s two street frontages, not internally, to ensure green space is equally accessible to residents and University users alike and existing public amenity is retained. Additionally, to compensate for the loss of the roadways, more thoroughfares are required to enable easy public passage from one side of the site to the other.


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

As the plan states, the site is well served by public transport, being five minutes walk from multiple bus routes and eight minutes walk from a major railway station. Generous cycling facilities are proposed. The plan states that the development is to be peopled by existing staff and students rather than bringing in a new population. If this is the case, then for a truly green development there should be no allocation, and no expectation by occupants, of any new car parking on this site. Car parking on this site translates to additional car movements on local streets. Any perceived need for more University car parking should be addressed elsewhere on the campus near arterial roads. More cooperative planning and coordination between the University and public transport authorities would facilitate a greatly diminished need for staff and students to travel by car to the campus.
Any car parks required by the University should be sited so users gain entry from arterial routes such as City and Parramatta Roads, not local streets like Abercrombie St. The University needs to accept responsibility for improved coordination with public transport authorities to better meet its transport needs.


5. Dangerously located and unamenable vehicle entrance on a primary school pedestrian route.

5A The proposed vehicle entrance on Abercrombie St places heavy construction vehicles (and subsequently greatly increased car traffic if the car park is approved) right across a major pedestrian route for children attending Darlington Public School and Darlington Preschool. Twice a day dozens of preschool- and primary-age children and their younger siblings walk, scooter and cycle across the site of this proposed vehicle entrance.
This is not an acceptable site for a vehicle entrance to the proposed development due to the risks to school children. The entrance should be located on the Codrington St or Boundary Lane side of the site.

5B Staff and students at Darlington Public School and Darlington Preschool, along with the rest of the neighbourhood, would experience substantial loss of peace and amenity with the mass transit of heavy construction vehicles entering and exiting Abercrombie St right next door. As the construction phase is envisaged to last for up to 2 years, this is not a trivial concern.
Construction vehicles should not be permitted to transit through Abercrombie St. The educational environment of Darlington Public and Preschools and the residential environment of Darlington as a whole should not be diminished by heavy construction noise and traffic wherever possible.

Please see attached.

Please find attached a submission of objection to the proposal on behalf of the Darlington Public School, School and Community committee.
The proposal raises significant concerns for the children at both the preschool, public, and Aftercare programs located on the school grounds. The environment that the children learn in today will be severely compromised, both in the construction and the proposed development of the site.
The parents require a exhaustive consultation phase with the University in which the matters outlined in the document can be addressed and remedied to the satisfaction of the school. The environment of the children's education needs to be maintained within the school and department of education highest standard to ensure their is no risk to the childrens health and safety.

regads
Nick Vanos
President S&C, Darlington Public

Please refer to the attachment

Please find attached a submission relating to mp07_0158

Thanks
David Crawley

Attn: Director, Metropolitan and Regional Projects North
Dept of Planning

Dear Madam/Sir

Please find attached my letter of objection to the proposed
submission for the University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct Redevelopment, Application No. MP07_0158.

Submission: Abercrombie Street Precinct, University of Sydney (MP 07_0158)

Peter McManus
Planner
Department of Planning & Infrastructure

Dear Peter

Thank you for confirming that it would be alright for me to lodge my submission on the weekend. I attempted to lodge the submission online through the Department of Planning website but was unable to. Attached is word document copy of my submission

Could you please confirm –

That you are able to open the word document That my submission has been accepted and will be considered.


Sincerely yours

John Berry
30 Calder rd
Darlington NSW 2008

My submission on the above project is attached.

_______________________________________________Jonathan Blakeman

To whom it may concern,

Please find attached my objections to this proposed mega-development.

Regards,
Mary Ellen McCue.

To whom it may conern

Please find attached my letter of objection to
University of Sydney Abercrombie Precinct
MP07_0158

Rebecca Shanahan


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Rebecca Shanahan
442 Wilson St
Darlington NSW 2008
9699 2040
0410 209 020
www.rebeccashanahan.net