Uniting War Memorial Hospital Waverley

State Significant Development - 61389706
Don’t cut down 95 mature trees at Uniting’s War Memorial Hospital Site in Waverley

SSD-61389706
State Significant Development
Seniors Housing
Local Government Areas
Waverley

Removing 95 trees on one of Waverley’s last remaining public green spaces just doesn’t make sense.
For a start, it doesn’t fit with the State Government’s plan to increase the tree canopy cover across Greater Sydney to 40% by 2036. At Bondi Junction the tree canopy rate was 21% in 2022 according to Waverley Council.
Many of the trees to go are historically part of the Vickery Estate’s 160-year-old heritage:
• a rare giant Illawarra Flame Tree
• a Bhutanese Cypress
• an oak
• a Norfolk Island Pine
• Date Palms
• a Himalayan Cypress
• a Bull Bay Magnolia on the significant tree registry
• two giant Moreton Bay figs reputed to be older than the trees in Centennial Park by about 20 years. One is on the significant tree register.
These are the sorts of spectacular trees found in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden.
The trees are loved by the community and the War Memorial staff and patients. They create a precious haven and being in the green space is a balm for the convalescing patients at the War Memorial. I know my mother loved to sit in the gardens while at the hospital for six weeks, recovering at rehab from a broken hip and suffering from dementia.
Some of the trees that are being removed are much loved and photographed such as the four jacaranda trees, the magnolia, the Illawarra flame tree, the coral tree and more.
So close to the concrete towers of Bondi Junction, the War Memorial’s mature trees improve air quality, absorb carbon and rainfall, cool the local environment and Birding NSW says 170 species of birds use the trees and it is an important wildlife corridor staging post between Centennial Park and Waverley Park.
Many of the trees going are native trees. There is an impressive stand of nine river oaks, also known as she oaks, which have seeds and cones that feed birds like the glossy black cockatoos, rosellas, rainbow lorikeets, and finches. A non-breeding glossy black cockatoo eats around 60-80 river oak cones per day, while a male feeding a nesting female may eat nearly double that amount of 120 plus cones. What will happen to them without this valuable food source?
Birds such as the Willie Wagtails, Pee Wees, and Butcherbirds nest in the she oaks.
There are also seven broad leafed paper barks going and four bottle brush trees, these trees are necessary for nectar-feeding animals such as lorikeets and honeyeaters, as well as the bats and a wide variety of insects, including native and introduced bees, are drawn to the blossoms for nectar and pollen.
Currently the entire 3.5-hectare site is deep soil, but Uniting’s development includes 478 underground car spots. Once a plantable area is gone, it cannot be recovered for planting in future, according to Waverley Council.
Upgrading aged care accommodation is great but couldn’t it be done around the trees, so we don’t lose 95 well established trees. Or at least save some of the great trees on this site.

please accept submissions on SSD-61389706

Refer to the attached submission

see attachment - onsistent

Supportive with comments.
Suggestions for the Applicant that I expect could be quickly accommodated so as not to cause delay to approval of this DA.
Suggestions for research which the Duty Planner requested I include in my submission.
Happy to answer questions, offer citations.

I fully support this necessary development for the Waverley LGA. I am a member of the Vickery-Waterhouse family and have been well aware this proposal, as well as the workings of Uniting War Memorial Hospital Waverley over the past decades. This included my attendance at their 100 year celebration. The facilities proposed are vitally important for Sydney and they greatly enhance the site, while ensuring protection of our heritage areas. I am grateful and proud of the work by Uniting over many years to enhance this legacy donated by my family. Approving this project will demonstrate that our government is supporting appropriate health care development.

While I usually support good developments, I object to this one on the grounds of unnecessary height. I live opposite the planned development and will be completely overshadowed by the 6 storey buildings along Bronte Road( going south). All the buildings on the western side of Bronte Road are 4 storey buildings. Also, they are lower down the hill from the development.

I was told when I brought my unit that I was buying on the residential side of Bronte Road and that the northern side into Bondi Junction was for business development.

The block of 6 storey to be built on the corner of Birrell Street and Bronte Road would be such an eyesore and overwhelm the intersection.It is a lovely green space at the moment.

I understand that the area needs to be up dated and the land better utilzed but there is also a need to consider the neighbourhood.

A unit in this building has just sold for $400,00 dollars less because of this proposal.

Thank you for your time.

Church in the Marketplace supports this development. Our community needs the quality care that will be able to be provided as a result of the redevelopment of this site. This includes a range of aged care accommodation options and specialised rehabilitation services. The accessible location is important for people receiving this care. The sympathetic development of the site which will increase accommodation available, especially for older residents, will benefit the whole community.
The development respects both the historic elements of the site as well as the natural beauty and values of the location.
Appropriate provisions are in place to ensure that there is minimal, if any, increase in vehicle traffic. Most users will not be on the road in peak times.
The sustainability measures associated with the development will enable a significant increase in housing whilst providing minimal environmental impact.
Unless this development proceeds, older people in our community needing accommodation or rehabilitation services will be forced to relocate or travel to get the service they need. This will have a negative impact on them and the community as a whole.

I totally support the redevelopment and conversion of the Edina estate by Uniting NSW.ACT from it's current use to that of a centre for aged care and community services. I have both visited the site and reviewed all the main elements and heritage aspects. It certainly seems as though Uniting has adopted a style of development that whilst looking to be a wonderful facility for the community, has retained many many elements of the site is a very sympathetic manner.
So in conclusion, I again maintain my support for the proposed Uniting War Memorial Hospital development in Waverley.

WMH development is a significant project with the aim to integrate wellness into a working community. By creating independant living and aged care facilities along with a rehabilitation hospital it enables recovering /convalescing patients and clients to be around a community where other activities are happening . This shows a holistic approach to improve recovery times through wellness.
The return of buildings to the original heritage state keeps history alive and shows respect for the wonderful legacy that the Vickery family have given to the WMH campus .
The consultation process has been very transparent and receptive to feedback. As a staff member on the WMH campus we were able to give constructive feedback that did influence the design of the project.
Sensitivity to all aspects of the project from aboriginal consultation to community consultation has been evident.
l personally cannot wait to see this project materialise. This is such a good example of increasing housing without compromising
community access.
Thankyou for allowing me to make this submission.

I would like to support the project submitted for the United war Memorial Hospital at Waverley.
As a grand daughter of Evelyn Vickery (and great grand daughter of Ebenezer Vickery) I would like to see the vision and intention of the donation of Edina by the Vickery family continued.
This project will provide quality health care across all ages for the local community as intended.
The development maintains the historical aspects of the site but provides for current and future needs.

I fully support the proposed development around the war Memorial Hospital. Aged care facilities are greatly needed to support the community now and into the future. As a member of the Vickery family who donated this property to the Uniting Church, I feel this development is in keeping with the original intentions and vision of the family. The development is an effective utilisation of the site, and maximises the value of the site and services it provides to the community.

I support this project which will continue the wishes of the Vickery family when the original bequest to Edina was made a number of generations ago It is very important that the wishes of the family are upheld in a way that supports the heritage of such an important Sydney icon which the Uniting church are sympathetic towards
My grandmother was Rene Vickery who grew up in the original Edina home

As an aged (retired) resident of Rose Bay I wish to strongly support the Uniting War Memorial Hospital Waverley project as it will significantly enhance the aged care facilities in the Waverly and surrounding area of the Eastern Suburbs. Residences for aged people require specialised facilities in order to live safely in an urban environment and such developments are few and far between in the Waverley and surrounding Local Government area. While this area if the Eastern Suburbs has recently seen significant housing development, there are few developments designed specifically for aged people. In order to achieve a healthy balanced of all age groups, developments such as the Uniting War Memorial Hospital should be approved. I have visited the site on a number of occasions and examined the Uniting proposal which is entirely sympathetic with the site and area. I strongly suport this progect as it will provide a valuable asset for the future. Dr Peter J Vickery

As a member of the wider family connected to the history of this site, I have reviewed the contents of this proposal. I find the details of the development thoughtful in maintaining the significant elements of heritage of the site, while looking to make the site more effective in its current use. I am certainly grateful for the work that Uniting has done to include the input from members of the family as well as discussing the future plans for the site. I believe the development will enhance the experience of people using the site and increase their sense of community and personal welfare, which is critical for our aging population. Well done to the tram involved and I hope this development is appreciated for its worth and given approval.

It is good to respect the heritage of the area. This proposal does this while providing amenities to support the local community.

Our major objection relates to affordable housing and the need for more accessible and affordable units to serve Waverley’s aging population. unfortunately Uniting is only offering 10% however we believe this is insufficient given the lack of affordable housing and poor ‘community compensation” for the impact of the build on a constrained site as well limited public access and the removal of significant trees and disruption to the areas main environmental corridor. We believe Uniting should offer at least 15% given their FSR. Rather than be linked to the number of units it should be a proportion of the Gross Floor Area. See rational below

The proposed FSR for the R3 zone along Bronte Rd and Birrell St of 1.7 is far in excess of the LEP maximum of 1.2. If this is permitted the affordable housing proportion should be at least 15%. The SEPP formula would give 25%.

Further the affordable housing proportion should be applied to Gross Floor Area, not number of units. Uniting is aiming to allocate 1br units to affordable housing in a complex of predominantly 2br and 3br units. Consequently the proportionate number of affordable units should be well in excess of the GFA proportion. Uniting have offered 23 affordable units (10% of 231 units). The correct allocation at 15% of GFA should exceed 40 units.

I am in my early 20's and reside in one of the rental properties in Birrell Street that will be affected by the proposed building plans for the War Memorial Hospital. I have lived here for the majority of my life and all of my school and working life thus far. I live with my mother who has had some serious health issues the past couple of years and as I am on the spectrum, I have needed some assistance from extended family when she has required treatments.

We very much rely on each other, and the location and layout of our rental is irreplaceable in our eyes. Proximity of health services, my job, extended family members who assist and look out for me when needed, shops and recreation areas, including street level access is critical for us and replacing our beautiful heritage style home will be next to impossible.

We have had many of our neighbours in the stretch of housing that will be knocked down for the entire time I have lived here, and I find the hospital grounds to be beautiful and peaceful and cannot imagine the multi storey buildings that will replace our current homes will enhance the local area at all. I find them beautiful and well kept and it is very obvious that tenants who have resided in them for 10, 20 and 30-plus years would agree.

Parking is also a huge issue daily, all day and night, and to add so many residences without anywhere near adequate parking is just not fair to anyone that frequents the area.

I am just one young voice, but I ask that you please really consider the current plans with a view to hopefully maintaining the housing already in place on Birrell Street and I thank you for your time.

Kind regards
Bonnie Edwards

Good evening. I attach herein my submission with regards the Uniting War Memorial Proposal. Whilst Uniting Waverley hace addressed some issues that we as local residents have been objecting to since 2017, some remain outstanding, and these are contained in the attachment herein. Thank you.

As the Executive Manager & Director of Nursing at Uniting War Memorial Hospital (UWMH), the submitted plans have been scrupulously detailed over numerous years, during at least 10 years where I have been in a Senior Executive position onsite. As the Executive Manager of the foundational care service on the Waverley Campus (UWMH established 103 years this year), I have been actively involved in the planning and consultation processes along the redevelopment journey. UWMH has a long history in care service delivery in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, with a very embedded and connected relationship with the local Waverley community. With 60+ years of service as a medical, surgical and maternity hospital, UWMH pivoted to the provision of specialist aged rehabilitation services in 1984, listed as an Affiliated Health Organisation under the Health Services Act, with a new remit as part of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and NSW Health. Since then, UWMH has been synonymous as a leading specialist healthcare provider for the older population of the Eastern Suburbs. Services range from in-patient admitted sub-acute aged rehabilitation, to non-admitted specialist services and a growing number of community outreach teams such as the Geriatric Flying Squad and our Dementia Management programs.
With UWMH being part of the broader Uniting entity, the largest provider of aged care services in NSW.ACT, there are many synergies in being able to extend the spectrum of services to older people onsite. There has been a previous Residential Aged Care facility, until recently operative on the Waverley Campus, in addition to the provision of low-cost social housing, also onsite. These services have always co-existed seamlessly and UWMH supported some of the care options available to RACF and accommodation residents. Uniting Waverley Seniors Gym have been an integrated part of the UWMH Campus for approximately 15 years. The advent of the Waverley Men's Shed approximately 10 years ago, albeit as an independent entity, has broadened the reputation of Uniting & UWMH, as a service provider responsive to the full spectrum of care service and wellbeing needs of the older population. The planning articulation over the years for the Waverley Campus redevelopment, has been fully inclusive of the UWMH services in their current form, an upgrade of facilities for some services and also with a view to expanding additional types of hospital clinical activity, alongside new opportunities that a campus redevelopment would bring.
The concept of a Healthy Ageing Precinct, inclusive of UWMH, a new RACF, new Independent Living Units would elevate the suite of services provided onsite, optimise the use of the full footprint of the campus and pay homage to the intent of the original generous family bequest over 100 years ago. The ecosystem of services being proposed, would offer a unique health & aged care value proposition to RACF and ILU residents, in addition to the many transitory site visitors who would be welcomed onto the newly augmented campus facilities. UWMH patients would be able to benefit from the improved physical site access, shared back of house services including fresh meal preparation, ancillary services onsite, with increased critical mass of numbers and campus activity enabling higher level services accessible to all.
In discussion with our UWMH Property team, there has been full assurance, prioritisation and collaboration on the continuity of hospital services through the various stages of redevelopment. Some existing UWMH services will benefit from being rehoused in newly purpose-built facilities, which will enhance UWMH patient experience eg current UWMH Day Centre & Younger Onset Dementia clients. Unique facilities such as the customised older person outdoor gym will be accommodated in a new location which will increase access to the use of this equipment. UWMH has long respected and taken care of the heritage aspects of the buildings and gardens. The overarching plans for maintaining and augmenting the heritage aspects of the site, whilst also sensitively building new areas for patient, visitor and staff usage, will be a significant collective benefit of the redevelopment. The inclusion of ample parking for UWMH service users and UWMH staff, will be very welcome and reduce the burden of seeking additional parking in surrounding streets. UWMH staff have long appreciated the uniqueness of the gardens, trees and wildlife on the site. Where these are being heavily considered and conservation is being maximised, alongside a detailed approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion, is an area of keen interest to the staff and patients alike. These aspects have been well articulated in the briefing sessions by the Uniting Property team, with staff and service users having all questions or concerns answered.
Overall, the concept of an augmented site is very appealing to current site users and will be a very comprehensive advantage to future campus dwellers, having a hospital co-located with RACF and ILU's. These plans have been shared with our SESLHD colleagues, including the Chief Executive and the broader SESLHD Executive team. The close proximity of the Uniting Waverley Campus to the acute healthcare facilities such as Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital will provide an accessible sub-acute healthcare solution, to meet the ever-growing aged care population need in northern SESLHD. UWMH and the broader Uniting, has a well established and respected partnership with SESLHD and NSW Health, which this redevelopment will afford fresh opportunity to consolidate the partnership even further.
In summary, the feedback to the multiple Uniting Property team’s consultation sessions from our UWMH staff and service users has been resoundingly positive to the work done in progressing these plans over the years. Any concerns and queries have been empathetically listened to and suggestions for adjustments accommodated, reassuring and prioritising UWMH as an integrated community service, in an optimised Waverley Campus Precinct that meets the needs of the local population well into the future.