UNSW G25 Education Building

Please find attached my submission to State Significant Development application SSD-74670005 in relation to the UNSW G25 Education Building.

Submission: Objection to UNSW G25 Education Building Development

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Ana Sofia Vigas, and I am a homeowner and resident of 12 Norton Street, Kingsford. I am writing to express my strong concerns regarding the proposed UNSW G25 Education Building, which is to be constructed between Oval Lane and Botany Street, directly behind a residential area.

This development, as currently planned, poses significant and long-term impacts on the amenity and well-being of local residents—particularly those living along Norton Street and in surrounding neighbourhoods.

Key Concerns and Objections:
1. Loss of Privacy:
The proposed height of the building will allow clear views from upper floors directly into the homes and gardens of Norton Street residents, compromising our right to privacy.
2. Loss of Natural Light:
The building will cast extensive shadows over adjacent homes and gardens, particularly on the northern side of Norton Street, significantly reducing access to natural sunlight.
3. Overbearing Scale:
The sheer size and height of the structure will be visually overwhelming and entirely out of scale with the existing low-rise residential character of the area.
4. Parking and Traffic Impacts:
The removal of 59 car parking spaces will worsen already congested streets. Furthermore, during recent nearby developments, UNSW has not provided adequate parking for construction workers, resulting in increased demand on residential streets.
5. Noise and Air Traffic Disruption:
The building will alter helicopter flight paths to the nearby hospital, directing aircraft over homes and increasing noise pollution in the neighbourhood.

Mitigation Measures Requested:

To reduce the negative impact of this development on the local community, I strongly urge the following to be considered:
• Reduce the overall height of the building to a maximum of 8–9 storeys.
• Minimise the footprint of the building to allow for greater open space between the structure and residential homes.
• Increase landscaping and screening, including tall trees and green buffers, to soften the visual impact and improve privacy.
• Relocate the development to a more central part of the UNSW campus, further from residential boundaries.

The residents of Norton Street and surrounding areas have come together in unified concern, and we respectfully request that UNSW reconsiders the design and placement of this building to better align with its community responsibilities.

Thank you for considering our views.

Kind regards,
Ana Sofia Vigas
Resident and Owner
12 Norton Street, Kingsford

The proposal building described as 13-14 stories is too large and domineering over local residents in Norton Street where I live and there will more loss of amenity, excessive noise, reduced parking and increased traffic flow which has already made Norton Street an unsafe and dangerous rat run from very early in the morning morning to late at night.
Residents continue to endure the extensive redevelopment of the Inglis sale yard precinct and the enormous redevelopment of the adjacent hospital precinct. The light rail construction as well created extensive and extended disruption to our lives. We had had enough of this relentless impost and inconvenience on our lives generally, and our mental health and well being which continues to suffer.
In regards to the building I am very concerned as to the shadows it will cast over residents in Norton Street all year round but particularly in the winter months with the lower sun transit and longer cast shadows. If the development proceeds the height must be restricted to cast no more shadow than the existing car park abutting Oval Lane on the University boundary. Removing sunlight is unacceptable and a direct loss of a most basic existing facility and right.
Why can’t the development be sited away from neighbours more centrally in the campus?
I am also very concerned at the loss of privacy with potentially direct views in the houses and yards of residents impacting the quiet enjoyment of our property. Again if the development cannot be moved then reduce the height so there is no common line of sight.
Similarly a building of this height and size is too domineering and oppressive in nature by its mass on the neighbours of the University. A more centrally Campus location would remove this issue and others and not justify objection.
The prospect of another major building project with the attendant noise and disruption fills me with dread. How much of our lives have to impacted by continuous construction on this scale. The noise of the hospital redevelopment continues to mar our lives and this will be much closer again. Some basic peace and quiet please should not be too much to ask.
In addition our locale is dying under the unmanageable traffic flow around us in our street. Our street is rammed night and day with local workers, students, medical staff and construction workers. Ever since the proliferation of traffic lights over the much preferred and flowing round about Norton Street is a now a narrow rat run that attentuates being being jammed up with no room to get past each way. When the load lightens then the short cutting commuters roar both up and down the street both creating noise and high speed risk to residents, people parking and entering and exiting cars. I can’t get out of my driveway to go work without the risk of a tradie in Ute barrelling down or up the street and nearly taking the front of my car off. Another building project will make this worse, and it looks like the proposal will take out the existing Botany St car park of around 60 spots. We need to seal this street off and remove it as a rat run, or put serious traffic calming measures in.
In a nutshell is too big, in the wrong place and the suburb cannot handle it any more. The residents can’t handle anymore and will not accept this unsympathetic development from our neighbour.

The proposed building is too high and will significantly impinge on privacy. Individuals on the top floors will be able to see directly into my house and garden.
The building will be oppressive and overbearing on the small residential dwellings in Norton Street, parts of Botany and Kennedy Streets.
The building will cast great shade on dwellings on the northern side of Norton Street
The building will remove 59 parking spots and force further cars into the already full, surrounding streets.
The height of the building will force helicopter pilots flying to the hospital to fly over the surrounding lower dwellings causing more noise to the residents.
The university has failed to provide parking for contractors on previous projects and building this project, will significantly impact the residents who have had to endure many years of constant redevelopment in the vicinity.

Please see the attached submission.

Refer attached document