UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing

The proposed construction traffic management plan unnecessarily impacts the local and school communities.

The proposed Construction Traffic Plan imposes an unnecessary burden on the local resident and school community

The proposed Construction Traffic Plan places an unnecessary burden on the local resident and school community.

I make this submission on behalf of my parents who live at 1-3 Munderah Street Wahroonga and whose home unit is directly adjacent to the works area.
Their major concerns include:
The removal of trees at the eastern boundary of the site will allow occupants of the new development to look straight into their unit , causing a lack of privacy;
There are insufficient parking spaces for the number of units intended to be built, potentially causing even greater congestion in Munderah Street;
The height of the buildings exceeds by 12 meters the standard height limit for the zoning;
The building works will cause dirt & dust to infiltrate the adjoining units & the developer has provided no mitigation;
The access for the works is said to be via Ada Avenue and Munderah Street Wahroonga, a street in which students at Abbotsleigh & Knox park their cars. Knox students walk through Munderah Street to access playing fields. There are already many units in this street & the traffic is already congested;
The development on the eastern side of the site will block light to the units immediately adjacent;
No consideration has been given to mitigation of noise during the construction;
The development of very expensive retirement village dwellings will do nothing to ameliorate the so-called ‘housing crisis’.

To Whom It May Concern,

This submission is to register an objection to aspects of SSD-76303959 on Ada Avenue, Wahroonga.

I am a long-term Australian resident, born in 1948 in Japan. After living in multiple countries including Japan and Singapore, Australia has been home since 1980. Having lived in the Sutherland Shire for many years, I moved to Wahroonga three years ago—drawn by its unique greenery, established trees, and the rare opportunity to walk safely to the shops and train station.

Wahroonga has given me something that many places could not: independence. This is especially important as I have lived with Parkinson’s Disease since 2014, a progressively debilitating condition. Realistically, the next few years may be the last in which I can continue to enjoy independent walking and mobility. The prospect of major construction, daily truck traffic, dust, noise, and blocked access over a 4-year construction period is incredibly distressing.

This proposal threatens to rob me of the last few years of independent living I have. I urge you to consider how severely that would affect any human being, let alone someone dealing with a progressive illness.
Concerns specific to Ada Avenue and UPA’s track record

I live on Ada Avenue, where the existing UPA development already has a poor maintenance record and visible impacts on the surrounding area. This raises serious concerns about their ability to responsibly manage a larger, more intensive project.

Drainage failure: The existing drains on UPA’s side of Ada Avenue routinely overflow during rain. The roof surface area clearly exceeds the drainage system’s design capacity, and inadequate maintenance has been done. This results in flooding that soaks pedestrians—making the footpath impassable.

Noise pollution: A strip drain grate at the UPA entrance makes loud clanking sounds every time a car drives over it. This issue has been reported and ignored—suggesting a lack of regard for the community.

Fencing: The low paling boundary fence between UPA and neighbouring buildings is derelict, full of holes, and fails to block any noise. If simple, long-standing issues like this are ignored, how can we trust UPA to responsibly manage a massive new development? Can a sound-proof and sufficient new fence be installed now on all boundaries of the new and existing sites to help reduce impacts of dust, vibration and noise?

Traffic and road safety: More residents and vehicles will only worsen these issues unless strict, enforceable conditions are set.

Having previously lived near construction zones in Singapore, I understand firsthand the intense noise and vibration these works create. The thought of enduring that daily, for years, with an illness that makes rest and recovery critical, is overwhelming.
Circular PS 21-018 – Development Near Busy Roads and Rail Corridors

This development is also in proximity to Knox Grammar and Abbotsleigh School, two major educational institutions. As outlined in NSW Planning Circular PS 21-018, consent authorities are required to:

"...minimise the impacts of busy roads and railway corridors on residential and other sensitive development such as schools and childcare centres."

This directive clearly applies to this proposal and surrounding land uses. The guidelines also call for reductions in noise, vibration, and air quality impacts on sensitive areas, which include aged and health-vulnerable residents. The community deserves to know how those standards will be enforced.
Shared concerns from nearby residents

In support of concerns raised by others in the area, I echo the need for:

Strict noise and work-hour limitations

Dust and air-quality monitoring

Truck idling bans and clear traffic route restrictions

Temporary, safe pedestrian access

A gold-standard Construction Management Plan with real accountability

Final comment

I did not expect, in the final years of my mobility and independence, to face the prospect of being surrounded by noise, disruption, and unsafe streets. Wahroonga was meant to be a refuge—one that is now threatened by a proposal with significant short-term risks and long-term consequences.

Please take into account the lived experiences of elderly, disabled, and long-time residents—not just developer interests. And please hold this project to the highest possible standards in terms of design, execution, and community respect.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Wahroonga Resident

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally object to aspects of the proposed development referenced in SSD-76303959.

I am 86 years old and moved to Wahroonga two years ago to enjoy my retirement in peace. I chose this area specifically because of its quiet streets, walkability, proximity to the shops, train station, and access to hospitals. After a lifetime of hard work—much of it spent on construction sites myself—I was looking forward to my twilight years here in a safe and peaceful environment.

Unfortunately, this proposal presents serious concerns for me and others in the community.

I recently had a double heart bypass, and part of my recovery depends on being able to go for daily walks with my dog. Munderah Street, where I live, only has a footpath on one side. If this footpath is closed or partially obstructed during construction, I will be forced to walk on the road, which is unsafe—especially with heavy construction traffic and temporary lollipop controls. This puts my safety and health at risk, and it's unacceptable for someone in my condition.

Given my experience working in construction, I also have concerns about the following:

Truck idling: What plans are in place to prevent trucks from sitting and idling for long periods, spewing noise and pollution into the street?

Site cleanliness: How will the site be cleaned daily? Construction spills, mud, and dust on the roads are not only unsightly but hazardous.

Noise and working hours: Will construction noise be limited to reasonable hours? Prolonged construction over several years will take a real toll on nearby residents.

Dust, vibration, and excavation risks: This project involves major excavation over years. What measures are being put in place to limit dust and vibration? Prolonged vibration can cause damage to older houses and be distressing for elderly residents.

Asbestos risk during demolition: Has an asbestos investigation been conducted? I see no evidence of it and believe there is likely significant amounts in the buildings to be demolished. How will asbestos be safely managed and communicated to residents?

Traffic and congestion: The suggestion that construction workers may carpool to reduce traffic sounds optimistic at best. From my experience, this rarely happens consistently. The influx of worker and truck traffic over several years will cause chaos on our local streets.

I urge the planning body to hold this project to a gold standard, given its state-wide relevance. This development must not become an example of cutting corners at the cost of local residents’ wellbeing. I would also to further suggest that its an opportunity for UPA to build a future-proof building that they and the State can be proud of by embracing current best practises such as lining the rooves with solar panels to give back to community.

My final years are meant to be peaceful. Instead, I face the prospect of years of noise, dust, congestion, and risk—after working hard my entire life. That doesn’t seem fair.

Please ensure this project is thoroughly reviewed to minimize its environmental and community impact. I respectfully ask that mitigation measures be strengthened, enforced, and regularly monitored to protect residents—especially the elderly and vulnerable.

Sincerely,
Wahroonga Resident

The scale of this project is huge and will impact the lives of the community throughout the build and long after the project completes.
The DA seems to have insufficient information on how inconveniences will be mitigated and my request is the Department of Planning do a thorough independent review of the project and its environmental impacts and hold it to the highest possible standard to ensure that NSW remains a great State to live in.

Hello.
I am alarmed at the traffic impacts of this lengthy project on the roads - particularly Ada Avenue and Munderah Street. Ada, in particular, is already a gridlock zone and is overused, largely due to school and commuter traffic. PLEASE consider madating a simple alleviation to this: insist a slip road is created connecting the construction site to the Pacific Highway, allowing construction traffic easy on-off access without further impacting everyone else around here.
Thank you for your time.
Justin and Amy Lees.

As a local resident living right next door to UPA i have many serious concerns.
1) The Preliminary Construction Traffic and Pedestrian Management Plan is clearly unworkable and intolerable for local residents of Munderah St. This street is already very with local traffic, two high schools in very close proximity resulting in hold-ups and very few parking spots available during school hours especially. During drop-off and pick-up times and Saturday morning school sports hours.
2) The Construction Traffic Management Report (by Traffix Pty Ltd) has all heavy trucks enterering and exiting at 5 Munderah St. this is going to restrict the usability of the street by adding thousands of heavy and noisy vehicles for at least 4 years. Our street is a short local road with a narrow travel lane and relative steepness - making it very difficult for any oncoming traffic to pass these trucks safely and hads the potential of completely blocking our access out of and into our driveway and for accessing Ada St.Parking spaces on both sides of the street a nearly always full and makes this a very narrow roadway.
3) Theb Report is unchanged since the original DA they submitted to Kuringai Council in 23/24 (and later withdrawn) yet the size and scope of this project has dramatically increased, and will result in many more construction and demolition trucks disrupting traffic flow and as well causing noise and air quality issues.
4) The SSDA states 159 residential car spaces, 13 visitor spaces, and 8 spaces for staff will be provided. That is a VERY few spaces for 132 new units when 70% of these ILUs will be 3 bedrooms, and owners are likely to have more than 1 car. There is no provision for the care staff changeover periods, nor any arrangement for hairdressers, physio, pastoral care, cafe, library and maintenance staff in the post construction stage.
5) Further, during construction, no provision hads been made for on-site parking for the many workers required on site so further exacerbating parking issues on the street, especially on school days.
6) Pedestrian traffic will be disrupted and cause safety risks to both elderly residents and school children who use Munderah and Ada Sts, for a period of more than 4 years.
7) it seems inevitable we will see lines of heavy trucks queuing to enter 5 Munderah St, especially during times of major concrete pours, blocking residents driveways. Even worse, they could block emergency vehicle access. No properties on our street have more than just a single entry/exit point.
8)The plan has trucks leaving 5 Munderah St turning right into Ada and travelling north to Pacific H way at the traffic lights. That will clearly result in major gridlocks on Ada St, which is also very narrow and contains speed bumps and narrowing chicane islands and can already be difficult to negotiate.
9) I am very concerned about the height and size of buildings 5 & 6 proposed for 5 Munderah St being 7 and 6 stories respectively. That will cause unacceptable shading to our units, and affect the privacy of us all with balconies and outdoor areas. They are also very close to our boundary at a nominal 6 metres and are to be built on land higher than our 5 stories.
10) i am also concerned that so many lovely large trees are to be removed, Yes, future landscaping will add new plantings but these will take decades to grow to any measurable size - so our very pleasant surroundings in this neighbourhood are going to be destroyed..
11) There is bound to be issues of noise pollution for a long 4 years of construction and most likely even outside of the intended working hours for the building sites. I ask who is going to control this?

I appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback and sincerely ask the Developer, UPA , to rethink their proposal and to make amendments to make it more palatable to their close neighbours.

UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing (SSD-73603959)
I am concerned about the Traffic Plan for this project.
The plan to use 5 Munderah Street as an entry and exit for construction vehicles could cause congestion of local traffic and danger to residents.
Drivers are entering and exiting the drives of large unit complexes in these streets as are residents of private homes.
Children use Munderah and Ada Streets to walk to and from Abbotsleigh and Knox Schools. Parents also drive to drop off and pick up children from Abbotsleigh School.
There are many elderly residents in this area. The increased traffic could make it difficult for these residents to exit and enter their homes. Home Care nurses and carers need to have easy access to these residents homes.
The increased traffic will will impact delivery drivers and people who provide maintenance services.
it will not be easy for emergency vehicles to access residences in these streets.
The increased heavy traffic throughout the day for at least 4 years will have negative impact on residents of all ages. There will be potential for for accidents to incur involving pedestrians and drivers.
An alternative to the proposed traffic route would be a better option.
An entry and exit point for construction vehicles could be created at 1614 Pacific Highway.
It would be better to make an alternative plan now than to have to alter plans after problems with traffic flow occur.

- Please see attachment for detailed response. In summary:
I oppose the proposed truck exit route into Munderah St, Ada Ave then left or right onto Pacific Highway due to public safety concerns, traffic and parking concerns espcially due to the proximity of Abbotsleigh and the fact students attend 6 days per week (school sport on Saturdays) and the Aquatic centre operates 7 days per weeks. An alternate exit route is required.
-The truck route poses a danger to students, parents/carers, staff and visitors to the school entering via Ada Ave which is a major school acccess point.
-There are pedestrian and car safety issues with trucks turning right from Ada onto Pacific Highway.
-The lack of on site parking on the building site for construction workers will result in workers parking in Ada Ave, Munderah St and surrounding streets making it difficult for Abbotsleigh parents, staff etc to park.
-There will be a build up/bank up of traffic in Ada Ave, Coonanbarra Ave and the Village.
-The above will remain for at least 4 years and for a minimum of 6 days per week-duration of project.
-There needs to be on site parking for construction workers as otherwise their parking will worsen the already lack of parking in Ada Ave and surrounding streets.

As per attachment

As per attached document

I am a resident of The Beumont Apartments frontages in Ada Avenue and Munderah Street Wahroonga. Our property ajoins the UPA property. I have lived here for 16 years, and have experienced the traffic and parking issues in the area, particularly when Abbotsleigh School constructed their Sports Hall and adjacent facilities.
My objection is on Appendix RR, The Construction Traffic Plan. This plan has construction traffic entering Munderah Street from the Pacific Highway (North Bound) and then entering the site at 5 Munderah Street. Traffic will leave the site at 5 Munderah Street, turn right into Ada Avenue, and then left/right at the Pacific Highway.
Ada Avenue between the Pacific Highway and Munderah Street is fully congested in the morning and afternoon Abbotsleigh School drop-off/pick-up times. The traffic queue wishing to exit Ada Avenue at Pacific Highway regularly extends down to Gilda Avenue and beyond. Typically only one ot two vehicles are able to turn right from Ada to Pacific Hwy in each traffic light cycle. This is excaberated by vehicles exiting Coonanbarra Street at Pacific Highway in morning and afternoon peak where right turn is prohibited. They enter Ada Avenue and perform a U-turn in Ada Avenue. This increases congestion. To have construction trucks added to this mix will be difficult, and increase Safety concerns for students exiting vehicles in the street. Also, trucks intending to turn right or left at Pacific Hwy will block both lanes in Ada avenue to have an adequate turning circle.

Parking.
Munderah Street has many vehicles parked there overnight from Residences that have one parking space on-site per apartment. Ada Avenue has commuter parking on business days, and school sport related parking on weekends. Construction Zone restrictions, and contractor/workmen parking (who arrive early before school and commuters) will eliminate all parking in Ada avenue and Munderah Streets.
A solution to reduce some of the congestion I have described will be for all construction traffic to enter/exit the UPA site from the entrance on Pacific Highway.

I respectfully urge the decision makers to reconsider the scale and design of this proposed development to better balance the need for new housing with the rights and quality of life of neighbouring residents. Specifically I request:
1. A reduction in the height and bulk of the development to preserve sunlight and the ability to see the sky for neighbouring properties.
2. Preservation of the established trees that are integral to the local environment
3. A comprehensive traffic impact assessment and corresponding mitigation strategies to maintain road safety. What I have observed to date is insufficient.
4. Consideration be given to the detrimental impact on the value of surrounding properties, and how this will actually and practically be addressed.
I believe that with careful and sensitive planning it is possible to accommodate growth while maintaining the amenity and character of our neighbourhood. The plans for Building 4 with its height and proximity to existing residences is of primary concern. I trust that the concerns of long standing residents will be given due consideration in the planning process.

The project as proposed will have serious effect on the surrounding properties and neighbourhood due to its excessive size .
It is described as Independent living accommodation , however this is misleading and deceptive , in order to take advantage of the more generous floor space / height regulations .
The buildings will be sited on one of the highest points in Wahroonga and will form the local skyline unless the height is restricted to match the current UPA buildings .
It is in fact normal 3 bedroom units at a value of no less than $2 - 3 million @ and will require at least 250 off street undercover parking spots due to the demographic it is really targeted at , not the 76 spots as proposed .
Nearly all local parking , including the car park in Coonanbarra Road is already fully utilised
Access to the site via Munderah St and Ada Ave is highly impractical due to the current amount of parked cars from commuters and Knox and Abbotsleigh students teachers and commuters . Those streets are grid locked at least twice each school day and sports days and construction vehicles simply will not be able get thru . The only solution for site access is by a two way slip type access bay on the Pacific Hwy This will ensure pedestrian and traffic safety in the immediate vicinity
The proposal to demolish the old Italianate house at 5 Munderah should be refused . This building should be kept as a fine example of the buildings erected by successful migrants who came to our country in 1950s , and renovated if necessary .

I cannot believe that this development has even been allowed to reach this point It’s almost as though no one has even seen the traffic congestion which exists here now on school days already. If this project is allowed particularly during construction safety of all children and elderly folk in the area and thereafter will be compromised and responsibility for this will rest squarely on Government. This does not cover the other construction concerns including noise and air pollution and the effect on residents and school children.

The Owners Strata Plan No. 77814 (10 Ada Avenue) and the Strata Plan 80729 (1-3 Munderah Street) object to the construction methodology, and in particular to the construction vehicle routes and site access.
The Strata Plans also requests further information and detail in relation to the construction program, vehicle sizes and volumes, as well as the design and operational vehicle circulation within the site.

I live next door to and I overlook the proposed UPA development. I have attached a photo of the beautiful outlook I have including the beautiful and historic Italianate mansion and surrounding vegetation and trees , which will all be demolished if this development proceeds. I am on the boundary of this adjoining proposed nightmare of a threat to our amenity . The outcome for me and all other residents adjoining this property will be disastrous in all respects of our lives. During the construction stage, the disruption to local traffic, the cacophony of all the construction activity, for possibly up to 5 years, the imposition of dust into my home and the unreasonable expectation of the developer that they have the right to disrupt so many lives .
The overshadowing will change my level of enjoyment and comfort forever .
Please take into consideration what the effect of this development will have on so many lives, the majority of whom are normal , aging people who do not deserve to have their lives changed so radically. There was a time in Australia when the people had a say in the way their environment was being managed.

I object to the project.

I live in 10 Ada Avenue, which is a five storey building. Directly adjacent to 10 Ada Avenue is building 5 and 6. Building 5 and building 6 are seven storeys and six storeys respectively. Hence, on the surface, it looks like the building heights are comparable.

What the development plan fail to consider is higher ground level that building 5 and 6 are built on. Because of the higher ground level, building 5's ground level is facing 10 Ada Avenue's second storey. In fact, building 5 will towers over 10 Ada Avenue by three storeys!

While building 5 and 6 have good access to the morning sunlight, it comes at a cost for 10 Ada Avenue. The monstrous towers will impact access to sunlight especially for the lower floors in 10 Ada Avenue.

I recommend aligning the height of Buildings 5 and 6 with that of 10 Ada Avenue, maintaining a consistent building envelope along the shared boundary. This approach ensures a balanced and harmonious relationship between the properties and their neighbours at the border. To offset any reduction in apartment numbers from Buildings 5 and 6, I suggest reallocating those units to Buildings 1 through 4, situated adjacent to the Pacific Highway. These buildings have no neighbouring properties to impact, allowing their height to exceed 21 meters without encroaching on residential amenity.