UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing

I am a resident of 10 Ada Avenue in Wahroonga. My apartment is right next to Lot A DP 410419 (5 Munderah Street) and I am writing in to express my utmost concern regarding the construction plan proposed by UPA.

My apartment is situated on the opposite side of Ada Avenue, which directly faces the proposed building site. As it is, my apartment already does not get a lot of sunlight. With the new development that has been proposed, it would mean more of the much-needed sunlight would be blocked, forcing me to turn on the lights from morning till night time as I mainly work from home. Not only is this not environmentally friendly, it will also add on to my already exorbitant electricity bills.

In addition, 10 Ada Avenue is a low-rise building, built on lower grounds next to UPA’s new development - which will be built on higher ground levels. Our building, being the largest of the three Beumont apartments, only has 18 units compared to 8 Ada Avenue (9 units) and 7 Munderah Street (8 units). UPA’s new proposed building 5 (which will house 22 units) will also have a gym, café, library, media room, workshop and craft room. This would mean the building will tower over all of Beumont’s residents and look into our apartments.

I am also very concerned about the traffic situation this development will bring. At current, the traffic on Ada Avenue is already very congested during the local school’s (Abbotsleigh) start and finishing times. There are many Abbotsleigh children who go to the school early for extracurricular activities, and many children from surrounding schools who go to there for after school activities. I also have school aged children who frequently cross Ada Avenue and Pacific Highway on foot. Large trucks and construction vehicles will not only be an added risk to my children’s safety, such vehicles are going to be a big risk to the countless school children attending Abbotsleigh.

The one thing that my family have grown to love as residents of our apartment, is the green outlook that surrounds our living room balcony. We hear and see many birds fly and stop by, every single day. This natural sanctuary has been so valuable to our family, something that is rare for apartments nowadays. With the proposed buildings 5 and 6, I fear that this will be lost and our fauna may never return.

Lastly, I am also extremely troubled by the debris and noise pollution this development will bring in the next 4 to 5 years. As mentioned before, my apartment (as well as those above and below me) faces the construction site. Most of our windows and doors (bedroom and living areas) open out to face the construction site. To prevent the debris from coming into our apartment and the construction noise that will come through as I work, I will have no choice but to keep our windows and doors shut all the time. Given that this is our main source of fresh air, it really poses a health hazard to a family like ours.

Given the reasons stated above, I strongly oppose to the development plans proposed by UPA. I would like UPA to consider the following:

1. Use Pacific Highway as the main route for construction so as to keep our local children safe.
2. Redesign buildings 5 and 6 to have less storeys to prevent them from towering over existing low-rise buildings such as ours, which is already built on lower grounds. Any units meant for the higher levels of building 5 and 6 can be moved to Buildings 1 to 4, which faces Pacific Highway and does not directly impact neighbouring buildings.
3. Increase the setback for buildings 5 and 6 and plant more greenery. This will not only reduce the privacy issue but hopefully regain some of the fauna that will be lost.

We suggest using the alternate route of
creating an entry and exit point for trucks at
1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic
congestion on Munderah Street and Ada
Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic
congestion around Abbotsleigh.

I am concerned about Abbotsleigh student safety and parent access pick up/drop off traffic on Ada Ave. I support the proposal to create a slip road to address this concern

There are three problems with this development:
1. Sunlight
Building 5 and 6 will be at least 5 stories high and is on higher ground than the apartments on 10 Ada Avenue and 7 Munderah Street. The new development ground level is already facing apartments on level 2 and 3 of 10 Ada and 7 Munderah! The extra ground height and the height of the proposed buildings will tower over neighbouring properties and will block substantial sunlight. While the proposed developments look eco-friendly with solar panels, the extreme heights of building 5 and 6 will result in more electricity being used in the apartments in 10 Ada Avenue and 7 Munderah Street. Hence, making the neighbouring properties less eco-friendly. I propose to have a maximum of 3 levels for Building 5 and 6 so that the existing sunlight is not excessively blocked. The apartments that are not been built in building 5 and 6 should be moved to building 1 to 4 where they can accommodate more levels and importantly will not excessively block natural sunlight on existing neighbouring properties. The extra levels added to building 1 to 4 is facing Pacific Highway and will not be as imposing compared to existing plans for building 5 and 6 to neighbouring properties.
2. Trees
Wahroonga is known for its wonderful and plush trees. There should be more mature trees planted between the proposed development and the neighbouring properties. Building 4, 5 and 6 should be set further back from the boundary and trees should be planted there.
3. Traffic
We should keep trucks off Ada Avenue at all times. The main carpark for Abbotsleigh school is on Ada Avenue hence that road is extremely busy for school drop offs and pick ups. There is a high chance a truck will hit a school girl from Abbotsleigh crossing the road. I propose a slip road to be developed on Pacific highway so trucks can go in and out without risking the life of a school girl.

In summary, I object to the project unless these concerns are addressed.

I live on Munderah Street, Wahroonga, where the traffic at all times on week days and Saturday mornings are too heavy to safely drive in to and out of my property, including the use of Ada Avenue. I understand that during construction of the project, lasting 4 or more years, all construction vehicles (which I am sure would include very heavy haulage trucks, cranes and other heavy machinery) would make it impossible to use the above streets, as well as pausing danger to pedestrians. It should be understood that the above two streets are used by school children accessing the two high schools (Knox and Abbotsleigh). I would like to propose that the construction vehicle access be provided from Pacific Highway via property No. 1610, the building in which is planned to demolished anyway. As the section of Pacific Highway adjacent to No.1610 has 3 lanes, it should not be a major problem, especially if the access to the construction site makes use of a newly constructed additional access lane. I hope you would consider this submission carefully and favorably. Thank you.

Response to State Significant Development Application:
Application number:SSD-73603959
Application name: UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure disclaimer and declaration is accepted

The current route suggests all construction traffic will enter and exit the site via 5 Munderah Street and travel back to the Pacific Highway via Ada Avenue. This proposed route poses significant risks to local traffic flow and safety.

These streets are often gridlocked during peak school pick-up and drop-off times at Abbotsleigh, opposite the site. This heavy construction traffic will also pose serious safety concerns for students crossing Ada Avenue.

We suggest exploring the alternate route of creating an entry and exit point for trucks at 1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic congestion on Munderah Street and Ada Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic congestion around Abbotsleigh.

Hi, I am writing to object to the truck route , near Abbotsliegh. The entrance through Munderah street and back to Pacific Highway via Ada avenue will cause significant risks to school going kids crossing the street by themselves. I am one of the parents of a child who regularly crosses Ada Ave and Munderah street alone to be picked up along with many other kids. There are very congested drop off and pick up times, but also other times where kids are out and about. Some kids ( like mine) are smaller in stature and can be missed by a truck turning, or trying to rush to Pacific highway via the narrow Ada avenue, which anyway allow a single lane traffic. I have freqently seen trucks rushing out during yellow lights or take turns in a hurry in the past.

Knowing that trucks are rushing via those streets will strongly hamper our ability to drop and pick up our child and feel safe about it. At high school , we are teaching kids to be careful while commuting alone; Pacific highway traffic can be at peak hours be inconsiderate. Adding trucks to that is a accident waiting to happen and I dont want any of the kids going to the school to be on that.
Additionally, kids go in and out of school at different times, mostly alone or in groups -- So there is not Time slot persay when the trucks pose less risk. I believe there is already an alternate solution. I will request the council to look in to that. Please consider the safety of the children using those two streets and try to find alternate commutes for the trucks. Thank you

Due to safety concerns for school children on Ada Ave I strongly object to allowing trucks and construction equipment through an already congested area. There is currently traffic chaos in peak times and this would increase accidents, including potentially students and teachers walking to school.

I support the project but have serious concerns around the proposed traffic management plan where large trucks will be routed toward Ada Avenue to exit toward Pacific Highway. Abbotsleigh School is located on Ada Avenue with very high vehicular traffic from school drop off and collection as well as high pedestrian traffic of children as they arrive or leave from school. Having large trucks use Ada Avenue poses a serious safety risk to children attending this school. I support an alternate suggested entry/exit point for these trucks directly on to Pacific Highway as a safe alternative to the use of Ada Avenue.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed project that will impact Munderah Street and Ada Avenue. The use of these residential streets for project access raises serious concerns for local residents due to increased traffic, noise, and potential safety risks, particularly in an area that is otherwise quiet and community-focused.

It is important to note that there is an alternative access route available via Pacific Highway, including a dedicated slip lane that can be utilized for site entry and exit. This option would significantly reduce disruption to local streets and better support both traffic management and resident wellbeing.

I urge you to reconsider the current access plans and explore the use of the Pacific Highway route to minimize the project’s impact on the local community.

I am making a submission with regards to the Traffic Management of the Wahroonga Seniors Housing Development. I support the suggestion of an alternate route of creating an entry and exit point for trucks at 1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic congestion on Munderah Street and Ada Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic congestion around Abbotsleigh. I agree that the current route suggesting all construction traffic entering and exit ing the site via 5 Munderah Street and travelling back to the Pacific Highway via Ada Avenue will pose significant risks to local traffic flow and safety.,

I object this project

This proposed route poses significant risks to local traffic flow and safety.

These streets are often gridlocked during peak school pick-up and drop-off times at Abbotsleigh, opposite the site. This heavy construction traffic will also pose serious safety concerns for students crossing Ada Avenue.

We suggest exploring the alternate route of creating an entry and exit point for trucks at 1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic congestion on Munderah Street and Ada Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic congestion around Abbotsleigh.

Suggest using the alternate route of
creating an entry and exit point for trucks at
1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic
congestion on Munderah Street and Ada
Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic
congestion around Abbotsleigh.

The traffic and the building itself will create potential hazards to all Abbotsleigh community.

Hi there, for the safety of the students and teachers, would you please consider using the alternate route of creating an entry and exit point for trucks at
1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic
congestion on Munderah Street and Ada
Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic
congestion around Abbotsleigh. Thanks!

I would like to bring to your attending the proposed truck route at the development of the Wahroonga Seniors Housing Development, near Abbotsleigh.
The current route suggests all construction traffic will enter and exit the site via 5 Munderah Street and travel back to the Pacific Highway via Ada Avenue.
This proposed route poses significant risks to local traffic flow and safety for not only the community but also for the students attending Abbotsleigh.
I suggest using the alternate route of creating an entry and exit point for trucks at 1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic congestion on Munderah Street and Ada Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic congestion around Abbotsleigh.

We would like to bring to your attending the proposed truck route at the development of the
Wahroonga Seniors Housing Development, near Abbotsleigh.
The current route suggests all construction traffic will enter and exit the site via 5 Munderah
Street and travel back to the Pacific Highway via Ada Avenue.
This proposed route poses significant risks to local traffic flow and safety for not only the
community but also for the girls attending Abbotsleigh.
We suggest using the alternate route of
creating an entry and exit point for trucks at
1614 Pacific Highway to minimise traffic
congestion on Munderah Street and Ada
Avenue, whilst limiting the impact of traffic
congestion around Abbotsleigh.