UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing

We strongly object to the proposed development due to the significant negative impacts it will have on traffic safety, residential amenity, and overall community wellbeing.

1. Safety Risks for Children and Pedestrians
The proposed construction traffic plan poses severe safety risks, particularly for children and pedestrians in the area. Ade Avenue and Munderah Streets are frequently used by school students, local residents, and families, making them unsuitable for heavy construction traffic over a prolonged four-year period. The reliance on "Stop/Slow" contractors is insufficient to ensure pedestrian safety, especially during peak school hours. Increased truck movements, noise, and congestion will create hazardous conditions, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Alternative access routes and stronger safety measures must be considered to mitigate these risks.

2. Limited Parking on Munderah Street
Parking on Munderah Street is already highly congested due to commuters, apartment residents, and students from nearby schools. The additional traffic and parking demand generated by this development will further exacerbate the problem, making it even more difficult for residents to find parking near their homes.

3. Inaccurate Traffic Impact Assessment
The traffic impact assessment does not accurately reflect real-world traffic conditions. It should be conducted during peak school hours, when traffic congestion on Ada Avenue and Munderah Street is particularly severe. Without an accurate assessment, the development could result in major traffic disruptions that have not been properly accounted for.

Given these concerns, we urge the relevant authorities to reconsider aspects of the development to ensure that community safety, livability, and environmental impact are properly addressed.

As an alternative solution, concerned local residents are developing professional construction plans for a slip lane on the Pacific Highway ( There are numerous examples such as 1454 Pacific Highway Turramurra). This dedicated access route would allow UPA construction vehicles to enter and exit the site directly from the highway, significantly reducing traffic congestion on local streets such as Munderah Street and Ada Avenue. By diverting heavy construction traffic away from residential areas and school zones, this plan would enhance safety for pedestrians, particularly children, and minimize disruptions to residents. Implementing a slip lane would be a practical and effective way to balance development needs with community well-being.

The existing Pacific Highway entrance to the retirement village can be used for the slip land and main aged care entrance in the future, and should not be closed for emergency vehicles only. We think the existing Pacific Highway entrance should remain open so that the traffic volumes are shared between the Ada Avenue, Pacific Highway and Munderah Street entrances. Otherwise, the majority of traffic is likely to use the Munderah Street entry and we are concerned our street will not cope with the increased traffic volumes.

As a homeowner, the proposed development would lead to significant noise pollution and disrupt the peace of the neighborhood. Additionally, the increased traffic would make it more inconvenient to access the nearby train station.

Additionally, the proposal includes trucks entering from Munderah street and exiting from Ada avenue. Both these streets have multiple houses and schools making it so unsafe and overcrowded for the residents and students. Alternate arrangements should be made from Pacific Highway directly. Moreover if this project goes ahead you have to make sure pedestrian access from Munderah street and Ada avenue towards the train station is not blocked

I live on Munderah Street and walk to the train station daily for work. The trucks going into the street for construction will make it unsafe for me to cross the road and will be a hindrance to my safety for years to come. Therefore, I object to this project. Please protect individual health and security over corporates.

The truck route poses significant traffic risks to local traffic flow and local residents, especially school students safety! Call for an alternate entry and exit point for trucks at 1614 Pacific
Highway will not impact traffic on Munderah Street and Ada Ave. Less risks for school kids!

To whom it may concern

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed development by UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing - SSD-73603959.

As the owner of a house near the corner of Ada Avenue and Munderah Avenue, my family will be significantly impacted by UPA Wahroonga Seniors Housing development. I object to the current plans on the basis of traffic, noise, and parking issues. I also have comments regarding the ecological and aesthetic impact of the large numbers of trees being removed.

Ada Avenue is already an extremely busy street - at times we have to queue in traffic up Ada Avenue during peak hours just to reach our driveway. This is due to the Abbotsleigh school traffic, the Knox school traffic (many Knox parents collect on Munderah Avenue) - and in particular the lack of a right turning arrow at the top of Ada Avenue for drivers wishing to turn right onto the Pacific Highway. Provision of a right turn arrow is already desperately needed (please see photo attached, taken at 7.45am on Tuesday 11th March 2025), even before the additional residents and construction traffic of the proposed development comes into play. The traffic report submitted by Traffix, included as Appendix DD of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), was based on a survey taken on Ada avenue on 8th May 2024 during two "peak" times between 7.30am-8.30am and 4.30pm-5.30pm. This survey completely misses the time that Ada Avenue is busiest - which is between 3pm and 4pm on weekdays when Knox and Abbotsleigh parents begin queueing for pick-up, trying to find parking, and entering/exiting the Abbotsleigh car park located on Ada Avenue opposite the UPA site. The traffic survey needs to be re-done during this time in order to have any relevance. Saturday can also be heavily congested as weekend sporting and dance comps are held at Abbotsleigh and Knox.

The construction traffic report prepared by Traffix (included in the EIS as Appendix RR) also outlines the planned route for construction vehicle drivers and indicates that all construction vehicles will be turning right onto Ada Avenue from Munderah Street and then turning left or right onto the Pacific Highway. As I have mentioned above, the right turn at Pacific Highway is almost impossible between 7.30am and 9.00am, and between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, and already creates long tail-backs, given Ada Avenue is a one-lane street. The truck route needs revision - trucks should be exiting onto the Pacific Highway via Munderah or going left onto Ada Avenue and then exiting onto the Pacific Highway via Fox Valley Road.

The EIS also highlights that only 13 visitor carparking spaces will be available on the UPA site. Given the population of the site is set to rise from 189 residents to 373 residents, the provision of 13 visitor parking spaces does not seem adequate and will exacerbate parking issues that already exist on Munderah and Ada Avenue. We regularly have cars queueing or parked across our driveway, preventing our access/exit, as parents are unable to find parking at pick-up/drop-off times. Saturday can also be heavily congested as weekend sporting and dance comps are held at Abbotsleigh and Knox. The plans need to include more visitor parking. The Construction traffic report prepared by Traffix (Appendix RR) suggests that all construction works arrive on-site using public transport as there will be very limited on-site parking. It is highly unlikely that construction works/tradespeople will transport their tools on public transport and therefore all construction workers and associated trades will also be trying to park on Munderah and Ada Avenue - this puts even more parking pressure on the limited parking available.

There is some variation in listed construction hours - on page 37 of the EIS they are listed as being 7am-6pm on Monday to Friday, and 8am-1pm Saturday. On page 123 of the EIS they are listed as 7am-5pm on Monday to Friday and 7am-3pm Saturday. From 7am to 6pm on weekdays and 7am to 3pm on Saturday is unacceptable for the level of construction noise that will be produced. I ask that planning takes into account the residential streets and schools surrounding the site and limits construction hours further. The construction traffic report prepared by Traffix (Appendix RR) also mentions that Sundays and Night Shift work could occur 'Subject to Out of Hours Permit Approval' - this would be absolutely unacceptable given the location of the site in a very quiet residential area.

The removal of 107 trees is a devastating loss to the green canopy of Ku-ring-gai, which is already in such serious decline. A number of the trees scheduled for removal are very large, very mature, native trees and are listed as being in good health. Planting 255 trees is very beneficial - but it will be many years before new trees can provide the shade, habitat and screening of mature trees. This is evidenced on page 95 of the EIS, which shows a photo montage of how the site will appear from the Pacific Highway, with a footnote to say that the new trees are shown "at 15 year maturity." The loss of habitat, shade and screening in the meantime will be significant. Retaining more of the existing tree canopy should be a priority - both aethsetically and environmentally. Planting more endemic native species in the new landscape plans should also be done, in order to enhance the environmental value of the site, particularly given the small remnants of protected PCT 3136: Blue Gum High Forest that exist within the site.

We are deeply concerned by the effect that this large scale development will have on the area and the local environment.

Thank you for your time.

I strongly oppose the removal of trees for the purpose of construction, especially considering the sheer number of trees planned for removal. I want to protect the natural environment of our area, particularly the trees that serve as habitats for local wildlife.

This submission reflects concerns about the provisions shown in appendix RR of the application, referring to construction traffic management. We are resident at 9 Ada Avenue (almost opposite the access from Munderah onto Ada Avenue. I would contest that the provisions/traffic report shown in appendix RR significantly under-represent the site access/departure challenges that will be experienced by construction traffic, site worker traffic, Abbotsleigh School traffic and local residents. It is important to remember that:
- Abbotsleigh drop off and pick up creates heavy congestion between 7.30am-8.30am and 3pm through 4pm each day. There is close alignment here to construction start/finish times.
- Abbotsleigh sporting facilities are used by the broader community outside of school times (pre school, and after school until late in the evening). Both sides of Ada Avenue are already used for parking from the school down towards Fox Valley Road. This is of particular concern on Saturday mornings (i note construction is expected to be permitted on Saturdays).
- there are traffic calming/road narrowing measures towards the top end of Ada near the Pacific Highway junction. These already create a major pinch point and delays, even without large vehicles using the junction.
- Turning right from Ada Avenue onto Pacific Highway is challenging. Currently, on average, i would estimate 1-2 cars are able to turn right with each light change. Sometimes none are, due to the volume of traffic coming straight down Ada from Coonanbarra. It seems highly improbable that large trucks will be able to turn right at this junction, and this will generate significant back-ups down Ada Avenue as the traffic calming measures mean even cars turning left will be blocked from moving.

I strongly encourage additional review of the construction traffic management plan. As things stand we will definitely see a significant and negative impact on all road users in that area.

Kind regards
Nick Beecroft