Westmead Hospital - Acute Services Building

I object to the placement of a helipad on the proposed construction. Helicopters currently use Helen Street as their flight path (amongst many). When coming in to land they fly extremely low. The whole house vibrates and the light fittings come loose from the ceiling. I have had to pay for electricians to come and reattach light fittings that have come away from the plaster ceiling. On occasion the helicopters release aviation fuel which sprays over the building and onto the balconies and garden. The noise also drowns out the tv set. I strongly object to this helipad being brought even closer to Helen Street and believe that its proposed location will mean helicopters will use Helen Street as a permanent flight path . This will devalue our properties. The helipad needs to be placed somewhere else. Alternatively, there needs to be some undertaking given that they cannot fly over residential streets in the vicinity.

I am an advocate for public transportation and bicycle transportation to work.

I would that suggest that planning includes adequately sized purpose-built end of trip facilities for cyclists are provided in this new and central precinct building. (ie safe, secure, easily and safely accessible, close to work, and co-located with showers and lockers).

The number of bicycle spaces suggested is inadequate for the anticipated staff, university students and visitors (as are the current bike lock-up facilities on campus). At least 50 secure bike spaces, and 10-20 general use bike parking would be ideal.

Infrastructure for cyclists needs to be fully incorporated into an active transport plan for the whole of Westmead Health precinct, not just this central building. There seems to be a mix of transport movements in this tight space, so it's imperative that there be safe access to an end of trip facility.

My usual means of commuting to work is via bicycle riding and I therefore request that adequately sized purpose-built end of trip facilities for cyclists are provided in this new and central precinct building. The facility needs to be secure, safe and easy to access. nearby showers and change facilities would be ideal.
There need to be adequate facilities for current bike riding commuters as well as space for use by visitors, general public as well as allow room for growth.
Access roads need to be designed to allow safe and smooth access for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists; therefore separate bicycle and pedestrian paths are required.

18/08/2016

To whom it may concern,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Westmead Hospital SSD7642, my comments pertain exclusively to accessibility and parking for bicycles.

I am requesting that this development incorporate adequately sized, fit for purpose end of trip facilities for bicycle commuters. By fit for purpose, I mean facilities that are safe, secure, and readily accessible, close to the actual workplace and designed specifically with cyclists needs in mind, so as to encourage rather than discourage a cycling option. These should ideally be co-located with showers and lockers. By adequately sized, I mean meets the demand for those who will work, study and visit this building , but also take into account the pre-existing demand from some of the neighbouring facilities on the Westmead Health Precinct.

As someone who has worked in the Westmead Health Precinct (WHP) for nearly 30 years and commuted by all forms of transport (bicycle, motorbike, train/walk, bus and occasionally car) at all times of the day and night, I am aware of the confines of the campus and issues with accessibility and parking. Having helped manage The Children's Hospital at Westmead Bicycle Users Group (150+ bike riders) for the past 10 years, and organised Ride to Work Day Events for those on the WHP, I am also aware of the inadequacies of the current bicycle parking amenities and would like to see huge improvements for those who choose to commute by bike to the WHP.

The current level of bicycle infrastructure on the Campus is poor; it is ill-planned and does not meet current cycling demands, guidelines or standards. This represents a real barrier to people taking up riding to the precinct for work, study, business, or to improve their general wellbeing and impacts on car parking. Currently on campus, only the newly built Westmead Institute would seem to have good and well located end of trip bicycle facilities. Both The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Westmead Hospitals lag way behind, resulting in many staff dragging their bicycles into offices and `squirrel holes' around the campus to keep them and their accessories dry and safe. This is far from ideal. This new building application presents opportunity to rectify the quality of cycling amenities; unfortunately at this point in time it does not take this into account.

The number of bicycle spaces suggested in this application seems inadequate for the anticipated volume of staff, university students and visitors that this building will attract and house. Unfortunately, it does not go in any way towards addressing the current campus-wide lack of appropriate end of trip bicycle infrastructure. While I recognise that there is probably no legislative obligation for it to do so, there may be a moral and health leadership one. It would be an absolute shame and wasted opportunity not to have an integrated Westmead Health Precinct approach to bicycle movements and parking with this new and central precinct building as the focus.

I suggest that the development of this central building is an opportunity to provide infrastructure that meets bike riders needs and should be fully incorporated into an active transport plan for the whole of the Westmead Health precinct.

I would like to see at least 50 secure bike spaces within the CASB and/ or Innovation Building and 20 general use bike spaces located in the forecourt. More, if you subscribe to the "build it and they will come" school of thought. The cost of building an end of trip bicycle facility and providing general bike racks is minimal compared that of a car park and the project as a whole.

Ensuring safe bicycle access to end of trip locations during and post construction should be front and centre of transplant planning conversations, as alongside pedestrians, cyclist are the vulnerable road users.

This development proposal presents prime opportunity to demonstrate a holistic vision for sustainable and active transport, be at the forefront of health and wellbeing leadership, and align with community expectations for a safe and healthy workplace.

Thank-you for your consideration
Yours sincerely

Janett


Please note: These are my personal views and may not represent those of The Children's Hospital at Westmead

I would like to request that adequately sized purpose-built end of trip facilities for cyclists are provided in the new Westmead Acute Services Building and central precinct building (i.e. safe, secure, easily and safely accessible, close to work and co-located with showers and lockers).
I suggest a minimum of 50 secure bike spaces and 10-20 general use bike parking.
Infrastructure for cyclists needs to be fully incorporated into an active transport plan for the whole of Westmead Health precinct,not just this central building.

Key issue of objection to Acute services Building proposal
As with the raft of further development of the westmead medical campus and especially the acute services building hinges on transport infrastructure being part of the upgrade process.
The EIS specifically highlights the catastrophe that is being perpetrates on Westmead Hospitals.
What is the point of having NSW largest Hospital campus, that impossible to safely access by Foot or vehicle.

This issue of constructing this new unsustainable Medical infrastructure from the point of the traffic infrastructure that exist back in 1980's that not ben upgrade to keep pace with the precincts redevelopment.

Table 5.5 of the transport report again highlights that at peak the intersections on Hawkesbury road are operating in excess of capacity.
Then the report says that the redevelopment is not considered to be responsible for this situation.

This continues to be swept under the carpet in all the Westmead Medical and associated developments

This EIS again reinforces that Heath NSW built the Hospital Campus and the Hospital campus is the generator of the traffic situation but again there is no ownership of the consequences of this continued expansion.
So it's the local residents and users of the campus that everyday struggle to to navigate safely through the road network and lack of pedestrian facilities.
The report cites the building of a underpass for pedestrians to the railway station. But all the current EIS and DA's submitted for the sites specifically exclude the building of such a facility.

So the acute services building will have many of it patients coming as a direct result of this issue being swept under the carpet, once again.

Hawkesbury road South of the Railway line is a substandard access way to M4 and with its upgrade and the large catchment for employee's coming from suburbs south of Westmead and adjoining areas.
The situation is and will continue to be in peak period gridlock

The modelling post 2020 points to NON action option being adopted, and ambulances being stuck in traffic on Hawkesbury road during school peak.

The siting of the Northmead Ambulance superstation will add to greater use of Hawkesbury road through to mad mile to the M4 and the alternate route via Bridge road is at best primitive.

I don't support and increase in the existing Westmead Hospital precinct, especially upgrade proposed for the Acute Services Building, without:
1 a concurrent upgrade in the transport network along the full length of Hawkesbury road.
2. The construction of the pedestrian underpass to Westmead Heavy Rail station.
3. The commitment to upgrading access back to Parramatta CBD along Alexander Ave to 4 lanes of traffic . This should include a grade separated pathway for both bus and emergency vehicles from Darcy st to Alexandra ave at current boundary point of Parramatta Park Cumberland/ Parramatta LGA boundary

As someone who will be working in this building, I am concerned about the inadequacy of the bicycle facilities in the new building, including safe access to these facilities. End of trip facilities need to be increased given the size of the building and the number of staff that will be working there, I suggest at least 50 secure bicycle spaces are required, plus 20-30 short term rails that are visible and easily found. Facilities should be similar to those in the recent Westmead Institute building.

I have worked at CHW for eight years now traveling by bicycle or public transport and have a good understanding of the 150 plus staff that already regularly ride to work through my role in co-convening the bicycle user group. Given the significant bicycle infrastructure investment that is occurring around the Westmead Area, the number of staff choosing this method of commuting will only increase.

While the proposed building seems to have good public transport integration, the same cannot be said for bicycle access. There appears to be no access from Hawkesbury Rd yet the initial precinct plans showed a shared path linking with the proposed Toongabbie Creek path. Perhaps bicycle parking and end of trip facilities can be integrated into the forecourt area.

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