Please see attached letter.

Kind regards,

I am a resident living immediately adjacent to the proposed development site at 16–20 Old Castle Hill Road. My apartment is located on Level 10 in the building directly east of the site, directly neighbouring the proposed development. Due to the immediate proximity of my residence to the project boundary, I have significant concerns regarding the impacts of the proposed early works and the broader development on neighbouring residents.

My primary concern relates to privacy and overlooking. A development of this scale located directly next to existing residential buildings raises serious issues regarding direct sightlines into neighbouring apartments and private living spaces. Without adequate building setbacks, separation distances and screening measures, the proposal has the potential to significantly reduce the privacy of existing residents. This is particularly concerning for upper-level apartments such as mine that are positioned at a similar height to the proposed development.

I am also concerned about the visual bulk and scale of the development when viewed from neighbouring residential buildings. A development comprising hundreds of apartments with multiple basement levels represents a substantial increase in built form immediately adjacent to existing residential buildings. The scale of the proposal appears excessive relative to surrounding development and risks creating an overbearing presence for neighbouring residents.

The proposed six levels of basement excavation raises serious concerns regarding construction impacts, including noise, vibration, dust and heavy vehicle movements over an extended period of time. Deep excavation works are typically one of the most disruptive phases of construction and may last many months. As my residence is located immediately next to the site, I am concerned about the potential impacts of prolonged excavation activity on nearby buildings and residents.

Importantly, I work from home full-time, which means that I will be directly exposed to construction noise and disturbance throughout the entire work week. Continuous construction noise during permitted working hours (7am–6pm weekdays) has the potential to significantly impact my ability to work effectively from my home. The proposal therefore raises substantial concerns regarding the loss of residential amenity for neighbouring residents who rely on their homes as work environments.

I am also concerned about construction traffic and safety, particularly the movement of large trucks associated with excavation and removal of soil from the site. Given the scale of excavation proposed for six basement levels, this is likely to result in significant truck movements that may affect local traffic conditions and safety for residents.

Given the scale of the proposal and its immediate proximity to existing residential buildings, I request that the Department carefully assess the impacts on neighbouring residents. In particular, I request that strong conditions be imposed to address privacy impacts, building separation distances, construction management, noise mitigation, vibration monitoring and construction traffic management.

As a directly neighbouring resident, I ask that the Department give careful consideration to the significant amenity impacts that this development may impose on existing residents living immediately adjacent to the site.

I formally object to the proposed development on the following grounds:

Failure to Acknowledge Approved Developments
The proposal does not reference the recent approval of four high-rise towers at the intersection of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road. These towers, ranging from 23 to 24 storeys, include a hotel on the corner opposite the proposed site. Proper planning assessment must consider cumulative impacts of all approved developments in the area.

Traffic and Safety Implications
All approved towers will access Garthowen Crescent via individual driveways. This small suburban crescent is not designed to accommodate the resulting volume of vehicular traffic. The concentration of multiple driveway entries will:

Significantly increase congestion, particularly during peak hours

Compromise pedestrian and cyclist safety

Reduce emergency vehicle access and overall street amenity

The current proposal fails to consider these cumulative traffic impacts, creating a substantial risk to local road safety.

Impact on Local Amenity and Character
The combination of the approved towers and the proposed development would alter the suburban character of Garthowen Crescent, overshadowing existing residences and increasing noise, traffic, and visual intrusion. Proper assessment of the impact on local amenity is essential.

Conclusion
I request that the planning authority:

Fully acknowledge the approved towers and incorporate their cumulative effects into the assessment

Conduct a detailed traffic and safety impact study for Garthowen Crescent

Consider the adverse impacts on local amenity, safety, and character before approving any further development

The proposed development, as currently submitted, is inconsistent with responsible planning principles and the safe, sustainable management of the local area.

The height of the proposed development, 40 storeys stepping down to 29 storeys, is unacceptable for this part of Castle Hill. It is out of character with the existing built environment which has a mix of apartments not exceeding 20 storeys, town houses and houses. The Hills Shire Council's Castle Hill Precinct Plan allowed for a 20 storey apartment building on that cite. Lower scale design could achieve the aims of providing additional housing near a Metro. Potential wind noise needs to be considered also in the building's design as it has become a problem for residents living in the Reve Development and the neighbourhood. The living amenity of existing residents needs to be given proper consideration in this development proposal.
The development in its current form is likely to add to the already high traffic traffic congestion on the surrounding roads not designed for such a development. Road widening is suggested, without any evidence, as a solution. The planning and time line for this needs to be cited. Also, the traffic impact data cited is 2021. More up to date data should be cited as traffic congestion and access to Garthowen Crescent for residents, existing and proposed, needs to be considered particularly as driveway access to the development will be from that street, conflicting with driveway access to a proposed hotel development opposite.
The Metro is already at peak capacity in morning and afternoon peak times. A development of this scale together with the Skyview development when it is completed will aconsiderably add to problems of the Metro at peak times.
The development will put considerable pressure on existing public open space. Arthur Whitiling Park and Eric Felton Reserve are cited in the application but neither can meet the need for the required communal open space, particularly the latter, which is at a busy intersection and adjacent to the five towers, 964 apartments, Skyview development. Some of the underutilized land on the building site in the planning proposal could be used for communal public open space.
In summary, a maximum height of 20 storeys and commensurate reduction in apartment numbers might be acceptable in this part of Castle Hill and not impact as seriously as that currently proposed on the roads, traffic, the living amenity of existing residents and the visual appeal of developments around the Metro in this part of Castle Hill.
Alan Williamson