I support the project, I believe it will significantly increase housing affordability and availability in the area.

I would like to see the number of units and storeys significantly increased.

My name is John Zhao, and I have been a resident at 9–11 Cowper Street for the past 15 years, living in an eight-storey apartment building. Over this time, I have witnessed the ongoing development and transformation of Cowper Street - changes that, in some cases, have not been for the better.

Cowper Street is already a high-density residential area, where residents face ongoing challenges such as limited street parking availability due to the number of apartment buildings, as well as significant noise pollution from both traffic and pedestrian activity. The proposed addition of a 37-storey tower comprising 296 dwellings at 34-43 Marion Street would place further strain on an area that is already operating beyond comfortable capacity.

While I understand and support appropriate urban development, particularly within the Parramatta CBD, the scale of this proposal appears excessive given its location on the fringe of Parramatta and Harris Park. This is especially concerning when compared to nearby developments, such as 8 Cowper Street, which has a maximum height of 17 storeys. The proposed building is therefore grossly disproportionate to its immediate surroundings.

Traffic and access present additional concerns. The proposal identifies entry via “Peace Lane,” which is in fact Station Lane. This is a narrow laneway that already accommodates parked vehicles and provides access for multiple residential properties. Increased use of this lane by construction vehicles, service trucks, and additional resident traffic will significantly impact safety and further reduce the amenity of an already constrained space.

I am also concerned that this development is proposed as a build-to-rent project. Based on my experience serving on the executive committee of my apartment building for 15 years, there are often ongoing challenges associated with high tenant turnover. Transient occupancy can lead to reduced accountability and, in some cases, a lack of respect for both the building and the broader neighbourhood.

Furthermore, the photomontages included in the proposal are misleading. They depict open green spaces at the corners of Cowper and Marion Streets, whereas in reality these areas are occupied by heritage houses and existing low-rise units. The images also suggest pedestrian crossings and an open, landscaped link between Marion Street and Station Lane that does not accurately reflect the current conditions. In practice, this connection would lead to a narrow and uninviting laneway, making it unlikely to function as a well-used public space.

My final concern relates to the proposed shop-top housing model. Several existing developments along Cowper Street already adopt this approach; however, in practice, the ground-floor tenancies are predominantly used for health services or office spaces rather than active retail. As a result, these uses do not generate meaningful pedestrian activity or street-level vibrancy. This raises doubts about the proposal’s claim that it will activate the through-site link and contribute to a lively, engaged public domain.

As a long-term resident, my concerns are not with development itself. I recognise that Parramatta is a growing and increasingly vibrant city. Rather, my concern lies with ensuring that development is balanced, appropriate in scale, and mindful of the quality of life of existing residents, particularly those who have made a long-term commitment to the community.

It's ugly and the view from Jubilee Park does not look good. It also shades Jubilee Park! I thought there were sunlight protection rules, just like how Parramatta square has protection for sunlight. Where's Jubilee Park's sunlight protection and how does this building comply? Also in terms of access to Jubilee Park, the Park is the closest greenspace so there would be 500 new dwellings sharing the park how are they going to get to the park? The traffic lights on both ends are already crowded with pedestrians. Can you force them to make a pedestrian overpass to connect the park and Valentine street? Or even an underpass (a nice one) to connect Valentine and Cowper Street would be nice so people on Cowper can go directly to this new building on valentine and people in Valentine can go directly to Cowper for Jubilee Park and Commercial Parking that's available on Cowper.

On another topic, 500 dwellings and commercial tenants means you need way better connection to the train station. The east concourse of the train station is way underutilised. And this development does nothing to improve it and adds more users. I suggest extending the eastern concourse underpass to directly connect with this building. And while your extending that underground eastern concourse you might as well extend it all the way to Cowper Street. So there's a nice underpass that connects Jubilee via Cowper Street via underpasses that connects 2 Valentine and then connects to the Eastern Concourse of Parramatta Station.

Next up is that glass. The view from Cowper Street goes DIRECTLY into the building. It's an open street that lines up straight into it. So two things, can you like flare the glass so it's angled like a Christmas tree all the way up. Maybe that will give the 2 Valentine residents some privacy at night from onlookers walking up and down Cowper Street. And then secondly for the day time can we make the builders use one way mirror tint? That way we can't see into the apartments whilst walking down Cowper Street toward Valentine.

In summary Jubilee Park is already shared and with this proposal it's going to get more crowded, but crowded where? At the traffic light whilst waiting to cross and then getting hit by a car along Parkes street. So build a bridge over Parkes street to make getting to Jubilee easier and from Jubilee to Valentine easier. Then there's the public transport. Yes you think it's next to a station so all is good right? Wrong, do you use Parramatta station? Have you used the eastern concourse? It needs to connect to 10 Valentine, but it stops short and you get above ground before the street, you have to walk west to get to the light, cross, and then turn eastGo there. Extend the eastern underground concourse and make it connect directly to 2 Valentine so all of those residents and workers and even the people in the Mantra will have an easier time to get to Parramatta Station. And of course if you're going to extend the Eastern Concourse underpass to 2 Valentine you may as well extend it to Cowper that way the people in the development gets access to Jubilee Park without crowding the traffic lights.

And finally reduce the height or make it like a slanted triangle shape like all the buildings around Parramatta Square have to do to let the sun through because we need to protect the sunlight in Jubilee Park.

It's also ugly can you force them to make it look more interesting? It's going to be the tallest building in Parramatta.