I am writing to strongly object to the proposed major changes to the development plans for the former Water Board site (903-921 Bourke Street, Waterloo).

My key concerns as a local resident include:


Visual Impact & Neighbourhood Character: The proposed height is drastically out of scale with the surrounding Waterloo precinct.


Overshadowing: Towers of this magnitude (30-37 storeys) will significantly reduce solar access to neighbouring homes and public spaces.


Infrastructure Strain: A 67% increase in density will place unmanageable pressure on local traffic, parking, and public transport, which are already at capacity.


Wind Impacts: Increasing height to 37 storeys poses a risk of severe wind tunnel effects at street level, impacting pedestrian safety and comfort.

I write to object to this proposal due to the significant changes to what was previously approved by the City of Sydney. The large increase in apartments proposed is way too many for this area and this particular site, an area that is already saturated with apartments and lack of infrastructure to support. It feels like this proposal has not been thought through and there is a just a quota that is trying to be met, with no consideration of what this drastic increase in building height and number of apartments will have on the neighbouring community.
The roads around this site are already extremely busy, there is already limited open communal space and there isn't enough commercial outlets to support such a large increase. Further, creating apartments these high risks the area turning into a concrete jungle and feeling closed in, something that will impact the wellbeing of those that live in the area.
I am all for creating additional housing, but the previous approval is more than enough and increasing this in line with the new proposal is something that can damage the health and wellbeing of those that live in the area. We need to maintain liveability standards and this proposal reduces liveability standards.
It is very disappointing that there has been no consideration given to the people who currently live in the area and those that will move into the complex - you are damaging people's lives.

I strongly object to the proposed significant development application to increase building height and add additional apartments to the Dasco Property development in Waterloo.
Waterloo is already experiencing a high level of overdevelopment, with existing infrastructure under significant and growing strain. Local transport networks are operating at or near capacity, with frequent congestion on surrounding road (Bourke Street, Lachlan Street and McEvoy Streets) and overcrowding on public transport during peak periods. Additional residential density will further increase demand on roads, intersections, parking, and public transport services that are already inadequate for the current population.
Increased density without corresponding investment in infrastructure will reduce access to services and diminish overall quality of life for residents in Waterloo.
Further increases in building height and scale will exacerbate these conditions and negatively affect the character and liveability of Waterloo. I am particularly disappointed that Waterloo residents were led by Dasco to believe this development would be different — low rise and more sympathetic to the surrounding area. The proposed changes directly contradict those expectations and suggest a focus on maximising yield at the expense of infrastructure capacity and community wellbeing.
Given the cumulative impacts of ongoing development in Waterloo, the proposed increase in height and additional apartments represent overdevelopment of the site and an unacceptable strain on already constrained infrastructure.
I have been a resident for 25 years and want to continue living here but not overshadowed by compound like structures that tower over the district. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

My objection is not to the entire project just the 38 story tower
The tower is grossly out of proportion to all surrounding buildings. It will cause major shadowing. It is of poor design that in decades to come will be seen as an eyesore. It is not in keeping with size of any structures around and should be reduced to original size rather than doubled.

I oppose any change to the existing approval for the Bourke Street site. The approved 376 apartments will already stretch the Transport and infrastructure in the area, let alone adding another 204 apartments to the development.
The roads in the area are already busy and at times congested without the additional traffic generated by the development including private cars, taxi's, Uber and ride share vehicles.
The bus services in the area are already packed full during peak times and a statement at the recent public information session run by the developer dismissed this issue. The developers consultant said that Transport would review patronage and add more buses. This generally isn't the case, there are not enough bus services to cover the current need and a shortage of drivers is causing services to be cancelled regularly across Sydney.
The distance to train stations from the site is 1km to Green Square and 1.25km to Waterloo. This is between a 15 to 20 minute walk depending which station you use so not that convenient. This will lead to hundreds more share bikes littering the area around the development and the train stations. Users don't care and drop them anywhere usually blocking footpaths. The morning trains at Green Square are regularly full with no room for more passengers.
The public information session had a focus on the level of affordable housing the development would provide, while there is a proposed increase the exisitng approval already provides affordable housing.
The increased number of residents in the development will put pressure on the limited outdoor and open space in the development and further pressure on the existing public parks and local infrastructure, which the City of Sydney council acknowledges. The council are forcing changes on Moore Park Golf Course to provide more open space and that was before these new state significant developments were proposed in the area. The Green Square precinct is already one of the most densely populated areas in NSW so it's unreasonable to keep packing people into the area.
A review of the development proposal has no benefits for residents in the development or anyone living in the surrounding areas, the only benefit is to the developer and once they finish building and leave, it's the local community that has to live with all the issues the overdevelopment creates.

I strongly object to the proposed amendments for 903–921 Bourke Street, Waterloo (SSD-95997711).

I am not opposed to new housing or the ongoing renewal of the area. I recognise that Waterloo is evolving and that additional housing is necessary. However, my concern is with the scale of this particular proposal, the absence of clear and considered planning, and the way it appears to disregard the established planning framework without providing a convincing justification.
The proposed increase in height is particularly concerning. An increase from approx. 65 metres to 126 metres is a significant change, not a minor variation. This increase is excessive and goes well beyond the scale of anything in the surrounding areas and appears disproportionate and inconsistent with the existing character of the area and the original planning intentions.

The nearby Redfern development has done a great job of enhancing the area and increasing economic activity, but this proposal is beyond what is reasonable.

My concerns include the following:
- The proposed height is excessive and not in keeping with the surrounding areas, and also sets a dangerous precedent
- Lack of proper transport analysis - the area around Bourke St, Lachlan Ave and McEvoy St and are already complete gridlock
- Transport and infrastructure impacts - the proposal adds 233 extra dwellings but only an additional 20 car spaces
- Lack of careful planning and consideration, including an exemption from community infrastructure contributions
- Lack of outdoor spaces for the proposed 580 apartments
- The majority of proposed apartments appear to be studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments, and only 20 three bedroom apartments in the whole complex, and appear to be penthouse style apartments - which does nothing to address affordable housing.
- Wind tunnel effects
- Overshadowing effects on existing dwellings and public spaces
- Lack of proper and fair community consultation

I request that a public hearing be held, so residents' concerns can be addressed in a fair and transparent setting.

Many thanks
Rachel

The floor is too high, this will made the traffic here very bad. And the higher floor will block neighbours view.

To-whom-it-may-concern,
I am writing as a Waterloo resident to formally object to the State Significant Development application SSD-95997711.
My concerns primarily relate to the scale of the development and the cumulative burden it is likely to impose on the surrounding area, particularly given the existing pressures on local infrastructure.
To begin with, the proposed 37-storey building is excessive in height and incompatible with the established character of our neighbourhood. The development will introduce significant overshadowing to neighbouring residential properties and public spaces. This will limit access to natural sunlight and reduce the overall quality of living for current residents.
Furthermore, existing infrastructure in the area is already under strain. Public transport services, especially buses, are regularly overcrowded during peak periods and are not adequately equipped to accommodate additional demand of this magnitude.
Traffic and parking impacts are also of concern. On-street parking is already at capacity, and the increased demand associated with this development is likely to exacerbate congestion and reduce accessibility for existing residents.
In conclusion, I respectfully request that the authority give thorough consideration to these issues and reconsider the suitability of the development in its current form.
Kind Regards,
Vadim Bogatyrev
unit 1333/4 Lachlan Street Waterloo NSW 2017

I write to formally object to the proposed development for the following reasons.
First, local infrastructure is already under significant strain, and the substantial increase in apartment numbers would exacerbate this to an unsustainable level. Public transport capacity is a particular concern. For example, the 343 bus service is frequently at capacity during peak periods and often unable to stop at the intersection of McEvoy and Elizabeth Streets. Rail services from Green Square are similarly overcrowded, with passengers regularly boarding already full trains. The metro network also experiences standing-room-only conditions, which are likely to worsen as the line extends beyond Sydenham. The proposed development would place additional pressure on an already overburdened transport system.

Second, the scale and height of the proposed buildings are not in keeping with the existing character of the surrounding area. The development would dominate the local streetscape and result in significant overshadowing of nearby properties, adversely affecting amenity and the established urban form.

Third, there appears to be no provision for additional local amenities to support the increased population. Existing facilities are already operating at or beyond capacity, and the absence of planned upgrades raises concerns about the liveability of the area.

Fourth, insufficient parking provision within the development would place undue pressure on surrounding streets. Residents in nearby areas, including Hunter Street and Young Street, would likely face increased difficulty accessing on-street parking.

Finally, I am concerned that this proposal reflects a broader pattern whereby an initial planning approval is used to establish development rights, followed by applications that significantly exceed the original scope. While I acknowledge that areas such as Waterloo are appropriate for growth, the density proposed in this instance is excessive and would impose unacceptable strain on local infrastructure and services.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the development in its current form and urge that it be reconsidered.

Yours sincerely,
DAMIAN ANDERSON

I am writing to object to the proposed changes to the development at 903–921 Bourke Street, Waterloo.

The scale of the proposed increase in both height and density is concerning. The original approval already introduced a substantial level of development, and the current proposal significantly intensifies this beyond what was initially assessed.

Developments of this magnitude can negatively impact the local community by creating a more congested and less livable environment. Increased building bulk can lead to reduced openness, diminished pedestrian experience, and a loss of human scale within the neighbourhood.

There are also broader concerns regarding the capacity of existing infrastructure to support a further increase in population, particularly in relation to transport, public space, and community services.

The proposal appears to prioritise density over livability, which is not aligned with the long-term planning objectives for the area.

For these reasons, I object to the proposed amendments