My children attend Stanmore public school and I am concerned about the increase in traffic to this already busy area especially at peak times. Cavendish street is already hazardous during drop off and pick up and after school hours and this development will increase traffic on this street with few crossings.

This development will increase congestion and in the short term will mean construction vehicles will be taking up valuable parking spaces.

The car park entrance and exit for this building should not be anywhere but Stanmore road.

Newington's previous building works have resulted in a number of old trees being damaged and later removed, most recently the development of Newington Prep on Cambridge Street. This impacts that air quality and temperature in the street /suburb as well as its character.

I am concerned that tree removal with no plan to transplant or plant new trees is noted in the application. Furthermore there is no mention of how the remaining trees (and their roots) will be protected during the development.

This objection relates to the following parts of the redevelopment proposal:
• Sevington Courts (including the Pavilion)
• Concordia building
My concerns are with regard to:

Privacy and Overshadowing
Privacy is a serious concern as the Sevington Courts sports building, Pavilion and Concordia building will all have direct sight lines into homes opposite i.e properties between 195C and 219 Stanmore Road, including a direct sight line into my bedroom - obviously an undesirable outcome for many reasons. There needs to be considerable landscaping, including the planting of significant trees on both sides of Stanmore Road to mitigate the privacy intrusion to neighbours directly impacted.
The EIS (section 6.1.2.3, page 93) says that overshadowing from the Concordia building will affect properties at 215–219 Stanmore Road between 1pm and 3pm on the winter solstice. Losing two hours of sunlight during winter is a considerable impact. The building heights should be reduced and the building distance from Stanmore Road increased to accommodate landscaping.
Visual Impact
The proposed three-storey Sevington Courts sports building, four-storey Pavilion and four-storey Concordia building are simply too large compared with the surrounding residential homes. They will dominate the streetscape and significantly change the character of the area.
The Sevington Courts sports building and Pavilion will have a major impact on the homes opposite along Stanmore Road (195C–219 Stanmore Road). The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) states in section 6.1.2.5 (page 95) that these homes don't currently enjoy views of particularly high scenic quality. This is simply not the case. Most of these properties currently have long-distance views across the Newington College campus, including mature trees (some of which are proposed to be removed), open sky and even views towards Botany Bay. These developments will block those existing views.
Table 16 (page 103 of the EIS) rates the visual impact at viewpoints VP04 and VP05 as "medium". In my view, this level of impact is still significant enough to warrant further changes. The building heights should be reduced and the setbacks from Stanmore Road increased and a corridor of trees planted in between the buildings and the street to minimise the visual impact of such crimes of architecture.

Traffic and Parking
Existing street parking is already under significant pressure due to Newington College and Stanmore Public School, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times and Saturday sporting events. Residential parking should not be reduced to accommodate this redevelopment.
Directing parking access to the Concordia development via Cavendish Street will be a disaster for residents. Cavendish Street and nearby streets such as Holt Street are narrow residential streets with existing on-street parking, making additional traffic both unreasonable and potentially unsafe.

Damage to Heritage Buildings
I'm particularly concerned about the potential impact of excavation and construction on nearby homes many of which are of historical significance. Neighbouring properties should have independent relevant reports completed to document their condition before any works start and during construction. Any costs associated, repairs and damage should be covered by Newington / or the developer.

Noise and Vibration
In an area that already experiences high levels of noise from traffic, aircraft and school activity, constructing large buildings close to the road will undoubtedly create further noise levels for homes directly opposite.
The noise monitoring locations shown in Figure 58 (page 122 of the EIS) are not located near the residential properties on Stanmore Road that face Sevington Courts (195C–219 Stanmore Road), so the conclusion in section 6.1.6.3 (page 124) that there are unlikely to be amenity impacts on nearby residents is certainly not convincing.
Noise monitoring should be carried out at these properties, and any necessary mitigation measures required should be implemented.

This is a massive urban construction project directly bounding busy Inner West thoroughfares such as Stanmore Road. It introduces several distinct risks and disruptions to the local Stanmore community:

1) Traffic Management & Local Parking Impact:
Drop-off & Pick-up Chaos: Adding 368 students inherently means a major surge in morning and afternoon peak hour traffic. Local narrow streets (such as Mill, Cambridge, and Tupper Streets) already face heavy congestion. The community risks gridlock if the school's internal drop-off loops cannot handle the spike in volume.

On-Street Parking Competition: While the project includes a new basement car park, the influx of visitors, spectators for weekend sporting events at Sevington Courts, and construction workers will inevitably bleed into local residential streets, displacing residents.

2) Heavy Vehicle (Truck) Entry and Exit
Arterial vs. Residential Street Risks: Standard entry/exit points for large construction vehicles along Stanmore Road present major safety and logistical issues. Truck movements (delivering materials or removing excavated dirt for the basement) require sudden braking and slow turning, creating safety hazards for everyday motorists and cyclists.

3) Building Works & Environmental Changes
Flooding & Hydrology Risks: The site sits right along the ridgelines between the Marrickville Valley and Johnstons Creek catchments. Environmental scoping reports indicate that Newington College is subject to overland flooding during extreme storm events. Massive excavation for basement parking and structural envelopes risks altering local stormwater runoff patterns, which could inadvertently worsen flooding for downstream residential properties if not perfectly managed.

Tree Removal & Loss of Canopy: The construction of the massive Sevington Courts building requires significant tree removal and landscaping changes, temporarily stripping the area of local canopy and altering the visual character of the Stanmore Road streetscape.

4) Noise Control & Vibration
Construction Disruptions: Building a 4-storey sports complex involves high-impact excavation, piling, and heavy machinery operations. This presents acute acoustic and vibration risks to the immediate neighbours sharing property boundaries.

Operational Noise: Shifting courts to a multi-level indoor and rooftop setup means sporting noise, whistles, and shouting. PA systems will be elevated above standard fence-line levels, potentially projecting noise further into nearby residential backyards.

5) Impact on Local Primary Schools and Childcare Centres
Shared Commuter Zones: The site is in close proximity to local education hubs, including Stanmore Public School and nearby childcare centres. The primary risk here is cumulative pedestrian safety. With hundreds of young children navigating the surrounding footpaths and crossings at the exact same hours as Newington's high schoolers and heavy construction trucks, the risk of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts escalates heavily.

Air Quality & Dust: Dust generated from large-scale earthworks can easily migrate toward nearby childcare play areas and primary school ovals, posing potential respiratory risks for younger children if mitigation measures (like continuous wetting down or dust screening) fail.

I have objections relating to the Sevington Courts redevelopment and the Concordia redevlopment which I'll outline below.

Visual and noise impact
I have concerns about the height of the building that is proposed to be built on the location of the Sevington Courts. Specifically I think that the building will result in additional traffic noise being echoed back on the residences on the opposite side of Stanmore Road. From the images in the redevelopment documents, it appears that the building will be close to Stanmore Road with limited greenery or other structures that may dampen the echo. Unlike other multi-storey buildings on Stanmore Road, this building extends for a significant length, creating an unbroken wall with which to reflect noise.
I also think that the outdoor sports facilities proposed for the top of the building will result in additional noise pollution for the residences opposite the building on Stanmore Road. If the rooftop facilities are included in the resources that are able to be booked/hired outside of school hours by the community, this would mean the additional noise could extend for a large part of the day. Current Saturday sporting activities which are held on the ovals significantly further back from Stanmore Road generate enough noise that they can be heard by the residents that live on the opposite side of Stanmore Road.
The current view from the residential properties on Stanmore Road opposite the proposed development typically includes trees and green space from Newington College and is quite visually appealing. The proposed development would remove this leafy outlook and replace it with an industrial style building with much reduced greenery.

Traffic congestion and residential street parking
I also have significant concerns about the parking and traffic implications of the additional staff and students at the redeveloped school. The impact assessments that have been completed focus on the weekday travel of staff and students, however, from lived experience there are significant impacts on Saturdays and weekday evenings when there are school events such as parent/teacher interviews and sporting events of large school community significance. With the additional space for sporting activity, I anticipate that there would be more traffic and less availability of on street parking for local residents.
The projected increase of weekday traffic, although considered minimal, would be adding to an already overly congested traffic situation during the peak school pick up and drop off times. Allowing vehicle access to the Concordia site via Cavendish street would further congest the local residential streets.
It is disappointing that the community feedback regarding bus parking space within the school grounds was not included in the proposed redevelopment plans as taking those vehicles off of Stanmore Road would reduce some of the traffic congestion that Newington College causes.

I am lodging this objection in my capacity as owner of Units 1 & 2, 20 Holt Street Stanmore NSW and as a long term local resident.
The proposed development is a terrible eyesore and will dominate the landscape of the C89 Kingston South Heritage Conservation Area (attached). The location and scale of the proposal , significantly impacts the entire neighbourhood, including impacts on owner residents and valued leasing tenant. . The proposed development includes scale and elements that detract significantly from the legacy of the existing area which, as mentioned earlier, is listed under the Kingston South Heritage Conservation area, of which buildings along Holt Street include a number of highly detailed and well-maintained Inter-War residential flat buildings which contribute significantly to its heritage value (refer to HCA 89 Attached). There is a reason the area has these listings, and they are there precisely to protect the heritage of the area from the substantial development and construction proposed in this application.
The development decreases the ratio of natural light to 20 Holt Street Stanmore and surrounding buildings along Holt Street. Consideration for the impacts through losing natural light are not raised or addressed - loss of natural light in gardens and within residencies along Holt Street and surrounds, including 20 Holt Street Stanmore.
I do not believe this development should be approved as it is significantly detrimental to the heritage protection of the area, as documented in councils list of HCA protected areas.
Other objections
- The increase in traffic is an increase risk and health hazard to all communities and in particular the many children, students and pedestrians in the area. There is ample access to public transport through Stanmore Train Station and Stanmore Road, so the school duty is to encourage use of existing public transport, and not to encourage more cars and pollution and carbon emissions through enormous car parking facilities.
- Any major building work on Stanmore Road would require lane closures for construction purposes for a period of time. This may involve traffic detours through Cavendish Street, Merchant Street and Holt Street.
Our Objections to this Proposal includes conditions that
- There must be no increase in traffic on local roads
- No increase in buses on local roads
- No increase in car spaces in the Concordia Club proposal
- No demolition trucks or heavy vehicles are to use local roads. All heavy vehicles must enter and exit Stanmore Road.
- Consideration for local residents and regulations throughout the horrendous construction phase of the development.
- The car park entrance and exit for the proposed Concordia Building must be on Stanmore Road
- A footbridge between Newington College main campus and northern side stanmore road, to enable free pedestrian flow between the school premises
Yours faithfully
Victoria Johnstone
0418412818

Submission Objecting to State Significant Development Application SSD-78268465
Newington College Redevelopment (Concept Proposal and Stage 1 Works)
I wish to formally object to the proposed Newington College Redevelopment (SSD-78268465), particularly the proposed redevelopment of the Concordia site and the construction of a 100-space basement car park accessed via Cavendish Street.
As a local resident, I have significant concerns about the impacts this proposal will have on the surrounding residential community. While I recognise the importance of schools planning for future growth, I do not believe this proposal has appropriately balanced the College's expansion with the protection of local amenity, pedestrian safety, traffic management and neighbourhood character.
My concerns are outlined below.
1. Increased Traffic and Pedestrian Safety
The proposal would substantially increase vehicle movements through Cavendish Street, a narrow residential street that already experiences considerable congestion during school drop-off and pick-up periods.
This area contains multiple educational facilities, including Stanmore Public School, Cavendish Street Early Learning Centre, Newington College facilities on Cambridge Street and Stanmore Road, together with several childcare and preschool services. As a result, the surrounding streets are heavily used by children, parents and pedestrians throughout the day.
The introduction of a three-storey building incorporating a 100-space basement car park will inevitably increase traffic volumes, creating additional congestion and significantly increasing safety risks for pedestrians, particularly young children walking or cycling to school.
Cavendish Street was not designed to accommodate the traffic associated with a major educational facility, and it is inappropriate for it to become the primary access point for a development of this scale.
2. Impacts on Residential Amenity
The proposed basement car park will have ongoing impacts on the amenity of residents living along Cavendish Street and surrounding streets.
Residents already contend with limited on-street parking and increased traffic associated with existing school operations. The proposal will place further pressure on available parking, increase delays accessing residential properties, and introduce additional vehicle movements into what is otherwise a residential neighbourhood.
The development will also generate increased noise, headlights, deliveries and general activity throughout each school day. These impacts are inconsistent with the established residential character of the area and will diminish the quality of life of nearby residents.
3. Construction Impacts
Construction of a development of this scale is likely to occur over several years and will create significant disruption for local residents.
Heavy construction vehicles, road closures, noise, dust and construction traffic will place considerable pressure on Cavendish Street, which is already constrained by its limited width and on-street parking.
Residents should not be expected to endure prolonged disruption for infrastructure that primarily benefits a private educational institution.
4. Insufficient Detail Regarding the Concordia Redevelopment
I am concerned that the Concept Proposal provides insufficient detail regarding the ultimate redevelopment of the Concordia site.
Key information relating to the final height, bulk, scale, architectural design and future operation of this component of the project remains unclear. Without this information, residents cannot properly assess the likely impacts or make fully informed submissions.
Approving a concept proposal without sufficient detail creates uncertainty for the community and limits meaningful public consultation.
5. Alternative Options Have Not Been Adequately Explored
Newington College already occupies a substantial landholding across Stanmore, including its main campus on Stanmore Road, facilities on Cambridge Street and the Concordia site itself.
Given the size of the College's existing campus, it is reasonable to expect that alternative locations for additional parking and educational facilities have been thoroughly investigated before locating a major basement car park within a residential street.
The Environmental Impact Statement does not adequately demonstrate why alternative options within the existing campus were not feasible. Instead, the proposal appears to prioritise operational convenience for the College over minimising impacts on neighbouring residents.
6. Impact on the Character of the Neighbourhood
The Concordia site is located within a well-established residential area.
The intensity of the proposed redevelopment, combined with increased traffic, parking demand and daily activity, risks fundamentally changing the character of this part of Stanmore.
Planning decisions should seek to balance institutional expansion with the preservation of surrounding residential neighbourhoods. In my view, this proposal does not achieve that balance.
7. Planning History of the Concordia Site
I also ask the Department to carefully consider the planning history of the Concordia site.
Following the sale of the former Concordia Club in the early 2000s, redevelopment proposals (DA200300667 and DA200500680) were considered by the former Marrickville Council and were ultimately refused, including through proceedings before the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, due to concerns regarding the scale and suitability of the proposed development.
Following Newington College's purchase of the site, the local community was reassured that only minor internal alterations were proposed. The current application represents a significant departure from those expectations, proposing a substantial increase in built form, traffic generation and activity within a residential neighbourhood.
Given the site's planning history, I believe it is important that the Department carefully consider whether the current proposal is appropriate for its location and consistent with the established residential character of the surrounding area.
8. Vehicle Access Should Be Via Stanmore Road
Should the Department ultimately approve the redevelopment, I strongly urge that all vehicle access to the proposed basement car park be provided from Stanmore Road rather than Cavendish Street.
Cavendish Street is a narrow residential street that already experiences significant congestion during school drop-off and pick-up periods and is heavily used by local residents, families and school children.
Introducing the primary access point for a 100-space basement car park via Cavendish Street would unnecessarily increase traffic volumes, worsen congestion and create additional safety risks.
Stanmore Road is a major arterial road specifically designed to accommodate higher traffic volumes. Providing vehicle access from Stanmore Road would significantly reduce traffic through residential streets, improve pedestrian safety and minimise the long-term impacts on local residents.
If the proposal is approved, I respectfully request that vehicle access from Stanmore Road be imposed as a condition of consent.
Conclusion
Newington College is an established and well-resourced educational institution with significant existing landholdings. While I acknowledge the need for schools to evolve and accommodate future demand, this should not occur at the expense of surrounding residential communities.
I respectfully request that the Department carefully consider the cumulative impacts of this proposal on traffic, pedestrian safety, parking, construction impacts and residential amenity.
In particular, I urge the Department to require Newington College to clearly demonstrate that all reasonable alternative locations for additional parking within its existing campus have been fully explored before approving a development that will have lasting impacts on Cavendish Street and its residents.
For these reasons, I object to the proposal in its current form and respectfully request that the application be refused. Alternatively, should the Department be minded to approve the redevelopment, I request that the proposal be substantially amended, including requiring vehicle access from Stanmore Road and implementing measures that better protect the surrounding residential community.

I object to the proposed redevelopment, in particular to the Concordia building for the following reasons:
1. The proposed height of the Concordia building exceeds the height of any other building in the surrounding area. The massive bulk of the proposed building can be seen on the Architectural Design Report – 5.11 Masterplan: Site Elevations – 1. Stanmore Road (North) Page 45.
2. The whole new building should not exceed the height of the proposed FFL 49.990 (as shown in the proposed envelop elevations 06-3101 Revision 5). FFL 49.990 would cover their major proposed new functionality (Basement level car parking, Ground Floor exam/gallery hall, 650 seats performing arts theatre, First Floor staff space and GLA, Second Floor staff space and GLA (as shown in 5.19 Stage 6 Drawings Pages 61 and 62).
3. The Third Floor expected to accommodate further staff space and LGA (as shown in 5.19 Stage 6 Drawings Page 63) would bring this building to a height that exceeds any other building in the surrounding area as explained in point 1. I specifically object to the need of this third floor when space for staff and LGA has been already included in the Second Floor).
4. The proposed basement level car parking of 60 spaces is not sufficient to accommodate this redevelopment. I understand that this car parking might be necessary to accommodate the cars currently parking in the Concordia car park and future staff working in the new redeveloped Concordia building. However, this car parking level would not be able to accommodate all the people attending the proposed performing arts theatre. Where are the 650 people sitting in the theatre going to park their cars? Public transport could be presented as an alternative, however depending on the events and their times most people would prefer to bring their cars!
5. I object to the proposed Ramp down providing vehicular access to the basement car park from Cavendish Street. Any vehicular egress or access to the carpark should be provided from Stanmore Road only. Cavendish Street and the surrounding streets (Holt Street, Merchant Street and Cambridge Street) are already suffering the vehicular traffic generated by the Newington College. During normal school hours parents bring and collect their kids attending the Newington College building on Cambridge Street generating traffic and parking issues. Several large school buses wait for the kids attending this same building and then turn around on Merchant Street causing bottle necks on Merchant Street while they wait for the traffic light to enter Stanmore Road. During sports events at the Newington College main campus, parents park their cars on Cavendish Street and surrounding streets, reducing the already scarse street parking to the local residents. Cavendish Street is also affected by people parking their vehicles to attend events at Enmore Theatre and the local Entertainment Precint at nearby Enmore Road. I object to the proposed increase of students numbers in ANY Newington building in Stanmore, not just the proposed Concordia building.