It’s preposterous to consider placing a pair of towers circa 200 metres tall at 15-21 Cottonwood Crescent.

This narrow street is totally unsuitable for so many dwellings on such a tiny footprint.

The legitimate purpose of ultra tall towers is to open up large amounts of surrounding land for public recreation. Billbergia is proposing nothing of the sort. Their monstrosity releases no extra space for parklands, playgrounds, sportsfields or amphitheaters. Instead, Billbergig plans to steal sunlight from every pathway, every tree and every blade of grass that currently exists for thousands of square meters around.

Such tall towers work well if they are placed on wide boulevards, spaced well apart. In this way, traffic capacity can match demand, dwellings can receive sunlight and residents can have space to enjoy outdoors.

I’m in favour of transport oriented development. That’s why I live at Macquarie Park. But this proposal is a cynical attempt to cram an unsuitable building onto an inadequate block.

The individual reasons for my objection are listed with specific details in the attached document.

The initial approval for two residential buildings with a maximum of 20 storeys is acceptable and is in harmony with existing residential developments in Macquarie Park.

My main concern is that the scale and density of this project are excessive for the surrounding area. A development of this height would be significantly out of character with the existing built environment and would create an overdeveloped, overcrowded outcome that is not appropriate for the local community.

I am also concerned that a project of this size would negatively affect the living experience of current residents. A tower of this scale may reduce residential amenity through increased visual bulk, a greater sense of overcrowding, reduced privacy, and a general decline in the comfort and character of the neighbourhood. Even if some technical planning requirements are met, the overall impact on day-to-day liveability should be taken seriously.

In addition, this development is likely to place further pressure on local roads and traffic conditions. A large increase in residents would inevitably lead to more vehicle movements, increased congestion, greater pressure on parking, and additional strain on existing infrastructure. I am not convinced that the surrounding road network and local services can comfortably accommodate a development of this intensity.

The construction phase is another major concern. A 60-storey building would almost certainly require a long construction period, causing prolonged noise, dust, traffic disruption, and general disturbance to nearby residents and businesses. The cumulative effect of years of construction activity should not be underestimated.

I am also concerned that the number of people introduced by such a large development would place excessive pressure on local community facilities, public spaces, and essential services. Growth should be managed in a balanced and reasonable way, and this proposal appears to prioritise scale over the long-term wellbeing of the existing community.

For these reasons, I strongly object to this proposal and respectfully ask that it be reconsidered, substantially reduced in scale, or refused.

See Attached

The proposed twin-tower development at 15–21 Cottonwood Crescent raises significant planning concerns that warrant careful consideration before any approval is granted. Comprising two residential towers of 60 and 52 storeys and up to 870 apartments, the project has been advanced through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway, a mechanism that fundamentally limits the community’s ability to participate in decisions that will permanently reshape their neighbourhood.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this proposal is how dramatically it departs from what was previously approved for this site. The development was originally approved for towers of 21 and 19 storeys and is now seeking State-Significant Development upscaling to 60 storeys, representing more than a tripling of the approved height. This kind of escalation, processed outside the ordinary local planning framework, deprives residents of meaningful input over a project of exceptional scale and permanence.

The impact on Elouera Reserve is a further cause for concern. The site plan places two towers of this height in direct adjacency to the reserve, and the resulting overshadowing during winter months would substantially diminish what is intended to be a public amenity. Green space surrounded by 60-storey towers is not genuinely usable public open space in any meaningful sense.

There is also the question of cumulative infrastructure pressure. Macquarie Park is already absorbing an extraordinary volume of concurrent development. Adding nearly 900 dwellings to a precinct already under strain, without demonstrated upgrades to roads, drainage, and community infrastructure, is not responsible planning.

Density in well-located precincts is a legitimate planning objective, and one that many residents support in principle. However, towers of this scale carry obligations that go beyond meeting a housing number. They demand genuine community engagement, rigorous infrastructure planning, and design outcomes that serve the public interest. As currently proposed, this development does not adequately satisfy those requirements, and I respectfully urge that the application be subject to full and transparent assessment before any determination is made.

I object to the excessive height (two towers of 60 and 52 storeys) and size of this project in the already densely built-up surrounding area. Key concerns include:

• Significant overshadowing of Elouera Reserve, resulting in loss of sunlight to an important public open space
• Excessive bulk and massing, creating a wall effect and reducing visual openness
• Increased wind impacts at street level due to the height and scale of the towers
• Traffic congestion and safety concerns on Cottonwood Crescent, particularly when considered alongside other nearby developments
• The cumulative impact of multiple developments in close proximity, including the 20-storey building under construction at 14 Cottonwood Crescent, and other student hostels nearby.

The scale and density proposed are excessive for this site and will significantly reduce the amenity and liveability of the surrounding area.

I request that the proposal be substantially reduced in height and bulk, and that a more appropriate design with increased setbacks and separation be considered.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed high-rise residential development at 15-21 Cottonwood Crescent, Macquarie Park 2113.
My main concerns are as follows:
1) Inconsistent Building Height and Character of the Area
There are currently no high-rise residential buildings over 30 storeys along the Waterloo Road, and the proposed development would be out of scale and character with the existing low-rise residential environment. Such a drastic change would negatively affect the visual harmony and neighborhood identity.
2) Loss of Sunlight and Reduced Living Quality for Nearby Residents
The proposed height will block natural sunlight to adjacent homes, leading to a considerable reduction in daylight and overall living comfort for existing residents.
3) Safety Concerns in Case of Fire or Emergency Evacuation
High-rise buildings present greater challenges during fire emergencies. In this location—with limited road access and the existing infrastructure not designed for high-density evacuation—the safety of residents could be compromised. Adequate fire safety provisions, access routes, and emergency response capacity must be confirmed before any such project proceeds.
4) Airspace and Flight Path Considerations
The site is located close to an area where aircraft regularly pass. A high-rise structure may pose potential risks or complications related to flight safety and airspace regulations, which should be carefully reviewed by the relevant aviation authority.
Given these points, I respectfully request that the council reject or significantly revise the current proposal especially to the height of the building to ensure it aligns with the surrounding community character, safety standards, and environmental well-being of nearby residents.

Please see the attached report which tables details taken from the developers reports and submissions.
It has also been submitted to Ryde Council who have expressed intense frustration about the TOD, BTR and SSD projects which are taking time and resources away from them providing infrastructure and financial stability, not to mention undermining decades of careful planning and stewardship. I'd like to add that I've never seen such an arrogant, superficial, or misleading set of project reports from the developer about this project. They clearly believe they have this contract is in the bag, or they wouldn't have suggested they will plant shrubs on the fourth story promenade as a solution for not meeting light and heat reflection standards determined by independent assessment.
Please, do not kill our beloved suburb with this monstrosity. This not someone being a NIMBY. I have watched Macquarie Park become one of the success stories of modern urban planning for over forty years. This development will not only turn over half of Macquarie Park into an eyesore, but it will also, as the developer has clearly stated in their opinion, set the precedent for more buildings to exceed the building codes on undeveloped land which would effectively spell the end of the master plan for the Macquarie Park Development Corridor. Yes, we need more housing, but not at any cost, and not when it sells the soul of a community to get it. There are always other options.