Letter of objection RE: SSD-87925706 SSD-100293708 for 300 BURNS BAY ROAD, LANE COVE
from Meredith Freeman, owner unit 30/300A Burns Bay, Road Lane Cove

I write to object to the proposed early works to facilitate development at 300 Burns Bay Road Lane Cove.
The grounds on which I object include:
1. Loss of native bushland and habitat associated with early works to develop this site.
The proposed early works includes the removal of a number of established trees and native scrub. The development application has not been approved and early works to remove these trees sets an unreasonable approval of loss of bushland which may not be required in the final approved development plans
Tree removal will remove the native canopy affecting the microclimate and impact the neighbouring buildings through increased heat. This is not good for the environment and will impact on the safety and commodity of the immediate site and surrounding buildings.
2. Noise and disruption associated with early works.
The proposed early works will generate significant noise and disruption to the peaceful enjoyment of the area due to dust and dirt generated by the demolition, and acoustic impacts will be significant.
The proposed early works will result in all buildings in the immediate vicinity being adversely affected by the noise and dirt associated with the demolition works. The residents of buildings at 290 Burns Bay Road, 292-298 Burns Bay Road, 300A, 300B and 300C Burns Bay Road will be directly impacted as their windows and common areas face the proposed development site.
3. Impact of pre-emptive early works and resultant vacant lot on resident wellbeing.
The early works will generate a vacant lot of land that will be subject to weather and potential vandalism.
The impacts on the neighbouring buildings include ongoing dust and dirt from the vacant site travelling to buildings and affecting the health and wellbeing of residents.
The site will also act as a heat sink with the proposed tree removal affecting the climate and contributing to an unhealthy climate in this area.
4. Density of the development will be supported by early works.
The early works aim to prepare for the approval of a state significant development and will include significant drilling and excavating of the rock layer to prepare the foundations.
The final development application has not been approved and there is significant concern that the early works will facilitate and in fact support the proposed overdevelopment of this site. The community has presented its objection to the original bulky and dense development that provides little to no public spaces for residents and impinges on the boundaries of neighbouring properties in an architecturally aggressive manner.
Early works should not be allowed without an approved final development application in place.
5. Traffic impact on current residents and wider community in the Lane Cove area.
The early works will have a significant unwanted impact on traffic in the immediate area and surrounding streets. The use of heavy equipment needed for early works will negatively impact the local traffic.
There are already significant delays to traffic along Burns Bay Road from the intersection with Centennial Ave to the Waterview Drive intersection. High traffic flow along Penrose Street means lengthy delays occur along the majority of that street to the intersection with Burns Bay Road, which then feeds into the congestion from that intersection to Waterview Drive.
The single roundabout at Burns Bay Road and Waterview Drive presents problems when giving way to traffic entering from 292-298 Burns Bay Road and the proposed development at 300 Burns Bay Road due to lack of sightline. The road is situated behind the driver’s right-hand side and if drivers are travelling at speed has led to near misses.
The angles of the roads entering this roundabout are acute and there are ongoing issues with the garbage collection trucks and delivery trucks navigating the roundabout and road access to 300ABC Burns Bay Road and 302 Burns Bay Road.

In summary, I object to the proposed early works to facilitate the development based on the reasons listed above.
I consider the early works an act of stealth to position the developer to further push the overdevelopment of the site.
The proposed early works will impact and detract from the right of residents to the peaceful enjoyment of living in this area.

I strongly object to the approval of the Early Works application before Development Application SSD-87925706 has been fully assessed and determined.
As an immediate neighbour, I will be directly affected by any works undertaken and as such have a major interest in ensuring that the planning process is completed before any irreversible changes occur.
There have been major unresolved issues with the main development application identified and significant revisions have been requested. I believe it is premature and inappropriate to allow works that could permanently alter the site before a final decision has been made.
My greatest concern is that demolition, tree removal and site clearing are irreversible. If the main proposal is ultimately reduced in scale, redesigned, delayed, or refused, the environmental and community impacts of these works will already have occurred.
The existing trees and vegetation are important not only to the character of the local area but also as habitat for native wildlife. Kookaburras and other bird species have their home amongst the trees and surrounding vegetation. Removing this habitat before the principal application has been determined would result in an irreversible loss of biodiversity and environmental value.
As an immediate neighbour, the trees and vegetation contribute to my outlook, privacy and enjoyment of my property. Their removal would permanently alter the character of the area and diminish the park like feel of the area currently enjoyed by nearby residents.
I suffer from asthma and am worried about how early demolition, vegetation removal and site disturbance may affect air quality in the surrounding area whilst the neighbourhood waits. The last extended build in the area meant almost two years of dust, closed windows, no use of outdoor balcony and use of inhalers daily. The documentation does not provide sufficient reassurance about how neighbouring residents, especially those with existing respiratory conditions, will be protected from dust generated by the works. Dust can have serious health implications, and I believe these risks must be fully considered before any approval is granted.
I am also concerned that if the site is cleared before a final decision is made on SSD-87925706, the community could be left with a vacant and unsightly site for an extended period. Rather than improving the area, premature demolition and clearing may create an eyesore that detracts from the appearance and character of the neighbourhood.
Approving Early Works in these circumstances effectively creates a "proceed first, decide later" outcome, allowing works to proceed before a final decision has been reached. It would allow permanent environmental and visual impacts to occur before
the planning process has been completed and before the community has certainty about what will ultimately be approved on the site.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Early Works application not be approved until SSD-87925706 has been fully assessed and determined.
If approval is nevertheless granted, I request that strict conditions be imposed, including:
· Strict adherence to work hours, with the last development trucks were idling from before 5am each morning outside apartment bedroom windows, workmen smoking and shouting to each other well before work start time
· No removal of trees or wildlife habitat.
· No removal of soil. No earthworks beyond those strictly required for demolition safety.
· Retention of lower slabs and hard surfaces to minimise dust impacts on neighbouring properties.
· Appropriate erosion, sediment and stormwater controls.
· Approval of all environmental, traffic, noise and waste management plans before any works commence.
· Ongoing maintenance of the site to ensure it does not become a visual eyesore on the community if development is delayed.
I ask that due consideration is given to protect the local residents, native wildlife and the existing character of the area by ensuring the site remains substantially unchanged until a final determination has been made on SSD-87925706.

I have been an owner/ resident in Lane Cove for 38 years .I have 2 daughters who have apartments which will be affect by the proposed development of 300 Burns Bay Road.
I formally object to this early works application being approved as it would be premature and the works irreversible to the principal SSD being determined. Tree removal, demolition ,excavation and heavy vehicle movement/dust air quality issues should not commence until the main development has been assessed. at the moment there is insufficient information

Submission on SSD-100293708 – Early Works at 300 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove

I object to this Early Works application in its current form.

I am an owner-occupier at 280–288 Burns Bay Road, immediately adjoining the proposed redevelopment site. I purchased my apartment intending it to be my long-term home, and the outlook and established landscape surrounding the site were important considerations in that decision.

I am not opposed to redevelopment of 300 Burns Bay Road in principle. I understand that the site will eventually be redeveloped in some form. My concern is that this application seeks approval for irreversible works before the principal redevelopment application has been determined.

This application includes demolition of the existing buildings, removal of trees, bulk excavation and associated site preparation works. Once these works have taken place, they cannot realistically be reversed, regardless of whether the principal redevelopment proceeds as currently proposed, is modified or is delayed.

My greatest concern is the possibility that neighbouring residents could be left living beside a demolished and extensively excavated site for an extended period if the principal redevelopment does not proceed immediately after the early works. This would expose surrounding residents to prolonged construction impacts including demolition and excavation noise, dust, heavy vehicle movements, visual impacts and the general disruption associated with a major construction site.

Burns Bay Road is already a busy local road, particularly during peak periods. The demolition and excavation phase will inevitably generate significant heavy vehicle traffic, placing additional pressure on an already constrained road network and further affecting the amenity of neighbouring residents.

I have attached photographs taken from my apartment to show my existing outlook. While I recognise that redevelopment will inevitably change the area over time, the current landscape setting contributes significantly to the amenity enjoyed by neighbouring properties. I do not believe irreversible changes to the site should occur before the Department has completed its assessment of the principal redevelopment proposal.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Department refuse the Early Works application in its current form.

If the Department is nevertheless minded to grant consent, I respectfully request that any approval be subject to conditions that minimise irreversible impacts before the principal redevelopment has been determined. In particular, I ask that only those works necessary to safely secure and maintain the site be permitted, with bulk excavation and other irreversible site works deferred until the principal redevelopment has received approval. Appropriate dust suppression, environmental controls, site maintenance and construction management measures should also be required throughout any interim period to minimise impacts on neighbouring residents.

Thank you for considering my submission.