16 April 2026

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to object to the proposed construction of a new hospital directly opposite my residence on Chapel Road, Bankstown.

Before outlining my reasons for objection, I would like to provide some background about my situation. I am one of the residents who will be directly impacted by both the construction process and the ongoing operation of this proposed hospital. My family and I currently live at Chapel Road, directly across from the planned site. We are a family of four, with two adults and two children under the age of three. Our second child was born at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, the existing hospital in this area.

We represent a typical family within this community. The surrounding neighbourhood has a high proportion of young families with small children. This is already a densely populated area with extensive infrastructure, including shopping centres, restaurants, schools, and childcare facilities. Traffic density is already extremely high, and the area is heavily utilised on a daily basis.

My first and most serious concern is the safety of children in the area. Having personally experienced the environment around Bankstown Hospital, I have observed that it is often complex and, at times, confronting. The hospital entrance frequently attracts a wide range of individuals, including people who smoke, individuals struggling with substance abuse, and those experiencing homelessness. I am also aware that services are provided to individuals dealing with drug dependency, which further contributes to the complexity of the surrounding environment. These realities make me deeply concerned as a parent. The presence of such an environment directly opposite a residential area with a very high number of young children raises serious safety concerns. It is entirely reasonable for families like mine to feel uneasy about exposing our children to these conditions on a daily basis.

Secondly, I question the suitability of this location from an urban planning perspective. Hospitals in Sydney are typically built on large sites and are not commonly placed in areas of such extremely high residential density. Placing a major medical facility in an already congested area will place significant strain on existing infrastructure and local services.

Finally, and critically, there is the issue of traffic and parking. Chapel Road is already extremely busy. During peak hours and school zones, traffic congestion is severe, and even short trips within Bankstown and surrounding areas can be very difficult. Parking is already highly limited, with local residents frequently struggling to find available spaces near their homes.

A hospital is a major traffic generator, with constant movement of staff, patients, visitors, and emergency vehicles. The addition of such a facility in this location will inevitably worsen congestion and create further pressure on an already overburdened road network and parking system. This will not only impact residents directly but also affect the broader Bankstown area and surrounding streets.

Furthermore, I am deeply concerned about the apparent lack of meaningful community consultation in relation to this proposal. A development of this scale, with such significant impacts on local residents, must involve transparent, thorough, and genuine engagement with the community. To date, it does not appear that affected residents have been adequately consulted or that our concerns have been properly considered.

I therefore formally request that the relevant authorities undertake a comprehensive and genuine community consultation process before any decision is finalised. This process should include clear communication, opportunities for public feedback, and proper consideration of the concerns raised by local residents.

In light of these issues, I strongly hope the relevant authorities to reconsider the proposed location of this hospital. The current plan does not adequately account for the safety, wellbeing, and quality of life of the existing community.

Yours faithfully

Comments from Lake Macquarie Council

We should be conserving our resources for when zero emissions options become viable, along with zero subsidence techniques. Until then the market should not have more coal made available.

For the reasons outlined in my written submission, I recommend that consent is refused.

If the Minister for Planning’s delegate determines to approve this development, then this Project – at a minimum - should be required to purchase 100% renewable energy to supply it’s electricity needs and entirely eliminate its Scope 2 GHG emissions. Any Scope 1 emissions which cannot be mitigated on site by the proponent, should be 100% offset via a condition of consent which requires Australian Carbon Credit Units to be purchased. Any approval for this mine should also expire upon closure of Eraring Power Station’s coal-fired units.