To: The Planning Officer
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
New South Wales Government

Subject: Objection to Development Application SSD-80211463 – 164–172 & 174–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

Dear Planning Officer,

I am writing as a resident of 5–15 Farrell Avenue, Darlinghurst, to formally object to the proposed Development Application SSD-80211463 for 164–172 and 174–194 William Street. While I acknowledge the need for urban development and revitalisation, this particular proposal presents significant concerns for nearby residents, including serious view loss, environmental impacts, and a lack of clear commitment to affordable housing outcomes.

1. Catastrophic View and Overshadowing Impact
The most immediate and severe effect of this proposed development will be its visual and view impact on residents at 5–15 Farrell Avenue. The proposed building height and bulk would dramatically obstruct existing views toward the city skyline including landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Bridge and surrounding landscape that are currently enjoyed by residents. These views are an important element of local amenity and contribute to the sense of openness and light that defines this part of the City.

The overshadowing caused by the proposed structures will also significantly reduce natural light access to dwellings along Farrell Avenue, particularly during winter months. This loss of sunlight and visual connection to the sky would have a direct negative effect on residential amenity, property values, and the overall liveability of our homes.

2. Affordable Housing and Community Impact
Woolloomooloo has a long and valued history as a socially diverse and inclusive community. The proposal does not demonstrate an adequate or transparent commitment to affordable housing provisions as required under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and consistent with the City of Sydney’s Affordable Housing Strategy. Without meaningful affordable housing outcomes or contributions, developments of this scale risk accelerating displacement of lower-income residents and eroding the social character that makes Woolloomooloo unique.

3. Environmental and Sustainability Concerns
The development documentation appears to lack comprehensive detail regarding environmental management and sustainability measures. Given the density and location of the proposal, the environmental assessment should provide clear commitments to green building design, stormwater management, energy efficiency, and minimisation of construction impacts such as dust, noise, and traffic disruption. The absence of these details raises concerns about compliance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the long-term ecological footprint of the project.

In its current form, Development Application SSD-80211463 would have an unacceptably detrimental effect on the residents of 5–15 Farrell Avenue and the wider Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo community. The catastrophic loss of views, overshadowing impacts, insufficient affordable housing contribution, and lack of robust environmental safeguards make this proposal unsuitable for approval without substantial amendment.

I therefore respectfully urge the Department of Planning to reject this application to address these issues.

Thank you for considering my submission. I request that my objection be recorded and that I be notified of any future consultations, amendments, or determinations regarding this proposal.

Yours sincerely,
[Name Withheld]
Resident, 5–15 Farrell Avenue
Darlinghurst NSW 2011

Objection to Development Application SSD-80211463 – 164–172 and 174–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo
11 Nov. 25
Most likely the panel has been informed by others of objections from the perspective of building codes, building envelopes, the design of the building itself, etc. However, I would like to take this opportunity to bring forth the perspective of lifestyle and previous promises made (via existing zoning codes)
Many of us in the community purchased our homes on the basis of these zoning codes which was that nothing would be built taller than that on the AVIS building on William Street. We made financial commitments and investments to secure and maintain our properties. We purchased our property for the neighbourhood, proximity to public transport, the city, entertainment, restaurants, shops and schools as most people do in selecting a property. But the key feature that no other place had was our harbour views. Had I known that the State would allow for construction of a building that would block my view, I may as well had purchased a property elsewhere for a lot less money. So, in your consideration, please bear in mind that, and make no mistake about it, we in the community do not want our views blocked by any building and the existing envelope must be maintained.
Secondly, I object to having this building built as the area simply cannot handle facilitating a massive growth of population to the area. Traffic is already congested on William Street with a queue of vehicles extending from Bourke Street to turn onto the Eastern Distributor to under the overpass at Darlinghurst Road. Plus, there will be overflow traffic in a small community streets, which simply cannot absorb any more vehicles.
In addition, the apartment building will undoubtedly bring 50 plus dogs to the area where our parks are already overwhelmed and disgusting. The Rosebank Park has to be returfed every 6 months at a great cost to the City and believe me, the park is ruined within 6 weeks because of the volume of dogs in the area.
Finally, I object to this proposal since we all know what it is. The developer smartly is “attaching” the key word to their proposal to get your blessing, “affordability”. Please do not fall for it. In this area, I don’t think +$2 million dollars for a home is affordable to many that you want to help. The developer said in their proposal that the affordable housing would only be locked in for 10 years, then it would go to market rate. The housing prices will skyrocket at the end of that time and then what? Back where you started from. Wise people would just invest and sell and make a handsome profit. I wholeheartedly agree that housing is very expensive, but if you truly want to build affordable housing, you don’t do it on the most expensive real estate in Australia.
I have other concerns too, which many others may have pointed out. I am concerned that the additional noise, traffic, dogs, sunlight, wind pattern changes, overcrowding of restaurants and supply of food. Many times, our local Coles and Woolworths, the shelves are bare as they cannot keep up with existing demand. Even our gyms are overcrowded.
So, I hope that you will feel that your decision will affect many people’s lifestyles. Going forward with this proposal will be a huge detriment to our community which we love so much. This building will bring down the spirit of our community; many people will be unhappy and most likely leave Sydney or New South Wales. I know that will be on the table for me and I never thought I would leave New South Wales for another State. But many us that would want to sell because they don’t want this tower in front of them, will not be able to afford to buy another property will the amenities we have in this area, so they will have to look elsewhere and most likely won’t be in the State.

To:
The Planning Officer
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
New South Wales Government

Subject: Objection to Development Application SSD-80211463 – 164–172 & 174–194 William Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

Dear Planning Officer,

I am writing as a resident of 5–15 Farrell Avenue, Darlinghurst, to formally object to the proposed Development Application SSD-80211463 for 164–172 and 174–194 William Street. While I acknowledge the need for urban development and revitalisation, this particular proposal presents significant concerns for nearby residents, including serious view loss, environmental impacts, and a lack of clear commitment to affordable housing outcomes.

1. Catastrophic View and Overshadowing Impact
The most immediate and severe effect of this proposed development will be its visual and view impact on residents at 5–15 Farrell Avenue. The proposed building height and bulk would dramatically obstruct existing views toward the city skyline including landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Bridge and surrounding landscape that are currently enjoyed by residents. These views are an important element of local amenity and contribute to the sense of openness and light that defines this part of the City.

The overshadowing caused by the proposed structures will also significantly reduce natural light access to dwellings along Farrell Avenue, particularly during winter months. This loss of sunlight and visual connection to the sky would have a direct negative effect on residential amenity, property values, and the overall liveability of our homes.

2. Affordable Housing and Community Impact
Woolloomooloo has a long and valued history as a socially diverse and inclusive community. The proposal does not demonstrate an adequate or transparent commitment to affordable housing provisions as required under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and consistent with the City of Sydney’s Affordable Housing Strategy. Without meaningful affordable housing outcomes or contributions, developments of this scale risk accelerating displacement of lower-income residents and eroding the social character that makes Woolloomooloo unique.

3. Environmental and Sustainability Concerns
The development documentation appears to lack comprehensive detail regarding environmental management and sustainability measures. Given the density and location of the proposal, the environmental assessment should provide clear commitments to green building design, stormwater management, energy efficiency, and minimisation of construction impacts such as dust, noise, and traffic disruption. The absence of these details raises concerns about compliance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the long-term ecological footprint of the project.

In its current form, Development Application SSD-80211463 would have an unacceptably detrimental effect on the residents of 5–15 Farrell Avenue and the wider Woolloomooloo community. The catastrophic loss of views, overshadowing impacts, insufficient affordable housing contribution, and lack of robust environmental safeguards make this proposal unsuitable for approval without substantial amendment.

I therefore respectfully urge the Department of Planning to reject this application to address these issues.

Thank you for considering my submission. I request that my objection be recorded and that I be notified of any future consultations, amendments, or determinations regarding this proposal.

Yours sincerely,
Name withheld for privacy reasons
Resident, 5–15 Farrell Avenue
Darlinghurst NSW 2010

I strongly object to this project and the affect it would have on living in this area and at 200 William Street. Impacts to the area will include noise pollution, increased traffic, pedestrian and child safety, wind tunnels, and a huge visual impact and impact on light and temperature, and impact on personal privacy.
The noise in the area is already constant and overwhelming especially in the mornings and evenings with trucks, road works, trains, police, ambulance, and fire brigade that is without the general traffic and the car rental business, flower delivery and parcel delivery businesses already located here. A huge apartment complex with all the extra trucks and cars is only going to increase this stress on the senses and also make access to Dowling street even worse than it is already.
To avoid the huge traffic jams on William street when trying to enter 200 William from any direction other than the city (due to traffic trying to access the Bridge, Harbour Tunnel and Cross City Tunnel), traffic travels down narrow back roads turning from Victoria Street into Brougham Lane through to McElhorne Street where it turns right and then left onto Reid and onto Cathedral Street. In this mix of narrow shared use, vehicle and pedestrian is an SDN Childcare Centre. All the extra vehicles from this new development are going to cause a large increase in risk for children, parents and babies running this gauntlet! This is just a disaster waiting to happen! Not to mention the small William Lane connecting Forbes to Bourke Street or the extra traffic jams for Bourke Street itself with traffic trying to access the Cross City Tunnel and for that matter Palmer Street as well if traffic decides to take the long way around! Good luck to anyone trying to access the Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel or Cross City Tunnel with this looming traffic bottle-neck! The residents of Sydney will cetainly not thank you for the impediment to their travel across the city.
No consideration has been made for the visual impact this development will make on the area of 200 Williams Street - None! Even though the building is next to the development! The privacy and view will be impacted from every room and window in the apartment. We will be looking at a wall with windows that people can look directly in at us all the time unless the blinds are down. So confining and depressing for ones mental health. The lack of sunlight in winter will dramatically increase the heating costs which are already a real struggle and effect my plants. The beautiful, expansive view will all be lost and the apartment will feel like a box. Even the large trees are to be removed!
The planned developments height is not in alignment with other buildings travelling down William Street towards the city and as such is incongruent to the area causing a problem with city views and increasing wind tunnels to a very danger level. Buildings all the way from 200 William Street to Palmer Street are as follows : 166 William - 6 Stories, 150 William Street 7 Stories, 140 William Street - 9 Stories, 134 William Street - 7 Stories. Nothing near 18 Stories! These buildings are also all located in a zone next to William Street and backed in by a boundary of William Lane and a continuing area line and boundary with Brougham Lane. The zone that the buildings are located in is only around 35 meters wide. After this boundary line, the buildings are all small only being two or three stories, which does not impact residents views. The new development wants to make a development that is around 70 meters wide, twice as wide as the zone the tall buildings are already in and a ten story tower when the whole lower area of Woolloomooloo is only around 2 or 3 stories high! There goes any feeling of space, freedom, the beauty of the city view for claustrophobia! That is just not right!
I have already been blown over in a strong wind that came up Forbes Street on the corner of William walking down to the Ozanam Community Centre as the high buildings cause very bad wind tunnels in the area, imagine the injuries that can occur with people trying to walk to the centre there or even cross the street on their way to the city with such a huge building. Even crossing Dowling Street I can see will become challenging with the wind not to get blown over or lose my balance and get hurt.

I am objecting to these developments on the following grounds:

Impacts on William Street
The height and scale of the proposed buildings are excessive and inconsistent with their general environment. The proposed heights will significantly reduce sunlight and natural daylight to surrounding buildings and also to William Street.

William Street is the major arterial access road to Sydney‘s eastern suburbs. Unfortunately the street is already a cold wind tunnel. Adding these buildings to the northern side of the street will significantly reduce sunlight and further exacerbate the already dire wind tunnel effect.

William Street is already very heavily congested, with gridlock (and the associated driver aggression) often seen at peak times. The proposed developments will bring a significant increase in traffic to the area and the road simply cannot sustain it. The surrounding road network is already under considerable pressure and unfortunately there are limited alternatives for traffic to access the eastern suburbs.

William Street is a major access way for emergency services heading to the inner eastern suburbs. Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross and Darlinghurst are already high density suburbs and their very diverse communities mean that emergency services are often called to these areas. There are already challenges for emergency services getting through William Street and any increase in traffic density and congestion raises serious concerns about access for emergency vehicles. Delays caused by traffic buildup and inadequate turning or access points could impede response times of fire, ambulance and police services. This presents a clear risk to public safety and is contrary to the principles of safe and sustainable development.

Inconsistent design
As the major access road for Sydney‘s beautiful eastern suburbs, there should be a more planned approach to development on this important street. Good urban design requires that major buildings form part of a coordinated vision, integrating with the existing townscape, streets and public spaces. The current proposals instead appear to be ad hoc in design, with little consideration of how the various elements relate to one another or to the surrounding environment. This unfortunate piecemeal approach results in a streetscape that lacks architectural unity, fails to respond sensitively to the character of this important and historic part of Sydney and does not demonstrate the high design quality expected of a development of this scale and prominence.

Please consider the amenity of everyone who lives in this densely populated area of Sydney and NOT proceed with these developments.

Document states there is multiple cross over vehicular access to reach Dowling St which is incorrect.
Traffic is already chaotic on William. Extra vehicles trying to get into Dowling st will add to traffic buildup in area and congestion for vehicles trying to use Kings Cross exit lane.
The park used by homeless people will almost disappear. Where will they go?
Wind tunnel effect will be created on Dowling st
Light impact assessment did not fully cover 200 William st when the sun descends into the afternoon and casts shadows over 200 William St

Pursuant to my previous submission, I am highlighting the biggest concern I raised previously- the proposed development will result in the loss of iconic city skyline views currently visible from my apartment at Unit 22, 12–20 Rosebank Street, Darlinghurst. From my living areas and balcony, there are direct outlooks toward the harbor bridge, opera house, which form a defining part of the area’s visual identity and residential amenity. The introduction of a large-scale mixed-use building of the height and mass proposed (raised significantly from the previous proposal to keep in line with the height of the "No Birds" building would substantially obstruct these skyline vistas, eliminating long-standing visual connections that contribute to the aesthetic and cultural value of the locality. Such views are shared by multiple residents along Rosebank Street, and their collective loss would significantly alter the character and spatial experience of the precinct. In line with the City of Sydney DCP 2012 (Section 3.2 – Urban Design and Visual Amenity) and the view-sharing principles established in Tenacity Consulting v Warringah [2004] NSWLEC 140, I submit that the impact on iconic view corridors must be carefully quantified and visually demonstrated through independent 3D modelling and photomontage analysis before any determination is made in a visual impact assessment. I strongly urge that these concerns be taken into account, especially with the extensive massing and height increase and raised tower on the eastern side of the development, following the changes put forward from the original proposal.