I'm writing to object to the proposed 43-storey development at 10 Dangar Street Wickham. As an Islington resident, I'm directly affected by what happens in this area.

My main concern is that the application hasn't properly dealt with loading and servicing. The streets around Dangar, Charles, and Hannell are already congested with pedestrians, cyclists, delivery vehicles and service traffic. Adding a building this size will make that worse, but the applicant hasn't shown how they'll actually manage it day-to-day.

The basement safety issues also worry me. These aren't minor details that can be sorted out later through operational plans. They need to be worked through properly before anyone approves this.

I don't think the application makes a convincing case that a development of this scale can operate without causing real problems for Wickham, Newcastle West, and the whole Interchange precinct. The applicant needs to do the detailed work upfront, not leave it as a condition to be figured out after approval.

view objection doc

I work in project marketing and understand the importance of bringing new housing to market. I also understand that buyers are increasingly sensitive to design quality, building management, public space, transport access and long-term confidence in a precinct.
That is why I object to the proposal as currently lodged.
Housing supply is not the whole test
A project can add dwellings and still fail the planning merit test. The Department should not accept the argument that proximity to transport automatically justifies a 43-storey tower with FSR around 14.2:1.
If a project is asking for a permanent uplift in height and floor space, the public benefit should be equally clear and durable. Affordable housing should be legally secured. Public-domain works should be usable, sunny enough, wind-comfortable, safe and maintained. Design excellence should be complete before approval, not treated as a later formality.
The proposal may be marketed one day as a major gateway project. If so, it should meet a high standard now.
What should happen
The Department should refuse the current scheme. If the applicant wants to pursue the site, it should come back with a reduced building, a clear public-benefit package, completed design excellence material, and independent review of wind, flood, traffic, servicing, visual impact and overshadowing.
Any revised proposal should be re-exhibited if the changes are material. People should be able to comment on the actual version proposed for approval, not on an earlier version that is later changed behind the scenes.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew

I object to the proposed mixed-use development at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham on the grounds that it exceeds established planning controls and will have unacceptable impacts on the surrounding community.
My primary concern is the excessive height of the proposed development.
A proposal that significantly exceeds planning controls undermines the integrity of the planning framework and sets an undesirable precedent for future developments seeking similar variations.
The scale of the development is also likely to create significant traffic and transport impacts.
A development of this size will generate additional vehicle movements from residents, visitors, commercial tenants, service vehicles and deliveries, increasing congestion and placing further strain on local infrastructure.
In addition, the scale and bulk of the proposed building are out of keeping with the intended character of the area, and will create overshadowing and privacy concerns for neighbouring buildings.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the application be refused in its current form or substantially amended to comply with applicable planning controls and to address its impacts on traffic, infrastructure, local character and residential amenity.

The buiding is not supported by external infrastructure in the surrounding areas.All pedestrian access is poor and inaccessible for anyone with a disability or mobility need.There is already a hightened problem with violence and vandelism in the area.There are no considerations for the human rights needs of the communal living space.Street lighting in adjacent areas is poor with liimited foodpath accessibility

I live in the Wickham community which has worked collaboratively with the City of Newcastle over many years to develop the Wickham Community Infrastructure Plan and the Wickham Master Plan to guide development in the local area. There is currently a 70 metre height control, and the proposed development is more than double this height at 150m. I am concerned about the negative effects on infrastructure, traffic, overshadowing and residential amenity. Wickham has a strong maritime and industrial identity/history which is being eroded by bland, generic developments such as this. Please allow the area to follow its current agreed plans. We don't want the access to and amenity with the waterfront to be blocked. If the height of this development is allowed, it will open the flood gates to further developments of this nature. There is already a traffic problem with Throsby Street being the only exit from the precinct in a southbound direction. This is a narrow road being used by many different types of commercial vehicles.

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