As owner of a unit in Sebel Chatswood, we are concerned about the impact of the project on the already very congested traffic around the area.

We own an apartment at the Sebel, 37 Victor Street, Chatswood and object to this project for the folowing reasons:
1. The area is a very congested area as Victor Street is a dead end. Having two towers of up to 32 storeys will have a huge impact on the congestion.
2. At most times of the day at present, Victor Street is already heavily congested. Weekends are especially so. Adding two more residential towers will make this a permanent traffic jam unless no car parks are included in the new towers which is obviously not possible.
3. The traffic lights at the interection of Albert Ave and Victor Street will become a bottle neck, slowing down traffic through Albert Avenue. Even now it is common to wait for one or 2 light changes before passing through that intersection.
4. The loss of sunlight into the Sebel building will be great, especially those units facing south i.e. immediately opposing the proposed new towers.

I hope you will objectively consider the impact on the affected community and not be swayed by the financial gains of such a huge development. Thank you

I have very fond memories of the Mandarin Centre 20+ years ago as a child, I have very fond memories of it 15+ years ago as a teenager, and I have fond memories of it recently as an adult. However it's clear that it is very tired and in need of an upgrade! The lifts are tiny and cramped, the escalators slow and narrow and the entire place is quite dated (in a charming way). My main request is that whatever it gets redeveloped into, can it not be a cookie cutter, indistinguishable modern glass box. The Mandarin Centre has always been visually distinct and has its own style. Please ensure a unique looking facade that means it isn't a soulless looking office block. Also. Please make sure the current food court vendors are looked after. They are the main reason I go there!

Please see attached

The new building is too too close with 37 Victor street Sebel building. And the new building will cause more traffic in Victor street Sebel area and nearby. Also the new building will block all the natural light and views. Please make a fair decision and agree with a reasonable design for the existing building and future building. Thank you !

Whom It May Concern,
I am writing as a resident of the Sebel building to express my concerns regarding the proposed Mandarin Centre redevelopment.
What stands out most to me is the cumulative impact this project will have on the community. It is not just one issue, but a combination of factors that together will significantly reduce the quality of living in this area.

Traffic congestion on Victor Street is already a daily frustration, and it is difficult to see how the Victor street can absorb any additional demand.
At the same time, the scale of the development will lead to a complete loss of natural light for over 100 units in Sebel, causing significant health issues.

Privacy is another concern. The close proximity of buildings means that residents may find themselves living directly opposite one another, with limited separation and little sense of personal space.
There is also a noticeable shift in the sense of security within residential buildings. Incidents such as unauthorised access and theft are becoming more common, and increasing density without clear safeguards may worsen this trend.

In addition, the building configuration raises questions about wind conditions at street level. Developments with limited spacing can create accelerated wind flows, making public areas uncomfortable or even hazardous. It is concerning that there appears to be little publicly available evidence demonstrating that this issue has been properly assessed or mitigated.

Overall, this proposal, in its current form, does not strike an appropriate balance between development and the preservation of existing residential amenity. I urge the decision-makers to reconsider the scale and design of the project, or to refuse it outright unless these significant concerns are meaningfully addressed.

Yours sincerely,
A Sebel resident

Dear State Department,

I object to the proposed redevelopment of the Mandarin Centre at 61A–65 Albert Avenue.

The surrounding road network, particularly Victor Street, is already operating beyond capacity. Any additional traffic generated by this development will further degrade an already failing system.

The proposal also introduces serious privacy concerns. The proximity of the new buildings means that windows will directly overlook neighbouring apartments, removing any reasonable expectation of privacy for both existing and future residents.

There will also be a clear loss of natural light. Many residents have made long-term lifestyle commitments based on these existing conditions. The impact of complete loss of the natural light should not be dismissed.

Furthermore, there are growing security concerns in the area. Recent incidents within residential buildings highlight the risks associated with increased density and accessibility.

This development places excessive strain on infrastructure, reduces residential amenity, and introduces avoidable safety concerns. It should not proceed in its current form.

A concerned local resident

To Whom It May Concern,

I live in Sebel and I would like to raise my strong objection to the proposed Mandarin Centre redevelopment.

Over the past year, I have already noticed a worrying increase in security incidents within our building. There have been break-ins, including individuals accessing higher levels to steal personal belongings such as suitcases. Even items from shared areas, such as artwork in the lobby, have gone missing. These are not isolated concerns—they reflect a growing vulnerability.

Introducing a large-scale development directly adjacent to our building will only increase foot traffic and accessibility, further heightening these risks. The Sebel building is simply not designed to handle this level of exposure, and I am concerned that resident safety will be compromised.

In addition, the proposed design shows windows that will directly face into existing apartments. This creates an uncomfortable and intrusive living environment, where privacy is significantly reduced.

Combined with worsening traffic on Victor Street and the loss of natural light and views, this development will fundamentally change the character and livability of the area.

For these reasons, I strongly oppose the proposal.

Sincerely.

To the Department,

I am writing as a local resident of the Sebel building to express my strong opposition.

While I understand the intent to revitalise the area, this proposal appears to place an unreasonable burden on existing residents and infrastructure, without adequately addressing the consequences.

Privacy is serious issue. The design indicates a very short setback distance between the proposed buildings and the Sebel. This will result in direct overlooking between Sebel units and the new development, allowing residents to look clearly into each other’s apartments. This raises significant privacy concerns. Section 2F of the Apartment Design Guide requires a minimum separation of 24 metres between habitable rooms and balconies in residential buildings.

The proposal will also significantly reduce natural light and existing views for nearby apartments, particularly south-facing units, leading to a clear decline in living conditions. In addition, there are concerns that the development will cast further shadowing over Chatswood Oval, impacting its usability and amenity.

There are also concerns regarding increased density, impacts on wellbeing, and potential wind tunneling due to minimal building separation, none of which appear to be adequately addressed

Traffic in this area is also at breaking point, with frequent delays just to access Victor Street. This development will further worsen an already unmanageable situation.

For all reasons above, I object to the proposal

Sincerely,
A local resident