While there have been some modifications to the original proposal, unfortunately, this project will continue to have a major detrimental effect on Annandale, the surrounding streets, traffic and pedestrians and cyclists.

The evidence demonstrates this modification won’t solve congestion in Annandale. Congestion is already bad at the Johnston St/Crescent intersection - you only need to visit each day at peak hour to see how far the traffic backs up and the impact on residential streets. Combine this with the proposed changes on Norton St and City West Link, and congestion and traffic in Leichhardt and Annandale will be even worse, with the associated rat runs, pollution, and danger to pedestrians, particularly the kids from the 3 public schools, and day cares along Johnston St.

An underpass would be less overbearing on the local area and provide the best visual and urban outcomes. Constant traffic noise, pollution,and concrete views are not what makes a world class city or state.

The community needs a direct pedestrian and cycling link between the Glebe foreshore and Rozelle Goods Yard. Seamless park to park connection is key! The removal of the horseshoe bridge is also a safety issue.

This project prioritises the needs of motorists over pedestrians, cyclists and residents. It places a undue burden on the inner west, removing amenity, green views, heritage and decreasing safety.

I strongly oppose the project in its current form.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have lived in the area since birth in the late 1970’s and my wife’s family have lived in the area for four generations. We brought our own home in Nelson St Annandale in 2006, which happens to be less than one kilometre from this proposed junction that we’d use multiple times daily. We love the area and hope our four young children can grow up here enjoying everything this great area has to offer. However, because of our love and affinity with the area we are very concerned about some key aspects of the current proposal which I’ve outlined below for your consideration:

1. Accessibility/connectivity of open space - Families in the inner west have an above average reliance on open public space for day to day life as our dwellings generally are very space constrained. You’d also no doubt be aware that Annandale and the surrounding area already have very limited open space compared to other Sydney districts. Therefore effective connectivity is critical to maximising the utility we get from the limited space we do have. Unfortunately, there is currently no direct pedestrian and cycling link between the Glebe foreshore and Rozelle Goods Yard. Accordingly, we believe the horseshoe bridge shared-user path should be reinstated as a park-to-park connection.

2. Unnecessary and overbearing visual impact from overpass - we believe an underpass would be less overbearing on the local area and the current proposed overpass should be replaced by a short tunnel under the City West Link. An underpass provides the best visual and urban outcomes and should allow the retention of the green link in a location to best connect different areas of greenspace together.

3. Bike and pedestrian safety - As avid runners, cyclists and users of public transport we are also very concerned about bike and pedestrian access and safety through this junction and it’s surrounds. We feel the current path widths and bus waiting areas are too small and there’s a very high likelihood that under the current design there will be unnecessary and potentially very dangerous interactions between pedestrians (often with prams given the high density of young families), bus passengers, cyclists, joggers, and dog walkers on this narrow shared path alongside what will be fast moving traffic.

Thank you kindly in advance for considering these concerns and potential modifications. I feel they and hugely important to ensuring this project provides the most utility possible in the safest manner possible.

Kind regards,
Sean Wotton

SUBMISSION ON M4-M5 SSI-7485-AMENDMENTS TO MOD-2 APRIL 2020

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the amendments to the MOD2 crescent overpass and active transport links.
We note that the design has been modified with some changes, including reinstating the single pedestrian crossing at the Crescent / Johnston Street. So we thank you for listening to community comment. However the road overpass is still there, and it is still a very car oriented scheme.

We see that the road overbridge has been lowered, but it is still going to block views of the water from the pedestrian green bridge. It still has a very poor visual relationship with the pedestrian down ramp from Rozelle Bay Station. In particular the fact that it cuts off a key accessible pedestrian route from Railway Parade to the Glebe foreshore.

We had hoped that an alternate solution could have been found to an overpass that would have enabled the original green bridge to be implemented to provide better pedestrian outcomes for local residents.

CONCERN OVER LOSS OF PARK TO PARK CONNECTIVITY
If we are faced with a road overpass being now part of the mix (as opposed to this being underground or at grade), then I am very concerned about the loss of pedestrian connectivity with the removal of the horseshoe pedestrian loop bridge. In attempting to manage visual outcomes, the Horseshoe Bridge which provided a seamless park to park connection has been removed. The baby has been thrown out with the bathwater. With so little open space in the Inner West, connectivity is critically important to linking our open space together. It removes the only direct pedestrian link between the parks. This was the whole basis of the original green bridge to provide a seamless connection

Removing connectivity is at odds with the intent of “Beyond the pavement” The 2nd of 3 overarching objectives are to:
Road and maritime project planning and design must contribute to the accessibility and connectivity of communities and a general permeability of movement through areas. Principle 3 Connecting modes and community also covers connectivity see pages 54-57.

Removal of the horseshoe bridge will force people to cross the Crescent.
• This will mean all pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists crammed into a tiny space on the corner of Johnston Street and The Crescent as they wait to cross. This is a major conflict point.
• Forces everybody to wait up to 90 seconds* for the light change – with everyone bunching up and not able to spread out. (*Actual wait time has not been stated in the modification report. Other than the 3 stage light phase being noted as 150 seconds or two and a half minutes – which is an eternity for pedestrians)
• Means that you need to cross a busy six-lane road rather than seamlessly and safely going up and over a pedestrian bridge.
• Makes it very difficult to physically distance yourself from other pedestrians.

REINSTATEMENT OF A BETTER DESIGNED HORSESHOE BRIDGE
This connection could have been designed in a considered way that provides a gateway structure, a lookout to the bay, while connecting people from park to park. It’s going to be incredibly busy once and popular the park opens. Outcomes:
• The horseshoe bridge shared-user path should be reinstated as a park-to-park connection
• The bridge should be designed to create an attractive urban design element
• Suggest that the southern down ramp loop back towards the city and not along the Crescent or have a spiral ground connection as per the Forest way overpass.
• The bridge can be used to provide a lookout for users providing attractive vistas of Rozelle Bay
• With COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions likely to be in place for some time into the future, we need options that don’t force everyone to be stuck at the Johnston street traffic light for 90 seconds.

RAILWAY PARADE – THE CRESCENT PEDESTRIAN LINK
The Other area that has not been addressed in the EIS, MOD 2 or this amendment is the loss of the direct link from Railway parade to the Crescent. Previously residents could walk through from Lilyfield on an at grade path via Buruwan park (now a six lane roadway) past the mural and cross at the Johnston Street lights. From Railway parade, coming under the light rail bridge Mums with prams, kids on bikes and the elderly who want to use a level connection to the Glebe foreshore, are forced to walk back west, wait at the corner of one of the busiest roads in Sydney, then cross three traffic lights. There are no other alternatives that don’t involve stairs or very steep ridges to cross over.

This route will be over the floodway bridge section of the road. This means that there will be no depth for any planting and it’s likely to be a very concrete and asphalt environments, combined with large piers for the green bridge and road overpass. It’s not going to be a pleasant environment.

The proximity of the road overpass to the pedestrian down ramp is a bit of a visual mess. It is counter intuitive for wayfinding to have to be in your left lane to turn right, and right lane to turn left. It appears that the bus stop has driven this decision. This is an extremely low use bus stop that doesn’t even show up on opal trip data. It could be relocated to near TAFE without unduly effecting many users. The outcome will be considerably better if the road overbridge was moved to the centre lane.

We are concerned that the green bridge footing and pedestrian down ramp footings are under construction, given they would appear to be provisions of the as yet unapproved Modification 2. Furthermore it looks like a fill embankment not pier and headstock approach like shown in the sections 2, 3 and 4 in the community material.
Outcomes:
• Remove the retaining wall abutment for the Green bridge / pedestrian down ramp that blocks the provision of a pedestrian walkway here.
• Remove the down-ramp to the green bridge so that an ‘at grade’ (bay level) wheelchair-accessible pedestrian path can be put in its place.
• If the down ramp is retained for accessibility, then it should be narrowed to 3.0m so that a pedestrian path can be provided beside it.
• Move the road overpass to the centre lane. This provides more space for the pedestrian path. It also makes the vehicle journey more logical as vehicles will naturally get into the right lane to turn right, not the left lane.
• Moving the poorly-sited bus stop to a spot opposite TAFE will provide more pedestrian space.

IMPROVE BAYSIDE DESIGN.
The bay interface is still very poorly designed. It is all still a bit of a mess. It needs solid work to improve this vital pedestrian / bay interface.

I have attached here some illustrative material to cover some of the points.
Happy to be contacted if required for further elaboration.

The Crescent road ramp needs to be underground as a short tunnel under the City West Link . It is visually too high and overbearing as is.
This area is a high pedestrian zone for the local area accessing the nearby park and those passing through to the city. they should be the priority. Keep the bayside for people not cars.
The mural will be partially obscured, a beloved heritage aspect of our suburb.
The ventilation shafts MUST be filtered for the health of the innerwest.
Thank you.

The current proposal shows little regard for residents of Rozelle and Annandale, nor pedestrians and cyclists who frequent the area. This proposal does not look towards the future, instead it creates barriers for cyclists and pedestrians to access the nearby suburbs and facilities. Given our proximity to the city and Annandale there should be free flowing and short access that prioritises bike travel to work and school. The current proposal must change to put people and sustainable community practice first - not cars. As locals, we have invested our lives here - don't disregard our needs as local community members who have a long and sustained commitment to this area. Any move forward, with all that we know about what is required to create healthy connected communities should be worked towards at this time. This may seem a minor decision in the scheme of a billion dollar project but the small extra investment that puts community into the frame is right and ethical for now and the future! Don't mess this important decision up now.

I am local parent, resident, architect and business owner. I have reviewed the updated design and very gravely concerned at the impact it will have on the local communities ability to use active transport. I also believe it will have negative impact on the area and discourage people from walking and enjoying local facilities. I am very concerned about the impact it will have on local families, workers, students and children wishing to use active transport to get to local areas, schools, ovals, parks and other amenities. This intersection is a major gateway for local residents in Balmain, Rozelle, Lilyfield, Lecihhardt, Annandale and Glebe. It connects residents to significant sporting areas, parks (Glebe Foreshore, Callan Park, Easton Park), Greenway, Schools, Sydney Uni, shopping precincts and workplaces. My family will be severely affected by the design, namely for commuting to Blackwattle Campus, Saints School, public transport hubs and nearby ovals for sport. Since COVID-19, the intense density of the inner west has highlighted the need and lack of public space for active transport and paths / links to nearby areas for relaxation and enjoyment. More people than ever are choosing to cycle. Post COVID19 will continue to place a huge strain on local paths and parks as more people choose to work from home and continue to use active transport and comply with social distancing requirements. Therefore the government must seriously prioritise the needs of active transport users. An underpass must also be prioritised to address the importance of a seamless link at this gateway intersection for local residents. An underpass would lessen the visual impact, thereby encouraging greater uptake. Further, an underpass should also acknowledge that public health researchers have found multiple barriers to use in overpasses (e.g. visual impact, height and associated fears /mental health risks such as suicide, gradient as a barrier to elderly or unfit, safety concerns with barriers) and longer travel times.

The modified design fails to demonstrate evidence that could ease congestion or prioritise community needs. I strongly object.

I am shocked by the design of the overpass. This giant freeway will separate the water from surrounding suburbs, and dramatically reduce usability for cyclists and pedestrians. As a local parent with small children, one of the best things about Annandale and Glebe is the way they run down towards the water, allowing families like mine who don't have much outdoor space at home to enjoy the natural environment, despite being close to the city.
I am concerned about the visual impact of the design, the practical aspects of navigating the mass of multilane traffic for anyone on foot or bicycle, the noise and air pollution that the traffic will generate. I am worried that this will be an eyesore that impacts on the beautiful heritage aspects of these suburbs, and blocks the mural on the Crescent.
When this road was first proposed I was concerned that it would prioritise car traffic over road users and residents, but the one appealing aspect was the large green space that was promised, running down to the Bay, with traffic running underneath. This green space is now barely existent, instead being carved up by a huge road and with no direct pedestrian or cycling link between the Rozelle Goods Yard and the Glebe Foreshore.
I strongly appeal to you to reconsider this design as once built it will never be able to be undone, and the damage to Annandale and Rozelle, and the connection to the water from these suburbs, will be permanent. Instead, if we must have this road connection, put it underground to minimise the visual impact and take some action to reduce the impact on local residents, cyclists and pedestrians.

This development must change to avoid creating a horrible and permanent blight on what is and should continue to be a wonderful entry and exit from a great city. Additionally it must be designed to ensure traffic flows freely to alleviate potential bottle necks and ensure that changed traffic conditions do not impact local residents, who do not benefit at all to this new roading. People need to be able to access green spaces, public transport and non road based transport options easily and safely. The obvious option is an underpass. It might cost more, but the money must be spent now before it’s too late and this area is absolutely ruined (with no traffic or transport related benefits) for generations to come.

In addition:

❌ The evidence demonstrates the current proposed modification won’t solve congestion in Annandale.
❌ An underpass would be less overbearing on the local area and provide the best visual and urban outcomes.
❌ The community needs a direct pedestrian and cycling link between the Glebe foreshore and Rozelle Goods Yard. Seamless park to park connection is key!
❌ We also want to preserve the people’s mural which will be significantly obscured by this overpass.
❌ This project prioritises the needs of motorists are prioritised over pedestrians, cyclists and residents. Our community opposes it!

I write regarding the proposed modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and changes to pedestrian infrastructure in North Annandale, Rozelle and Rozelle Bay Foreshore area.
I request RMS work with the community to explore alternate design options to the proposed new car overpass design and the changed pedestrian and cyclist links. I am seeking the reinstatement of the safe, direct access from the approved EIS GreenLink to create a continuous green open space connection from the Rozelle Rail yards and Annandale to the foreshore. The GreenLink was more than just a walk way - it put people central to the design, maximising safety, and providing much needed accessible open space for the community now and into the future Bays Precinct design.
I am requesting RMS put people back into the plan – I want you to reinstate your own vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. Work with the community to design a feasible option that brings the best elements from the approved EIS design into the modification.
My key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
● The significantly reduced safety and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists with removed access over The Crescent to Bicentennial Park and the increased traffic along Johnson Street.
● Being required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent as my option to reach the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle light rail stop.
● Removal of direct active links to the foreshore, cutting the community off from the area and the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays Precinct, including linking the Light Rail and Bus stops to a Ferry wharf and Metro station.
● Urban and landscape design that is being built before a finalised Masterplan for the area.
● Traffic changes that limit movements around the suburb and create further congestion in the
local streets of Annandale, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Lilyfield and Rozelle with no planning to deal with these.
Alongside these issues my other concerns include:
My submission is asking RMS and the Project Team to:
● Reinstate the GreenLink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to Bicentennial Park.
● Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist connections that are continuous, safe and direct.
● Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the
suburbs, the location of the foreshore and it’s potential future development.
● Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force us onto
busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
● Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro
West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf