I refer to the Response To Submissions SSD7246

OBJECTION TO HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION

The application as amended substantially increases the noise impact on my home at 8 Hickson Road by extending the hours of construction from between 7.00 am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday to between 7.00am and 10.00pm Monday to Friday.

This proposed extension of construction hours is being justified, almost by stealth, by suggesting that it is an occasional extension when ships are using the OPT. In reality ships are using the OPT on the vast majority of days.

The cumulative noise impact of trucks and activities associated with the operations of the OPT, together with the construction activities proposed at Campbell's Cove will result in noise from 5.00am until 10.00pm on the vast majority of days. This is clearly unreasonable.

Residential amenity is being sacrificed due to the inability of the Ports Authority NSW and the applicant to cooperate and coordinate their activities in Campbell's Cove.

The impact of extended hours of construction up to 10.00pm has not been assessed in either the noise and vibration impact statement or in the traffic impact statement.

FURTHER INFORMATION BEFORE THE APPLICATION CAN BE DETERMINED

The information contained in the application is inadequate to assess the impact of the late- night construction times proposed. Before the consent authority can determine this application, the following information should be required to be submitted

1. Comprehensive details of the activities to be conducted after 6.00pm Monday to Friday including the number of workers on site, areas designated for the stockpiling and handling of material, areas of the site where activities of any kind will be undertaken after 6.00pm. It should also include specific details of the type of equipment to be used on site after 6.00pm for the handling and dispersal of material. In particular, will concrete be delivered to the site after 6.00pm and if so, will concrete be pumped and laid on site after normal hours?
2. A revised Traffic Impact Statement specifically addressing issues relating to extended construction hours at Sydney Cove. The assessment should include details of the type and number of vehicles that will be used in association with any activities on site after 6.00pm including the type and size of vehicles used for the delivery and removal of material to and from the site and equipment that will be used in loading, unloading and distributing materials.
3. A truck routes plan for after 6.00pm truck movements being produced to maximise public safety and minimise noise and vibration impacts on residential properties.
4. A Noise and Vibration assessment of the impact of after 6.00pm and up to 10.00pm on the residents of 8 Hickson Road and appropriate measures to eliminate such impacts. Such assessment to take into consideration the cumulative impact of noise from the OPT
on ship days when activity commences at 5.00am and the noise impacts associated with the construction work at Campbell's Stores

LIMITS ON EXTENDED ACTIVITIES

Any consideration of extended construction hours should be on the basis that:

1. Extended hours from 6.00 to 10.00pm only be allowed for a maximum of 2 nights per week and only when the OPT is being utilised by ships for more than 4 days per week, Monday to Friday. This restriction puts the emphasise on site management to properly organise and coordinate site activities to minimise night time use.
2. Activities carried out on site after 6.00pm being strictly limited to the delivery and removal of materials. The distribution of material around the site and the excavation or installation of any material after 6.00pm being prohibited.
3. The areas used for the stockpiling of material for either disposal or distribution be restricted to the southern end of the site. The area should be fenced and gated from the rest of the site and access between the stock pile area and the rest of the site should be closed from 6.00pm until 7.00am the next day. The location and size of the stockpile area should be shown on a plan to be submitted for approval prior to the commencement of construction.
4. Noise reduction measures recommended by the EPA and the noise consultants being conditions of any approval, particularly that recommending that vehicles use `quacker' movement/reversing alarms rather than `beepers' and the adoption of a neighbour friendly work plan.
5. The Ports Authority NSW be encouraged to act cooperatively in the interests of reducing cumulative noise impact by introducing neighbour friendly work practices at the OPT including the requirement that trucks, forklifts and other vehicles use quacker alarms rather than beepers, and the control of ship PA systems.

NORTHERN ACCESS TO HICKSON ROAD

It is noted that it is proposed to provide service and emergency access from Hickson Road between the Park Hyatt Hotel and Bay 11. Access from this location should be restricted to emergency access only and all service access should be restricted to the southern end of the site from Circular Quay West.

Our company will be the operators of the venue at the northern end of the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

We strongly support this application.

However, we request the approval be conditioned so that works that take place during our operating hours of 7am to 1am does not damage our business.

Our experience is that noisy and/or dusty works have a severe impact on business. When such works commence customers simply walk out and we have no business at all.

We would ask that the contractor undertaking the works be required to:
1. consult with us regarding the works schedule
2. noisy works such as excavation and cutting be undertaken when we are closed or in such a way that the noise is contained. For example cutting is done in a sound proof booth.
3. dusty works are required to have barriers or water so that the dust does not blow on our premises.
4. establish procedures, including a contact phone, to deal with complaints regarding noise and other construction impacts
5. prior to commencing works, submit for the approval of the Department of Planning and Environment a Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan addressing the above and other relevant matters

We have 34 years of experience in operating in busy public areas. Where contractors act reasonably we have had excellent outcomes without adverse impact on the timing of the works.

However where contractors just ignore the impact on our business we have recorded severe adverse impact on our business.

Our company will be the operators of the venue at the northern end of the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

We strongly support this application.

However, we request the approval be conditioned so that works that take place during our operating hours of 7am to 1am does not damage our business.

Our experience is that noisy and/or dusty works have a severe impact on business. When such works commence customers simply walk out and we have no business at all.

We would ask that the contractor undertaking the works be required to:
1. consult with us regarding the works schedule
2. noisy works such as excavation and cutting be undertaken when we are closed or in such a way that the noise is contained. For example cutting is done in a sound proof booth.
3. dusty works are required to have barriers or water so that the dust does not blow on our premises.
4. establish procedures, including a contact phone, to deal with complaints regarding noise and other construction impacts
5. prior to commencing works, submit for the approval of the Department of Planning and Environment a Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan addressing the above and other relevant matters

We have 34 years of experience in operating in busy public areas. Where contractors act reasonably we have had excellent outcomes without adverse impact on the timing of the works.

However where contractors just ignore the impact on our business we have recorded severe adverse impact on our business.

I strongly object to the construction hours proposed for this project to be extended to 10pm. At present we are experiencing noise from 5 am due to almost every day there is a boat docked at the Overseas terminal, with trucks backing up or delivering goods, taxis lined up down the street with engines running etc The effect of the extended hours will make it intolerable for us to live effectively and prevent us from opening our windows due not only to the noise but also the pollution. It is unacceptable that the proposed entry is between the Park Hyatt and Bay 11 of Campbell Stores, that would mean that it is right outside our window and the movement of vehicles for the extended period would seriously affect our quality of life.

I object to various things that will severely impact our building. Firstly the extra traffic that will be generated and the noise associated with it. Already boats come in as early as 5 am and bombard us with their PA systems in order to debark passengers as quickly as possible this will be further exacerbated by the work you are doing having a permit to work from 6pm until 10 pm in order to have some part of the day without serious noise these times make it impossible to have any time for families to eat and relax.

At this time when the world is moving to limit pollution you should be contemplating shore electricity to lesson the impact on the city's pollution, not to mention the extra monies to be made by you with the cost of the electricity provided. The smoke and the noise omitted by several of the larger boats is intolerable.
Other major cities are already addressing this issue!

The overall noise impact with these works and the boats and their ancillary vehicles with waste disposal, deliveries of food and drink plus the number of taxis who queue and smoke outside our windows from very early in the morning, should be more closely monitored and changed to allow residents to achieve a reasonable lifestyle.

See attached.

See attached.