keep the tunnel- don't make a overpass.
Maintain the original promised greenspace- with a linked bridge between parks- and easier pedestrian access to residents

Attention: Director, Transport Assessments Planning Services Department of Planning, Industry and Environment,

Earlier this week the destruction of Buruwan Park took place late at night - much to the distress and disappointment of the Annandale community whose voices fell on deaf ears. Whilst your community guide document to this overpass is all sunshine and flowers - the reality is that it will instead destroy over 70 trees including the large, mature fig trees at Buruwan Park. These trees should not be removed at all until a full Urban Design and Landscape Plan has been completed.

Considering the climate change issues we’re all currently facing - providing open green space, saving and planting trees, lessening cars and investing strongly in public transport is the sustainable option we look for our government to strive for.

Currently the NSW Liberal government is spending record amounts on roads (even from a global perspective) and creating unnecessary environmental destruction in building these roads as opposed to developing a high speed train network from the west and north and greater light rail connections.


The community at large value the successful implementation of the light rail and would encourage more bus routes to service the needs of our residents and have not been strong supporters of the current implementation of many aspects of Westconnex. We’re already choked with traffic and from 7:30 to 9am it can take up to 20mins to join the Anzac bridge from Johnston Street. This increases substantially in bad weather as it did today.


By pushing ahead in building the proposed overpass will also impact pedestrians to access Jubilee Park from Johnston Street, it will increase traffic congestion, increase noise, visual and air pollution. For the priveledge of this overpass will see a significant toll which will increase the congestion as drivers seek to avoid the toll. As seen with the introduction of the cross city tunnel.

The proposed overpass is totally out of step with local development in Annandale and will obstruct a beloved local heritage mural and further destroy Buruwan Park. Sufficient consideration hasn’t been given to obvious alternatives such as an underground tunnel running under Whites Creek.

The proposed modification completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project and threatens to impose unacceptable negative consequences on the landscape and liveability of our local area.

At what stage did it become tolerable for governments to ignore consent?
When is it ever tolerable for anyone to ignore consent?

My family and community look forward to a response answering all of the above.

see attached submission

VISUAL IMPACT
1.1. The original proposal that was agreed was a tunnel, which, apart from its construction phase would have had little impact on the area.
1.2. The proposed “modifications” are so significant that the proposed overpass will dominate and destroy the local landscape.
1.3. This is in an area that has over two hundred years of history. It is listed as a heritage conservation area. The Inner West Council states on its website, “Little change can be expected other than modest additions and discrete alterations”. (https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/develop/planning-controls/heritage-and-conservation/heritage-conservation-areas. Accessed 11/9/19). In view of these guidelines to residents, how can a massive overpass be justified?
1.4. The modifications are so different from the original proposals that they fly in the face of conditions of the original consent.
1.5. There will be a massive, and purely negative, visual impact on a large number of residents in Annandale.
NOISE POLLUTION
2.1. The prevailing winds in Sydney are Westerly;
2.2. There will be significant noise pollution to persons and property in a large area, predominantly but not limited to, the west of the proposed overpass. This will adversely affect Annandale.
RELOCATION OF THE GREEN LINK
3.1. Consent for the original proposal (by way of a tunnel) was conditional upon the “Green Link” connecting the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park.
3.2. The proposal seeks to “re-locate” this link, thereby removing the direct connection.
3.3. Anyone wishing to walk or cycle from the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park will now need to walk for an estimated minimum of 20 minutes, alongside a raised motorway overpass, beside the traffic on the crescent, eventually crossing four pedestrian crossings. This is farcical and dangerous. It shows no consideration of residents, pedestrians and cyclists.
DESTRUCTION OF BURUWAN PARK
4.1. As Annandale residents, one of the things that makes our suburb so desirable is its parks and established trees. They are used by families throughout the year, they link us to the two hundred year history of the suburb and they provide us with a green barrier between the City West Link and residences.
4.2. Our Council and State governments normally support measures to combat global warming: it seems extraordinary that at a time when the whole world is decrying the destruction of trees in the Amazon, a serious proposal is made that would cause the loss of well over 70 trees, some of which are beautiful, mature fig trees, and which cannot be compensated for with new planting.
4.3. The creeping destruction of Sydney’s green spaces, little by little, risks the loss of amenities that are essential for a city’s health.
REMOVAL OF RIGHT TURN OUT OF JOHNSTON ST INTO THE CRESCENT
5.1. This is crucial for local residents and removing this right turn will mean increased traffic through local streets.
5.2. Currently, children play on local streets. The removal of the right turn into the Crescent will cause an increase in traffic in local streets. The proposals, should they proceed, will either force them inside or endanger them. In addition, there will be an increase in noise and emissions in local streets.
DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY
6.1. Annandale and its environs has a strong sense of community, it is in many respects like a village. This is due in part to its quiet atmosphere. The construction of an inherently noisy overpass will have a significant adverse effect on the area.
6.2. One of the reasons people love living in Annandale is this sense of community and the easy access to parks and water.
6.3. People greet each other in the street, businesses know the local residents, it is safe for children to play outside and everyday residents throng to Jubilee and Bicentennial Parks.
6.4. It is a healthy, friendly and supportive community with values the government should be fostering. We believe the proposed modifications will change this detrimentally in every way.
6.5. We understand that the reason the modification is sought is a financial one. However, a proper cost/benefit analysis that fails to take into account the above listed objections will give a flawed result. It is only by taking into account the intangible benefits that will be destroyed by an overpass, that a proper accounting can be done. The loss of property values and lifestyle of thousands of people in Annandale and its environs seems to have been omitted from the calculations.
For the reasons detailed above we oppose the proposed modification from a tunnel to an overpass, and we look forward to your reply.

see attached information

1. VISUAL IMPACT
1.1. The original proposal that was agreed was a tunnel, which, apart from its construction phase would have had little impact on the area.
1.2. The proposed “modifications” are so significant that the proposed overpass will dominate and destroy the local landscape.
1.3. This is in an area that has over two hundred years of history. It is listed as a heritage conservation area. The Inner West Council states on its website, “Little change can be expected other than modest additions and discrete alterations”. (https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/develop/planning-controls/heritage-and-conservation/heritage-conservation-areas. Accessed 11/9/19). In view of these guidelines to residents, how can a massive overpass be justified?
1.4. The modifications are so different from the original proposals that they fly in the face of conditions of the original consent.
1.5. There will be a massive, and purely negative, visual impact on a large number of residents in Annandale.
2. NOISE POLLUTION
2.1. The prevailing winds in Sydney are Westerly;
2.2. There will be significant noise pollution to persons and property in a large area, predominantly but not limited to, the west of the proposed overpass. This will adversely affect Annandale.
3. RELOCATION OF THE GREEN LINK
3.1. Consent for the original proposal (by way of a tunnel) was conditional upon the “Green Link” connecting the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park.
3.2. The proposal seeks to “re-locate” this link, thereby removing the direct connection.
3.3. Anyone wishing to walk or cycle from the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park will now need to walk for an estimated minimum of 20 minutes, alongside a raised motorway overpass, beside the traffic on the crescent, eventually crossing four pedestrian crossings. This is farcical and dangerous. It shows no consideration of residents, pedestrians and cyclists.
4. DESTRUCTION OF BURUWAN PARK
4.1. As Annandale residents, one of the things that makes our suburb so desirable is its parks and established trees. They are used by families throughout the year, they link us to the two hundred year history of the suburb and they provide us with a green barrier between the City West Link and residences.
4.2. Our Council and State governments normally support measures to combat global warming: it seems extraordinary that at a time when the whole world is decrying the destruction of trees in the Amazon, a serious proposal is made that would cause the loss of well over 70 trees, some of which are beautiful, mature fig trees, and which cannot be compensated for with new planting.
4.3. The creeping destruction of Sydney’s green spaces, little by little, risks the loss of amenities that are essential for a city’s health.
5. REMOVAL OF RIGHT TURN OUT OF JOHNSTON ST INTO THE CRESCENT
5.1. This is crucial for local residents and removing this right turn will mean increased traffic through local streets.
5.2. Currently, children play on local streets. The removal of the right turn into the Crescent will cause an increase in traffic in local streets. The proposals, should they proceed, will either force them inside or endanger them. In addition, there will be an increase in noise and emissions in local streets.
6. DESTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY
6.1. Annandale and its environs has a strong sense of community, it is in many respects like a village. This is due in part to its quiet atmosphere. The construction of an inherently noisy overpass will have a significant adverse effect on the area.
6.2. One of the reasons people love living in Annandale is this sense of community and the easy access to parks and water.
6.3. People greet each other in the street, businesses know the local residents, it is safe for children to play outside and everyday residents throng to Jubilee and Bicentennial Parks.
6.4. It is a healthy, friendly and supportive community with values the government should be fostering. We believe the proposed modifications will change this detrimentally in every way.
6.5. We understand that the reason the modification is sought is a financial one. However, a proper cost/benefit analysis that fails to take into account the above listed objections will give a flawed result. It is only by taking into account the intangible benefits that will be destroyed by an overpass, that a proper accounting can be done. The loss of property values and lifestyle of thousands of people in Annandale and its environs seems to have been omitted from the calculations.
7. For the reasons detailed above we oppose the proposed modification from a tunnel to an overpass, and we look forward to your reply.

Thank you for providing the opportunity to provide feedback on this project. Please treat my submission as confidential.

Please refer to Figure 4-3 (The Crescent, Johnston Street, Chapman Road intersection options). The use case I would like you to consider is a pedestrian or cyclist Northbound on Johnston Street, heading toward Bicentennial Park.

I object to Option 2 on the basis that cycling and pedestrian access to cross The Crescent at the intersection with Johnston Street has been severely hampered. The approved project design is acceptable (marked as Option 1) as it permits access to Bicentennial Park via one North-South crossing. Here, a cyclist may dismount on the Western curb of Johnston Street, just prior to the intersection, and cross 1 intersection.

Option 2, however, requires 4 intersection crossings (5 if you include pausing on the median strip across Johnston Street, depending on the duration of time permitted to cross). Such circuitous access to a green space discourages use of this area and hampers cycling and pedestrian access.

I would support a modification that has a North-South pedestrian crossing across The Crescent (as per Option 1).