This revised plan for the Rozelle bay interchange is being foisted onto the public without adequate time for consideration. It is hard to believe that in 2019 our traffic planners are repeating the same mistake at Rozelle Bay as was made decades ago with the Cahill Expressway at Circular Quay – AS THE CAHILL EXPRESSWAY HAS DESTROYED CIRCULAR QUAY, SO THE OVERPASS AND RECONFIGURED INTERSECTIONS AT ROZELLE BAY WILL DESTROY THE AMENITY OF THE FORESHORE. Why are the traffic planners doing so much for motor vehicles and so little for the local environment, pedestrians and cyclists? Not only are the planners destroying what amenity we have, their schemes are a deliberate attempt to impede people walking from Annandale to the foreshore and the Bicentennial Park by making them cross the noisy roads at four successive crossings instead of one. And for local motorists, the revised plans simultaneously (i) impede the easy movement of cars between Annandale and Glebe Point by making it impossible to turn right from Johnston St into The Crescent, and (ii) increase traffic congestion at the intersection of Booth and Johnston Streets, which is the heart of the Annandale shopping precinct. How can planners continue to ignore the lessons from history and the commonsense approach to city living that is so well understood in progressive societies. STOP THE LOS-ANGELEFICATION OF SYDNEY! RETURN TO THE PLAN THAT WAS PUBLICISED PREVIOUSLY AND STOP THE UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION OF TREES AND PARKLAND!

The proposed changes will have an unacceptable visual impact on our beautiful foreshore and limit our access to that foreshore in the future.
We’ll lose a lot of the natural beauty of the space and the utility of that space for existing (crescent mural) and future community artworks that are a part of the culture of our community. The proposed changes will also reduce cyclists and pedestrians walking to work. I walk to work 3 times a week over the Anzac bridge and having that ease of access would be lost under the changes.
The loss of all the trees is also untenable in our community that enjoys its mature trees which are needed to make large improvements to reduce carbon emissions, and reduce climate change.
I’m disappointed that we’re again thinking to reduce the short-term costs of this project by increasing the long term cost to our environment our amenity and our communities.

The proposed flyover and active link downgrades the amenity of local residents by removing direct connectivity to parks and foreshore, increasing visual and auditory impact of traffic and associated roadways, increases potential for unsafe pedestrian routes to the park and illegal car movements on Johnston St / Crescent intersection, renigs on previous commitment of no high level roads and compromises heritage structures in the area, by placing road traffic as its priority.

Further, as the design details for the implementation and final structures has not been resolved, including the heights and inclusions (signage, lights, signals, etc), of both roadways and active links, in conjunction with a lack of commitment to an integrated landscaping design, means that the proposal offers no guarantees or certainties for either roads or pedestrians users.

I specifically object to:

1. Loss of direct access by foot to the park at end of Johnston St. Many locals use this route daily, it is NOT SAFE or acceptable to replace one crossing with 4 crossings. We will be disconnected from our park by this proposal.

2. The proposed pedestrian link is NOT an ACCEPTABLE pathway to the foreshore for Annandale residents, it will force them to take a unduly extended, convoluted route to get to the park safely. Replacing the previously approved direct green link with a double loop via the exhaust stacks is a poor solution, further complicating the problem.

3. Loss of aspect and amenity from Rozelle Bay light rail station, as a result of the overpass and footway flyovers. Further to the loss of trees in Buruwun Park (that currently buffer road noise from residential areas), the proposed high level road will SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE traffic noise and visual / airborne pollution in the vicinity. Already we have experienced increased noise along Pritchard St following the partial tree removal in the park, road noise is now apparent from the middle of Pritchard St.

4. We were promised NO HIGH LEVEL roads in the original approval. The flyover directly contravenes this.

5. Loss of right hand turn at Johnston to the Crescent. Removing the right turn WILL INCREASE the incidence of cars entering Chapman Rd to make a U-turn and then turn left onto the Crescent heading East. This illegal, unsafe manoeuvre already occurs and will increase as result of loss of current right turn.

6. The proposed increase in traffic lanes on The Crescent along the foreshore, from 4 to 6, DECREASES potential parkland green areas and will INCREASE the pace of traffic movement up Johnston St, which has 2 school zones and many residential houses, impacting on local safety.

7. Proposed works zone along the Crescent and associated truck movements will impede on the safety of pedestrians entering the park during construction, reducing local amenity.

8. Heritage structures including the railway line and the Crescent mural will be negatively affected by the road works.
The elevated road and broadening of roads, plus increase of traffic light controlled intersections in the immediate proximity to these compromise their integrity and contribution to the urban fabric of the suburb.

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.

The proposed modification reduces the amenity for people living in Lilyfield and Rozelle and the promised connection between the areas and the foreshore connection to Glebe. For high school children on their cycle or walking route to the senior campus at Blackwattle, the route is more dangerous and less direct. This is the zoned public school year 11 and 12 campus for the children of the 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.

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.

Yours Sincerely,
Name: Danielle Townsend
Address: 36 Alberto St, Lilyfield NSW 2020
Email: [email protected]

This project is greatly disturbing. To say you will do one thing and keep it “green” then create a highway mess is disappointing. No one wants to see it. No one wants to stand at the tram stop with cars whizzing past their heads. You have taken a beautiful area and destroyed it. Destroyed the walk or ride into the city, destroyed our drive, destroyed our area.

Have some compassion for the local residents you are wiping out entire suburbs.

I write to object to the proposed MOD 2 for the Crescent overpass and active transport links, my detailed submission is included in the attached letter.

My submission is asking the project team to:
Reinstate the Greenlink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to Bicentennial Park
Relocate and redesign pedestrian and cyclist connections that are SAFE, continuos and direct
Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the suburbs, the location of the foreshore and its potential future development.
Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people's safety and no not force them into busier streets.
Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport including the futureMetro west and foreshore ferry wharf.

See attachment for further details