No Fisheries issues

The Project SEARs require the following:
6. Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
The EIS shall demonstrate how ESD principles are achieved through the proposed amending DA, in accordance with clause 7(4) of Schedule 2 of the EP&A Regulation 2000.
The EIS Document states that this is addressed in Appendix J Section J Report. Having reviewed this document the document makes no reference to the SEARs or makes no attempt to address the principles of Sustainability. The document outlines how the project can meet the minimum legislative requirements for compliance with Section J Energy Efficiency of the National Construction Code.
Principles of ESD should include going far beyond code compliance for energy efficiency, and span water efficiency, waste, carbon, biodiversity, transport, climate resilience, sustainable procurement and materials. There are also no safeguards or conditions of consent in place to ensure that any initiatives proposed in the project are checked, and verified independently.
It is unclear if the principles of ESD have been considered and implemented in any way on this project, and it is unclear how this would be checked and verified.

Catherine Macauley Catholic College is a needed and most welcomed
development for Medowie. It is reassuring that the Catholic Schools
Office recognises Medowie in their plans. I am enthusiastic for
building to begin. The proposed development of the school is very
impressive. It appears to be a modern and stimulating environment for
young minds to develop within.

I would like to lodge my specific concerns for pedestrian school
children. I acknowledge that a signalised Medowie Road and South
Street intersection includes pedestrian phases and a 40km/h school
speed zone. But, I remain concerned for the safety of future school
children. This is due to the form of Medowie Road, the types of
vehicles that frequent Medowie Road and the number of children who
would need to cross the road to the school to attend the school and
catch buses from the site.

The Traffic Impact Assessment (May 2018) states that the north side of
Medowie Road has a crest that "creates a short length of Medowie Road
where stopping sight distance is not available". The report documents
that "a vehicle can disappear from a driver's view for a brief
moment". Though the report suggests that this could be mitigated with
"a high mast arm for signals and a flashing yellow sign to advise of
queues ahead", I would suggest that this is not enough. Many heavy
vehicles use Medowie Road as an exit point from the highway in to
Newcastle. The combination of a known blind spot with an extended
braking period for heavy vehicles would immediately comprise the
safety of any pedestrian utilising the signalled crossing at Medowie
Road and South Street.

Each morning and afternoon, there are approximately 4-5 buses that
stop within South Street, allowing school students to board or alight
and to swap buses from the one that picked them up and change to the
one that will get them to their correct destination (and vice versa).
This area of South Street is colloquially referred to as the "Medowie
Bus Interchange", though there is no seating or shelter available at
this location. It is likely that the activities of this area would
transfer to the bus bays of Catherine Macauley Catholic College, once
built. With the number of children that would be boarding or alighting
from these buses, I would propose that there must be the safest method
in place for these children to cross the busy Medowie Road. Also to
this, Medowie Road encounters peak usage that aligns with the start
and finish time of staff at the Royal Air Force Base at Williamtown.
My concern is that this also aligns with the time that students would
need to cross Medowie Road to board/alight from buses.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2017) reports that 1
in 4 children (aged 2-17) are overweight or obese, and the prevalence
of overweight and obesity among Australian children is rising. I
understand the important considerations that new schools should
accommodate in their development and construction, in order to foster
active lifestyles and healthy behaviours. The Medowie Road and South
Street Intersection should provide safe passage for school students to
walk, cycle, scooter or skate to school. Whilst I do appreciate that a
signalised intersection could assist, an ideal passage would not be
hampered by traffic lights, nor light and heavy vehicles.

In the interest of the health and safety of school students, I would
like the following amendments to be considered for to be incorporated
in to the development of Catherine Macauley Catholic College, Medowie:

· The Medowie Road and South Street intersection be signalised as
proposed.

· The Medowie Road and South Street intersection include the removal
of the hill crest from the northern side of the intersection.

· The proposed provisions for pedestrians include the construction of
a modern pedestrian bridge, free from interaction with the traffic.
The elevated crossing should include stairs for pedestrian, as well as
access ramps for wheelchair-bound students and those that choose to
cycle, scooter or skate.

I appreciate your consideration of this feedback and my suggestions. I
look forward to witnessing the build of the Catherine Macauley
Catholic College in Medowie and my children attending the school once
built.

Kindest Regards.