As a long-term resident of Gordon - having lived in this community for over two decades - I am writing to offer my support for the proposed development at 21, 23 & 25 McIntosh Street and 55 Werona Avenue.

This part of our suburb is well-placed for responsible and thoughtful development. It is within easy walking distance of Gordon Station and the town centre, and I believe this proposal makes good use of that access. The apartments are within a Transport Oriented Development (TOD) area and the plans appear to reflect the intent of the NSW Government’s TOD policy - to increase housing supply close to public transport, while still maintaining sensitivity to the surrounding area.

I understand that change can be difficult for some residents, but from my perspective, this proposal strikes a fair balance. The buildings are thoughtfully designed with stepped heights and setbacks. It is also clear from the environmental impact assessment that the developers have considered heritage and neighbouring properties carefully. Importantly, Eryldene - a local heritage landmark - is not directly affected, as the development does not border it and there is another house in between. Overshadowing and privacy impacts have been assessed and appear well-managed.

I was also pleased to see that landscaping is a significant part of the proposal. While some trees will be removed, more will be planted in return, 66 in total, including native species, which will contribute positively to the garden character of our area.

The inclusion of affordable housing is another important aspect of this project. It will allow more people - including key workers and young families - to live in our area and stay connected to the community. Having a small number of units reserved for affordable housing long-term (including some in perpetuity) shows forward thinking and social responsibility.

I am aware that Council has raised concerns about similar projects, but from what I can see, many of those concerns have been addressed here. The building height is within acceptable limits, aside from a minor variation to allow access to rooftop communal spaces, and I believe it’s fair to consider that in the broader context of the need for more housing close to transport.

In closing, I believe this proposal reflects a sensible and respectful approach to local development. It brings needed housing options to Gordon without sacrificing the area's character or quality of life. I encourage the Department to support this application.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback.

Dear Sir/Madam,

As a local resident, I strongly object to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street and 55 Forsyth Street.

The excessive height and bulk are out of character with the surrounding area, and the lack of adequate step-backs will cause overshadowing and loss of amenity for neighbouring homes. This development will negatively impact privacy, sunlight, and the overall liveability of the neighbourhood.

I respectfully request that the proposal be significantly reduced in height and scale, with improved setbacks, before any approval is considered.

Yours faithfully,
A concerned local resident

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to object to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street and 55 Forsyth Street.

As a local family, we are deeply concerned about how this project will affect the safety and wellbeing of children and families in the area.
1. Safety of children and pedestrians
McIntosh Street and Forsyth Street are already used daily by many families walking their children to and from school. A development of this size will greatly increase traffic, making the streets less safe for young children and pedestrians.
2. Loss of sunlight and open space
Overshadowing caused by the proposed height will reduce natural light in neighbouring yards and living areas. Families with young children rely on safe, sunny outdoor spaces for play and wellbeing.
3. Impact on community character
The proposed scale is completely out of step with the family-friendly, low-rise character of the neighbourhood. Approving a high-rise in this location will permanently change the area and reduce the sense of community that local families value.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the proposal and urge Council to require significant reductions in height and density, along with improved design measures that protect sunlight, safety, and neighbourhood character.

Yours faithfully,
A concerned local family

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to lodge my formal objection to SSD-83478456 for the construction of 165 dwellings up to 9 storeys at 21, 23 & 25 McIntosh Street and 55 Werona Avenue, Gordon.

While I acknowledge the importance of increasing housing supply in NSW, this proposal is fundamentally unsuitable for the location. It would create unacceptable traffic and safety risks, permanently damage the neighbourhood’s character, and provide no genuine affordability or community benefit.

1. Traffic and Road Safety Risks
McIntosh Street is already a very busy local thoroughfare linking East Killara, St Ives and Gordon Station. The street is narrow, with multiple give-way intersections, and parking permitted on one side during weekdays and on both sides on weekends.

The proposed development would dramatically increase traffic volumes during both construction and permanent occupation. An additional 200+ residents and their visitors will create significant pressure on parking and local roads, heightening safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

The Gordon overpass and underpass are already bottlenecks during peak periods. Adding substantial vehicle movements from this site would only worsen congestion and reduce transport efficiency across the area.

2. Excessive Height and Visual Impact
I am appalled by the scale of the proposed 9-storey buildings. Such excessive height is wholly inconsistent with the surrounding built form, where existing dwellings are no higher than 2 storeys.

This development would stand as an overwhelming and permanent "eye-sore", dominating the streetscape, overshadowing neighbouring properties and gardens, and eroding the character and amenity of the local community.

3. Loss of Environmental and Neighbourhood Character

McIntosh Street is uniquely lined with mature maple trees on both sides, forming a canopy that is the last intact streetscape of its kind in the neighbourhood. These trees are not only of aesthetic value but also provide vital habitat for native wildlife, including possums.

The proposed development poses an unacceptable threat to this canopy, risking irreversible damage to local biodiversity and permanently diminishing the environmental and heritage character of the street.

4. Misleading Claims of “Affordable Housing”

The proposal is promoted as “affordable housing,” yet market evidence shows otherwise. Current sales data demonstrates that two-bedroom apartments within 200 m of Gordon Station routinely sell for $950,000 or more for those not on Pacific Highway.

At these price points, it is clear this development will not deliver genuinely affordable housing. Instead, it will contribute to market-rate density without providing meaningful affordability or public benefit.

5. Lack of Community Infrastructure and Precedent for Overdevelopment
The development offers no significant investment in community facilities or infrastructure to offset its impacts. Local amenities, school, infrastructure and transport networks are already under strain.

If approved, this project would set a damaging precedent, opening the way for further high-rise overdevelopment in unsuitable suburban locations. The cumulative impact would erode the character, livability, and environmental values of Gordon and its surrounding suburbs.

Conclusion

SSD-83478456 represents an excessive and inappropriate development that:
* Introduces unsafe traffic and parking conditions;
* Imposes an out-of-scale, 9-storey visual blight on a low-rise community;
* Destroys unique environmental assets and tree canopy;
* Provides no genuine affordability or community benefit; and
* Sets an undesirable precedent for further overdevelopment.

For these reasons, I strongly urge the Department to reject this application and protect the safety, amenity, and character of Gordon.

Yours faithfully,
Irene C
McInstosh Street, Gordon

I write to strongly object to the proposed residential development (SSD-83478456) of approximately 165 apartments at 21, 23 & 25 McIntosh Street and 55 Werona Avenue, Gordon.

1. Direct Impact on My Property
My property sits directly on the boundary of the proposed development site. The current plans will result in significant overshadowing of my back garden, removing natural light and amenity that my family relies upon daily. Privacy will be lost entirely, with apartment windows directly overlooking our home and garden. What is proposed is an intrusive, overbearing wall of apartments on my back fence, permanently diminishing the liveability and value of my home.

While the proposal acknowledges overshadowing within its own site, it makes no mention of impacts on neighbouring properties. This omission shows a disregard for the very residents most affected.

2. Broken Commitments by 23 McIntosh Street
I note with concern that 23 McIntosh Street, one of the applicant sites, had previously objected to apartments proposed across the road when they were originally proposed. My family and I had multiple conversations with the owners, who assured us they would also object to any high-density development on this side of the street. It is deeply disappointing that they have now chosen to pursue such a proposal themselves. Profit, it seems, has prevailed over the preservation of our neighbourhood and the community values they once claimed to defend.

3. Questionable Motivations and Byron Bay Development
The principal at 55 Werona Avenue does not live locally but resides in Byron Bay, where they themselves objected to a neighbouring development in that area. Yet in Gordon, they are pursuing a project that disregards the rights of neighbours here. The inconsistency is striking: in Byron, their property interests were defended; in Gordon, neighbouring residents are ignored in the pursuit of profit.

4. Heritage and Neighbourhood Impact
The proposed development sits in close proximity to Eryldene House, one of Gordon’s most beautiful and significant heritage properties. Placing a dense apartment block in this location would undermine its setting and cultural value. It also places neighbouring homes—particularly 19 McIntosh Street—at risk of losing all reasonable prospects of sale or redevelopment as they are sandwiched between Eryldene House and the proposed development.

5. Traffic and Parking Impacts
McIntosh Street and Werona Avenue already suffer daily congestion, particularly during school drop-off times for Ravenswood and commuter access to Gordon Station. Construction vehicles, followed by additional resident cars, will only exacerbate existing problems and create further safety risks.

6. Lack of Community Benefit
The development is presented as a contribution to “sustainable housing,” but apartments in the Lindfield–Ku-Ring-Gai area average $1.2–1.5 million. This is not affordable housing and does nothing to ease Sydney’s housing pressures. Instead, it displaces existing residents and compromises the character of established neighbourhoods without delivering meaningful benefit.

7. Integrity of the Planning Process
Integrity of decision-making must be ensured when assessing developments of this scale. It is prudent that sites are visited in person so that decision makers can appreciate the true impacts on neighbouring properties and the broader community. Proper consideration must also be given to:
The cumulative effect on existing and planned infrastructure.
Whether the site aligns with already-flagged priority development areas.
The social and environmental impact on long-standing residents.

Decisions of this nature must be based on fairness, sustainability, and community interest—not a profit-driven solution to a complex housing challenge.
Conclusion
This proposal directly harms my property through overshadowing, loss of privacy, and devaluation. It undermines the heritage and character of the area, worsens traffic congestion, and fails to provide affordable or sustainable housing. The motivations behind it appear to be profit-driven, inconsistent, and opportunistic, not aligned with the community’s interests.

I respectfully urge decision makers to reject SSD-83478456 in its entirety. An on-site inspection will confirm the inappropriate and damaging nature of this proposal.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a local resident in the area, and I would like to lodge my objection to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street and 55 Forsyth Street.

My concerns are as follows:
1. Excessive height and bulk – The proposed height is out of character with the local neighbourhood, which is predominantly low-rise. Such a scale will negatively impact the existing residential environment.
2. Lack of adequate setbacks – The current design does not provide step-backs at the boundaries, leading to significant overshadowing of neighbouring properties and a loss of natural light.
3. Impact on amenity – The proposal will reduce privacy, sunlight, and open space for surrounding homes, which will diminish the liveability of the area.
4. Inappropriate density precedent – Approving this proposal would set an unsuitable precedent for future developments, undermining community expectations and existing planning controls.

For these reasons, I strongly object to the development in its current form and request that Council requires a reduction in height and bulk, along with improved boundary setbacks, before any approval is granted.

Yours faithfully,
A concerned local resident

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to lodge my objection to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street and 55 Forsyth Street.

My key concerns are as follows:
1. Lack of adequate setbacks and overshadowing
The proposed buildings do not provide sufficient step-backs at the boundaries. This design will cause significant overshadowing to neighbouring properties, severely reducing natural light and amenity for existing residents.
2. Excessive height and scale
The proposed height is not compatible with the existing character of the area. The scale of the development is excessive and will create an overbearing impact on adjacent residential homes.
3. Loss of residential amenity
The development will lead to a loss of privacy, sunlight, and open space for surrounding properties, diminishing the liveability of the neighbourhood.
4. Precedent for inappropriate density
Approving a development of this scale will set a precedent for inappropriate density and height in a predominantly low-rise residential area, undermining the current planning controls and community expectations.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that Council carefully consider these impacts and require a significant reduction in building height and bulk, together with improved setbacks, before any approval is granted.

Yours faithfully

Dear Council,

I strongly object to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street and 55 Werona Ave Gordon

Our local infrastructure is already under enormous strain. Public transport is overcrowded at peak times. Local schools are struggling with enrolments and class sizes. Sewerage and stormwater systems are outdated and frequently stressed during heavy rain. GP clinics and childcare centres are booked out weeks in advance. This development, if approved, would introduce hundreds of new residents without any plan to expand infrastructure.

In addition, traffic in and out of McIntosh Street is already at saturation point. Cars queue up to exit onto the main road, and the additional volume from this project will create dangerous situations for both drivers and pedestrians. Parking overflow will spread into neighbouring streets, eroding residential amenity.

Approving such an oversized development is irresponsible without first investing in infrastructure to support population growth. The proposal fails to meet principles of sustainable development and should be refused.

Sincerely

Dear Council,

I am writing to lodge my strong objection to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street and 55 Forsyth Street.

Our neighbourhood already suffers from severe traffic congestion, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. McIntosh Street is narrow and not designed for large volumes of cars. Adding a multi-storey development with potentially hundreds of additional residents will make this situation unbearable. The risk of accidents will rise significantly, especially for children walking to nearby schools and playgrounds.

Parking is already extremely limited. Visitors, tradespeople, and delivery drivers frequently double-park or block driveways. With an influx of new residents, the spill-over parking will extend onto surrounding streets, reducing safety and amenity for everyone.

Noise, dust, and disruption during the lengthy construction phase will further compromise quality of life, while ongoing noise from additional residents, rubbish trucks, and traffic will permanently change the character of our peaceful suburb.

This development is far too large for our area, and I urge Council to protect residents by rejecting it.

Kind regards,

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to raise my strong objection to the proposed development at 21–25 McIntosh Street. My concerns focus on the safety and liveability of our neighbourhood.

Community Safety
• Increased vehicle traffic on narrow residential streets raises the risk of accidents, especially for children and elderly residents who frequently walk in the area.
• Emergency vehicle access could be compromised if congestion worsens.

Neighbourhood Character and Liveability
• The proposed height and scale are out of character with surrounding low-density residential homes, creating overshadowing and loss of privacy.
• Construction activity and long-term population density increases will significantly reduce the quiet, family-friendly environment we currently enjoy.

Environmental Concerns
• Removal of trees and green space will further reduce habitat for local wildlife.
• Increased noise and pollution will directly affect the health and wellbeing of nearby families.

For the sake of community safety and preserving the unique residential character of our area, I urge Council and the Department to reject this development in its current form.

Sincerely,
wen fang