I am a resident of the Blue Mountains, living in Springwood for 18 years. I am concerned that the scale of the proposed development is too big for the sensitive ecological environment of the Blue Mountains and will significantly and negatively impact this World Heritage area. The proposal is putting multi-story buildings in an area that is zoned for low level building heights and is in contradiction to our Blue Mountains Local Environment Plan (LEP).

The site is adjacent to Blue Mountains Swamps, a Threatened Ecological Community. These swamps feed the Katoomba Falls catchment - one of a handful of areas supporting the Critically Endangered Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pherosphaera fitzgeraldii).
Increased hard surfaces would change water flow to the swamps, increase stormwater velocity and reduce groundwater infiltration, severely degrading these ecosystems. Polluted runoff and weed spread would impact the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (BMWHA) and Sydney’s drinking water catchment.
I have lived through a number of major bushfires in the Blue Mountains. Putting a housing development in such a high-risk area is dangerous and negligent. Having one evacuation exit endangers the proposed residents and the existing residents. Only one main evacuation route leads to the Great Western Highway, and this is vulnerable during fires and other major weather events.
The Blue Mountains is one of the most bushfire prone areas in Australia - currently, 26% of homes in the area are exposed to high bushfire risk. This figure is expected to increase to 90% by 2090, due to climate change. Adding hundreds of new residents would increase risk to life and hamper emergency response. The Blue Mountains City Council has stated that housing more people in high bushfire-risk areas is reckless and dangerous.
The proposal suggests good access to public transport and optimum roads int the area. This is incorrect as public transport is limited in that area leading to car dependence. The development would add several hundred additional vehicles to the narrow local roads.
One of the attractions of the Blue Mountains to both residents and visitors is its unique bush environment, the escarpments and vistas and the unique character of the towns. The proposal threatens the distinctive character of Katoomba, and surrounding visitor destinations. High density, multi-story, urban-style development is incompatible with the Mountains' scale,
landscape and cultural identity. Tourism, liveability and community wellbeing would be adversely affected.
The Blue Mountains are not an outer suburb of Sydney. They provide a unique bushland environment for both humans and the diverse flora and fauna. Development needs to be sensitive, appropriate and at a low scale so as not to negatively impact this unique part of NSW. I urge the panel to reject this application.

Bulk and Scale
- The proposed height and removal of FSR demonstrate complete disregard for planning controls. There is already an approval on this site, it is unfair for the community to sacrifice their amenity for the developer to have a viable project. There is no shortage of residential projects being proposed via the SSD process in Chatswood, there is no justification for needing the extra height and uncapped FSR other than profiting the developer. The proposal has not outlined any clear benefit to the community by having a development of this scale.
Overshadowing of Chatswood Oval
- There is a server lack of public open space in Chatswood especially when high rise towers are being erected within close proximity to Chatswood Oval. The community can survive with one less hgihrise tower but it cannot survive if Chatswood oval cannot even have healthy grass and sun light for our children to enjoy. Not to mention the developer acknowledged the build form is in violation of ADG when it comes to overshadowing Chatswood Oval.
Overburden on local infrastructures
- Albert Ave is notoriously congested in peak-hour times, it could take more than half an hour just to travel from Mandarin Centre to the Pacific Highway. However, this was not mentioned at all in the traffic report. There will be a massive congestion on Albert Ave if cars are queuing up to turn into Victor St to enter the building. Given the large number of residential buildings been proposed/constructed in the near future, an assessment of cumulative impact on traffic needs to be studied as the current roads are barely coping.
- Given the proposal consists mostly two and three bedroom apartments, one would assume these apartments will have school age children. However, Chatswood High School and Willoughby Girls are fully at capacity. Chatswood High School had to endure overcrowding issue for years therefore before the Department approves more residential buildings, this issue needs to be addressed.

In short, this proposal does not generate any benefit as far as the community is concerned but takes away amenities which are currently enjoyed by the community. Therefore, I do not support the development.

Please see attached.

hi, I am writing to express my objection to this project.

This part of Chatswood already has a high density due to the convenience and close proximity to shops and public transport. To add such a high rise is just crazy. What the developer is proposing is significantly higher than the existing maximum allowed, which in my mind is much more reasonable and sustainable. I am also confused that what the developer is proposing differs between what's stated in the Notice of Exhibition (of two storeys and building height of RL205) with what's written by URBIS on the document 'Mandarin Centre - Schoping Report' (a single residential tower, RL246.8). That's a big discrepancy. Perhaps I have missed something else. But if indeed the information are different in these two documents, I can only guess that in the best case scenario, it's a mistake (which makes me question their professionalism and competency). But in the worst case scenario, it is misleading and deceptive and there needs to be consequence for that.

I therefore object to this project in Mandarin Centre.

I object to the mixed use development at 61A-65 Albert Avenue, Chatswood (Mandarin Centre) for the reasons listed in the attachment.