I object to the project on the following grounds
1. The traffic on Victor Street is currently terrible , I can't imagine how bad it will be with another large residential development accessing the same road and cul de sac. Additionally over the weekend and particularly on Fridays afternoons it can take 15-20 minutes to reach the Pacific Highway from our building.
2.I am concerned about the engineering and construction of the project for structural imparement on our own building. I don't see how large construction equipment will come up Victor Street. The disruption will have enormous effect on residents.

I submit this objection to the proposed redevelopment of the Mandarin Centre on the grounds that it will give rise to serious and unacceptable impacts on traffic conditions, public amenity, residential sunlight, privacy, and pedestrian comfort. Taken collectively, these impacts are inconsistent with established planning principles and will materially reduce the quality of life for nearby residents and the wider Chatswood community.
1. Traffic Congestion and Network Stress
Victor Street is a dead‑end street that is already subject to severe and ongoing traffic stress. It accommodates multiple conflicting traffic functions, including access for three residential apartment complexes (with additional density recently approved), a high‑turnover kiss‑and‑ride zone associated with the adjacent railway station, and overflow vehicular access to the main boulevard—particularly during market periods.
As a result of these overlapping demands, Victor Street and Albert Street experience frequent standstill conditions. It is common for vehicles to be unable to enter or exit Victor Street within a single traffic signal phase, producing recurring blockages, unsafe vehicle queuing, and elevated risk to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Introducing a large‑scale redevelopment at this location will intensify an already overburdened road network. Increased traffic volumes will worsen delays, restrict accessibility for residents and emergency services, undermine pedestrian safety, and further erode local amenity. The existing street network does not have the capacity to accommodate additional traffic without persistent and severe disruption
2. Overshadowing of Chatswood Oval
Chatswood Oval is the sole major public open space within the central Chatswood precinct and serves as a vital recreational and community facility. It is used extensively by families, casual visitors, and structured sporting groups—including cricket and rugby clubs—on a daily basis.
The proposed scale and height of the Mandarin Centre redevelopment will cast extended shadows over significant portions of the oval. This reduction in sunlight will adversely affect the usability, comfort, and environmental quality of the space, particularly during daylight hours when sporting and community activities are most concentrated.
There is no comparable public open space in Chatswood that could compensate for the resulting loss of amenity. The overshadowing impact is therefore permanent in nature, leading to a lasting diminution of a key community asset and negatively affecting recreation, wellbeing, and social use for current and future residents.
3. Deprivation of Natural Light to The Sebel Apartments
The development will significantly reduce daylight access to the south‑facing apartments of The Sebel, impacting more than 100 existing homes. These dwellings depend on available sunlight to maintain reasonable living conditions, including internal comfort, energy performance, and occupant health.
Due to the proposed building’s height, bulk, and proximity, sunlight access to these units will be substantially obstructed. This outcome conflicts with the intent of the NSW Apartment Design Guide, which establishes minimum standards for solar access and daylight to habitable rooms in residential developments.
Compounding this issue is the absence of any solar access modelling or formal impact assessment. Without this analysis, the proposal fails to demonstrate that the amenity of existing residents has been meaningfully considered or safeguarded.
4. Privacy Impacts and Insufficient Building Separation
Submitted design material indicates a critically small separation distance between the Mandarin Centre redevelopment and The Sebel building. This minimal setback will result in direct overlooking between apartments, enabling occupants of both buildings to view into neighbouring private living spaces and balconies.
Such outcomes represent a serious and ongoing loss of privacy, undermining residential comfort, personal security, and everyday liveability. This is not a marginal design issue but a direct consequence of excessive building mass and inadequate separation.
Section 2F of the NSW Apartment Design Guide requires a minimum distance of 24 metres between habitable rooms and balconies of apartment buildings. The proposed design does not demonstrate adherence to this requirement, reflecting a clear departure from accepted residential planning standards and raising fundamental concerns about the appropriateness of the development.
5. Wind Effects and Pedestrian Amenity
Closely spaced high‑rise buildings are widely recognised as contributing to adverse wind conditions, including accelerated wind speeds, downdrafts, and wind tunnelling at ground level. These effects can significantly compromise pedestrian comfort and, in some circumstances, pose safety risks.
Given the height and density of the proposed redevelopment, the lack of any wind impact assessment represents a critical deficiency. Without proper analysis or demonstrated mitigation measures, there is a substantial risk that the development will create hostile wind conditions in adjacent streets, footpaths, and communal areas.
Such an outcome would discourage pedestrian activity, reduce the usability of the public domain, and negatively affect residents’ daily experience of their neighbourhood. The omission of wind considerations reflects an inadequate evaluation of environmental and human comfort impacts.
For the reasons outlined above, the proposed Mandarin Centre redevelopment does not satisfactorily address core planning considerations relating to traffic capacity, protection of public open space, residential amenity, privacy, or pedestrian safety. I respectfully request that Council refuse the application.

Yours sincerely,
Resident, Sebel Apartments

I am writing to formally object to the proposed redevelopment of the Mandarin Centre, on the basis that the development will result in unacceptable and adverse impacts on traffic, public amenity, access to sunlight, privacy, and pedestrian comfort. These impacts are contrary to sound planning principles and will significantly diminish the liveability of the surrounding residential area and the broader Chatswood community.
1. Traffic Congestion and Access Impacts
Victor Street is a no‑through road that is already operating beyond its practical traffic capacity. The street is burdened by multiple, competing traffic demands, including three existing residential apartment towers (with further density recently approved), a heavily used kiss‑and‑ride zone servicing the nearby train station, and its function as a de facto access route to the main boulevard, particularly during market operations.
As a result, traffic conditions on Victor Street and Albert Street are frequently at gridlock. Vehicles are regularly unable to enter or exit Victor Street within the duration of a single traffic light cycle, creating persistent bottlenecks, unsafe queuing, and heightened risk for all road users.
The addition of a major redevelopment will compound these already‑critical conditions, leading to increased congestion, longer delays, reduced access for residents and emergency vehicles, worsening pedestrian safety, and a measurable decline in local amenity. The surrounding road network lacks the capacity to absorb further traffic generation without severe and ongoing disruption.
2. Overshadowing of Chatswood Oval
Chatswood Oval represents the only substantial and functional public green space within the central Chatswood area. It is an essential community asset, relied upon daily by local families, recreational users, and organised sporting clubs, including rugby and cricket, for training and competitive use.
The proposed height and bulk of the Mandarin Centre redevelopment will result in increased and prolonged overshadowing of the oval. This loss of sunlight will directly undermine the usability, comfort, and environmental quality of the space, particularly during key daytime hours when sporting and community use is highest.
There are no alternative public open spaces within Chatswood capable of absorbing this loss of amenity. The overshadowing impact is therefore not temporary or substitutable—it represents a permanent degradation of a critical piece of community infrastructure, diminishing public health, recreation opportunities, and overall quality of life for the surrounding population.
3. Loss of Natural Light to The Sebel Apartments
The proposed development will cause a significant and detrimental loss of natural light to the south‑facing apartments of The Sebel building, affecting over 100 existing residential dwellings. These apartments currently rely on available daylight for basic residential amenity, including thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and occupant wellbeing.
The scale, height, and proximity of the proposed structure will substantially obstruct sunlight penetration into these homes. This outcome is fundamentally inconsistent with the principles set out in the NSW Apartment Design Guide, which establishes minimum expectations for solar access and daylight to habitable rooms.
The absence of any provided solar modelling or impact analysis further exacerbates concern. Without formal assessment, the proposal fails to demonstrate that existing residents’ living conditions will be protected, effectively disregarding the rights and amenity of a substantial number of current occupants.
4. Privacy and Building Separation
The design documentation shows an extremely limited setback between the proposed Mandarin Centre redevelopment and The Sebel building. This insufficient separation will result in direct sightlines between apartments, allowing residents of each building to look directly into neighbouring living spaces and balconies.
Such conditions create ongoing and unacceptable privacy impacts, eroding residential dignity, comfort, and security for both existing and future occupants. The issue is not minor or subjective, it is a direct consequence of building massing and layout.
NSW Apartment Design Guide Section 2F clearly requires a minimum separation distance of 24 metres between habitable rooms and balconies of apartment buildings. The proposal does not demonstrate compliance with this standard, indicating a clear departure from established and widely accepted residential planning benchmarks. This failure significantly undermines the suitability of the development in its current form.
5. Wind Tunnelling and Pedestrian Comfort
High‑rise buildings constructed in close proximity are well documented to create adverse wind effects, including wind tunnelling and downdrafts at ground and podium level. These conditions can dramatically reduce pedestrian comfort and, in severe cases, create safety hazards for residents, visitors, and passers‑by.
Given the scale and density of the proposed redevelopment, the absence of wind impact modelling is a serious omission. Without assessment or mitigation strategies, there is a high risk that the development will generate hostile wind conditions in surrounding streets, footpaths, and shared spaces.
This has the potential to discourage pedestrian movement, reduce street usability, and negatively affect the broader public domain. The failure to address wind impacts reflects an inadequate consideration of environmental and human comfort outcomes in a dense urban setting.
For the reasons outlined above, the proposed Mandarin Centre redevelopment fails to adequately address key planning considerations relating to traffic, public open space, residential amenity, privacy, and safety. The cumulative impacts on the surrounding community are significant and have not been sufficiently justified or mitigated.
I respectfully request that Council refuse the application in its current form.
Yours sincerely,
Rachel, resident of Sebel apartment

The project with two towers up to 32 storeys, if approved, will totally block apartments at 37 Alber Avenue, the Sebel, leaving residents there in a deplorable condition: poor light source, air flow, views, etc. More seriously, this shows total lack of town planning at Chatswood CBD, resulting that buildings around the outer circle of the city ring totally enclose buildings inside.
For better landscape and town-planning, I hope the height of the new Mandarin Centre should be well lower than that of Sebel.

I object on the following grounds
1. The lack of natural light that will be brought about in our apartment due to the new building. It has a detrimental on mental health to receive no natural light.
2.The traffic congestion on Victor Street is already untenable, to increase traffic on this street would be a nightmare for residents on the street. In fact the traffic congestion in Chatswood due to all the new apartment blocks and no upgrade to the roads or the infrastructure is already a significant problem.
3. There will be little privacy for residents of the Sebel with apartments in their new block looking in on them.

I would like to object to this development as a resident of the neighboring building.

Victor street is already quite narrow for a hub such as Chatswood and a new high rise would increase both foot and vehicle traffic to potentially dangerous levels, along with the additional noise pollution in the area.

Apart from this, I worry for potential blockage of natural light in our existing building along with loss of privacy also.
I believe many other owners in our building is of the same mind.

Please reconsider.

Thank you.

I object to the proposed Mandarin Centre redevelopment in Chatswood due to its impacts on congestion, infrastructure, amenity, and non-compliance with planning standards.

1.) UNCLEAR AND INAPPROPRIATE CARPARK ACCESS AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Victor, Albert, and Orchard Streets are already heavily congested due to cars trying to get in and out of Chatswood CBD, people coming to use restaurants and entertainment etc, multiple residential buildings, a train station kiss-and-ride zone etc; yet you still approved the coming NOVUS tower and are considering these two Mandarin Centre towers!
Bottlenecks are a daily occurrence, with vehicles unable to clear a single light cycle.
Any additional vehicle access from this development will further worsen congestion and increase safety risks.

We would welcome more buildings IF there was some foresight and answer to the traffic congestion.

The proposal does not clearly specify separate access arrangements for public (retail) and private (residential) parking- or if it does, there is such a mountain of information to wade through that an average person wouldn't be able to find this information easily. You are hoping to hear from the Community, but we are not all tech-savvy architects or planners who understand all the building jargon.

If current plans indicate reliance on Victor Street for vehicle access, given Victor Street is a constrained no-through road, this is totally inappropriate and will intensify congestion and vehicle conflicts. There is no evidence of traffic modelling or justification for this arrangement, nor consideration of alternative access points.
Car park access should not be via Victor Street, and separate access for public and private vehicles must be clearly defined and justified.

2.) CUMULATIVE OVERDEVELOPMENT
The recently approved NOVUS tower has already introduced excessive height and density to this precinct despite strong community objection. It was presented as addressing housing demand, yet further large-scale developments are now proposed in the same street. We in this part of Chatswood feel our voice is being ignored by the state government.

3.) DESIGN ESCALATION.
The initial concept for this site indicated a single tower designed to reduce visual bulk and avoid an overbearing built form. The current proposal has shifted significantly to two large, high-rise blocks, materially increasing scale, bulk, and impact. The towers have no gap or reprieve between them.
This escalation raises serious concerns about planning consistency and overdevelopment. The cumulative effect places undue strain on infrastructure and reinforces the community’s view that concerns are not being genuinely considered.

4.) TOTAL LOSS OF NATURAL LIGHT (The Sebel south face)
Over 100 south-facing apartments in The Sebel will lose ALL their natural light, reducing amenity and wellbeing. We don't understand how this can be legal.

5.) OVERSHADOWING OF CHATSWOOD OVAL
Chatswood Oval is the only significant green space in the Chatswood CBD. The proposed height will increase overshadowing, reducing usability. No equivalent alternative space exists. Solar access must be preserved. We don't understand how this can be legal.

6.) NON-COMPLIANCE- NSW Apartment Design Guide (Light)
No solar or daylight modelling has been provided to demonstrate compliance with NSW Apartment Design Guide standards. This must be addressed.

7.) PRIVACY AND SEPARATION
Insufficient setback will result in direct overlooking between buildings. The required 24m separation under Section 2F has not been demonstrated, indicating non-compliance. We don't understand how this can be legal.

8.) WIND IMPACTS
No wind assessment has been provided. Likely wind tunnelling effects will impact pedestrian safety and comfort. A study and mitigation measures are required.

The proposal lacks adequate assessment, does not demonstrate compliance, and will significantly impact residents and the community. It should be reconsidered and substantially revised.

I write as a Victor Street resident to register my formal objection to this development application.
Contradictory documentation- The materials published on the Planning Portal show different designs for the same site. Until the applicant commits to a single proposal, affected residents have no way to understand what is planned for our neighbourhood, and the application should not advance.
Road capacity on Victor Street- Victor Street is a cul-de-sac that is already stretched beyond any reasonable limit. It provides access to three residential towers — among them the recently approved NOVUS build-to-rent — while also functioning as a kiss-and-ride point for the train station and absorbing diverted traffic from Albert Avenue on market days. It is common for cars to be unable to clear the street in a single traffic light phase. Any consent granted for this site should prohibit car park entry from Victor Street.
Shadow impact on Chatswood Oval- Chatswood Oval is central Chatswood's only meaningful public open space, relied upon by families, dog walkers, and local sporting teams alike. The height of the proposed development would bring significant new overshadowing to the oval, and no equivalent green space exists in the area to compensate.
Daylight to The Sebel- More than a hundred south-facing units in The Sebel stand to lose a considerable share of their natural light. Despite the NSW Apartment Design Guide setting explicit solar access benchmarks, the application contains no assessment of how existing Sebel residents would be affected.
Overlooking and separation distance- Section 2F of the Apartment Design Guide sets a 24-metre minimum between habitable rooms and balconies of facing residential buildings. The proposed setback does not meet this threshold, meaning occupants of both The Sebel and the new development would look directly into one another's homes. No case has been made for why this standard should be waived.
Wind at street level- Towers built this close together inevitably create wind-tunnelling effects for people on the ground. The application offers neither modelling of these effects nor any proposed mitigation.
Cumulative effect on residents' wellbeing- Taken individually, each of these issues is serious. Taken together — less sunlight in the home, compromised privacy, degraded public space, worsening street safety, harsher wind conditions — they represent a tangible decline in the mental health and everyday quality of life of the people who already live here.
I call on the decision-maker to require these shortcomings to be addressed before the application is allowed to proceed.