Ivanhoe Estate Redevelopment - Concept

This submission relates to the endangered ecological community (Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest), which will be impacted by the proposed Ivanhoe Estate development.
I am concerned by the avoidable loss and fragmentation of this important forest caused by the intended development. The proposal does not allow sufficient setback from the forest, resulting in the removal of established trees and understorey species. Since this forest remnant is already small, any further reduction to the area will put the resilience of the community at risk. Small vegetation fragments are more susceptible to invasion by weeds and pests and disturbances to the soil profile, which affects the health of plants and reduces the value of these fragments as refuge habitat for native fauna. Further, the lack of setback will create shading over the forest, limiting sunlight and altering the microclimate of the community - impacts that will also affect the health of the vegetation. The proposed slip road and footpaths through the forest will fragment the small remnant and the hard surfaces will also alter the microclimate by retaining heat and causing runoff to the surrounding soils.

This fragment of endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest is small but it provides refuge habitat, food resources and connectivity to native fauna in the area. The bushland and reserves of the City of Ryde are central to the identity of the area and to the residents, and provide ecosystem services to people such as air filtration, shade, areas for leisure and an increase in wellbeing. I would like to see an amendment made to the Ivanhoe Estate development proposal to conserve this ecological community in its entirety, as it is irreplaceable. Unfortunately, plans to plant new trees or offset this loss through the BioBanking scheme cannot replace the functions currently provided by this established ecological community.

The redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Estate shows a wanton disregard for the local natural environment of Ryde and for its residents. The appalling loss of trees, including endangered Sydney Turpentine Ironback forest indicates a serious deficit in the ability of the planners and architects responsible for this site.
It is obvious that the loss of over 850 trees - which basically means the entire site is bulldozed flat - is because it makes construction and building cheaper and easy. It is sheer laziness and arrogance on behalf of the planners to not develop a new construction that incorporates and works around the existing trees or at the very least attempts to save the majority of them or perhaps even the endangered ones!
Macquarie Park is viewed as a concrete jungle as it is - these trees are not just aesthetic (and aesthetics are actually important - it is what adds ambiance and value to a suburb) but they are important wildlife corridors and most significantly absorb heat and pollution in Macquarie Park which suffers from massive traffic jams and heat spots in summer.
An Estate with established trees will be a fantastic asset - as a State initiative it can be created with just a bit more creativity and effort on behalf of *the designers. So much of the recent development in Sydney has been ugly and soulless - don’t let Ivanhoe become the next Meadowbank!

Objection to the impacts of the loss of habitat and connectivity on the existing biodiversity.

- Loss of this native vegetation ecologically which is important as a remnant forest that should be given full protection from any clearing.
- Unique and ecologically important native vegetation including the Sydney Turpentine and Ironbark Open Forest.
- Classified by the NSW Threatened Species Committee as a Critically Endangered Ecological community.
- Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest are typically small and fragmented and are susceptible to clearing and routine land management practices
the site should be given protection and enabled to survive into the future. Instead an offset credit system or bio-banking is suggested by the State Government
- Offsets are not considered conservation. Protecting another area somewhere in regional NSW will not protect this remnant forest.
- We urge the NSW Government to consider alternative designs which protects the site in its entirety.
- The slip road that is proposed will cut into the forest and cut off an important wildlife corridor.
- There are just too many units proposed for this site.
- The proposed social housing units will limit the number of people that can be housed due to the reduced number of bedrooms in each unit. The estate that is being replaced housed over 750 people - the proposed units only offer bedrooms for a couple of hundred more with reduced amenity. Less solar exposure less cross ventilation and communal areas.

As a councillor and a resident in Ryde, I am dismayed at the potential loss of the important Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest that will be affected by the development at Ivanhoe. Ryde has already lost so many trees and will suffer heating and loss of wildlife as a result of this. I believe this important remnant forest which has been assessed as critically endangered by the NSW threatened species scientific committee at Environment NSW, by your Government's department, should be given full protection from any clearing. The E2 zoning at this site should be extended to protect the endangered forest, the Shrimptons Creek Riparian Zone and the wildlife corridors along Epping Road.

The slip Road (left hand entry) off Epping road cuts through a wildlife corridor and impacts on the forest. The slip road should be removed - I am told that traffic modelling shows only an 11 second delay for Epping road traffic entering the site if you were to remove the slip road.
This development proposal does not adequately address the findings of the Scientific Committee which states in their report (3.1.1):
Remnants of Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest are typically small and fragmented and are susceptible to continuing attrition through clearing for routine land management practices due to the majority of remnants being located in close proximity to rural land or urban interfaces (Benson and Howell 1994; Tozer 2003).

Sadly, an offset credit system or biobanking is suggested to 'offset' the loss of the trees at this site. I am sure its been pointed out by others that offsets are not considered conservation. Protecting another area somewhere else in regional NSW will not protect this remnant forest. It's critically endangered and only grows in Sydney. Thus the name.

I am concerned that the number of trees likely to be lost has not been quantified clearly, its very confusing as the count appears to count clumps of trees instead of individual trees.

In addition to the loss of biodiversity that will result from this development, I am concerned about it's overall footprint and the strain on our roads and local services. 3,500 units from 259 is a massive increase. Add to that 2,700 dwellings about to be occupied at Lachlans Line and the rest being built in Macquarie Park. We just can't take anymore people. Any more cars. Any more students etc until we have built more infrastructure and fixed our roads. its just too big.

I urge the NSW Government to consider alternative designs which protects the site in its entirety.

I call for a substantial review of the redevelopment plan, taking on board environmental and heritage concerns.

I object to this proposal.
The impact this will have on the endangered ecological community at this site is huge and a proper assessment of the area must be done - it clearly has not been done correctly and things have been overlooked.
I object to trees with hollows being removed - it is not acceptable to keep destroying the homes of our unique wildlife! No buffer between development and creek has been proposed - this is a must - it is not ok to build right next to a creek! It will end up polluted and severely affected by construction and construction workers who could care less what happens to it. Our local environment is being destroyed more and more, why can't simple steps be taken to build things the right way? To keep existing trees, to have buffer zones between buildings and creeks etc, as well as any neighbours whose lives will never be the same if they have to live right next to a huge development. Allow adequate room for space and for trees to help barrier between development and exisiting houses. Build smart not cheap, greedily and careless.
This development wants to remove a ridiculous amount of trees. Literally thousands upon thousands have been cut down in the area and surrounding areas with all these poorly planned and ugly developments ruining the area, and turning once leafy green peaceful suburbs into overcrowded and ugly suburbs. Please work to keep existing trees and work with the area don't just mow it down like it doesn't matter. The long term effects to the climate in the area will only be worsened if this is allowed to go ahead as planned. We need more trees not less! For all our sakes as well as for our environment, which we need to care more about before its too late.
I urge people to care and to please do the right thing, not just let money take over everything.

I am appalled (but unfortunately not surprised) that the Government continues to push through with massive developments with no regard for environmental impacts, especially given the recent highrise debacles and ever increasing traffic jams.

I am of the understanding that hundreds of mature trees will be removed for this development. This is despicable! How does this align with the NSW Statewide Green Infrastructure Policy, Greener Places, which is meant to (according to the Planning and Environment website) “improve the health, economy, environment, infrastructure and biodiversity for all its families and people. Our plan will improve the lives of our residents through an unprecedented commitment to green, open spaces. Tree canopy is one of the biggest factors in addressing heatwaves in our suburbs and reducing the urban head island effect” - especially given our ever increasing temperatures.

It appears that the Green Infrastructure Policy is yet more lip service or perhaps the Government will be planting some saplings in lieu of the hundreds of mature trees that will be removed. How will these saplings be watered (given our lack of rain and water restrictions)? What will become of all the wildlife that is currently living in this forest of trees - it appears that the Government, yet again, doesn’t care and the most important thing, despite Government website blurb, is development at all costs.

Many long term residents in my suburb and surrounds (including me) are disgusted with the level of development and tree canopy loss and have either moved away from Sydney or are planning to. I also note there is a large amount of people opposed to this development and loss of trees. Will this be taken into account? Unfortunately probably not.

In addition the the current City of Ryde submission and the Office of Environment and Heritage’s original submission, I would like to stress how important it is to retain the continued line of trees along Epping road.

A design of the redevelopment must not include the slip road into the estate from Epping road. If that means that the scale of the development needs to be reduced then so be it.

Retention of mature urban forest is critical for the Sydney basin. The Ivanhoe estate is government land, and at the very least the government should be setting an example of what good development could look like. Where trees are retained, the environment protected, and density at a reasonable level.

The current proposal sets a terrible precedent for the area and the activation precinct.

There is not enough infrastructure to support this overdevelopment.
We need more open spaces.
How have so many trees been allowed to be destroyed?
Why is this being allowed to happen?