MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

See the attachment.

Director, Transport Assessments Planning Services
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney, NSW 2001

Application: SSI 7485

Dear Director Transport Assessments Planning Services,

I am a 20+ year resident of Annandale and am a frequent user of the foreshore parkland at the end of my street. I also commute to the city via the Anzac Bridge by bicycle. I have reviewed the proposed modification to the M4-M5 Link, Mod2 and strongly object to the proposed overpass for The Crescent and changes to pedestrian infrastructure in North Annandale, Rozelle and Rozelle Bay Foreshore area.

The previously approved plan, for which there was a reasonable degree of community consultation, provided safe, direct access from the EIS GreenLink and allowed for a continuous green open space connection from the Rozelle Rail yards and Annandale to the foreshore. One of the apparent benefits presented to the local community was the green space that was to be created and easily accessible as a consequence of the works. The Mod2 proposal significantly compromises this, will create additional traffic (as noted in the proposal) and significantly impacts on the Annandale community. It is unacceptable and decreases the amenity of the suburb.

My key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
• The overwhelming scale of an overpass in our suburb. It will dominate the landscape and forever compromise access to the foreshore.
• The Crescent will become a major thoroughfare, instead of a route predominantly for local residents of Annandale and Glebe.
• There will be increased traffic fed north on to Johnston St, as stated in the proposal. Given the massive cost of the WestConnex and its stated aim of removing traffic from residential streets, this is an unacceptable outcome.
• The additional traffic on Johnston St will be a major issue as at peak times there is already considerable congestion at the intersection of Johnston St and Parramatta Rd. There is nowhere for the traffic to go as all other roads in Annandale are residential and narrow.
• There is a total lack of planning for additional traffic that will be created in to the suburb.
• It is unacceptable that residents will be required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent to reach the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle Bay light rail stop. For families with young children, a large number who currently walk and ride to the foreshore park, this access will simply be too dangerous. They will simply have their right to use the park in their suburb removed from them.
• Loss of a right hand turn from Johnston St in to The Crescent. There are no other options to access The Crescent from north Annandale and will force more traffic along Booth St in Annadale villiage. That area of Booth St is a 40kmh pedestrian precinct.

My submission is asking RMS and the Project Team to:
• Remove the proposed overpass.
• Reinstate the GreenLink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to Bicentennial Park
• Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist connections that are continuous, safe and direct.
• Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force them onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.

Yours Sincerely.

This modification completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project and threatens to impose unacceptable impacts on the landscape and liveability of our local area. No sensible rationale (speedier construction?) has been provided for the modification billed as an "improvement" in the official documents , which, if approved, is set to be the inner west's version of the Cahill Expressway, this time severing access to the waterfront for inner-west residents and imposing a monstrous elevated road that will forever divide the green spaces of Bicentennial Park and Rozelle Railyards. This will severely diminish their utility and hamper future access to parkland and the Glebe Foreshore (under the auspices of the City of Sydney), including the Fish Market Redevelopment (under the auspices of UrbanGrowth NSW). The Department has a wonderful opportunity to adopt a plan that is sympathetic to this part of Sydney, avoids more waterfront eyesores and encourages pedestrian and cycling links between the inner west and the city. It makes sense to improve access and connectivity across the broader footprint and collaborate with the other government entities to ensure that a superior design is adopted, even if it does cost more and take longer to complete. It's worth getting right.
The proposed overpass is totally out of step with local development in Annandale and undermines the community-endorsed enhancements that are taking shape a mere 200 metres away along the Crescent ( refer to : https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/better-infrastructure/parks-and-playgrounds/current-works/improving-crescent-federal-park). Sufficient consideration hasn’t been given to obvious alternatives such as an underground tunnel running under Whites Creek. Cost savings and construction simplification should NOT trump long-term community amenity.
Pedestrian access to Bicentennial Park and Jubilee Park:
This modification prioritises the convenience of motorists and desire to reduce project costs, while trashing the experience of local pedestrian traffic and making it harder for residents, visitors and commuters to access the public waterfront. Pedestrians walking from the western side of Johnston Street will have to use an astonishing four (4) pedestrian crossings in order to reach Bicentennial Park. We would be so close and yet so far. This is seriously ill-considered and will ensure that only the intrepid or foolhardy attempt the feat. Those who value their safety and their sanity are likely to give the waterfront a wide berth. This pedestrian arrangement needs to be modified to allow pedestrians to cross direct from Johnston Street to the Park via The Crescent
Relocation of the green link:
This modification would abandon one of the centrepieces of the original design: a pedestrian and cycling green link to connect the Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park.
Relocating that green link to the west of the intersection of The Crescent and City West Link ignores the original conditions of consent given for this project and puts the convenience of motorists ahead of pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed pedestrian bridge further north up the City West Link creates an unnecessarily
long walk for pedestrians and an unnecessarily high climb of 5+ metres.
RMS and the contractors should reconsider other design options to ensure a continuous green link from Rozelle Goods Yard, across the City West Link into Jubilee Park, including a link to Annandale and the Rozelle Bay light rail stop- surely the Minister for Public Spaces would endorse such a plan.
Increased local traffic in Annandale:
This modification would remove the option to turn right out of Johnston Street into The Crescent which will increase traffic and 'rat-runs' through local streets including Piper Street and Booth Street. Again, this proposed change seems to run counter to the City of Sydney's plan for the area, perversely making it harder for the wider community to easily access the soon to be built skate park, updated Glebe Foreshore and the Tramsheds.

Destruction of the foreshore!
It will be horrible for pedestrians.

I highly object to this modification and request further redesign for the car overpass, green link and transport links.

1. People orientated design should be the first principle - and consideration for safe pedestrian access should be the priority.

2. Reinstate the original Greenlink to allow safe, direct and continuous pedestrian and cyclist access.

3. Consideration and analysis of traffic implications from changed traffic conditions and flow on effects to surrounding areas.

4. Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the suburbs , location of the foreshore and it’s potential future development

5. Integrate connections to public transport options and future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf

I object to the revised implementation, as it does not respect the needs of local residents.

My comments are set out in the attachment.

I strongly object to MOD 2 — the overpass is clumsy design and RMS can do a better job on behalf of the local residents of Annandale, Rozelle, Glebe and Lilyfield — and on behalf of future generations who will increasingly value open space and access to the foreshore. Please see attached for my full objection.

The changes to this project reinforce the reasons for people not trusting the government to keep its promises! I suspect this is a cheaper option to an underground tunnel as it is one less tunnel to interweave with the others.

There are many reasons to object:

Poor connectivity between the different transport and cycle options in the area.

Cyclists and pedestrians are exposed to hazardous traffic conditions.

Not a people oriented design

Loss of the right hand turn into the Crescent from Johnson Street

Loss of the direct link from Rozelle and Lilyfield - the Green Link.

Aesthetically unacceptable.

There must be another design that would not have these negative impacts.
Please reconsider - this will be a lost opportunity.

I would like to see the original location of the greenlink from Rozelle bay to Bicentennial Park restored.

The new location significantly reduces the safety of users when accessing Bicentennial Park with the need to cross 5 lanes of traffic. The modified proposal has the potential to massively increase the number of cyclists and pedestrians queuing at the traffic signals on both the east and west side which are both very small areas.

The benefit to the local Glebe, Annandale and Lilyfield communities of this project is creation of the park at Rozelle Bay and the direct link to Bicentennial park. This benefit is reduced by the relocation of the greenlink.

I urge the planners to look at alternatives to better address the needs of the local community and active road users.

Regards

John Thomson

I am against The proposed Crescent overpass for the following reasons:
1. It will reduce safety and increase risk for pedestrians and cyclists
2. I will have to cross five sets of lights to reach the foreshore from Annandale
3. It removes active links to the foreshore, cutting the community off.
4. It diminishes human-scale access to the foreshore and the proposed Bay Precinct revitalistion initiatives
5. It will limit movement around the suburb and increase congestion on local streets
As a local resident who walks and cycles around this area almost every day, it severely diminishes the amenity of the area.
On a larger scale, the West Connex project is the wrong direction for Sydney's future. It excessively privileges private car transport over other means of transport that will be more sustainable and people-friendly for the future.

How will we access bicentennial park from annandale easily?? Regular commuters to work, people enjoying the park and children go to that park daily in the 100s. It isn't safe to have to cross like 4 times from Johnson st to the park. This project looks like its only thought of cars rather than being built for people. Consider building a walk bridge over the light rail and new construction straight to this park. Also, accessing this park was also an option from the crescent past Johnson st. Will that no longer be available?? I would also consider somehow connecting that. Maybe a walk bridge beneath the road. There is on such under the crescent near the tram she'd apartments.

My objections are set out in the attached document.

I am seeking the reinstatement of the safe direct access from the approved EIS GreenLink to create continuous green open space connection from the Rozelle rail yards and Annadale for the foreshore. I am requesting RMS put people back into the plan and reinstate your own vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. You need to consult and work with the local residents community to design a feasible option.
My key concern with the M4-M5 modification are the significantly reduced safety, being required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at the Crescent as my option to reach the foreshore from Annandale or Rozelle Bay light rail stop. Proposed changes will limit movements around the suburb and create further congestion in the local streets of Anndale, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Lilyfield and Rozelle with no plan to deal with this.

My partner Mr Charles MacKenzie and his family has owned property in Annandale and lived here for over 30 years. Annandale is a family orientated community that is considered to be a quailty area that is known for its pedestrian and cycle tracks. We would like it to remain as such.

Our key concerns are the following:
The significantly reduced safety and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists with removed access over the crescent to bicentennial park and the increased traffic along johnson street.
Being required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at the crescent as my option to reach the foreshore from annandale or from rozelle bay light rail stop
removal of direct active links to the foreshore cutting the community off from the area and the proposed revitalisation of the entire bays precinct including linking the light rail and bus stops to a ferry wharf and metro station
Urban and landscape design that is being built before a finalised masterplan for the area
Traffic changes that limit movements around the suburb and create further congestion in the local streets of annandale, forest lodge, glebe, lilyfield and rozelle with no planning to deal with these.
The effects of the proposed infracstructure will reduce house prices and effect the overall quality of this area and the quality of our lives, forcing people to relocate.

Our submission is asking RMS and the project team to:
Reinstate the greenlink connecting communities and green open space from Rozelle to Bicentennial park
Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist connections that are continuous, safe and direct
Design the modification infrastructure and active links in response to the character of the suburbs , the location of the foreshore and its potential future development
Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people's safety and do not force them onto busier streets, unsafe plazas and caged walkways
Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport including the future metro west and foreshore ferry wharf

Dear Officer,
I am almost daily using Crescent crossing coming down Johnston street or down the Crescent from City West Link direction to get to Bicentennial park. I walk dog, go to Fish Market and Tramsheds.
Proposed changes will make crossing far more difficult to navigate. Instead of crossing one road, I will need to cross four-five set of lights. COMMUNITY NEEDS SAFE CROSSING TO ACCESS THE PARK ON FOOT OR BIKE WITH OR WITHOUT DOG!!!
I find very disturbing that panning department can propose and exhibit changes without consulting with the community, and recommend to build concrete jungle to separate community I live in more than 20 years from access to the water of Rozelle Buy.
It looks like that planning department does not think about people at all, please reconsider your proposal.
Regards
Milan Vukovic

RE App SSI 7485
Apart from the fact that the research has been absolutely unequivocal since Robert Moses built the first motorways in New York City that big tollways just INCREASE TRAFFIC, not reduce congestion, there are the modifications to the original plan that substantially degrade the area affected by the proposal as follows:

The project is far more obtrusive than the original plan. The underground tunnel has been replaced by an LA-style overpass. The end of Victoria Street, with its two ghastly, vertigo-inducing overpasses is already a blight. With the proposed modifications the blight will extend further into the city, with the remaining character of the working harbour, and the green space that has been created, overwhelmed by traffic chaos.

Relocation of the green link destroys the original plan to have a link from Rozelle Goods Yard to Bicentennial Park. The interests of pedestrians have not been considered, only those of motorists, in making the walk longer for pedestrians (and therefore discriminating against the elderly, those with small children, and those who have difficulty walking). Pedestrians going from the Western side of Johnston Street to Bicentennial and Jubilee Parks will have to negotiate heavy traffic by means of four crossings.

The proposal will involve the total destruction of Buruwan Park, including its magnificent Moreton Bay Figs, and the general denudation of the area around the Rozelle Bay Light Rail Station, including loss of habitat for wildlife and destruction of amenity, not just for locals but for this part of the city generally. The proposal turns an oasis of green in the already heavily trafficked area into a concrete desert. As the Amazon fires are reminding us, trees are the lungs of the earth. Green spaces are also one way to look after the mental health of city dwellers. Replacing these old growth trees with a few saplings will not compensate for the environmental and aesthetic destruction that the modification will bring.

As a resident of Glebe with family who live in Annandale I am opposed to the proposed Mod 2 design in it's entirety.
Reinstate the original, approved Greenlink so our access to family and their access to the foreshore remains safe and direct.

While I am not opposed to some parts of the WestConnex works, this modification to the M4-M5 link at The Crescent, which was submitted without community consultation is absolutely appalling. The people who you think you are helping with the monstrosity of an overpass, are exactly the same people who utilise the parks and foreshores around the area, and who would be significantly disadvantaged by the proposed overpass. An underpass, which maintains parkland and access to parkland, as originally proposed, was a reasonably acceptable solution. I will summarise the reasons for my objection below -
- Multiple set of lights and 5m ascent and descent to get from Annandale/Lilyfield through to the water and foreshore is unacceptable. Not only do thousands of community pedestrians use the crossings at the bottom of Johnston St every week, but also the local schools frequently cross this intersection for sporting and recreation activities. Not only would crossing multiple sets of lights be time consuming, it is unsafe to have dozens of young children (and adults) waiting a crowded busy intersections waiting to cross.
- The proposed changes cut off right hand turn to The Crescent from the bottom of Johnston St. It is my understanding that no traffic study has been undertaken to assess the impact of such a change. However, this is a frequently used turn and, given that there would be no access to the eastern side of Annandale from the western side of Annandale from north Johnston St, it would inevitably result in frequent U-turns on Johnston St, and motorists using the small, narrow, steep streets on the eastern side of Annandale as rat runs to get through to The eastern part of The Crescent. This would be a very undesirable outcome.
- One of the important aspects of any planning development is the visual acceptability of a project. A multi-lane overpass in the location proposed is huge and would be an absolute eyesore. I am sure if it were proposed on other areas of the harbour, where access to parkland currently exists, such a proposal would never be considered.

I would like the following issues considered and reinstated -
- Reinstate your vision as laid out in the Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056
- Work with the community to develop a feasible design that is acceptable to the community who will be using it
- Reinstate the greenlink connecting Annandale, Rozelle and Lilyfield to the foreshore and Bicentennial Park
- Relocate and design pedestrian and cyclist paths that are continuous, safe and direct
- Design the new infrastructure in keeping the with character of the existing suburbs (ie plan to have major traffic intersections and motorways underground)
- Integrate direct connections to all active transport, not only pedestrian areas and cycleways, but also to the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.

In short, I completely object to the current proposal, and would like it modified with community consultation, as per the notes above.

Yours sincerely,
Dale Wilson.

Application: SSI 7485
Dear Director Transport Assessments Planning Services,
I write regarding the proposed modification to M4-M5 Link, Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and
changes to pedestrian infrastructure in North Annandale, Rozelle and Rozelle Bay Foreshore area.
I request RMS work with the community to explore alternate design options to the proposed new car
overpass design and the changed pedestrian and cyclist links. I am seeking the reinstatement of the
safe, direct access from the approved EIS GreenLink to create a continuous green open space
connection from the Rozelle Rail yards and Annandale to the foreshore. The GreenLink was more
than just a walk way - it put people central to the design, maximising safety, and providing much
needed accessible open space for the community now and into the future Bays Precinct design.
I am requesting RMS put people back into the plan – I want you to reinstate your own vision as
laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. Work with the community to design a feasible
option that brings the best elements from the approved EIS design into the modification.
My key concerns with the M4-M5 Modification are:
● The significantly reduced safety and increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists with removed
access over The Crescent to Bicentennial Park and the increased traffic along Johnson
Street.
● Being required to cross five sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent as my option to reach
the foreshore from Annandale or from Rozelle light rail stop.
● Removal of direct active links to the foreshore, cutting the community off from the area and
the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays Precinct, including linking the Light Rail and
Bus stops to a Ferry wharf and Metro station.
● Urban and landscape design that is being built before a finalised Masterplan for the area.
● Traffic changes that limit movements around the suburb and create further congestion in the
local streets of Annandale, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Lilyfield and Rozelle with no planning to
deal with these.