MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

The initial plan included - 1. Unobtrusive underground tunnel allowing traffic from The Crescent to cross the City West Link without stopping at traffic lights:
2. Single safe, direct pedestrian and cycling access from The Rozelle Goods Yard at Lilyfield to the Glebe foreshore and Annandale via an above ground vegetated ‘green link’: 3. Maintained right turn from Johnston St into The Crescent; 4. Shared user pathways considerate and connected into the Bays Precinct Master Plan; 5. Preservation of the ‘people’s mural’ on The Crescent. Now it is proposed to include 1. A massive imposing overpass instead of an underground tunnel turning this area in to an unslightly replica of LA overpasses; 2. Relocation of the green link which will no longer connect Lilyfield with the foreshore at Glebe; 3. Addition of a 5m high exposed eyesore in the form of a footbridge between the Rozelle Goods Yard at Lilyfield and the Glebe foreshore; 4. No direct route for pedestrian or cycling traffic between Annandale and Glebe foreshore; 5. Obstruction of the ‘people’s mural’ on The Crescent and 6. No right turn from Johnston St into The Crescent.
The visual pollution this overpass and associated structures would create is totally unacceptable. It is environmentally inferior to the original proposition and completely disrupts access. Plans for this project change on a whim and do not consider amenity and environment.

SSI 7485
I have supported WestConnex up until this change. I have been the one defending how our city needs to grow, and we need all modes of transport to catch up, not just public transport, but this change is unacceptable. There was a massive park promised, and a commitment to put all of this intersection underground. The new proposal not only removes the park, but creates a massive eyesore, and will make for a terribly unpleasant experience to live in this area, with the added noise and cars on a visible road.
I feel cheated now, and a fool to have supported this project. We need more green areas, parks and ease of access for all, which can be achieved by the plans presented in their original form.
I strongly object to this change and request that the original plans are followed, as per the approvals and commitments made to the public.
Thank you.

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 – we want you to reinstate your own vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. Work with us 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 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 Annandale overpass will have an unacceptable and unnecessary visual impact and, I understand, will destroy trees.
It's hard enough at the moment but it will make it more difficult for pedestrians to access Jubilee Park from the Rozelle Goods Yards in Lilyfield.
By all reasonable accounts there seems to be minimal concern for local residents in the planning.
We hear constantly that Westconnex is fantastic for western Sydney... a little consideration for inner west residents/tax payers/voters would be appreciated.

The overpass will have an unacceptable and unnecessary visual impact.
And make it more difficult for pedestrians to access Jubilee Park.
In addition it will create noise and disrupt more of our community and public space.

This overpass is a massive and unnecessary expansion of West Connex. The artist impression shows us the vision this government seems to have for Sydney, and it looks like Los Angeles from the 1970s. Is this what we want for our inner city suburbs? What next?

It seems we are getting this West Connex project whether we like it or not, please at least keep it under the ground - where it was claimed it would be.

I really would not like to see this overpass go ahead, this is not far from the residential area of Annandale and would be a huge imposition on the quality of life for a lot of people. No-one needs it to be constructed, please keep it underground.

I’m concerned that this style of overpass will:
• Have an unacceptable and unnecessary visual impact, and obstruct a significant local mural;
• Make it more difficult for pedestrians to access Jubilee Park from Johnston St Annandale and the Rozelle Goods Yards in Lilyfield;
• Destroy over 70 trees including the large, mature fig trees at Buruwan Park; and
• Fail to solve Sydney's traffic congestion problem

The overpass has no merit. We were told it would be an underpass, and my previous support of this project was based on that. An overpass will permanently scar our marine foreshore - it should be a jewel in Sydney's crown, but it will become an eyesore, and of great detriment to residents and any future commercial or tourist potential. Please continue with the original plan - which the community had been consulted about - an underpass.

I am writing in support of an improved road structure in the Inner West of Sydney. I live in Balmain and constantly have to battle the traffic, mainly made up of workers travelling to and from work. I am happy to see the workforce be given new faster road systems. The new roadworks will support and assist the locals who live close to Victoria Rd, children travelling to school on safer walkways and bike tracks. I also love the fact that we are going to be able use the new park lands with safe access - I support the vehicle and pedestrian over passes which are necessary to move the large body of people going around carrying out their business and leisure
Keep up the progress and the good work... just imagine if the Harbour Bridge was not built!!! Kind regards :)

You promised an underground tunnel allowing traffic from The Crescent to cross the City West Link without stopping at traffic lights. I object to the overpass now currently planned. This will negatively impact the amenity of the local area.

This link was originally planned as an underground 'underpass' at the intersection of the City West Link and The Crescent. But the RMS and their contractor are now proposing to build a two-lane overpass up to 3 stories (eight metres) above the City West Link.

This plan completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project and threatens to impose even more on the landscape and liveability of our local area.

I’m concerned that this Los Angeles style overpass will:

Elevate a significant traffic noise 3 stories up so it feeds into a large number of surrounding houses,
Have an unacceptable and unnecessary visual impact,
Make it more difficult for pedestrians to access Jubilee Park from Johnston St Annandale and the Rozelle Goods Yards in Lilyfield;
Destroy over 70 trees including the large, mature fig trees at Buruwan Park; and
as in L.A., completely fail to solve Sydney's traffic congestion problem.

I oppose this modification as it breaks the terms of conditions of consent given for this project. It clearly prioritises motorists and profits over pedestrians - and in an inner city suburb in the 21st century, is clearly an offence. The safety of our children are at stake. The culture of our community is under threat.

The new proposals do the following:

1. Threatens the safety of our local children and pedestrians.
* The environmental impact statement predicts increased traffic along Johnston Street. There are already many near misses at the crossing near Annandale North Public School as children enter or leave the school. This has been flagged to all councils and governments - as well as to the contractor John Hollands. Every one of them say "its not my responsibility".
* Removing the pedestrian crossing at the Crescent to Jubilee Park forces children and pedestrians to now cross 4 roads in order to get to Jubilee Park. With increased traffic on Johnston Street, this is an accident waiting to happen.

2. Cuts off Annandale residents and school children from access to Jubilee Park and Tramshed area
* Our children, particularly the children attending Annandale North Public School, have no sports field. Traditionally they walk en-mass to Jubilee Park to participate in sports. By cutting off the pedestrian crossing at the Crescent you are forcing the children to now cross 4 increasingly busy roads in order to enter Jubilee Park.
* By removing the right hand turn at Johnston Street, the passage to the local shopping centre (Tramsheds) is now removed. This will increase traffic into the rest of Annandale reducing the liveability and safety of Annandale Streets.
* It is also difficult to see how people in the North of Annandale can access Jubilee Park from the Rozelle tram stop.

3. Reduces public transport options to the City
* Traditionally the fastest way to the CBD from the northern end of Annandale is to walk to Victoria Road bus stop and catch a direct bus to the CBD over the Anzac Bridge. This avenue will now be disrupted or removed with a 6 storey high overpass no resident can be expected to walk.
* The 433 bus stop at Buruwan has been removed.
* The bus stop at corner of Lilyfield Road & Victoria Road has been removed.

4. Makes it more difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to access the City via the Anzac Bridge
* The 6 storey high overpass is ridiculous and shows no respect for local residents - particularly the less fit, disabled or aged amongst us. Who in this world thought of that idea?

5. Creates an environmental eyesore
* The Crescent and Western Distributer intersection was meant to be underground. This proposal is exact opposite of this and is against the spirit of the original proposal.
* The community Mural is a local heritage feature and will be blocked and ruined by the increase trafficmovements.

6. Reduces the liveability of the area of Annandale.
* In this day and age, how can an engineer, town planner and a politician possibly think this is an improvement in design. It clearly puts the motorists and the contractor's profit as priority. It clearly ignores the safety of our suburb and the culture. It clearly ignores the environment and the noise & air pollution created by pushing all these cars into one area in the city. We can already hear the increased noise from the city west link as a result of the clearing of land allowing it to reverberate across the valley.

How dare you!

Before any approvals are given, John Hollands and the NSW government must do the following:
1. Create safe, simple access to Jubilee Park from Johnston Street with only one pedestrian crossing.
2. Create safe, simple access to the new Green Space from Rozelle Bay tram station
3. Create easy, low rise pedestrian access to Anzac Bridge
4. Create increased Bus Routes directly from Annandale over the Anzac Bridge
5. Start a ferry service from Jubilee Park to Circular Quay, North Sydney and Barangaroo
6. Maintain the right hand turn from Johnston Street to the Crescent
7. Put most works underground and not create a visual eyesore
8. Fix the traffic safety around Annandale North Public School - particularly at school times.
9. Save as many trees as possible by pushing roads underground and replant more trees to replace those removed to combat the pollution from the exhaust stacks
10. Must NOT put motorists and John Holland's profits before the needs and saftey of pedestrians and locals.
11. Must provide noise abatement solutions for all of Annandale residents

This project makes me sad. As a former engineer, I am not usually against construction and infrastructure - but this modification clearly has been dreamt up in a bubble with no consultation with, or regard to, the local community.

I oppose this modification

regards
Craig Davison

Annandale does not need an overpass.
Local residents such as myself oppose this project.
We don't want Sydney to descend into a second Los Angeles.

Project 16516 - MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

I would like to submit my objection for this project.
This road has been marked for years that no view may be blocked of the city and the anzac bridge when you drive it towards the city. And now you plan to build a flyover which is 8 meter high and will block this whole view.

It will also obstruct a significant local mural, which has been there for years as a landmark of the city.
This construction also blocks / destroys Buruwan Park and block any bicycle access.
Also by building this fly over you are going to destroy an already existing another bicycle fly over, which is currently the best way to get to Balmain and whitebay shipping terminal.

This fly over will also Fail to solve Sydney's traffic congestion problem.

WestConnex M4-M5 Link
Exhibition of Mod 2 – the Crescent overpass and active transport links
Application Number SSI-7485-Mod-2
Attention: Director, Transport Assessments Planning Services Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney, NSW 2001
Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for exhibiting the proposed modification to notify the community about the loss of Buruwan Park for a road surface, a new elevated double-decker road overpass on The Crescent alongside Sydney Harbour, the relocation of bus stops, the revised serpentine pedestrian and cycling links to & from Bicentennial Park, the changed traffic conditions at Johnston Street and the loss of trees near the Light Rail station.

In 2014, Minister Stokes, in an address he gave to the Sustainable Business Australia audience at KPMG’s Sydney offices, stated:

“Environmental protection is not an “optional extra” when businesses are doing well, “it has to be a precondition”, “foundational”.

“We don’t want development to create a legacy of disasters for other generations to clean up.”

The proposed modifications show little regard for environmental protection and will need further modification to align with the Minister’s views.

Buruwan Park should be retained.

A separated direct green cycling and pedestrian path from Rozelle Railyards to Bicentennial Park via the Light Rail station should be reinstated.

Any new double-decker road overpass at The Crescent should have ‘Green Walls’ on both sides of the roadway for beautification and reduction in pollution.

Views to and from Sydney Harbour foreshores should not be destroyed by more elevated roadways, as has occurred at Circular Quay where the Cahill Expressway is regarded as a visual blight on the city and harbour.

The current modification proposal, if implemented, will result in increased construction noise and pollution from emissions for surrounding residences and businesses including the Childcare Centre on Chapman Road.

Yours sincerely
Helen Randerson

I strongly object to the modification of the design of the M4-M5 link. As a resident of the Inner West for over 30 years, I have seen our suburbs became so much greener, the trees I planted mature, foreshore access created, new pedestrian and bike pathways created and the inner west became a wonderful place for people to live. The monstrous elevated overpass proposed takes us back to 1970s Los Angeles - the Car is King and people who want to walk, for example from Annandale to the Glebe Foreshore, ( a foreshore that many of the Annandale residents campaigned for) will have 4 extra road crossings to make! The green links and acceptable urban features that were part of the original consent are no longer part of the design proposal. Air Pollution, an issue of concern due to the proposed unfiltered stacks, will increase, noise will increase and any visual amenity will be lost. Our local heritage mural will be obscured along with other heritage features. Moreover I fail to see how the ramp for car access to Victoria Rd and Anzac Bridge will ease any road congestion on the Crescent for Glebe and Forest Lodge, let alone traffic on City West Link. I question whether other options, such as underground tunnelling under Whites Creek, have been considered , in place of this construction which is completely at odds with the local development and liveability values. At the very least, the pedestrian and cycling green link to connect the former Rozelle Goods Yard ( once breeding habitat for Superb Fairy-Wrens - an iconic bird species for Glebe and Forest Lodge) and Bicentennial Park should be reinstated as originally designed, with separated cycle and pedestrian paths. It would appear that NO consideration has been given to cyclist and pedestrians in this new modification. I urge RMS and their contractors to rethink this proposal in the light of cyclist and pedestrian access, air and noise pollution, loss of green spaces and local amenity.

I object to Mod 2 The Crescent overpass and active transport links for the following reasons

There will be significantly reduced safety and increased risk with removed pedestrian and cyclists access above The Crescent to Bicentennial Park.
Unsafe and indirect access across five sets of pedestrian lights at The Crescent to reach the foreshore/railyards. The part Greenlink and concrete plaza at Rozelle Bay light rail still require you to cross at the five sets of lights on The Crescent.
Removal of direct active links to the foreshore (including the new skatepark and kids playground), cutting our communities off from the foreshore and the proposed revitalisation of the entire Bays Precinct.
The proposed modification has no updated Urban Design and Landscape Plan (or peer review ). The original EIS had both. The modification considerably changes the design intent of the approved EIS design.
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 but pushing them back on to Council.
Thank you.

Kind regards,
Robert

The WestConnex is a toxic project that is ruining the visual amenity and heritage of the Inner West of Sydney.
Not content with the demolition of beautiful heritage-listed homes, and spoiling of lovely street scapes in Haberfield, Sydney's most significant heritage suburb, (an action described by the National Trust as "the worst hit to heritage in our history"); not content with spoiling the area around Sydney Park with a hideous spaghetti junction; now the projects wants to assert its ugliness in Annandale with an overpass that will have negative visual impacts in the area,cause multiple more tree losses and make pedestrian access more difficult.
It is obvious that this project is all about private profit, but why oh why, when so much public money is wasted on it, do the negative impacts have to keep mounting? Just stop kicking the people of the Inner West in the guts.

This will greatly effect local access to the foreshore from our local area of Annandale, and will negatively impact the connection of inner west suburbs to each other and the community. We strongly object to this proposal.

This modification completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project and threatens to impose unacceptable negative consequences on the landscape, amenity and liveability of the local area. It should be refused and the originally proposed M4-M5 connection constructed.

The proposed overpass is totally out of step with local development in Annandale and will obstruct a local heritage mural and destroy Buruwan Park. Sufficient consideration hasn’t been given to obvious alternatives such as an underground tunnel running under Whites Creek.

Visual impact and obstruction of ‘people’s mural’

This modification will impose hugely on the landscape in the Inner West. A new elevated overpass is completely at odds with local development standards and will have a significant negative visual impact on Annandale and its surrounds. The overpass will also obstruct Rodney Monk’s heritage mural which decorates the northern
side of the light rail viaduct along The Crescent. That mural was commissioned by the Leichhardt Council in 1980 and inspired by political and social movements in the inner west. It is a dearly loved and historically important local artefact that should be protected.

This proposal could be replaced with a slot cut and cover trench running under Whites Creek to push traffic underground instead of overground and avoid the massive imposition of an overpass and destruction of the ‘people’s mural’.

Pedestrian access to Bicentennial Park and Jubilee Park

This modification prioritises the needs of motorists, damaging the experience of local pedestrian traffic and making it significantly harder for residents to access the public waterfront. Pedestrians walking from the Western side of Johnston Street will have to use an astonishing four pedestrian crossings in order to reach Bicentennial Park. The increase in traffic will mean extended delays for pedestrians at these crossings which will be unable to be synchronised.

This pedestrian arrangement should be modified (ie restored) to allow pedestrians to cross direct from Johnston Street to the Park via The Crescent.

Destruction of mature fig trees at Buruwan Park

This design proposes to rip up Buruwan Park and all the vegetation at that site including over 70 trees including several beautiful mature fig trees. Removing this vegetation will impact on the liveability of Annandale and Rozelle by removing shade, making the local area warmer and destroying the green barrier it provides between the City West Link and residences. It will destroy the visual amenity for users of the light rail, particularly those waiting at the Annandale stop. Even if these trees are replaced with established saplings, it could take up to a decade for tree cover to return to this site.

Any modification to this proposal should make every possible effort to save these trees and vegetation. At a bare minimum, these trees should not be removed until a full Urban Design and Landscape Plan has been completed.

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 needs 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 for 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.

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 through local streets including Piper Street and Booth Street. These changed conditions will mean increased noise and emissions for residents in Annandale.