MOD 2 - The Crescent overpass and active transport links

I would like you to reinstate the 'green link' so Rozelle and Lillyfield residents and the wider community can easily access the foreshore via foot or scooters and cycles. The car overpass modification design must be changed to allow people to do this as per the original plans. It is a very busy area and children in the neighbourhood should be able to easily access the foreshore in a safe manner.

Hello,

I oppose the project for a few reasons.

1. Aesthetic. The proposed Crescent overpass will be positioned directly next to, and slightly elevated above, the proposed shared path connecting the west side of the Crescent to the Rozelle Rail Yards Park. This ruins the aesthetic and feeling of a "green link". It will have the similar feeling of walking on the Anzac bridge which is rarely traveled by foot or bike. Pedestrians try to avoid walking next to traffic due to noise, air quality and safety, so the I believe the original version without the overpass is the better design.

2. Relocation. The relocation of the bridge to the west side of the Crescent now forces pedestrians and cyclists to cross the (now busier) Crescent to get to the GreenLink overpass when coming from Jubilee Park area. The other option included is the "Shared User Path Bridge" which, according to the artist images, looks much more exposed, narrow, and longer to reach the Rozelle Train Yards than the GreenLink. The approved design doesn't have either of these issues.

3. Induced Demand. Adding the Crescent overpass, along with the rest of the Westconnex project in general, is creating Induced Demand. Countless studies have now shown that by building more road infrastructure, more cars and drivers will come on to the roads, and in turn creates more congestion and traffic. If our goal is to make the city more livable, safe and vibrant, then we should be building more pedestrian links, cycling lanes and light-public transit, not more roads.

I look forward to your response.

Regards,
Stephen Foster

Please see my attached submission.

I am requesting that the proponent review/revise the modification to provide greater local pedestrian safety and connectivity, which will be adversely affected by the current design, especially the intersection of the Crescent and Johnston Street. I have provided additional comments in the attachment.

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. 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. Besides making it a complete eye sore and devaluing the property prices in the area, the proposed plans will NOT provide a safe and direct pedestrian access from Annandale to the foreshore. As there is a public school just a few corners back, this is increasingly alarming for all the school kids traveling to and from home. In addition, these changes will limit the movements around the suburb and create further congestion in local streets. being required to cross 5 sets of pedestrian lights is absolutely ridiculous given the already high traffic in the area.

I am requesting RMS to reinstate your own vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056. Work with the community to design a feasible and environmentally friendly option that brings the best elements from the approved EIS design into the modification.

Kind regards,
Future property owner in Annandale

This is an absolute disgrace, we have been absolutely lied too.
we were promised, safe, direct access from Annandale to the foreshore and a greenlink space.
We will need to cross 4 road crossings across busy highways to get to school, this is just terrible. You are going to kill this beautiful suburb and make it a concrete jungle.

Reinstate the Greenlink as designed in the original approved EIS design.
As a resident of Annandale, I am opposed to the project in it's current design.
It removes the existing and the approved direct, safe access for pedestrians and cyclists from Rozelle, Annandale, Lilyfield to access the Glebe foreshore.

Increase traffic flow will impact child safety especially North Annandale Public School.

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 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.

The proposed modification:
● Increases the traffic to Johnston St without improving the pedestrian crossing in front of Annandale North Public School, which seriously risks the lives of our children attending this school.
● Significantly reduces safety for families and pedestrians with removed access over The Crescent to Bicentennial Park.
● Removes 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.
● 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.

In addition, the modification increases the number of roads to cross by 5 pedestrian crossings, without allowing enough space at each crossing for a group of families, or a class of students to stand together. No alternative assisted pedestrian crossings have been factored in along The Crescent to allow the community to cross this busy road in other locations.

My submission is requesting the RMS:
● Significantly improve the pedestrian crossing in front of Annandale North Public School by:
○ widening the footpath in front of and opposite the school,
○ new fencing along the median strip and footpath,
○ improved signage around the school, and
○ relocation of the traffic light buttons for pedestrians closer to the actual crossing.
● 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 it’s potential future development.
● Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force us onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
● Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.


Regards,

Matthew Hart
111 View St, Annandale NSW 2038
[email protected]

Re: SSI 7485.

The Crescent overpass will block free access to the foreshore and to pedestrian and bike links to other suburbs. It will make it much harder for pedestrians, especially those with limited mobility, to access Jubilee Park, from either Annandale or Rozelle. This is not only an equity and health and safety issue, it is also about the rights of residents to enjoy the amenities of their area. It will make it much harder for people with prams, in wheelchairs or mobility scooters, or with small children, as well as ordinary pedestrians, to get to the park. (This will become even more of a problem if the proposed ferry from Annandale goes ahead, in which case foot traffic will rise considerably.)

Furthermore, the proposed overpass will require the felling of over 70 trees; environmental vandalism at a time when trees are more important to the environment than ever. I am also concerned about a drop in air quality - as an asthmatic who lives near the Crescent, inviting more cars into this area will undoubtedly have an impact on air quality and health.

Annandale is a heritage suburb. Such as overpass will be, not only ugly, but completely out of scale and feeling with this historic neighbourhood - and it IS a neighbourhood, built on a small scale and with many pedestrians. It will kill the vibrant flow of people in the area, to everyone's detriment - and I highly doubt it will do anything to address congestion on these roads. Research suggests that more rods simply lead to more cars on those roads.

Since this overpass was not part of the original planning permission for the project, it appears to be an overreach on the part of the contractors - no doubt to save them money. But the livability of our city should not be compromised in order to make things easier for a contractor. When they are long gone, we will be living with the unsightly, unnecessary and destructive results.

Please refuse permission for this overpass and require the contractor to complete the project as originally planned.

yours sincerely
Pamela Freeman (Dr)

I object to the modification as proposed, see attached.

Please refer to my attachments for the reasons why I object to this project.

i object on many grounds
1. I run and walk to work every day through Buruwan Park and love the green oasis with the fig trees around. This proposal will have a greater effect on this area and involve more removal of trees. Any changes should have no additional affect on this area.
2. In my run and walk to work i go from Buruwan Park to cross the main road into bicentennial park. Currently there is only one set of traffic lights. Under the proposal that set of traffic lights will be removed and users will have to use 4 sets to cross. This would never be acceptable for cars to go though four lights in an intersection and so i do not see why it is acceptable for pedestrians. People of this area do not want this overpass why make it worse by inconveniencing people who enjoying the parklands and doing the right things and walking to work.
3. The peoples mural has pride of place and represents the leichhardt and surrounding area and any obstruction or destruction of this mural is destruction of our heritage. An overpass should not be built as it obstructs the mural and an overpass an eye sores in a residential area.

This modification should be rejected as it is not in the interests of the people, the environment or the heritage values of the people living in and around the Crescent

I strongly object to the proposed modification for a new car overpass design at the Crescent in Annandale - and the resulting changes to pedestrian and cyclist links. I am seeking for the goals of the original design - which was subject to extensive community consultation - to be maintained, specifically the reinstatement of the safe, direct access from the approved EIS GreenLink! This link creates a continuous green open space connection from the Rozelle Rail yards and Annandale to the foreshore - providing much needed accessible open space for the community. I am requesting RMS put people back into the plan – I want the vision as laid out in Transport for NSW Future Strategy 2056 to be delivered. I am asking RMS to 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. As an Annandale resident and parent - who regularly uses the foreshore - the safety of my child and all pedestrians - is paramount!
● 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. This will lead to pedestrians risking their own lives to cross a six lane road (!) at uncontrolled locations. Pedestrian accidents will be inevitable under the modified design.
● 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 has been seen/agreed.
● 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 GreenLink provided safe access. The modification introduces massive concerns for pedestrian safety while creating a physical barrier between Annandale and the foreshore. This is not good planning and not the outcome that the residents of the Inner West deserve.
My 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 it’s potential future development.
● Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force us onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
● Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.
Please make good on Duncan Gay's promise and put the Rozelle Interchange underground. A car overpass is not what the community were asked to consider. Keep pedestrians and cyclist safe and separated from cars - please do not take away the promised GreenLink.

I object to this project as it will
1) remove more of Buruwan Park and removal of more trees. I walk home from work and it will removal a lovely green area and introduce a ugly overpass to the area.
2) make it difficult to cross the Crescent. Currently there is only one set of lights to cross the crescent to head towards Buruwan Park. Now there will be four. It is very inconvenient and time consuming.
3) Obstruct the peoples mural which is a a great piece of local art for the area.

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’.
This modification prioritises the needs of motorists, trashing the experience of local pedestrian traffic and making 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
This pedestrian arrangement should be modified to allow pedestrians to cross direct from Johnston Street to the Park via The Crescent.

You have no plans for cyclists. We dont want this. Where are we to cross these roads? Are these roads going to increase pollution?

An overpass above the City West Link would be an unsightly over development of the local area. It imposes too much on the landscape and livability of our local area. It completely cuts us off visually from the parks and the bays area that we hoped we would finally get access to. The plans we have seen so far describe an underpass, and this new plan completely ignores the conditions of consent given for this project.
This overpass overpass will:
• Have an unacceptable and completely unnecessary visual impact
• Make Jubilee Park access more difficult
• Destroy trees in suburbs where tree cover is already low
• Create traffic and visual nightmare in our area so that people from western Sydney can get a faster run through the traffic
The Rozelle interchange is bad enough without adding this over pass to it. Yet again, you tell us that we must pay such a high price in aesthetics and local amenity for the benefit of people who transit our area and give us nothing but noise and pollution.

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.
My 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 it’s potential future development.
● Provide pedestrian and cyclist paths that maximise people safety and do not force us onto busier streets, unsafe concrete plazas and caged walkways.
● Integrate active and direct connections to all active transport – including the future Metro West and Foreshore Ferry Wharf.