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State Significant Development

Assessment

Parramatta Leagues Club Hotel

City of Parramatta

Current Status: More Information Required

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Construction of a 17 storey hotel comprising 209 hotel rooms, one basement level for services, ancillary uses including a pool, gym, cafe, bars and function room, vehicular access from O Connell Street, public domain works and tree removal.

Attachments & Resources

Request for SEARs (7)

SEARs (1)

EIS (50)

Submissions (3)

Response to Submissions (24)

Agency Advice (16)

Amendments (1)

Additional Information (1)

Submissions

Filters
Showing 1 - 20 of 89 submissions
WaterNSW
Comment
Parramatta , New South Wales
Message
Thank you for your email requesting WaterNSW's comment on SSD 8800 for
the Parramatta Leagues Club. The subject site will not impact on any
WaterNSW land, assets or infrastructure, and as such we have no
comment or particular requirements.
Department of the Environment and Energy
Comment
Canberra , Australian Capital Territory
Message
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Parramatta Leagues
Club Hotel.

We note that the proposal is in the vicinity of both the Old
Government House and Domain (OGHD; National and World Heritage
listed), and the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct
(National Heritage listed). The proponent and heritage consultants
have been in contact with the Department regarding their heritage
impact assessment and consistency with planning controls enshrined in
the OGHD Conservation Agreement. We understand that the proponent is
aware of their responsibilities under the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and any obligation to
refer, should the proposal have likely significant impacts on any
matters protected under the EPBC Act. At this stage, we have no
further comments.

Thanks

A/g Assistant Director
Southern NSW & ACT Assessments
Department of the Environment and Energy
Richard Wade
Object
Evatt , Australian Capital Territory
Message
I am very concerned by the proposed development in Parramatta Park. I
have an interest in this matter having visited Parramatta Park and
explored the historical value of the park and the buildings on the
site, including the Female Factory. This is a unique and irreplaceable
part of Australia's early colonial heritage. The whole area is listed
on the WorId Heritage colonial history site (there are 11 such sites
in Australia), and Australia has responsibilities to uphold its
commitments. I want to ensure that this historical site is maintained
for the benefit and education of future generations.

I am also concerned that the proposal is being driven by a desire to
generate more gambling revenue, despite the social problems that
gambling generates. I acknowledge the history of the Parramatta Eels
Rugby League Club and its contribution to the local community as well
as NSW RL folklore. However, the club already owns premises next to
Parramatta Park and has use of a new stadium which, in my view,
impinges on the historical and visual values of Parramatta Park. I
encourage the club to rethink this proposal and whether the gambling
dollar is really be the highest value to which the club subscribes.

In addition, my other objections are:
1) the proposed hotel, with its proposed 17-storey height, is out of
scale with its historical surroundings. The new stadium has already
started the process of creeping into Parramatta Park. My view is that
the annexation of historic public land should stop here.
2) The plans for the development demonstrate that the hotel will be
visually disruptive and encroach upon the community park land and the
world heritage values that the park encapsulates. I think that the
photos in the plans (with their ghostly representations of the
proposed tower) are misleading and the true visual impact would be
much greater if it allowed to proceed Having explored the park and
surrounding area, I believe regulators have a responsibility to ensure
that the historical values of the area are not subsumed by
inappropriately large and intrusive developments. Please defend the
public streetscapes, parks and uphold our World Heritage
responsibilities for future generations.
Bronwen Griffin
Object
Rozelle , New South Wales
Message
I am a community member who loves Parramatta Park and have a great
respect for its value to the community as a green space and a historic
site of enormous world, state, local and environmental significance.
While I live in Rozelle, my children are now living in Westmead and we
use the park often.

I object on the following basis:
-The building will be on land owned by Parramatta Park and is for a
hotel.
-The scale is innapropriate -17 floors is too high compared to
surrounding buildings. If built, it should be no higher than the
adjoining Parramatta Stadium.
-The building can be seen from highly significant areas of Parramatta
Park and surrounds, such as the Dairy Cottage, Roseneath Cottage, the
Female Factory and Norma Parker Centre, interrupting historic views.

I accept that there will continue to be large scale redevelopment of
Parramatta, but this needs to be counterbalanced by retaining the
natural beauty and historic character of the Park at its centre. Any
new developments visible from the park should be low rise to retain
sight lines.
Name Withheld
Object
Baulkham Hills , New South Wales
Message
There should be absolutely no hotel built anywhere within Parramatta
Park. This is public land and there are other commercial spaces if
there is a need for more hotel accommodation, but there is no need for
anymore encroachment from Corporate Australia into our beloved park.
For this to be called a State Significant Development is a total
crock, as was the need to build the stadium over a well used and
recently renovated
PUBLIC pool. Public space is becoming a premium due to the over
development in Parramatta and surrounding suburbs and will only be
more necessary as time goes by. Leave it alone.
Tabitha Bratton
Object
North parramatta , New South Wales
Message
I do not agree with a hotel being built on parramatta park land. The park
was set aside for future generations and its slowly being used for
commercial gain. With all the units around parramatta the need for
outdoor space is greater than ever. They have already stolen our pool.
Parramatta is being made into the next CBD but without the thought of
facilities for our growing population.
Paul Reed
Object
Telopes , New South Wales
Message
It is totally inappropriate to allow the leagues club to build a multi
storey hotel on land contained within parramatta park
Parramatta Park Trust
Comment
Parramatta , New South Wales
Message
Hi Emily,

The Trust wont be putting a submission in on the above application.

Regards,

Josh

Joshua French | Director, Parklands Development and Strategy
Parramatta Park & Western Sydney Parklands Trusts
Name Withheld
Object
Leichhardt , New South Wales
Message
Regarding the proposed Parramatta Leagues club
The 17 stories is too high and aesthetically unsympathetic to
thissignificant heritage area.

It would be a visually jarring development close to Roseneath cottage
- directly across the road and visible from Paramatta park and the
Female Factory

The development proposal is out of character with the built and
natural environment of this area of Parramatta
Name Withheld
Object
BEECROFT , New South Wales
Message
I have concerns about the impact of this development on the UNESCO
heritage elements of Parramatta Park, Government house and the
Parramatta female factory. The height of this development will cast
significant shadowing on Parramatta Park and the buildings listed
above.

Where is the assessment of these aspects in relation to this
proposal/application?

While I live outside the immediate area, I am a Parramatta Ratepayer
and the Park is an area that I frequently visit.

I strongly object to this proposal.
Malcolm Astle
Object
Winston Hills , New South Wales
Message
I am a member of Parramatta Leagues Club, a Parramatta ratepayer and
longtime resident of Parramatta having lived in the district for 34
years.

I object to the size and placement of this development in that:

1. It will be above the tree line and overshadow the world heritage
listed Parramatta Park.

2. It will increase the traffic congestion in and around O'Connell
street which is already a major North / South link road and will
become more so with the light rail closing part of Church street.
Within the same vicinity is a 30,000 seat stadium, a major girls high
school, a major entertainment and theatre district, a major legal
precinct, high rise serviced and accomodation apartments and the
Leagues Club. All of these pre-existing uses already massively impact
adversely on O'Connell street traffic

3. Both the Leagues club and the proposed club hotel permanently
remove land from the effective control of the Parramatta Park Trust.
This effective removal of control and any future possible passive uses
of this Park land also applies to new development on the site of the
old RSL bowling club and the proposed new swimming pool on the old
golf course. The continued annexation of land from this world heritage
listed Park will leave only a rump surrounded by over development on
the Parramatta side by the stadium, club and hotel, on the western
side by the high rise Westmead Hospital, on the southern side by the
swimming pool and on the northern side by the development of North
Parramatta at the old psychiatric hospital / female factory site.

The drip feeding of over development in Parramatta both on and around
the Parramatta Park make a mockery of its heritage listing. The same
applies for many of the high rise developments across Parramatta
generally which are destroying its remaining colonial heritage.
maria bradley
Object
Coogee , New South Wales
Message
I object to the proposed DA because it is in the wrong location

Too big and bulky
Is not in the public interest
The Heritage Parklands will be negatively impacted
Is against the expectations of the community
The precinct should be protected as a Heritage site of national
significance
Sight lines are negatively impacted
No public demand for the project
Name Withheld
Object
Epping , New South Wales
Message
I would like to make a submission with regards to this Parramatta Leagues
Club proposal. I object to the proposal on the grounds that:

- this proposal is not appropriate for a Stage Significant application
as presented
- the proposed height and form of the building are inappropriate for
the site
- inadequate images, including shadow diagrams are provided in the
submission
- the existing and proposed adjacent heritage areas are inadequately
considered in the proposal
- insufficient time has been allowed, given the timing in the calendar
year, for consideration and submissions regarding this project,

regards

SE-51176
PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH MY PERSONAL DETAILS.

I have not made a reportable political donation.

SSD 17_8800 PROPOSED PARRAMATTA EELS HOTEL

I object to the proposed application. My concerns include:

* The proposed height is inappropriate and visually impacts World
Heritage listed Parramatta Park and the old Government House. Further,
given the proposed scale, the proposal adversely impacts the national
heritage values for the Female Factory and Fleet Street precinct. This
may jeopardise The potential World Heritage Listing of the Female
Factory, as well as the potential to extend the heritage precinct
further. Moreover, the Visual Impact Analysis highlights the impact
the proposal will have on the Female Factory/Cumberland Hospital site.
This is totally unacceptable. Further, I note that the massing is not
well shown on some images making it difficult for many to properly
understand the impact.

* The proposal makes a number of assumptions that are incorrect. This
includes heights for the neighbouring heritage precincts, such as
Fleet Street, and the former Cumberland Hospital site, and includes
plans previously proposed by Urban Growth are included. Given there is
now a new master planning process underway for these precincts
following recent announcements by the government and the University of
Sydney, this may well see a reduction in the proposed height controls.
Hence to assume these assumptions are a given is misleading.

* A Design Excellence Strategy is required to be prepared in
consultation with the Government Architect NSW. However, the Design
Review Panel's report fails to properly respond to matters pertaining
to clause 7.10(4), which significance is reinforced in case, The
Uniting Church vs Parramatta City Council [2018] NSWLEC 158,
specifically

* The application indicates `significant consultation' has taken place
with the Park's Trust. In addition, a 'representative' needs to be
appointed as an observer on the Design Review Panel for the project'.
However, the involvement of a representative from the Trust, should
not justify the departure from the applicant meeting requirements
under local planning controls. (PLEP). Further, I am concerned about
what appears to be a perceived conflict of interest given the Chair's
previous association with the Wanderers, and current role as
Chairperson for the Manly Sea Eagles.
* The pre-lodgement community consultation process did not meet the
requirements set out in the SEARs; i.e. there was no consultation with
the major community group in the area or local residents.
* The need for hotel accommodation in the area is not supported with
evidence.
* Traffic and transport flows created by the hotel are not adequately
addressed.
* Location of further hotel facilities adjacent to the licensed club
does not seem appropriate give the proximity to schools.

In summary, the application is not in the public interest and should
be rejected.
Margaret Mccartney
Object
Epping , New South Wales
Message
I object to this development on the grounds its height is inappropriate
as it could cause overshadowing of heritage buildings. Please protect
the neighbouring heritage buildings.
Name Withheld
Object
Carlingford , New South Wales
Message
Unbelievable a football club can be allowed to contribute to the
destruction of a historical significant precinct and public park.

This area is an oasis in the middle of suburbia.

Parramatta residents are proud of the city's past. Please protect it,
do not destroy it.

No to construction.
Abraham Youssef
Support
West pennant hills , New South Wales
Message
I agree with this development
Greg Temme
Support
Parramatta , New South Wales
Message
Please Build this hotel, i encourage all western Sydney residents to
support this development. Parramatta has a desperate shortage of
accommodation. The cost of staying here is outrageous and this is
because of the extremely limited number of hotels to chose from. i
have family come to stay from interstate and they cant afford to stay
in Parramatta because of the limited options. We as a community NEED
this development.
I believe this development is very sympathetic to parramatta park and
the north parramatta precinct.
Please Support this development.
North Parramatta Residents Action Group
Object
P.O. Box 748 , New South Wales
Message
This application is of wider public interest, given its location and the
potential impact to the existing World Heritage Listing (WHL) for
Government House and Parramatta Park, and success of a future WHL
which the Opposition announced on 17 February, it would pursue as a
matter of priority should they win government next month (as part of
its Heritage Policy).

- The images in the Visual Impact Assessment (and Heritage) reports
seek to make the comparison with the massing and scale for future
tower buildings for Urban Growth's plans for North Parramatta's
historic Cumberland Hospital Precinct. However the government recently
confirmed that its plans for the precinct are being reviewed.
Consequently any comparisons as to the visual impact are simply
assumptions and could be misconstrued in terms of the public's
understanding of the plans.

- The Visual Impact Assessment and Heritage reports are key documents
on public exhibition. However, a number of images that show the visual
impact at key locations cannot be understood given white massing
against a white background is used to show the visual impact. To this
end, the images should be corrected, and re-exhibited before
submissions to the EIS close to enable sufficient time for public
comment.

- The exhibition period started mid-January during annual summer
school holidays. This has consequently limited time for the public to
review the documents and comment.


In summary, given the application's sensitivity and the wider public
interest, the exhibition period should be extended.

Our organization which represents residents in Parramatta and included
in affected area including the heritage conservation zone opposite the
proposed site have not had sufficient time to review all files.

No community consultation was carried out to form the EIS. This
proposal to build a private hotel on public park lands requires
further extensive engagement with community.
T Craven
Object
Randwick , New South Wales
Message
I object to this development on the basis that it is visually
incompatible with the location, it takes away more parkland and it
threatens Parramatta Park world heritage status. It is also
inappropriate to build this near OLMC Parramatta and St Patricks
Parramatta given the adult clientele of the function centre may be
rowdy and inebriated.

I grew up in Villiers St Parramatta in the 1970s and saw the Leagues
Club take more and more parkland to build an oval, then a stadium,
then a bigger and uglier club and now of course the heritage pool was
demolished for another stadium that will never be filled to capacity.

Rugby League is on the wane, customers are down and the new Parramatta
has increasingly a migrant population that does not require a Hotel
and Function Centre for entertainment or recreation. What they need is
green space and parkland.
Name Withheld
Object
Parramatta , New South Wales
Message
This hotel development will overshadow the Old Government House, Dairy
and Female Factory sites in contravention of the pledge by State
government to not do so by the Stadium, which is immediately adjacent.
That is, less than 100 metres away. The development is too tall for
its location. The most prestigious heritage listings, nationally and
internationally, both presently and immanently attach to these
adjacent historical sites. Allowing this overly tall development will
destroy, not only modify, the cultural & heritage values of the
district. It was understood by locals that new developments in the
district were banking of the historical appeal for Parramatta to
become a 'destination'. Destroying it makes neither commercial sense
nor adds to the ambiance of the area. If we ask who stands to benefit
then clearly the destruction benefits the investors in the hotel to
the disappointment of many many others & including future generations.
It clearly looks like some 'pork barrelling' kind of arrangement by a
state government currying favour. The investors plans are jamming a
hotel into a small footprint so just presuming you as a government
will ignore the damage its height will do in pursuit of their profits.
Being aware of the Eels club and a supporter of the team, I have to
say if they have destroy the heritage to financially exist then they
are insisting they are more important to the historical record of
achievements in the state than the built and natural environment
around them. Do you really think this commercial enterprise is worth
this trashing? Please consider refusing this application.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-8800
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Accommodation
Local Government Areas
City of Parramatta

Contact Planner

Name
Thomas Piovesan