Sydney Terminal Building Revitalisation

I object to this project due to:
- Detailed pedestrian modelling is required to demonstrate ensure passengers are unhindered getting to/from their train/bus/tram/metro/taxi/coach/ other.
- Every retail space will require deliveries and waste removed - needs to be close to premises suitable for large trolleys and bins . Serving from Regent St is burdensome for businesses and exposes customers to odours. Serving should be via Pitt St driveway. If awkward servicing is implemented garbage trucks and delivery vehicles will stop at Pitt St and Eddy Ave kerbs.
- 'Dining' is the overwhelming proposed reuse of existing and added floorspace. The travelling public, and Sydney Trains/TAHE have to ensure viability risks are borne by others.

The external plans and internal plans for the terminal are largely fine, my real concern is with the new two story building proposed for Eddy Avenue. It blocks the view of the railway to and from the terminal building, and views of the trains from, and to the Eddy Avenue entrance. If this building was kept single story, or sunken I would have no objection, and be in favour of the rest of the plan.

In the live stream, the presenters discussed how adding building there would form a symmetry with the rest of the Eddy Avenue entrance. the f there really must be something to form symmetry there, perhaps seating. shielded by a transparent sound barrier allowing view through. That would also be more space for the crowds coming and going from the station entrance, rather than having to share with people at tables.
Alternativity, if it there is some quota to meet with number of shops, then is lowering the building an option? That said, compromising the experience of this site, and blocking sitelines to the trains just for symmetry seems like a bad idea. It is better as a single story.

This may seem a small thing, but attention to details like this make a place go from just another nice but forgettable shopping place, to a memorable place to visit.
This problem also is reflective of greater problems with the approach to Central as a place. And by Central, I don't mean the Sydney Terminal building, but the station as a whole.
I am very concerned the plans are far too doggedly focused on issues of retail and the heritage of the terminal building itself, while not seeing the woods for the trees.

Where's the consideration of sightlines to and from the trains? Most people visit the station in order to make a train trip. Special pleasure trip rail journeys, such as The Picnic train and Indian pacific are increasingly popular. People using these want to be able to watch trains (and not just the one they're taking) coming and going.

Central used to have a railway memorabilia shop and display, but I haven't heard any talk of reinstating one of those. Why does the plan not celebrate what central really is as a place- the state's main railway station. New retail opportunities should compliment this, not obstruct it. Mostly, the terminal building plan is neutral to this key part of the place, apart from this proposed two story building, which has a negative impact.
All heritage places have a unique story. But by far the most unique feature of this place is it's role as the core station of the NSW rail network. There are many other places for shops and entertainment, but Sydney only has one central station.

And yet instead of celebrating this railway place, you're hiding the trains at eddy avenue away behind buildings, and reducing the platforms to a backspace, rather than where the main business of a station takes place- that is catching, changing and waiting for trains. The new shops and so on will be nice, and may not compromise the transport functionality, but there's plenty about the broader precinct plan which compromises the railway travel experience.

Hiding the trains is not celebration. This is shunning. This is denying the place for what it is. A train is not just a machine which movies around, it's full of people. It's a human activity, an experience, and point of veiw too.

Not incorporating the view to and from the trains is a considerable oversight of this plan. A similar oversight has already impacted another part of the station. There used to be a magnificent view across the platforms as you came in from any of the suburban lines. This a significant amount of this view is now blocked by a great big ventilation building crudely plonked down in the middle of the tracks. Again, this is a small thing, but a better design would have considered this, not just the small section of the station being served by that building. Here, with a small modification, this could be a better design.

There is a similar great view towards the terminal building which you get to experience while travelling between the suburban platforms and the city circle. This would be ruined by plonking down a building here.

Currently, it's a good view of the trains from that balcony area on the eastish side of the terminal building. The rest of the plans for the terminal building and Eddy avenue area would only improve this. Blocking that view is a waste of potential.
A good deal of the people who would choose central as a place to stop and eat (as in to go there, not just because they are passing through) would be rail fans - this is a place that appeals to them. Blocking of the trains compromises that appeal. Large train stations are fundamentally busy, noisy places - shops would do best trying to appeal to people this place has a special draw for.
Additionally, heritage rail organisations have been trying to run more special trains - just last year we had 3801 paired with heritage electric sets travel through the city circle. Such an event is rare, but still, had this building been there, a great place to watch from would have been compromised.

I get that not everyone is a railway fan. I get a lot of people wouldn't care. But this is a special place when it comes to railways. If there's somewhere in this city where the railway should be celebrated, it is at railway central. I am sure the design team will be fine when it comes to the inside of the building, but deliberately blocking the view of the trains, and from the trains, has me questioning how respectful the plan will actually be, as well how well thought out it actually is.

This plan shows awareness of the history of the immediate building, aboriginal connections, even class issues with the exploration of how the baggage handling area might be used and brought into view.
So why isn't the railway considered or represented? Why does the larger precinct in general shun and hide the trains? Why was there not a rail heritage specialist, or even just a railway fan in the team to who could better inform such decisions?

Rail should be the a key theme of the place. Hiding the trains behind buildings, blocking the view of people traveling is a bad idea. This is why I am concerned about the plans, and believe they are in need of modification before anything goes ahead.

I am deeply concerned about the impact on loyal local businesses in the Eddy Ave Plaza, who have faithfully served commuters and railway staff for years. In particular, I am worried about the early-morning cafe, CJs, which looks like it will be obliterated. I urge you very strongly not to wipe out these hardworking community-oriented businesses. You need to retain them and make provisions for them to continue, not destroy them for fancy places that go out of existence when there's a moment's difficulty.
I am also concerned about the extreme amount of development for the whole site, the excessive size and scale, and the massive attempt to turn this into some sort of high-priced shopping centre and goodness knows what else. The disruption for everyone who uses the station will be excessive for a very long time. Scale things down. Yes, rejuvenate, but don't destroy everything including the basic amenities and businesses. You are also destroying the tiny bits of greenery that remain (e.g., the trees in Eddy Ave plaza) and you are causing an enormous amount of environmental degradation. SCALE things DOWN! Think small and effective, not overblown, overbudget, and overcorporatized!!!