Walsh Bay - Arts & Cultural Precinct

This is an important development that will benefit Bell Shakespeare and the wider arts community.

I support the submission

This is will be a wonderful addition to the area and drive the local economy.

I personally believe that this submission will be of great benefit to the arts industry generally, as well as Sydney, NSW, national and international creative and cultural audiences. I believe that growing the precinct will drive a positive on-flow of economic benefit to the State of NSW. Developing the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct can only benefit neighbouring businesses, not just those in the cultural industries, and will become Australia's most prominent cultural precinct with some of the country's foremost arts companies in residence.

I am so inspired and excited about this project. It is fantastic not only for our company but for the entire industry. This is going to change the face of the Arts in Sydney and set a positive example for cohesive arts communities everywhere.

I would like to support the importance of this precinct development and the value it will generate for the arts industry, the NSW public and visitors to the state. By investing in world class facilities and generating a hub for arts organisations the state government is validating these cultural organisations, establishing efficiencies in the development of public works and ensuring a vibrant and prolific industry that is recognised worldwide.

We are very concerned at the lack of thought put into this Arts area proposed to be built in our neighbourhood which will have a huge negative impact on many residents of Walsh Bay and Dawes Point.
Firstly there is insufficient public transport being allocated to the area for the large numbers of people expected to be coming to the numerous Hickson Rd venues. This has not been addressed satisfactorily, to avoid cars and bottlenecks, a good transport link from Circular Quay and Wynyard to the arts area needs to be shown in the proposal.
Secondly noise must be kept to a low level as this array of performance and function areas is in the midst of an established residential suburb. Soundproofing will be essential on all venues and definitely no outdoor performances should be permitted on any wharves or their surrounds. This needs to be addressed and clarified to the residents. The outdoor performance area must never go ahead with noise unable to be contained near residences and across the water.
Thirdly disruption during any construction time needs to be thought through before any work commences with a plan for the way trucks will access the area. No heavy trucks can go into Pottinger Street as it is a light traffic local road with a delicate membrane which sits above the shops below. The road cannot bear the weight of heavy trucks. Trucks should not be permitted to load and unload blocking Hickson Rd and the roundabout
area but must go into the site then have room to turn around to drive forwards to come out. Trucks should not be permitted to loiter in the parking areas on Hickson Rd. Wherever possible barges should be used to avoid the movement of heavy vehicles in the already busy precinct.
Fourthly construction time needs to be limited to strict hours to be thoughtful to the many residents living beside this proposed development.

My view on the application is outlined in the attached letter.

We generally support the application but have concerns regarding noise and traffic - please see attachment.

uploaded file

Please find attached our submission supporting and adopting the submission lodged by the Walsh Bay Precinct Association.

We are not opposing the development of a Art Precinct we are highly concerned that considerations be given that this is a residential area already impacted by light rail and Bangaroo developments and that world best building / construction practices from cities such NYC and London be developed & adopted here so that the residents are always a consideration in the process

Please see attached pdf file.

This submission relates to the Development Application by Infrastructure NSW concerning the Walsh Bay Arts & Cultural Precinct.
[Insert details of submitting parties, eg. Owners Corporation, Owner.]
We are aware that the Walsh Bay Precinct Association is lodging a formal submission dealing with matters which impact the Association and its members. We are a member of Walsh Bay Precinct Association and support and adopt the submission lodged by the Precinct Association.
Supplemental to that submission we raise the following matters:
1. Noise
We express concern as to excessive noise during the construction and post- construction phases.
The noise and vibration impact assessment of Arup Pty Limited is deficient in a number of respects including:
(a) None of the noise sensitive receptors are located within the area which is to be the subject of the construction and post-construction use.
(b) Paragraph 3.5.1 asserts that a list of proposed construction activities was prepared in consultation with Cadence Australia. The paragraph then says that the construction activities and appliances are indicative and provided for information only. If the activities and appliances are for information only then there can be no reliance placed on them for the purposes of determining the construction noise.
(c) Paragraph 3.5.1 also asserts that a large proportion of the work is internal demolition and fitout work attenuated by the existing building envelope. The activities set out in Table 13 call into question this assertion. Included in this table is roof sheeting, insulation and sarking, external lifts, raising of roof of Pier 2/3, raising of roof of workshop and raising of roof of Wharf 1. Structural works include concrete slabs, new steel portal frames and new gantries. None of these activities can be regarded as being internal demolition and fitout.
(d) Also of concern is the statement at the top of page 19 of the report which provides that some internal works have not been modelled.
(e) Page 22 sets out noise levels projected for the construction phase. As indicated above none of these receptors are within the immediate area of the construction.
(f) Clause 3.7 addresses construction traffic and it is anticipated that 80 trucks per day during four months and thereafter 30 trucks per day. The report blithely calls this "insignificant additional contribution to the ambient noise environment". Eighty trucks per day can hardly be classified as insignificant.
In relation to post-construction noise we raise the following:
(i) Paragraph 27 states that the noise outside Precinct wide events will largely be inaudible at nearby receivers. This is little wonder given that the receivers are not within the area in which events will be taking place.
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(ii) This paragraph ignores significant noise which will come from Precinct wide events. The Development Application provides that the Precinct will be used for art festivals, events and popup cafes. There is no detail in the Application or any report concerning the number of these events, number of people, timing or any controls surrounding them. This is a substantial defect in the Application.
(iii) The modelling patron number set out in Appendix E1 shows outdoor patron numbers which, in our submission, would clearly be exceeded and as a result the noise modelling is flawed.
We request that a new noise report be commissioned at the Applicant's expense to address the concerns raised in this submission and other submissions.
2. Traffic
We have reviewed the traffic report of GTA Consultants.
Our major concern is that the traffic report deals only with traffic during the construction and post-construction phases directly impacted by use in Walsh Bay. There is no account taken for the significant Barangaroo construction which will continue until 2024 and construction in the Circular Quay/Alfred Street area. In particular:
(a) trucks from Barangaroo construction are already using Hickson Road as a parking lot;
(b) the Barangaroo construction and the light rail will not be completed until 2024;
(c) there is only one lane of traffic which flows from Hickson Road under the Harbour Bridge.
The report does not address the construction impact on traffic. In particular, how will the 80 trucks per day be managed in addition to the existing traffic volumes?
Clause 5.1 of the report addresses public transport and asserts the site is broadly accessible by public transport. This is despite the facts that:
(i) Barangaroo Sydney Metro will not be operational until 2024;
(ii) the light rail comes no closer than Circular Quay;
(iii) the Barangaroo Ferry is a significant distance from Walsh Bay.
The report asserts that Hickson Road is a dual carriageway of three lanes in each direction. There is in fact a single lane of traffic in each direction.
It is our submission that a whole of area traffic report should be commissioned at the expense of the Applicant.
3. Building attenuation
Despite assurances from the Applicant, the Development Application does not cover attenuating the owners and occupiers of Shore 2/3 during construction and postconstruction.
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4. Operational plan of management
This operational plan merely sets out vague guidelines which do not address any of the specific issues of concerns to the objectors. There are no specifics in any of the document which only contains vague statements on issues which may or may not be addressed. The report also does not address the Applicant's proposal to use the area for art festivals, events and pop-up cafes.
The objector welcomes an opportunity to discuss these matters in detail with the Consent Authority and the Applicant.

I attach a pdf submission.

SUBMISSION ATTACHED

I am concerned about post-construction noise from precinct wide events, and the impact this will have on residential amenity for the many local residents in the area.

I am also concerned about the limited scope of the traffic report.
It fails to address the significant whole-of-area traffic issues that result from the other major construction activities going on just outside the Walsh Bay Precinct.

See my more detailed attachment.

We are aware that the Walsh Bay Precinct Association is lodging a formal submission dealing with matters which impact the Association and its members. We are a member of Walsh Bay Precinct Association and support and adopt the submission lodged by the Precinct Association.

Please refer to the attached document