Weigall Sports Complex, Sydney Grammar School.

I write this submission as a previous resident of X Vialoux Avenue, Paddington. A residential, three story apartment building which, based on the proposal presented by Sydney Grammar School, will be severely impacted from an amenity and wellbeing perspective. I grew up in this property, in apartment X (where my father still resides) which directly faces North and into the proposed development. During my childhood, the significant light amenity and aspect of biophilia and nature from the northerly aspect was a solace for me in this small apartment, without any other outdoor area or balcony to benefit from. I spent hours on-end observing the world from the living room window, over the Sydney Grammar playing fields.

The proposed development would have a devastating impact to the light and view of nature from these apartments which is such a valuable emotional commodity for the residents of 8 Vialoux Avenue, particularly given the relatively small apartment sizes and lack of access to the outdoors. It is particularly valuable for those residents who are of retirement age or older, who need a connection to nature for their mental wellbeing and are less mobile and cannot readily access this without significant impost. In a world dealing with COVID-19, the very real risk of losing what access these residents have to nature (for some of these apartments, access to winter sun will be removed completely), is something incredibly distressing and needs to be addressed by the School as part of an adjusted proposal. In addition, the small set back of the development to the residential apartment building raises grave concerns for the potential impacts of construction activities, notably excavation which could cause residents to experience prolonged vibrations and permanent structural damage to their properties.

Both the impacts to view / light amenity alongside potential structural risks are likely to have a material value destruction impact to the residents of 8 Vialoux Avenue (particularly those on the northern side) from this development if it proceeds. Value which would represent a significant portion of the residents net worth and has been completely disregarded by the Sydney Grammar community engagement process. How can these residents be compensated for such value destruction?

Sydney Grammar has not adequately demonstrated why alternative and less imposing locations have not been selected. The School is a significant land owner, has access to significant sports grounds adjacent to the location of the proposal, and an alternative location, towards the northern end of their land holdings would present an option which could deliver the school the same level of scale and built area, without impacting any local residents. It would seem that the school has not considered these options and I would implore the approval authority to query this and require an alternative location be independently reviewed and recommended.

The proposed development is not only at a scale which is outrageous in the context of the surrounding residential accommodation (generally low rise apartments and single or double story housing) but also strikes against the heritage and community nature of Paddington as a suburb whose identity should be protected and treasured. Vialoux Avenue and the surrounding streets are quiet, leafy and beautiful. The proposed construction, increase in traffic / noise pollution, and bulky built form will be detrimental to the wider residential population and significantly impact the standing and attractiveness of Paddington as a suburb which should be conserved for generations to come.

I implore you to take these concerns into account and ensure the school addresses these in any revised proposal.

Regards
Jarrah Dowd

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