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SSI Modifications

Determination

MOD 7 - Northcote Street Closure

City of Canada Bay

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. Prepare Mod Report
  2. Exhibition
  3. Collate Submissions
  4. Response to Submissions
  5. Assessment
  6. Recommendation
  7. Determination

Permanent closure of Northcote Street

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

Modification Application (1)

Response to Submissions (2)

Determination (3)

Consolidated Approval (1)

Submissions

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Showing 1 - 18 of 18 submissions
Inner West Council
Comment
PETERSHAM , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
As a resident of Northcote Street Haberfield, I am pleased that the street will be a kept closed permanently to traffic. However the current design proposal is entirely inadequate.
The Northcote Street Concept is totally inappropriate for the location which appears to be a row of low shrubs and a narrow strip of "lawn". 6 Federation houses and established trees were removed unnecessaryily to make way for the WestConnex . Now two huge concrete slabs and a very poorly designed green space is proposed.
The green area should be expanded to include mass plantings of tall trees, shrubs and native grasses with pedestrian access to Parramatta Road. This will be low maintenance and provide a sound and visual barrier between our residential street and the heavy traffic.
Name Withheld
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I support the project of 12 Northcote Street Haberfield closure and I am happy with the proposed design of a green space my only suggestion is a few more trees and shrubs be planted to help block out the noise of Parramatta Road and also to create shade to the grounds.
Monika Kociolek
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
Thank you for the opportunity to have our say on this project. My husband, Peter de Szoeke, of same address as myself, are in full support of this. We believe it benefits Northcote street residents without imposing any additional impact on neighbouring streets. It also complements the recent WestConnex M4-M5 Link Tunnels project and its objectives.

We understand that as a result of this WestConnex project, the traffic light sequence at the eastbound intersection of Wattle and Ramsay streets has been improved and dedicated left and right turning lanes have been added. These changes have reduced the travel time from Parramatta road and increased traffic flow through this intersection into both Ramsay street and onto the City West Link.

The changes were developed to discourage drivers from using other residential streets as so called “rat -runs”, the elimination of which was one of the benefits that was supposed to accrue from the WestConnex project. Keeping Northcote street closed at Parramatta road will continue to allow drivers to make full use of the above-mentioned changes, and saves a residential street from drivers trying to make ineffective short cuts.

Re-opening Northcote street would result in a return to significant traffic in a residential street and cause undue congestion at either end of the street. With Northcote street being in such close proximity to Wattle street, re-opening it would also have a negative impact on the flow of traffic on both Ramsay street and on Parramatta road (the lane turning left onto Wattle).

We have been advised that according to the traffic monitoring conducted on behalf of WestConnex there has been no adverse impact on surrounding streets as a result of the Northcote street closure. While the use of other residential streets by WestConnex contractors has no doubt added to traffic volume, that impact will largely cease as the project winds down in Haberfield.

We understand that a small number of Wolseley st residents have voiced their objections, but we have personally spoken to a number of neighbours from that street over the last year who do not in any way object to Northcote street remaining closed. Unfortunately as happens in many cases, it seems that only those opposed feel they need to voice their objections, and those who are okay with it don’t feel the need to make any submissions. We hope that you view those who keep silent as supporting this project.

In the absence of any true material factors that would argue against permanent closure, we believe it would be a retrograde step to reinstate Northcote street as a through-road and it would reintroduce previous safety issues.

The atmosphere of our street changed dramatically when it was blocked off at the Parramatta road end five years ago. With the absence of cars roaring up and down Northcote street it has become a safer and more family-friendly environment. The permanent closure of our street would see this environment maintained for our residents and as such we fully support and appreciate your consideration of this project.

Monika Kociolek and Peter de Szoeke
Joe squadrito
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
My expectation was that Northcote street would be restored to how it was(or the way it was) before the WestConnex Civil and Tunnelling site was constructed. i.e. Restore the road surface with both footpaths and associated nature strips, stormwater runoff paths, etc. On the current plan(option2) for me this would mean, restoring the original street up to the green space/ park.

1. The current cul-de-sac was to be temporary only. It was not designed to be permanent . For us, it has been a loss of amenity for the last 6 years. We cannot park on either side of the street outside our property and it is difficult reversing out of our driveway.
I think this modification proposal is an opportunity to build a proper (cul-de-sac) at the new end of the street, adjacent to the proposed park.
Does the current cul-de-sac meet RTA standards?
Looking at other cul-de-sac built along the westconnex M4, M5 projects I see nice circular roads and with sweeping footpaths around them, this is what I envisage as a cul-de-sac .

2. The current proposal shows the footpath on both sides of the street would stop at the current construction perimeter. And a continuous hand rail running across the - footpath, nature strip, part of the road and down the proposed ramp.
This would mean that all pedestrians would be funneled onto the road from the associated footpaths and down the proposed ramp to access the park and Parramatta rd. With the proposed park we would see an increase in pedestrian traffic ; children, elderly and parents with their prams. Hence, this path layout would present a major hazard for pedestrians and would be a safety issue.

It Would be safer to have the footpath continue and contiguous from the south of Northcote street down to the park. This would also mean that the street can slope down to the park, at an easier gradient than the proposed ramp. It would also match the current streetscape.
As can be seen, I am little puzzled with the ramp, railings and pits on each side of the ramp design proposal, surely the pits and the access ramp batters are an additional hazard for children. This design would seem to have a lot more safety issues, compared to one, in which the current street was allowed to continue to the North side of the Park.
Also, having a railing across the footpath is ugly. Unfortunately, THE VIEW FROM NORTHCOTE STREET, indicative imagery (figure 1 Appendix B) does not show the hand rail sections that extend to the sides of the street, ie, across the footpaths and to the property boundaries.
If the street is closed to cars, how will the residents of the R2 Low Density Residential Zoned area get to their properties?

3. On the current proposal the hoarding alongside our property is to remain. This hoarding has not weathered well and is an eyesore along the entire side of our property. The steel beams holding up the hoarding have corroded, exposing a red/brown colour down the length of the beam. The hoarding on our side has not been cleaned/repainted or maintained over the entire time of its existence.
Why is it proposed to keep this hoarding up?
How long is it intended to keep this hoarding up?

Between the construction hoarding and our boundary fence there exist an area of approximately 0.5 meters in width. This area is filled with overgrown shrubs, weeds and vermin. My expectation was that, as the hoarding was removed, this area would be cleaned up and the land levelled out to match the land level on our property. Will this still be done if the hoarding is left up?
Who will maintain this hoarding and surrounding area?

4. On the current proposal the land level on the Civil and Tunnelling site will not be restored to the level of pre-construction. It was always indicated that the land adjacent to my property would be restored to the original level. If this is not done my concern is our land will drop down towards the civil and tunnelling site. Does a retaining wall need to be installed to prevent this?

Summary:
In the first proposal on September 2021, I was against closing Northcote street to traffic, my thinking was, that if there are traffic issues in Northcote street then the inner west council in consultation with the surrounding residents would work through traffic management solutions and the last resort would be to close off the street, not the first.

Now in this proposed modification(option2), I support having a green space/park at the end of the street. Maybe, the park can be smaller and could have some trees.
Objections are as follows:
1. Do not support the cul-de-sac to remain at the front of my home.
2. Do not support the footpath to be cut off with a hand railing and the road/ramp arrangement.
3. Do not support the hoarding in current state to remain alongside our property.
4. Do not support the land level on the Civil and Tunnelling site, to remain below ours.

Therefore, I don't agree with this proposal in its current form.

Best Regards,
Joe Squadrito
Name Withheld
Object
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
To : Department of Planning and Environment 
I have provided my feedback during the consultation period in 2021 ( as below ) stating what I believe is fair to the residents in both Northcote Street and Wolseley Street. Since the temporary closure of Northcote Street, the traffic has greatly increased in Wolseley Street and I would like a solution to this issue.The proposal as stated in the recent leaflet only provides key benefits for Northcote Street residents, there is no benefit for Wolseley Street with regards to safety and the level of increased traffic. I would appreciate if the DPE would look into this proposal and take into account the effects on Wolseley Street, which has turned into a "rat run" due to the Northcote Street closure. A number of residents in Wolseley Street were not even aware of the proposed permanent closure of Northcote Street, which at the start of the project was stated to only be a temporary closure. The change from the original proposal has been poorly communicated to those residents who will ultimately be effected, and many are now questioning how this change adds value and safety to the residents and families in Wolseley Street and the children who use Jegorow Reserve.
 
Feedback submission made in 2021 :-
M4-M5 Link Tunnels
I am writing with regards to your Work Notification Letter dated 25 August 2021, on the proposal to reconfigure Northcote Street to a cul-de-sac at Parramatta Road, Haberfield.
I'm a resident of Wolseley street Haberfield (Wolseley street runs parallel to Northcote street). Since the closure of Northcote Street to create space for the construction of the tunnel, the residents of Wolseley street have had  to put up with the following:
A tunnel Compound being built at the end of Wolseley street and Parramatta Rd.
Unable to park in front of our houses, due to the workers parking in Wolseley Street Construction vehicles moving up and down the street 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Using Wolseley street as a 'rat run ' experiencing a high volume of traffic, the give way sign at the end of Wolseley street and Ramsay rd has been knocked down numerous times  becoming unsafe for kids using the park and crossing the road.
The closure of Northcote street has moved all the traffic as an alternate "rat-run" onto Wolseley street to Parramatta rd. 
The value of our properties in Wolseley street have decreased due to the increased traffic condition and pollution.
Wolseley street residents do not agree with the proposal and would like at the end of the construction period to have Wolseley street return as it was, being more safe, less noise and sharing the "rat-run" traffic to Parramatta Rd.   
Peter Bishop
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
Although I support the closure of Northcote St as a concept, the project as shown is too minimalist and should also have:
- a playground
- multiple trees
- a drinking fountain

What are in the grey areas that are shown enclosed in fencing? I was expecting those areas to be part of the proposal and am disappointed to see they are excluded.
I would not like to see any project that might later be reversed to allow the resumption of through traffic on Northcote St, which should remain a cul-de-sac as is now the case.
Thanks for your attention to this important development,
Peter Bishop
Peter Schulz
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
This submission is on behalf of myself and my wife Joy McIntyre.
We strongly support the closure of Northcote St Haberfield as proposed . We understand some residents of Wolseley St may be against the closure. However as the street has been closed since 2016 with no real impact on Wolseley Streets as far as we have seen then the closure should be acceptable to those in both Wolseley and Northcote Streets.
As for the design concept sent by West Connex we make the following points:
1. There needs to be a turning circle
2. No trees. These should be added on both sides and at the end of the street. This is consistent with Haberfield being a garden suburb
3. More vegetation should be added
4. A raised garden bed would help reduce noise from Parramatta Rd
5. Consider adding a children's playground
6.Plan looks like it could be turned back into a road . Paths on the side look like they could be used for road access for land either side of the concept area. This would affect resident safety and reduce amenity of the site. We want it made clear that access to land held by West Connex cannot be accessed via Northcote St
7. Need a well -marked barrier of substantial size at the street closure point, with reflective material to warn motorists who mistakenly think the road has not been closed. Many motorists currently rush down the street to find it has been closed
8. We need a policy statement by IW Council and West Connex that: the road will be closed; no vehicular access to landholders either side of the closure area; safety for children and adults ensured by prohibition of vehicles to the closed area.
Debra Grogan
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I fully support this project. I believe the permanent closure of Northcote St is necessary. Already Northcote St is used by traffic unable to turn right from Ramsay Street onto the City West Link/Wattle Street. They turn left into Northcote St and left into Ash Lane to gain access to Wattle Street. Should it be reopened this will only encourage it to be more of a rat run. Given the whole purpose of opening the West Connex was to remove traffic from local streets, it makes no sense to reopen Northcote St. Another negative of reopening the street is those wanting to turn left from Northcote St into Parramatta Road and then immediately cross three lanes to turn right into Frederick St. This would not only dramatically slow traffic on Parramatta Road, but promotes dangerous driving.
Gary Fifer
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
This is an update and extension to the previous submission made
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I was told by a local councilor that historically Northcote Street and Wolseley Street have always been treated the same.
I am objecting to the Northcote Street closure as it substantially disadvantages Wolseley Street as Wolseley Street now has to take all the traffic that once used both streets, plus more due to no Right Turns onto Westconnex from Ramsay, traffic now turns right at Wolseley from Ramsay.
I feel the Westconnex planning with respect to the extra traffic that it has funneled into Wolseley is disgraceful and now you want to make it worse by not reopening Northcote which would have taken some of the pressure of Wolseley, as it used to before Westconnex came into this area. This seems like a very unfair process and decision.
David Musumeci
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
Firstly, I fully support the proposal to turn Northcote St Haberfield into a cul de sac at the Parramatta Rd end.

However, I believe the design could be improved. My suggestion would be to plant more trees and flowers to look more like a reserve or sanctuary with a simple footpath/bike weaving in between. I believe this will be more in line with the area. A great example is Ferris Lane the "Magic Lane" in Annnadale and nearby reserves such as Jegorow Reserve. I believe a mixture between the two would be amazing. Magic Lane in Annandale brings a great feel to the community and it would be amazing to recreate something similar in this patch of land with a mixture of trees, plants, shrubs, and lots of grass rather than the concrete design suggested. A regular sized footpath and bike lane will still give access to Parramatta but at least the look and feel will be more in line the Garden City of Haberfield.

Regards,
David Musumeci
Name Withheld
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I fully support the proposal regarding the creation, and general appearance of the Northcote-Haberfield Concept design. There is an obvious ascetic benefit of adding a much needed green space along Parramatta Road. The opportunities to do so do not often arise. Perhaps more significantly the proposal advances the Government's stated objective that the West-Connex projects would reduce noise, pollution and traffic in residential streets. Northcote has been closed to traffic for approximately 6 years. As a result it has ceased to be a regular, but unnecessary "short-cut" to Parramatta Road from Ramsay Street and vice versa. I say "unnecessary" because Parramatta Road is accessible to north bound Ramsay Street traffic via a left turn into the A4 Motorway at Wattle Street. Traffic travelling South from Five Dock has direct access via Great North Road in both the western and eastern lanes of Parramatta Road. The use of residential Streets is neither necessary nor desirable. In balancing a few minutes extra time in traffic against the benefits of reducing traffic in residential streets one would expect the later to have priority. By continuing to keep Northcote closed surrounding streets are not subjected to any increase in the traffic they have experienced during the past 6 or so years. I certainly support traffic mitigation proposals for the residential streets between Parramatta Road and Ramsay Street, including Wolseley Street. I understand that some residents in the latter have voiced concerns about the continued closure of Northcote. It is however clear that vehicles that choose to use Wolseley will continue to do so regardless of what happens in Northcote. There are a number of reasons for this . Firstly, during the busiest periods the day it is more attractive for vehicles to turn into Wolseley rather than remain in the queue to progress to the Northcote intersection, which depends on a light change at Wattle Street. Secondly a lot of the traffic that turns from Wolseley into Parramatta Road enters the left turn lanes at Frederick Street, particularly if they wish to go to Bunnings. Accessing those lanes is much more difficult from Northcote Street. To access the turn into Frederick Street vehicles must cross the eastbound lanes. If the right turn lanes into Frederick are full vehicles cannot turn from Northcote. In addition, the existence of left turn lanes from both Northcote and Wolseley would have an adverse effect on traffic flow (and safety) east along Parramatta Road. Another anomaly for traffic travelling in Ramsay Street is the inability to turn right into Wattle Street. From my own observations traffic wanting to travel east turns left into Northcote and then left again into Ash lane. They then turn into Wattle . Ash lane is narrow. There are residences on both sides and vehicle parking on the western side. It has one lane for traffic. I don't why the it was designed this way but it has resulted in increased traffic in Northcote. In other words Northcote would be even busier than it was prior to the closure if opened at Parramatta Road.
Name Withheld
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I agree with the proposed Northcote St concept design. Not sure what you propose either side of green space, is it commercial premises?
I agree with the high accoustic fence.
Gary Fifer
Support
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
Please see attached submission for suggested amendments to the concept design
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
GREENACRE , New South Wales
Message
Enough already with the toll roads. Why no improve non-toll roads?
Manuel de Sousa
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
The proposal for Northcote st closure looks minimalist, cheap and not befitting inclusion in a suburb titled the Garden Suburb. It is out of character with the rest of the suburb. Originally there were mature box trees on that portion of the road which were cut down. How about putting back some new ones instead of just a bit of grass and some shrubs.
Also how about giving some indication on what is being proposed for the vacant blocks either side of the road. There were some very nice Federation houses which were demolished on that land.
Brian Borrows
Comment
HABERFIELD , New South Wales
Message
Dear Project Team,
I support the permanent closure of Northcote Street at Parramatta Rd but have some suggestions regarding the proposed design that are more in keeping with what I would like to see done with the space.
During previous construction of the tunneling site, two residential properties and 1 commercial property were demolished on each side of Northcote Street. Despite current zoning being listed as residential for a portion of the residual land, I suspect that the entire parcel will end up being re-zoned as commercial putting existing residential properties approximately 30 metres closer than they were prior to construction of the tunnel to whatever newly constructed business are put on the site in the future.
I would like to see a permanent wall maintained across the width of Northcote Street dividing the existing residential properties from what will likely become commercial businesses on the residual land. The wall could contain 1 - 2 small openings to provide pedestrian/cycle access to and from Northcote Street. This wall would provide privacy/security from the adjoining businesses and noise/pollution reduction from the traffic on Parramatta Rd.

Ideally, the end of Northcote Street should be altered to incorporate a true semicircle cul-de-sac to allow vehicles/rubbish removal trucks to turn around and head back in an eastern direction. Trees/shrubs could be incorporate on each side of the wall to beautify the spaces and trees should also be planted on the proposed patch of grass shown on the concept design picture and benches/street furniture incorporated into the design.
Kind regards,
Brian Borrows
7 Northcote Street

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSI-7485-Mod-7
Main Project
SSI-7485
Assessment Type
SSI Modifications
Development Type
Road transport facilities
Local Government Areas
City of Canada Bay
Decision
Approved
Determination Date
Decider
Director

Contact Planner

Name
Jeremy Martin