Cope Street Residents’ Meeting – July 22 2008 3:30 to 5:00pm
The following notes represent an attempt to capture all the
issues, questions and response made on the day.
In attendance:
James McGlone – Resident
Tracie Derlina and Michael Keating – Resident
Nicola Mansfield – Resident
Jeanette Campbell – Resident
Raelene Bransky – Resident
Sam Herren – Resident
Ross Smith – REDWatch representative
Other residents from time to time
Ashley Martens – ILC
Kate Alderton – ILC
Christian Sanhueza – ILC
Danny Popovski – St Hilliers
Craig Connolly – St Hilliers
Neil Gardner – Coffey Projects
Glenn Dixon – Landscape Architect
Stuart Waters – Twyford Consulting
The meeting convened outside 69 Cope Street. Residents showed the
Project team the alleyway behind their houses, and the open alleyway opposite.
Residents expressed concern about the pedestrian walkway approved as part of
the NIDC development. Of significant concern to residents is the impact the
walkway will have on their security. Residents fear that:
- The new
walkway and the existing alleyway will create an escape route. - Potential
thieves may be able to access their property from the walkway or approved car
park
There was discussion of these issues among the various
parties.
Participants then proceeded to the Renwick Street turning circle to discuss
issues relating to the car park and traffic. Residents raised a number of
concerns about the car park.
- The car
park creates a dead end that will continue to be a crime spot - Potential
thieves may be able to access properties from the car park. - Having a
car park near the homes will create intrusive noise - Having a
car park at the end of the narrow Renwick
Street will create traffic problems. - The pool
and other facilities will draw lots of people from a broad area. This is the
only pool in the area and people will want to drive here and park.
The summary of the carpark plan is:
- The carpark
is to have a total of approximately 17 car spaces. - The 7
spaces nearest the NIDC/Renwick
Street entrance are open parking available to
anyone. These spaces are on Council-controlled land. - The 10
remaining spaces are closer to the Cope
Street terraces. They will be on ILC land and will
be controlled by a barrier (boom-gate). This area will be set aside for staff
and tenants of the NIDC. It is likely that people using these spaces will
arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon. This limits the impact of
traffic movements on Cope Street
residents. - The low
number of parking spaces will limit the amount of traffic that uses Renwick Street. - The carpark
is included in the proposal in response to the City of Sydney’s requirement for a turning circle. - The
existing Renwick Street
turning circle will be reconfigured to enable vehicles to perform a 3 point
turn.
There was much discussion of the issues. Questions raised
included:
Question: How
high will the wall of the carpark be? Will people be able to climb over it?
Answer: The
retaining besser block wall will vary from 1500mm to 1800mm. On top of this
will be solid fence (material to be decided in consultation with adjoing property owner) of 1200mm. From
the carpark side the maximum height (fence and wall) will be 1800mm. From the
residents side of the carpark, the maximum height is 3000mm on the southern
side, and 2700mm on the northern side..
Question: Will
the timber wall provide soundproofing?
Answer: The
timber wall will help to control noise to an extent, though this is not its
primary design function.
Question: Did
you know that people burn timber fences around here? Will this fence burn?
Answer: The
current plan is for a timber fence, but in light of concerns about burning and
about noise mitigation ILC may look at alternative materials such as colourbond
or alternative fire-proof material. Again material to be decided in
consultation with adjoining property owner.
Question: Will
people be able to look into our homes?
Answer: The
fence on the car park will be high enough that people can’t see over it.
Question: Will
the ILC security patrol the car park?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Will
the ILC consider spikes to the top of the fencing around carpark to deter
people from climbing over it?
Answer: The
ILC will consider security issues in the design of the fence, including the
fence sitting flush with the retaining wall so as not to provide a step-up. The
fence design needs to comply with the City of Sydney Development Control Plan for Boundary
Fencing.
Question: Will
there be drainage provided to the pathway?
Answer: Yes.
Stormwater drainage has been designed and submitted to Council for approval.
Participants then moved to the home of Tracie Derlina and
Michael Keating. Local residents in attendance included:
James McGlone – Resident
Tracie Derlina and Michael Keating – Residents
Nicola Mansfield – Resident
Jeanette Campbell – Resident
Michael Keating produced a list of issues which were
considered in turn.
Question: Where
do we view the final approved plans?
Answer: ILC
provided two hard copies of the final approved and first modified plans. The
same information is available on the Department of Planning website.
The DA contains detail of the lighting plan. The final
design and management of the car park is still being negotiated with Council.
Details of the height of approved structures is in the DA.
There will always be a copy of plans available on site
during construction.
Access to open space is a key issue for residents. Many
people moved into the area because of the green space offered by the oval.
Question: Is
there any opportunity to provide open access to all or part of the oval area?
Answer: The
oval is an integral part of the NIDC and as such will be managed by the YMCA.
The details of how the facilities will be managed have yet to be finalised. It
is highly likely that there will be “down time” on the oval, and that the local
community may have access to the oval during these times. However, it will be
through the YMCA and managed as such. The ILC understands that the green space
is important to people and will ensure that the YMCA is aware of this issue as
they finalise their management plans.
Traffic in Renwick
street is an important issue for residents. There
is a concern that people coming to use the facilities will use the car park,
and that there will be problems created in the street for residents.
Response: As
part of the DA process a comprehensive traffic management plan was developed.
According to this analysis the volume of traffic generated will be slight. The
major entrance to the NIDC is off George
Street. The bus access area is off Philip Street. The
car park is small and not designed for high traffic turnover. Residents can
access the traffic management plan in the DA documents.
Management of the Centre – Questions were asked about the management of the NIDC, its
operating hours and impact on neighbours.
Response: The
accommodation part of the NIDC is 24hrs. It is unlikely that residents will be
arriving late at night.
The sports field is approved for use seven days a week: from
7:00 a.m. to 9:30 pm six days a week, and until 10:30 pm on Saturdays. The
lights will be on only when required, that is, when the oval is being used.
Lights will be on an automatic timer. The lighting has been designed to
minimise glare and impact beyond the oval.
The general YMCA facilities are approved for operation from
7:00 am to 10:00 pm seven days a week.
A loading dock for the NIDC Centre is provided for off George St.
The public walkway was discussed. -Residents expressed concern about the walkway. They are
concerned that it will reduce their security, and asked whether the walkway can
be removed from the plans.
Response: The
walkway has been included as recommended by the City of Sydney Traffic Committee (membership includes
Councillors, RTA, NSW Police). It has been approved and construction on the
NIDC is commencing. Having heard the particular concerns of residents at this
meeting, ILC undertook to look again at the issues of security and noise
mitigation provided by the fencing.
Murawina Site -Residents asked about the Murawina site and what is planned
for that site now that Murawina is moving off site.
Response: ILC
is yet to decide what to do with that site. Any change to the approved plans
will need to be put back to the Department of Planning for approval.
Question: Will
residents be notified when plans are on exhibition?
Answer: ILC
will notify residents.
Construction – Questions were asked about the construction of the NIDC and
impacts for local residents.
Summary of issues:
- Construction
has commenced and completion is expected in July next year. - Monday to
Friday the construction times are 7:00 to 5:30 PM - On Saturday
construction times are 7:30 to 3:30. - Contact
numbers for the builders were circulated for residents to call if they have any
issues, question or concerns (see attached).
Question: Do
the operating times apply to truck movements?
Answer: St
Hilliers will not be accepting loads outside the agreed hours of operation. It
may be that some drivers will arrive early and wait to be unloaded. On some
occasions there may be an oversized load to be delivered. This will be managed
on a case-by-case basis.
Question: Is
there contaminated soil and if so how will it be dealt with?
Answer: There
is some contamination. Tests indicate that it can be dealt with on-site, rather
than being trucked off-site. The contaminated soil will be used for fill and
then capped with clean topsoil. The plan is to use clean soil from the site for
the capping, however, some clean soil may need to be brought in. St Hilliers intends
to minimise the extent of areas of exposed dirt, and the duration of that
exposure. St Hilliers hopes that the grass on the oval can be retained rather
than removed.
Question: Can
we see the environmental studies relevant to the contamination?
Answer: The relevant studies are very large. ILC will
provide the remediation action plan to those at the meeting. This plan
summarises the issues and the remediation process.
Question: What
mitigation procedures are in place for noise?
Answer: St
Hilliers have had four microphones on site for the past few weeks establishing
background noise levels 24 hours a day. The requirement is that construction
noise has to be no more than 5dB above the established background level. St
Hilliers are working with their contractors to ensure that any plant and
equipment being used on the site are fitted with silencers to minimise noise
levels.
Damage to buildings
Question: Who
do residents contact if we think our property is being damaged?
Answer: Contact
the Builder in the first instance. St Hilliers will investigate and assess if
the damage is a direct result of the Construction works on Site.
If directly attributed to this, the Builder will repair the
damage accordingly.
Question: Can
we get interim dilapidation reports done? We had the initial reports done but
is it possible to get some done, say, three-monthly?
Answer: The
dilapidation process conducted was required as a condition of the DA. All
properties adjoining the ILC property were assessed. The thing that most often causes
problems is excavation of rock where that rock is close to homes. In the case
of the NIDC site there is no rock excavation. The excavation that is planned is
of topsoil, and this is predominately on the George Street side of the property, at
some distance from the Cope Street
residences. A dilapidation report will be conducted when construction is
complete. Residents have the option of engaging surveys of their property at
their own expense.
Question: As a
resident of the other side of Cope
Street I didn’t get a dilapidation survey. My
house is directly opposite the low point of the oval where there will have to
be quite an amount of fill placed. Can I get a dilapidation survey done?
Answer: ILC
is not committing to that at this stage. It may be that the dilapidation
contractor may have to return to Cope
Street to clear up any confusion with numbers 75
and 73. If that is happening it may be that the house over the road can be done
at that time at the expense of the owner of this property. According to the
studies there is very little likelihood of any impact to residences, and
particularly so for those homes not adjoining.
Question: Will
the NIDC be well maintained?
Answer: The
ILC has invested a large amount of money in the project and will be looking after
its investment.
Question: Does
the ILC intend to on-sell the property in the short term?
Answer: The
ILC has a medium to long-term plan to divest the property into the hands of an
Indigenous organisation that can manage the facility. This is the model under
which the ILC operates across Australia.