4-12 McGill Street, Lewisham

I oppose this development at 4-12 McGill Street, Lewisham.

The area is already 'beyond capacity' in terms of development. I do not understand how infrastructure, traffic, and the local community will cope with this expected influx of residents in this small space. The area of the Mills and Lewisham Towers is already over-developed. Traffic along New Canterbury Rd and Railway Terrace is already at grid-lock every day - this will only get much, much worse. Will there be an end to this?

This immediate area is already being extensively developed; Lewisham Towers, The Mills, etc. Further development of the area should be deferred until the effect of this growth in population; in terms of traffic, congestion, public transport, sustainability of attached commercial enterprises etc., is fully realised and understood.

Traffic on Railway Terrace and Old Canterbury Road, Toothill and New Canterbury Road, West Street to Parramatta Road, all currently experiences regular long delays due to heavy congestion that stretches from Summer Hill through Lewisham to Petersham, and from Parramatta Road through to Marrickville Road – and this happens every day and the development to the area centred between these thoroughfares has not yet been populated.

I also question the wisdom in every single multi-storey development needing a cafe underneath it. There will be significant retail and hospitality development in the Mills and Lewisham Towers, the potential overdevelopment and/or over supply of retail spaces risks these becoming disused and a significant eyesore at street level. It should also be noted that, even if it is successful, retail may actually attract even more people into an already congested area.

Will patrons be afforded off-street parking to utilise the retail spaces?

What about utilising street level space for community use? E.g. undercover bicycle parking of near public transport.

What additional recreational areas are being provided for this new population?

These extensive developments need to look at an area more holistically and not just centre on the specific property and its boundaries. We must look at how the overall community that will live in the area will interact, travel, park, shop, recreate etc. and this broader planning should be part of the development process.

PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE MORE LARGE, MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPMENTS UNTIL THE ISSUES OF SUCH RAPID POPULATION GROWTH ARE REALISED, FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND ADDRESSED AS NEEDS MAY BE.