397 Princes Highway, Rockdale NSW 2216

The continued construction of large, multi-storey apartment buildings in central Rockdale, both on the highway and in the CBD, has been done with little consideration to the ambience of the local area. Towering blocks located close to the road have created a wind tunnel effect with marked overshadowing on the highway south of Rockdale.
Continuing this trend on the northern side will have further impact on the general ambience and character of the area, given that many of the residents live on the ridge above Banksia station and Gardiner Park will end up with an outlook that consists entirely of these large unit blocks.
This is also not taking into consideration the fact that the local infrastructure - ie roads, shops, and public transport, are already stretched and will be overwhelmed by increased numbers of residents that will eventuate due to the construction of this and the apartment blocks which are sure to follow once a precedent has been established.
Placing a more conservative height limit on any tower blocks being built in this area would lessen the impact that these sorts of development would have on the area. The height of the apartments in Banksia Ave adjacent to the Woolworths Petrol station is much more suitable development than proposals such as this.

The traffic report prepared as part of this DA underestimates the traffic levels generated by current usage and so underestimates the traffic generated by the development (p16). It also fails to address how traffic from the development will be prevented from attempting to turn right onto the highway or go 'straight' down Bestic St, as some drivers currently attempt.

Council/planning authorities should also consider the cumulative impact of traffic generated by multiple high density proposals between this site and others heading towards Rockdale station, and the impact of increased numbers of drivers attempting to turn right off the highway and resultant impact on traffic flow on the highway, which are already poor through Rockdale.

The proposed building is also disproportionately high. Planning authorities should consider the existing height of the Spotlight building and new council library as benchmarks for appropriate high density building heights.