Representing the community’s interests in getting around on bikes in ’s eastern suburbs

Sydney Gateway Road Project Environmental Impact St atement / Pr eliminary Dr a Major De velopment Plan

18 Dec 2019 BIKEast Incorporated www.bikeast.org.au Belinda Sco PO Box 1601 Planner Bondi Juncon NSW 1355 NSW Planning Portal Online [email protected]

BIKEast is pleased to make a submission on the S ydney Gateway Road Project - - Environmental Impact Statement/Preliminary Dra Major Development Plan. We believe that providing and maintaining open and accessible space for the community is very important. We also believe safe, connuous, and connected bike routes will encourage more people to ride their bikes more oen – an outcome that is consistent with NSW and Local Government strategies to realise the considerable individual and public benefits of increasing the mode share of acve travel (walking or cycling). As such, BIKEast submits the following comments. ● We are pleased to see that the proposed replacement route provided is the most direct alternave to the connecon being removed. ● We are pleased to see menon for adding acve travel connecvity to Sydney’s network as outlined in NSW and Local Government strategy.

However, we object to the Sydney Gateway project and propose that the project should not be approved, unl it is strongly aligned with current NSW Government policies and plans, to meet its stated goal “ making journeys from west and south-west Sydney to , the M5, and easier, faster and safer”, for all customers.

Summary of issues

1. Missing walking and cycling integraon to surrounding acve travel network, in parcular from surrounding local areas to Sydney Airport, a major desnaon and employment centre for the local community.

2. Access during construcon - The condions of consent must be phrased to provide specific commitment that “access routes during construcon must be safe, direct, convenient and consistent in travel me and distance with the exisng routes”.

Affiliated to: Page 1 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

1. Missing in tegraon t o surrounding acve travel ne twork It is good that the paper acknowledges the exisng connecvity gaps in the current acve travel network and the low parcipaon rates in the local area. “A number of connecvity gaps exist in the current acve transport network of the area. Roads and Marime and Sydney Airport Corporaon would develop an acve transport strategy, with the input of relevant stakeholders, to idenfy potenal opportunies to enhance acve transport opportunies and guide the future provision of acve transport infrastructure.” (Secon 9.4.7 - pg 9.48) Further to our submission earlier this year in response to the Concept Design (aached at the end of this document), we urge the Sydney Gateway project to work closely with Bicycle NSW and surrounding local governments (City of Sydney, Bayside Council, Inner West Council) to improve and facilitate future connecvity and integraon to Sydney’s exisng and future acve travel network. We have outlined 4 specific missing links in the acve travel network that relate to the Sydney Gateway project space. These are sll missing from the EIS. 1. A connecon from St Peters Interchange to the Alexandra Canal cycleway 2. A direct, crossing of the Cooks River from the South towards the CBD 3. Direct connecons from the Alexandra Canal cycleway to T2, T3 and beyond, to the Bayside Council network 4. A direct connecon between Coward St and Sydenham staon (and future Metro)

See yellow doed lines below.

Affiliated to: Page 2 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Upgrade and main tain t emporary r oute t o a permanen t r oute

The Sydney Gateway has proposed a North / South temporary route that traverses through the project site. An opon to maintain a North / South acve travel corridor would be to upgrade and maintain this proposed temporary route as a permanent route through this land space.

Upgrade w alking and cy cling accessibility in Airport E ast pr ecinct

Lack of walking and cycling integraon and connecvity from the A irport East precinct project needs to be recfied in the future.

NSW Go vernment P olicies

Other details regarding the NSW Government policy and missing links were outlined in detail in our submission to the Concept Design earlier this year. Rather than repeat the content, a copy has been aached to the end of this submission.

2. Saf e acve travel c onnecons during c onstrucon We again emphasise that safe acve travel connecons be developed and maintained during construcon. Roads and Marime have acknowledged the number of people to be impacted by the removal of the exisng paths during construcon.

Acve transport acvity: Roads and Marime collected pedestrian and cyclist data along the Alexandra Canal cycleway in March 2019. The data indicates that, on average, t he Alexandra Canal cycleway carries around 600 cyclists and 100 pedestrians per day. Peak usage occurs during the weekday morning and aernoon peak periods, when the cycleway carries around 90 cyclists and 10 pedestrians during the morning peak and aernoon peak hours. (Secon 9.2.5 - pg 9.22) The condions of consent must be phrased to provide specific commitment that “walking and cycling access routes during construcon must be safe, d irect, convenient and consistent in travel me and distance with the exisng routes” . From other transport projects in Sydney (eg. Sydney Light Rail - see Diagram 1 & 2 on the next page, Westconnex Rozelle Interchange), it has been observed that contractors are not willing to provide alternave routes that are convenient and consistent in travel me and distance with exisng routes. These oversights have placed heavy and hazardous impact on vulnerable path users such as those with mobility and accessibility requirements, as well as inexperienced and less confident bicycle riders. BIKEast community members reported that their families did not cycle during construcon due to fear of injury.

Affiliated to: Page 3 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Diagram 1: A lison Rd / Wansey St protected off-road shared path route, showing distance and maximum gradient.

Affiliated to: Page 4 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Diagram 2: S outh East Sydney Light Rail’s King St / Church St detour was on-road (rather than a protected path), 68m longer, with a much steeper gradient and mulple busy intersecons.

Affiliated to: Page 5 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

We believe the benefits of acve travel to community and worker health, as well as traffic congeson, are important to the local community, and should be captured in the planning processes going forward.

Thank you for taking the me to read our feedback.

Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Poon BIKEast Secretary

Affiliated to: Page 6 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Sydney Gateway Concept Design

21 June 2019 BIKEast Incorporated www.bikeast.org.au Sydney Gateway PO Box 1601 [email protected] Bondi Juncon NSW 1355 1800 654 446 [email protected]

BIKEast is pleased to make a submission on the S ydney Gateway Concept Design. We believe that providing safe, connuous, and connected bike routes will encourage more people to ride their bikes more oen – an outcome that is consistent with NSW and Local Government strategies to realise the considerable individual and public benefits of increasing the mode share of acve travel (walking or cycling). As such, BIKEast submits the following comments on the design elements.

Summary of issues ● We are pleased to see that the proposed replacement route provided is the most direct alternave to the connecon being removed. ● We are grateful for the outline of the proposed temporary routes during construcon, and emphasise that these routes must be safe and maintained during construcon. ● The provision for adding acve travel connecvity to Sydney’s network as outlined in NSW and Local Government strategy is significantly lacking from this concept design. ● Together with the local councils (City of Sydney, Bayside Council, Inner West Council) and Bicycle NSW, we have outlined 4 specific missing links in the acve travel network that relate to the Sydney Gateway project space. ● We urge the Sydney Gateway project to work closely with these groups to improve and facilitate future connecvity of Sydney’s acve travel network.

Direct replacement route for exisng cycleway

It is unfortunate that the exisng cycleway facility must be removed, however, w e thank the Sydney Gateway project for listening to the early feedback from stakeholders such as local councils and

Affiliated to: Page 7 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Bicycle NSW, and providing a replacement that is as direct as possible, alongside the canal. This will support and facilitate easy travel for people currently regularly using the exisng route. We understand that the connecon around the rail bridge near Coward St is quite low and will require management for flooding issues, including a pump. W e urge that this facility be designed well to include adequate maintenance and ensure safe community access all year round, including when the canal water level is high. We understand the Alternave route marked on the map is not being proposed, as it was a previous proposal, however, we have idenfied this connecon as a missing acve travel network connecon - that we have outlined in more detail later.

Outline of temporary routes during construcon

We thank the Sydney Gateway project for listening to our concerns and the concerns of our community and have commied to temporary acve travel connecons during construcon as part of the construcon planning. We understand that the routes are not confirmed and will need to be negoated with Inner West Council. We urge the Sydney Gateway to ensure these safe connecons are developed and maintained during construcon. Safety factors to be managed include minimal gradient changes, smooth and good quality surfacing, adequate lighng, minimal path obstrucons and flooding provision. BIKEast and Bicycle NSW are currently working with Austroads to incorporate beer traffic management planning guidelines to support safety for vulnerable road users (people walking and cycling), during Australia’s current and future levels of construcon and encourage Sydney Gateway to keep up to date and adopt best pracce.

Affiliated to: Page 8 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Missing acve transport in the concept design

Sydney Gat eway

The Sydney Gateway project outlines its benefits are to m ake journeys easier, faster, safer, but it lacks provision for a secon of the community - people cycling and walking.

Westconnex Ne w M5 The acve travel connecons outlined in the W estconnex New M5 - B51 - Pedestrian & Cycle Implementaon Strategy are currently lacking, and the concept design does not provide any addional or alternave connecons to the Westconnex New M5 infrastructure and surrounding desnaons.

“The Airport Gateway will include ATN along the future Airport Gateway link. This will link the SPI with the ATN in and around the: ● Sydney Airport ● Alexandra Canal cycle path (both sides of the canal) ● Exisng shared path along the southern side of the Alexandra Canal between Coward Street and the Internaonal Terminal ● A safe and connected cycle link across the Cooks River on or adjacent to the Giovanni Brune Bridge As part of the SPI design, there is allowance for future pedestrian / cycle links associated with the Airport Gateway Project which will improve access for pedestrians and cyclists between SPI area and the airport. Figure 5.19 indicates the direcon that the Airport Gateway may take.” Figure 5.19

Affiliated to: Page 9 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Future T ransport 2056 The F uture Transport 2056 strategy states the benefits of sustainable transport - “ Moving people from private vehicles to more sustainable transport modes will reduce congeson and the transport sector’s emissions intensity, improve air quality and support beer health and wellbeing. Well planned centres and cies, will enable a shi from private cars to public transport and acve transport modes such as walking and cycling. In Sydney, the key to this will be the delivery of three 30 minute cies, supported by reliable ‘turn up and go’ mass transit services.”1 The strategy also explicitly outlines Sydney Airport as a key locaon in the Eastern Harbour City as part of the “ Metropolis of Three Cies, where people can access the majority of jobs and services within 30 minutes”, and states “ Encouraging cycling could help relieve congeson and could more than double the number of people who can reach our three cies within 30 minutes.” The Greater Sydney Principal Bicycle Network clearly states bicycle connecons between Sydney Airport, Sydenham (Metro coming soon) and Wolli Creek.

1 F uture Transport 2056 - A Vision for Transport

Affiliated to: Page 10 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Alexandra Canal mas terplan The 2001 Alexandra Canal masterplan (endorsed by surrounding councils) proposes “to create public access links along the tributaries and through large development sites adjoining the canal”.2 As a result of this, a 10m setback has been wrien into each of the Development Control Plans (DCPs) of the areas surrounding the Canal. Diagram from City of Sydney DCP. It is important that the space around Alexandra Canal is maintained as open community space, suitable for acve travel.

Sydney Green Grid Alexandra Canal has been idenfied as a Green Grid Project opportunity in the Central District, as part of the Hydrological Grid. “These list of projects were derived from the original Green Grid Reports together with the outcome from Greater Sydney Commission’s District Plan Workshops and NSW Department of Planning and Environment Open Space Workshops.”3 The Hydrological Grid commits to “Connecng public open space and acve transport and pathway systems along waterways”.4 It is important that the space around Alexandra Canal is maintained as open community space, suitable for acve travel.

2Alexandra Canal masterplan 2001 (Page 13-5) 3 S ydney Green Grid - Spaal Framework and Project Opportunies - Central District (Page 126) 4 S ydney Green Grid - Spaal Framework and Project Opportunies - Central District (Page 9)

Affiliated to: Page 11 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Greater S ydney Commission Under Planning Priority E6 - Creang and renewing great places and local centres, and respecng the District’s heritage: Liveability - “ Leading a healthy and acve life means substung walking and cycling for short car journeys. More people can be encouraged to walk and cycle where there is a safe road environment and suitable pathways. This requires beer connecvity – direct routes to local desnaons and services are required along streets that allocate sufficient road space to safe walking and cycling. A permeable and well-connected urban form that has human scale and aracve streetscapes is required.”5 Producvity - “ Where possible, the proacve and early reservaon of corridors to protect longer term linear infrastructure opportunies should be undertaken to provide greater clarity and certainty for landowners, communies and businesses. In assessing potenal infrastructure corridors, economic, social and environmental outcomes need to be considered. The early preservaon of corridors also reduces the potenal for conflict in the future. “Cycling improvements underway or being planned within, and to, the District are: ● Inner Sydney Regional Bicycle Network (see diagram) ● Inner West links ● Sydney Airport links”6 The Sydney Gateway concept design not only removes exisng connecvity used by people walking and cycling around Sydney Airport, but also removes the future potenal acve travel corridor along Qantas Drive to connect to T2/T3.

Sydney Airport Mas terplan Sydney Airport Masterplan states “ Nearly 31,000 jobs are located at the airport itself, with many of these undertaken by people living in surrounding areas.”7 “Staff movements at the airport are considerable and the number of people who travel to Sydney Airport for work on a typical working day has increased by about 20 percent since 2012.”8 Future Transport 2056 states “ The 30 minute city will be one where people can conveniently access jobs and services within 30 minutes by public or acve transport, 7 days a week.” The concept design does not currently improve support for local workers, in parcular those at Sydney Airport, by providing safe and convenient acve transport facilies.

5 G reater Sydney Commission - Eastern City District Plan (Page 48) 6 G reater Sydney Commission - Eastern City District Plan (Page 74-75) 7 S ydney Airport Masterplan (Page 14) 8 S ydney Airport Masterplan (Page 138)

Affiliated to: Page 12 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Sydney’s Cycling F uture Sydney’s Cycling Future (2013) outlines how the State Government will improve the bike route network and make sure that the needs of bike riders are built into the planning of new transport and infrastructure projects. In S ydney’s Cycling Future, connecons to Sydney Airport are menoned in specific relaon to support the workers at Sydney Airport. Also menoned specifically are connecons to the residenal and commercial growth areas at Wolli Creek, Mascot and Green Square.

Specific Missing Links

Affiliated to: Page 13 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

Missing Link #1 - St P eters In terchange t o Ale xandra Canal cycle way As outlined in Westconnex New M5 Planning condions, the intenon of the Sydney Gateway project was to include connecon from St Peters Interchange to Sydney Airport and the exisng and future Alexandra Canal cycleway. This is currently missing from the design. There are no current commitments to connect the East end of Canal Rd to Rickey St (Westconnex is only building the West side), which means a missing East/West connecon from Canal Rd to Coward St, Mascot.

Missing Link #2 - Direct crossing of Cook s River be tween South and CBD With the replacement route alongside the West side of the canal, it is important to connect to the exisng routes at Marsh St (R MS Airport West Precinct project) . This link is missing due to the lack of a safe and suitable acve travel facility across the Cooks River. We understand that the exisng Giovanni Brune/Marsh St bridge cannot provide this connecon, as the bridge condion prevents any addion of a “clip-on” walking and cycling deck extension. Opons may include reallocang a road lane along this bridge for walking and cycling, or the provision of a new bridge spanning the river between the Tempe Reserve and the exisng Marsh St AT infrastructure.

Missing Link #3 - Direct c onnecons from Ale xandra Canal cycle way t o T2/T3 and be yond to Bayside Council Ne twork With the widening of Qantas Drive as part of this project, the future potenal of a walking / cycling corridor between T1 and T2/T3 as outlined in the Inner Sydney Bicycle Network is no longer possible. The exisng poor quality path is currently being used by workers and commuters to access the Sydney Airport terminals. This link, inadequate as it is, will be removed by the current Airport Gateway proposals and no alternave put in place. There should be addional opons for connecvity here to enable accessibility and acve travel to all the airport terminals from the surrounding suburbs.

Missing Link #4 - Direct c onnecon be tween Co ward St and S ydenham s taon (future Metro) There is an opportunity for an East/West link through the Sydney Gateway space. This would provide a direct connecon between the surrounding areas to Sydenham staon. The Eastern Suburbs has a lack of access to train staons and acve travel is a perfect way to provide this connecon at a relavely low cost. Acvang connecon to Sydenham staon will be beneficial to the local community, as it is the closest Metro staon to the Bayside Council area and the Southern part of the Eastern Suburbs.

Conclusion The concept design is currently lacking in focus and commitment regarding detailed strategies for encouraging acve travel. This is parcularly disappoinng given the benefits that improved facilies for acve travel might bring to local workers/visitors, residents of adjoining areas and people using the roads bounding this space to get around every day.

Affiliated to: Page 14 of 15

Sydney Gateway - EIS / MDP 18 Dec 2019

BIKEast encourage the Sydney Gateway project to look at improving the acve travel network, to beer connect our local area, and encourage residents and visitors to partake in acve travel.

We've idenfied major missing acve travel links in the project:

1. A connecon from St Peters Interchange to the Alexandra Canal cycleway 2. A direct, crossing of the Cooks River from the South towards the CBD 3. Direct connecons from the Alexandra Canal cycleway to T2, T3 and beyond, to the Bayside Council network 4. A direct connecon between Coward St and Sydenham staon (and future Metro) 5. We also urge that safe connecons be developed and maintained during construcon.

We believe the benefits of acve travel to community and worker health, as well as traffic congeson, are important to the local community, and in parcular Sydney Airport, and should be captured in the planning documents going forward.

Thank you for taking the me to read our feedback.

Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Poon BIKEast Secretary Bayside Advocacy Coordinator

Affiliated to: Page 15 of 15