DOCSLIB.ORG

Community Action for Windsor Bridge Date Received: 28 January 2018

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Community Action for Windsor Bridge Date Received: 28 January 2018 Submission No 6 INQUIRY INTO WINDSOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT Organisation: Community Action for Windsor Bridge Date received: 28 January 2018 SUBMISSION Upper House Inquiry into the Windsor Bridge Replacement Project Portfolio Committee No. 5 - Industry and Transport January 2018 Volume 1 COMMUNITY ACTION FOR WINDSOR BRIDGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 BACKGROUND 9 Background Overview 9 COMMUNITY ACTION FOR WINDSOR BRIDGE 11 1. THE WINDSOR BRIDGE 12 1.1 History 13 1.2 Significant Features 13 1.3 Engineering 14 The Piers 14 Raising the Height of the Bridge 16 Replacing the Timber Deck 17 2. CURRENT CONDITION OF THE WINDSOR BRIDGE 19 2.1 Scare Tactics 19 2.2 Scrutiny 20 2.3 Lane Width 23 3. MAINTENANCE 28 3.1 Renovation and Retention 29 3.2 The Dishonest RMS 30 3.3 Tibby Cotter Bridge 35 3.4 Justification for Demolition 39 4. THE REPLACEMENT BRIDGE - OPTION 1 40 4.1 Options And Alternatives 40 4.2 No Option But Option 1 41 4.3 RMS Options 42 4.4 Alternatives 54 4.5 The Rickaby’s Line 55 4.6 The ‘Lynwood’ Bypass - the Pitt Town Bottoms Alternative 58 4.7 Advice Received and Ignored 60 4.8 So why not build a bypass? 62 5. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION 66 5.1 The Preferred Option 67 5.2 ‘Supporting' Options 69 5.3 Bridge Styles 70 5.4 Design & Heritage Community Focus Group 70 5.5 The Deliberative Forum 72 Page $2 5.6 E%ectiveness 74" 5.7 Public Response and Community Opposition 75" 6. TRAFFIC 78 6.1 Introduction 78" 6.2 Tra&c planning challenges 79" 6.3 Tra&c considerations — overview 80" 6.4 Modelling the tra&c outcomes for vehicles crossing the new bridge 82" 6.5 Crash Data 87" 6.6 Heavy vehicle volume projections 88" 6.7 Justification for a Windsor Bypass 89" 6.8 Tra&c Planning Challenges —Local tra&c and intersections 91" 6.9 Turning Restrictions – right-turn into George St West 92" 6.10 Turning Restrictions – right-turn into George St East 94" 6.11 Turning Restrictions – left-turn into George St East 95" 6.12 Why Be Dishonest? 96" 6.12 Summary 96" 7. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT 97 7.1 Arrangements regarding development in the catchment 97" 7.2 Sand and gravel 97" 8. HERITAGE 99 8.1 Introduction 99" 8.2 Heritage Awards 100" 8.3 Historical Significance of Thompson Square 101" 8.4 Cultural Significance of Thompson Square 104" 8.5 ’Significant Heritage Impacts' 105" 8.6 Heritage Advice 106" 8.7 Three Heritage Items 109" 8.8 Brick Barrel Drains aka “Smuggler’s Tunnels” 109" 8.9 The Macquarie/Greenway Wharf 115" 8.10 A Bridge Designed to Destroy 120" 9. ARCHAEOLOGY 128 9.1 The Archaeology of 2016 130" 9.2 ABORIGINAL ARCHAEOLOGY 139" 10. THE LANDSCAPE AND AMENITY 158 10.1 Historical Context 158" Page $3 10.2 RMS Disclaimer 160" 10.3 A Definitional Issue - What is Thompson Square? 161" 10.4 A Unified Space 163" 10.5 Increased Usable Area 166" 10.6 Pedestrian Safety 167" 10.7 Landscaping 168" 10.8 A Unique Sense Of Arrival? 170" 10.9 Gradient 171" 10.10 Noise 174" 10.11 Vibrational Impacts 176" 11. FLOOD IMMUNITY 178 11.1 Overview 178" 11.2 Initial RTA Claims 179" 11.3 Amended RMS Claims 179" 11.4 Examples of RMS’s Contradictory Statements 181" 11.5 Potential for bridge damage due to flood debris 182" 11.6 What flood immunity would Option 1 Provide? 184" 11.7 Conclusion 185" 12. PROJECT ASSESSMENT PROCESS 186 12.1 The Former Labor Government 186" 12.2 The New Liberal Government 187" 12.3 The Approval 187" 13. ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS 195 13.1 Background and context 195" 13.2 Benefit-Cost Ratio calculation 197" 13.3 Evaluating heritage value 199" 13.4 Cultural and heritage tourism 202" 14. PROJECT OBJECTIVES 208 Recommendations 210 Conclusion 211 Annexure and Appendices 215 Annexure 1 215 Annexure 2 216" Annexure 3 218" APPENDIX 1 219" Page $4 Appendix 2 220 Appendix 3 221 References 223 Page $5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ' This submission is presented by Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB), an action group created to fight for the best outcomes for Thompson Square and Windsor Bridge stakeholders. Since 21 July 2013 CAWB has occupied Thompson Square for twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, among other advocacy activities." ' Windsor Bridge is a State listed heritage item that is currently facing demolition. In 2011, changes to NSW planning legislation e%ectively ‘switched o%’ previous State and Local Heritage protections associated with the Bridge." ' The RMS suggests that Windsor Bridge has reached the end of its economic life and the level of maintenance required to maintain adequate road safety is no longer cost e%ective. However, this submission presents evidence that Windsor Bridge remains functional and fit for purpose. The RMS relies on spurious technical arguments, with emotional overtones designed to frighten the general community. No part of the case for replacement of Windsor Bridge withstands independent, expert scrutiny and rational analysis. " ' No meaningful consideration has been given to a bypass option for Windsor, which would be a more appropriate upgrade to such an important arterial route. A bypass which diverts heavy vehicles and through tra&c away from the historic town centre and the Thompson Square precinct is the only adequate solution that will provide for future tra&c needs whilst protecting the heritage that is key to Windsor’s economic and cultural viability. " ' One of the most damning aspects of the Windsor Bridge Replacement Project is the misleading and deceitful presentation of alternative options. Options appear to have been generated simply to demonstrate that alternatives were considered, however each seems to have been deliberately designed to be inadequate and unacceptable. " ' The RMS’s community consultation processes and practices have arguably done more to alienate the community than any other aspect of the Windsor Bridge Project. The RMS has consistently chosen to ignore widespread public opposition to the Project, preferring to massage response data, or in the case of local politicians, attribute such opposition to a vocal minority or a fringe group. The suggestion that the Project is opposed by a ‘minority’, vocal, or otherwise, is not borne out by the facts. " Page $6 ' The Windsor Bridge Replacement Project fails to address road network capacity issues or deliver outcomes expected of fiscally responsible planning for public infrastructure. In failing to take into account the regional destinations of tra&c crossing Windsor Bridge, the Project deprives the community of significant, measurable and highly desirable outcomes that might reasonably be expected from such significant public expenditure. " ' The Hawkesbury is in desperate need of another crossing of the Hawkesbury River and increased road network capacity. Car and Heavy Vehicle volumes across Windsor Bridge and through Thompson Square exceed tra&c volumes which have been used to justify bypasses of towns such as Berry, Kempsey, Moree, Macksville and other towns. Despite insistence by the Government and Option One proponents that heavy vehicle use is not increasing, tra&c counts by the RMS and others show the opposite is the case. " ' Despite admitting that more than 70% of Windsor Bridge tra&c is “through tra&c” and does not stop in Windsor, the Project funnels an increasing volumes of cars and Heavy Vehicles into a known bottleneck. The RMS itself admits that the bridge is not cause of the tra&c problems, but rather the Macquarie/Bridge Street intersection is acknowledged to be the main bottleneck, and is outside the scope of this project. " ' As the oldest Town Square in Australia, Thompson Square deserves the highest levels of professional competence and probity, to say nothing of protection. A government agency and their consultants, charged with acting on behalf of the community, are delivering the exact opposite. " ' The RMS has consistently been warned that the Windsor Bridge replacement project EIS was completely inadequate in its treatment of heritage. " ' Thompson Square is rightly referred to as ‘The Birthplace of the Fair Go’. In naming the Square for Andrew Thompson, a convict made good, Governor Macquarie took a bold step — contrary to instructions — that created an idea which would ring down throughout our Nation’s history. " ' There can be no doubt the heritage impacts of Option 1 will be devastating to Thompson Square. At the time of writing this submission archaeologist are undertaking destructive ‘salvage’ activities. " ' The recently excavated c.1814 brick barrel drains demonstrate the importance of Windsor to Colonial authorities who invested public funds in this port town through which so much of the colony's produce was shipped. These rare and remarkable Page $7 archaeological relics may also have much to tell us about life in the early colony and their construction may reveal much about the technical skills and knowledge of the day." ' Yet the community has been forced to watch, helplessly, as heavy machinery has ground colonial artefacts to dust, each day increasing the area of destruction. " ' It is claimed that the proposed replacement bridge will have flood immunity consistent with that of the roads on the northern side of the Hawkesbury River. However, it is primarily the level of the floodplain that dictates access to and from Windsor during flood events. Once the relevant sections of the surrounding road network are submerged, the height of the bridge is irrelevant. " ' Statements that the existing Bridge is becoming increasingly dangerous and fragile due to its advancing age, or that the bridge is in such a condition that a flood could sweep parts or all of it away, seem designed more to reinforce the flawed rationale for its replacement, than to be founded on any basis of reality.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bridge Aesthetics
    Bridge Aesthetics Design guideline to improve the appearance of bridges in NSW Centre for Urban Design | February 2019 The curved bridge over the Woronora River with its pedestrian and bicycle foot bridge hung below the road deck and the remodelling of its foreshores, fits in with the river, topography and sandstone and bush landscape of Sutherland. With its ten spans, 30 metre high piers, and approaches cut into the opposing hillsides the bridge produces a sweeping, dramatic and elegant built form. Acknowledgments This document has been prepared by the TfNSW Centre for Urban Design with input from Bridge Section, Environmental Branch, and the Government Architects. The information in this document is current as at February 2019. All photographs are sourced from Transport for NSW unless otherwise indicated. Cover image: Yandhai Nepean Crossing. Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Purpose and structure of the guideline 6 1.2 Urban design policy 8 1.3 Aesthetics 8 1.4 Perception of bridges 13 1.5 Responsibility of the designers 15 Design approach .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................17
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Assembly
    New South Wales Legislative Assembly PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Fifty-Sixth Parliament First Session Wednesday, 14 February 2018 Authorised by the Parliament of New South Wales TABLE OF CONTENTS Documents ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Information and Privacy Commission ................................................................................................... 1 Reports ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Bills ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 ............................................................................................. 1 Second Reading Debate ..................................................................................................................... 1 Visitors ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Visitors ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Bills .........................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Vfr Waypoints 17 Jun 2021 Vfr - Gen - 1
    VFR WAYPOINTS 17 JUN 2021 VFR - GEN - 1 VFR WAYPOINTS - ENCODED WAYPOINT STATE CODE LAT LONG ABEAM KUNOTH NT KNO 233230S 1333300E ABM KILTO WA ABKL 174419S 1224407E ABM TV TOWERS QLD TVT 272830S 1525500E ACADEMY VIC ACE 375345S 1451050E ACHERON ISLAND QLD ANI 185740S 1463810E ACLAND QLD ACLD 271815S 1514120E ADELAIDE CBD SA ACTY 345600S 1383600E ADELAIDE RIVER BRIDGE NT ADB 123930S 1312000E ADELONG NSW AOG 351830S 1480400E ADMIRALTY ISLAND QLD ADI 165900S 1454630E ADVENTURE WORLD WA ADWD 320543S 1154904E ALAWOONA SA ALON 344500S 1403000E ALBERT PARK LAKE VIC APL 375120S 1445830E ALKIMOS WATER WA AKMW 313649S 1154036E ALOOMBA QLD ALBA 170618S 1455000E ALTONA VIC ALOA 375200S 1445100E ALTONA SOUTH VIC ALTS 375244S 1444836E ANGLESEA VIC ANG 382500S 1441100E ANM PAPER MILL NSW APM 360000S 1465900E ANNA BAY NSW ANA 324700S 1520500E ANTILL PLAINS QLD ANP 192600S 1465000E APPIN NSW APPN 341200S 1504718E ARCADIA HS QLD ARCD 205200S 1380400E ARDENT QLD AEN 264642S 1523442E ARMADALE SHOPS WA SHOP 320854S 1160057E ARROWSMITH PT NT AWP 131500S 1362700E ARUNDEL SUBSTATION NSW ASU 351230S 1472400E ATHERTON QLD ATN 171530S 1453030E ATTUNGA NSW ATG 305600S 1505020E ATV10 VIC ATV 375110S 1451005E AUSTRALIAN LIVESTOCK EQUINE CENT NSW ALEC 310805S 1505516E AVOCA TAS AVCA 414654S 1474310E BABINDA QLD BADA 172030S 1455530E BACCHUS MARSH TOWNSHIP VIC BMP 374030S 1442620E BAKER LAKE WA BKRL 264240S 1255847E BALD HILLS MAST QLD BLHS 271847S 1530058E BALMORAL VIC BOA 371500S 1415000E BANGALOW NSW BANG 284112S 1533100E BARANDUDA TOWERS VIC BDT 361500S 1465100E
    [Show full text]
  • Achievements in Road and Maritime Infrastructure Projects
    © Roads and For further enquiries Maritime Services www.rms.nsw.gov.au | 13 22 13 Achievements June 2016 RMS/Pub. 16.168 in road and maritime infrastructure projects Achievements in road and maritime infrastructure projects | Roads and Maritime and Roads Pacific Highway upgrade from Frederickton to Eungai (Completed mid 2016) Cover photograph Football fans on the Albert 'Tibby' Cotter Walkway Acknowledgements Prepared and compiled by the Roads and Maritime Services Centre for Urban Design with contributions from project teams across the organisation. Photographs courtesy of Roads and Maritime unless otherwise indicated. Contents 1 Minister’s Foreword 2 Hume Highway Duplication ∕ Southern Town Bypasses 36 Chief Executive’s Foreword 3 Pacific Highway Upgrade ∕ Bulahdelah Bypass 38 Pacific Highway Upgrade ∕ Tintenbar to Ewingsdale 4 Pacific Highway Upgrade ∕ Kempsey Bypass 40 Camden Valley Way ∕ South West Sydney 6 M1 Pacific Motorway ∕ Tuggerah Interchange 42 Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Walkway ∕ Sydney 8 Princes Highway Upgrade ∕ Victoria Creek 44 Princes Highway Upgrade ∕ Gerringong 10 Epping Road Pedestrian Bridge ∕ Marsfield 46 Moree Bypass Stage Two ∕ Moree 12 Pacific Highway Upgrade ∕ Banora Point 48 Great Western Highway Upgrade ∕ Bullaburra 14 Great Western Highway Upgrade ∕ Lawson 50 Feature lighting ∕ NSW 16 Great Western Highway Upgrade ∕ Wentworth Falls East 52 Princes Highway Upgrade ∕ South Nowra 18 Pacific Highway Upgrade ∕ Glenugie 54 Newcastle Inner City Bypass ∕ Shortland to Sandgate 20 Cammeray Bus Layover ∕ Warringah Freeway
    [Show full text]
  • Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Bridge Apex, Existing View Source: SJB
    Sydney Football Stadium | Visual Impact Assessment | June 2018 Figure 12 View location 2: Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Bridge apex, existing view Source: SJB Ethos Urban | 218018 32 Sydney Football Stadium | Visual Impact Assessment | June 2018 Figure 13 View location 2: Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Bridge apex, proposed view Source: SJB 9.4 Viewpoint 3 Viewpoint 3 is from the Anzac Parade memorial located on the south-eastern side of the intersection of Anzac Parade and Moore Park Road. The view from this location is directed south-east across playing fields towards the SFS and SCG. It is a framed view, with the memorial and trees in the foreground framing a mid-range view to the stadiums that limit the horizon. The SFS is the focal point of the view, with the architectural form of the roof providing the main point of visual interest within the otherwise unremarkable view. The corner of parkland that the viewpoint is located is not highly frequented, other than the for the adjacent priority bus lane, and as such is considered to be frequented by a medium number of viewers. The view takes in the significant community infrastructure of the sporting grounds with recreational facilities in the foreground, and combined with the cultural monument of the immediate foreground is considered to be of moderate social and cultural value. The compositional values of the view itself are low. As such on balance the sensitivity of the viewpoint is considered to be Medium Table 4 View location 3 assessment Element Category Comment Level of effect Category of view Public,
    [Show full text]
  • 'Tibby' Cotter Walkway
    New South Wales Auditor-General’s Report Performance Audit Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Walkway Transport for NSW Roads and Maritime Services The role of the Auditor-General GPO Box 12 The roles and responsibilities of the Auditor- Sydney NSW 2001 General, and hence the Audit Office, are set out in the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. Our major responsibility is to conduct financial or ‘attest’ audits of State public The Legislative Assembly The Legislative Council sector agencies’ financial statements. Parliament House Parliament House Sydney NSW 2000 Sydney NSW 2000 We also audit the Total State Sector Accounts, a consolidation of all agencies’ accounts. In accordance with section 38E of the Public Finance and Financial audits are designed to add credibility Audit Act 1983, I present a report titled Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter Walkway: Transport for NSW and Roads and Maritime to financial statements, enhancing their value Services. to end-users. Also, the existence of such audits provides a constant stimulus to agencies to ensure sound financial management. Following a financial audit the Audit Office issues a variety of reports to agencies and reports periodically to parliament. In A T Whitfield PSM Acting Auditor-General combination these reports give opinions on the 17 September 2015 truth and fairness of financial statements, and comment on agency compliance with certain laws, regulations and government directives. They may comment on financial prudence, probity and waste, and recommend operational improvements. We also conduct performance audits. These examine whether an agency is carrying out its activities effectively and doing so economically and efficiently and in compliance with relevant laws.
    [Show full text]
  • Circular Quay MASCOT KINGSFORD Darling Harbour ULTIMO
    Ba G D O T U S o fi h T ST y c ces Puba R G D Fe h y y llaghers LIZZIE R n Fire Stn S G W WEBBER P e Pres Drummoyne ST ST Y OINT Ballast Point T CAMERON CHALLENGER E Ferry rry Club E ATER PL M Fe Play .G T PL E Regional Park F Gladesville S RD ST S cK N North Sydney &Dangerous Goods Kirribilli Point O Snapper ST RD (Walama Park) Drummoyne Alexandra EO ST ST E D SYDNEY HARBOUR PROHIBITED R ST REN Island LL COLLEGE M Res No Public Access Birchgrove ST DAWES POINT in Tunnel Childhood IN Bridge RG Public SPRING ST Lower North Shore Early O FER Sydney Harbour NATIONAL PARK In tunnel S W White Horse Point School ST E Peppercorn John cKELL Ferry Ctr ST A ICK Federation Trust Floating Dawes Pt Fe EDW R S McMahonM Ferry Y Res Pontoon (Fee Payable) rry ST ngelist St.John the Yeend St Wharf Tar-ra BIRCHGROVEEva ST College VICTORIA Day St Av D Mort Street Canada Bay Dawn y k R AS H ST Ferry ST Res oyne ro P Bay BBQs Morts Dock Mort Bay Park RD Fraser Fitz OW M TRANMERE P G HOM SirWilliam Pk 1842 Pool U ACQ T Wallace 9911 6555ST Balmain Netball Mort Fort Denison Drumm N BALMAIN ST Club AV Foot Only Junior Sailing Rowing Club C BAY rry Simmons CR KELL Fe 1 H www.ausway.com ARCADIA Elkington U c Bay Thames Street Pylon (Pinchgut) pt CR Drummoyne Play H GIPPS S Sebel ARIE ST Ferry Park ST CA TCE T M Wharf Point Simmons Pt Lookout Sailing Club FITZROY ROWNTREE W Pier One Birkenhead RD Park 2 Fee Payable IN Balmain WHITE ST E RT Reserve RD W ST Point Marine Rotunda V O ST T h Published by City of Sydney O W H arf Th 3 There are many S D R ED Centre R E D O Play Dawes Uniting Walk A St.
    [Show full text]
  • 218948 Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park
    2 September 2019 218948 Appendix A – Response to State and Local Government Agency Submissions The following report includes a response to the full text of submissions provided by or on behalf of State and local government agencies. For completeness, the full text of each submission is provided in the left-hand column, accompanied by the proponent’s corresponding response in the right-hand column. The proponent’s responses have been informed by input by the expert consultant team, and should be read in conjunction with the publicly exhibited Environmental Impact Statement and accompanying technical reports, as well as the Response to Submissions Report to which this document is appended. CONTENTS 1.0 State and Local Government Agencies 2 1.1 Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment 2 1.2 City of Sydney Council 16 1.3 Waverley Council 30 1.4 Randwick City Council 32 1.5 Former Office of Environment and Heritage 35 1.6 Heritage Community Engagement, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Heritage Council of NSW) 35 1.7 Transport for NSW 37 1.8 Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands (Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust) 42 1.9 NSW Environment Protection Authority 50 1.10 Sydney Water 56 1.11 Civil Aviation Safety Authority 57 1.12 Sydney Airport Corporation Limited 57 1.13 Transgrid 58 1.14 Ausgrid 58 1.15 Department of Defence (Commonwealth) 59 1.16 NSW Police Force 59 1.17 Fire and Rescue NSW 59 1.18 Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Water – Strategic Relations (Former Department of Industry – Land and Water) 61 Smart People, T.
    [Show full text]