95 Bardwell Road Bardwell Park NSW 2207

1. Traffic & dangerous surrounding road conditions

- This intersection is a very busy thoroughfare, especially during peak travel times (AM/PM) and the school drop off & pick up times.
- The infants school is located in the park opposite this site, and there is already a noticeable issue with parking and congestion.
- This busy location currently poses a safety issue for existing parents & children, and the additional flow of parents & children and car traffic from the proposed child care centre would only exacerbate this problem.
- There are also two bus stops located directly out the front of this site and across the road, which creates a blind spot (in both directions) and a potential danger hazard for small children walking in and around the area
- Devon Rd (adjacent street) is a steep incline with a pronounced blind spot at the peak of the climb up to Bardwell Rd. There is a present danger that many parents in the community often discuss and definitely something that needs to be considered in light of this proposal and the large number of small children that will be congregated in this vicinity from both the school and proposed child care centre.
- At the base of Devon Rd (where it meets Slade Road) there is a very dangerous intersection - (with an obvious blind spot on the left) where traffic is banked up during peak times, with extreme congestion as the foot traffic and road traffic around the station builds and doesn't flow well.
- There is no mention of off site parking in the proposal and considering there are 6 staff and at least 38 families, daily - the development would make already dangerous and congested conditions much worse.

2. Aesthetics & neighbourhood preservation
- Surveying the immediate area & the wider suburb of Bardwell Park, showcases a consistent surburbia, village look and feel, with homes maintained in their original condition
- This is a proposal for a two storey, commercial building in an area that currently is only residential (apart from the shops near the station)
- The infants school is tucked away behind the park, and there is also another child care centre on Barnsbury Grove that is tucked away behind an existing structure (church) that fits in with the area's general look and feel, as both are single storey.
- There is a need to preserve the aesthetics of a neighbourhood in order to keep existing residents happy as well as the maintain the price/value of people's homes.
- People live in the Bardwell Park area for its quiet, quaint, suburban feel and this proposed structure disrupts that beyond doubt.
- The impact on immediate & surrounding neighbours must be considered when proposing such a significant shift in the architecture and setting of their neighbourhood.

3. Noise Pollution
- I have contacted the Department of Education and have been advised that, as part of the state's child care requirements, it is mandated that children play outside every day. The additional noise pollution and impact on neighbours must be considered in light of this.
- The proposed opening hours, 7am - 7pm, are extensive and this noise generation is certainly not fair on neighbours, especially that early in the morning.

I strongly object to this planned development. There are existing childcare centres in Bardwell Park, Bexley, Kingsgrove, Bexley North, Arncliffe and Earlwood. I have personally contacted the centres and at time of writing this objection, all have vacancies.

I urge you to consider and show respect for the established, longstanding residents of Bardwell Park, who deserve a say in the preservation of their suburb.

Barry Ryan OAM
Anke Hoeppner-Ryan

To: rcc@rockdale.nsw.gov.au
Date: 25/5/2015

For the attention of the General/Planning Manager/Planning Department
Application: DA-2015/385
Address : 95 Bardwell Rd, Bardwell Park, NSW 2207

To whom it may concern,

We would like to register our strong objection to the proposed Child Care Centre at 95 Bardwell Rd, Bardwell Park. We understand the necessity for child care facilities but we object to the location.

1. The corner of Bardwell Rd and Devon Rd is a very busy intersection during morning and afternoon peak travel times, especially when Bardwell Road is used as an alternative thoroughfare during the frequent congestions on the M5. Traffic flow from Devon Rd onto Slade Rd is often impeded, with cars banked up to Bardwell Rd in times of peak travel. The traffic blind spot, created by the steep incline of Devon Rd is already a high risk for parents and children at the infants’ school opposite the park. Commuters getting on and off the bus at the two bus stops directly opposite the proposed Centre are also at risk. On-street parking is already an issue for residents on Bardwell Rd. As there is not adequate parking nor a drop off/pick up zone of adequate size for the proposed structure, we can see the above problems becoming much worse.

2. The proposed architecture of the child care centre does not fit into the aesthetics of the area which is zoned low density residential. The Lot width, which is less than the 15 m does not meet the minimal requirement for the size of the proposed structure. This building would dwarf the neighbouring properties.

3. The existing child care centres in Bardwell Park, Bexley, Bexley North, Arncliffe, Earlwood and Kingsgrove all had vacancies when contacted in preparation of this letter.

4. Bardwell Park is a quiet suburb, and we are concerned that the noise pollution created by the traffic associated with this proposed Child Care Centre would seriously impact on the surrounding residents.

5. Our major concern would be for the children being dropped off and picked up during the peak traffic times at the second busiest intersection in Bardwell Park.

Regards

Barry Ryan OAM

Anke Hoeppner-Ryan