A new traffic study for the Harold Park site has received the green light after several requests from residents at a meeting with the Lord Mayor Clover Moore in February.
The City of Sydney has not made it clear whether the survey will be a micro-simulation study, taking into account the unique topography of the Harold Park site.
Member of FLAG Harold Park, Andrew Rolfe said: “Traffic is still the key issue.”
A micro-study is important, since the cliff and the Rozelle Tram Sheds create a special environment channeling all traffic towards Minogue Cres, Wigram Rd and Glebe Point Rd.
“Already today, the streets around the site are highly frequented by motorists,” Mr Rolfe said.
The Harold Park development will add 1,250 homes to the Glebe area and put additional pressure on the roads.
The release date of the new traffic study has yet to be confirmed.
Developer Mirvac does not agree with these concerns.
Chief Executive of the Apartments and Commercial division, John Carfi, said: “Our vision is for Harold Park to integrate seamlessly with the wider area with a mix of housing and new facilities for community benefit.”
A comparison between several construction sites in Sydney shows that Harold Park has the lowest density and highest efficiency.
The company claims that the dwelling ticks several sustainability boxes: public open space, social housing and the light rail.
Furthermore, Mirvac achieves an overlay of 25 percent in BASIX requirements regarding energy and water savings on the site and will contribute $8.25 million on public space and park land.
Greens MP Jamie Parker has criticised the developer, saying: “Mirvac complies with the regulations, but this is just the minimum of what they could do.”
He refers to the Sydney Local Environmental Plan (Harold Park) 2011.
Under paragraph 6.6 (b) it says: “Each of the buildings are likely to exceed both the water and energy targets specified in that [BASIX] certificate by not less than 25%”.
The improved access to Jubilee Park Station as well as contributions of at least $8.25 million to the park improvements were already stipulated in the Planning Agreement of the Central Sydney Planning Committee from February last year.
By Marvin Milatz
