Warragamba/Silverdale & Surrounds Forum

Amended plans for the Bents Basin Development from the Sabian Mandaean Association have been received by Wollondilly Council. If any one wishes to make submissions about the application, read the attached notice from Council.

Related documentation for DA from Council.

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If you want to make any submissions about this DA you will need to hurry.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE TOMORROW.

If you have previously made submissions, a quick email to let the Council know whether your objections have been answered by the amended DA will help the council decide their future direction.

Can someone please explain what they have amended in their new proposal?

Dear resident1,
Major changes are listed on the Site Plan (Drawing No. DA100) as:

1.1 Landscaped mound reduced. The size of the proposed mound has indeed been reduced, but the mound is still huge. The visual impact of an enormous anomalous mound in the middle of a flood plain will still be marked. Making an outrageous ambit suggestion does not automatically make a lesser proposal acceptable. The height of the mound remains unchanged. The east-west diameter (ie width across the flood plain) has been changed marginally if at all. The proposal to build a bank across the flood plain to accommodate the ceremonial path remains. The document titled "Bulk Excavation Plan" (DA301) indicates that this bank will be more than five (5) metres high in places.

1.2 Car parking altered. Car parking facilities remain far in excess of the usage envisioned in the Statement of Environmental Effects (GAT & Associates, Amended version July 2009 P9 para 4-6), which states that no more than 25 people will attend the site at any time other than on Australia Day and five days in March. (Weddings have not been included as the Plan of Management submitted in conjunction with the above Statement quite explicitly states that "There are other Mandaean ceremonies but these are not conducted on the site. The site is solely being used for baptism.") The Traffic Report notes that vacant paddock can be used for overflow parking. The provision of almost three car parking places for each person expected on the site appears a little excessive.

1.3 Pond deleted. Thats the one in the car park area, not the one that cuts into the riverbank.

1.4 Amenities Building and Ceremonial Path Altered. Hiding the amenities block in the mound is a great idea. This is a far more aesthetically acceptable proposal than having the block perched on top of the mound. It does however expose the toilet block to flooding at a much lower level. As was noted for the car parking area, the size of the amenities block is far in excess of the needs of the patronage upon which the Plan of Management is based. The damming of the flood channel by the ceremonial path remains problematic.

1.5 Landscaping altered and 1.6 Dividing wall added. Details of these changes are rather vague. Removal of the large concrete apron is pleasing both aesthetically and ecologically. Safety issues might arise on further investigation of the dividing wall. Assurances to various groups, especially objectors from Wallacia, that landscaping would be used to limit the visual impact of the proposed development do not appear to have been included in these amendments.

1.7 Cut and fill altered. This is an area a huge concern. In essence the proposal is to cut away part of the outer bank of the Nepean River downstream from the proposed construction of an enbankment across the flood plain. The effect of this cut on future flood events is not considered at all in the Cardno Willing Report. The "Bulk Excavation Plan" (DA301) outlines areas of cut "up to 1000mm" and areas of "fill". Total cut and fill are given in mm, as is a "net" figure of 0mm. There is no indication of the volume of the proposed cut and fill activities. I note that some areas marked in pink (ie "cut up to 1000mm") on the plan are marked as ending up more than 3 metres below their current level. This plan (DA301) is internally inconsistent and needs in-depth scrutiny.

1.8 Tensile fabric awning lowered 2500mm, timber supports reduced to suit. Whether or not these changes make any real difference to the proposal is perhaps better argued by the residents of Wallacia whose properties overlook the site than by me. The structure will still be clearly visible and an intrusion upon the landscape from substantial areas of my property.

I note the large sewage management system to be set on top of the mound in the middle of the flood plain remains. The septic tank will be constructed at about the level expected in a "1 in 20 year" flood. Water from that system will abviously need to be dispersed below this level.
And they no longer include a loud speaker system in the plans (though that won't mean they can't use portable systems, will it?)
If you want to wade through the various reports you will get a clearer picture.


Cheryl

The DA for Sabian Mandaean has been revised yet again. If you have objections please submit these by 20th January 2010.
Copies of the new plans are available from Warragamba Silverdale Neighbourhood Centre and Silverdale Post Office, along with a download from here.