A comment regarding traffic flow

The issue of entry and departure from HM is sounding like an issue that is in the "too hard basket". Ceerose states that: "Cars are not SUPPOSED to drive up or down the driveway on the southern side of the building between Jones Lane and Jones Street... and It is INTENTED only for pedestrians and the garbage truck." Who will policing this? City of Sydney state that: "Vehicle access is considered suitable to this site... " By which standard? "...and has been supplemented by the THROUGH SITE LINK connecting Jones Street and Jones Lane... This link will allow vehicles to enter and exit the site without needing to reverse on a road, and all servicing will be contained within the site." Does this statement contradict what Ceerose have stated? And again, who is policing this? Sorry, but anyone can see that the narrowness of both Jones Street and Jones Lane is prohibitive for safe two-way access. These responses seem to fall short of addressing to the concerns raised under PUBLIC CONSULTATION: (b) Vehicle access to and from the site is inadequate and will cause inconvenience to residents living along Jones St and will increase danger to school children. Warning lights should be installed at crossings near the school. I’m not sure if the City of Sydney Town Planners considered the decision to move Pyrmont Public along Jones Street but I am envisaging further increases of traffic and associated safety risks. Associated with any school, there is a significant number of parents that choose to drop off their children and so, will require access and a drop-off area; there will be up to 1000 students moving to and from the school location at least 5 days per week for 40 weeks, let alone pre and post school times, during meetings and events such as Parent/Teacher meetings; there are is also school extracurricular transport to consider such as buses for excursions and sport; visitors and in-school excursions, canteen and office supplies... it can go on. Dare I mention the building works that will be going on both during time that the school is being built but also during any ongoing project work such as landscaping, repairs etc? It is suggested that there should be TRAFFIC LIGHTS installed but then we may need to factor-in additional time for light changes from local, visitor and school sources for our arrival and departure. Right now, it indisputable that there are issues with: - the narrowness of Jones Street Currently, existing residents enter and leave their properties by taking turns to back into the street due to parked cars. If it was a NO PARKING ZONE then there may be an opportunity for two-way traffic, however, this option may be quite unfair to the current residents. - the even greater narrowness of Jones Lane It's really only wide enough for one-way traffic. So, we are already facing a difficult traffic situation - let alone what may happen in the future. Both Ceerose and City of Sydney are charged with the responsibility of managing this situation. I fear however, that given their efforts to-date, that they are hoping “brush it under the carpet”. We may very well be left with a long and possibly futile battle - which will be a headache for all but more importantly a very serious safety hazard. PS Could this also affect our insurance premiums - personally and for the HM...?

Update on garden, road access, graffiti and DH lift

Ok, a few pieces of news.

First, the planting has started, with half a dozen trees in the Eastern garden. According to the landscape plan, another 40 or so shrubs should be added, both along the wall next to the road, and near the brown wall. The new trees will grow very tall over the years.

Second, we've been assured by Ceerose that the graffiti on the wall below the road will be removed or painted over, but only when the building is finished and residents can protect the area.

Third, the new lift into Darling Harbour has been built, about 10 metres past the exiting lift.

A new steel walkway will extend from the near the existing lift entrance across to the new lift.

Finally, Ceerose has clarified how we drive into and out of the carpark. Jones Street is two-way. Cars are not supposed to drive up or down the driveway on the southern side of the building between Jones Lane and Jones Street. It is intended only for pedestrians and the garbage truck.

A couple of great aerial shots

This aerial shot was taken a couple of months ago but it shows HM at an advanced stage, and also the large amount of greenery and water nearby. The area in the foreground is Blackwattle Bay which will be transformed under the Bays Precinct developments.

In fact, Blackwattle Bay is on the edge of the Bays Precinct, as is the city, and the Precinct extends all around the foreshore towards Balmain and Glebe.

Landscapers have started, grain elevator house restored

Lots of people on site on a Saturday (11 July). Soil has been brought into the garden on the eastern side, although no sign yet of any planting. Expect this side to become dense shrubs and trees.

The stairway down to the light rail on the 'podium' level has a stylish glass partition, probably separating the public access part from the entry to HM. The stairs have a sloping section where bikes can be pushed up. But not much more progress on the external lift in recent weeks, still surrounded by scaffolding

But the grain elevator house looks finished, now covered in corrugated steel. This was one of the original features that the developer had to restore, and I heard they had to cut back 10 square metres of space from two apartments in the corner. It's a distinctive and attractive feature worth retaining, and it links with the weighbridge below which also should be restored.

Update on settlement and moving in

Spoke to the developer, Ceerose, and here is our 'sad cat' face at hearing about the delays.

They said they had lost time finishing the externals (membranes and public spaces) during the heavy rain, but they continued to make good progress inside.

All owners will receive an email update within a week or two, advising that the 'settlement inspections' will occur before the end of August. This is when all owners have the opportunity to see their apartments, report any problems (there is normally a builder on site) or sign off that they are acceptable.

After that, settlement must occur within 21 days, although if someone is ready to move immediately, then maybe by the end of August if all goes well. But for most, sounds like September.

After moving in, there is a three month warranty on fixtures and fitting (so the pre settlement inspection is not the only chance to fix something), and a six year warranty on the building.

So a bit more patience is required, no doubt they are doing what they can to make progress.

But we want to get on with it!

How do we drive in and out of HM?

Have you ever wondered how we will drive in and out of Harbour Mill? Jones Street is only wide enough to take one car. So what are the options?


There are several ways it can work, but none of them ideal:

1. Ban parking on Jones Street and make it wide enough for cars to pass. This seems improbable because residents want to park outside their houses.

2. Introduce a one-way system where cars drive down Jones Lane to go into HM and up Jones Street to leave HM. Or the other way around. Also seems unacceptable as the existing residents of Jones Street (and visitors) would need to drive through HM to go to their houses. This would effectively make the driveway at the side of HM into a public road. But no apartment building has the public driving through its property like that, and what happens if a member of the public hits the building? Jones Lane is a tiny little street, it would feel like we're sneaking in the back way.

3. Leave it as single lane and drivers have to wait if someone is already coming towards them. This would work most of the time but what happens when two cars arrive at the same time and meet in the middle of Jones Street? Does one then have to reverse back a long way? This seems the most likely of the options, as existing residents must do this, but we'll need to keep our eyes open.

4. Install a traffic light system. This sounds weird for a short street, but it may be necessary to give cars right of way.

I wonder if this has been sorted out. Does anyone have an opinion on how it will work?