A group of residents are fed up with the noise, dust and vibration coming from a development site in Wollongong’s CBD.
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Nearby residents are calling on Wollongong City Council to impose further controls on the builder of an apartment complex on the corner of Flinders, Campbell and Keira streets.
John Higgins believes the council’s consent conditions placed on the development at the time of approval are inadequate.
About 30 residents in surrounding properties signed Mr Higgin’s letter of complaint that was sent to Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and councillors.
“The combined effects of noise, dust and vibration are making life unbearable, and we urge the council to immediately take steps to protect our health and well being,” he said.
“The site developers and builders must be prevailed upon to take reasonable and prudent steps to minimise the impact of their activities.”
The development is for shop-top housing and will include four seven to eight storey buildings totalling 221 residential apartments. The development was approved in 2016 and the build is expected to take another two years.
“I can’t put up with the noise for that long,” Mr Higgins said.
He said dust was escaping from earthworks and was affecting residents’ health, comfort and condition of their properties.
“We also have been exposed to excessive noise pollution on an almost daily basis six days per week for approximately 10 hours each day,” he said.
Mr Higgins said site works start before 7am and there were no respite hours from the noise expect for a brief period at midday.
“We are exposed to excessive vibration emanating from heavy earthmoving equipment, piledriving equipment, large trucks and rock breaking equipment continuously while earthworks take place,” he said.
“These impacts have been underway for more than four months now.”
Mr Higgins is also concerned there is no safe walking access on Keira Street near Campbell Street because the pedestrian crossing is blocked while drainage works are carried out.
Barry Armstrong, who lives on the corner of Campbell and Keira streets, said he too was fed up with noise and dust coming from the site and could not hear his television because of the vibrations.
The residents are calling on the council to reduce the hours of operation, ensure respite periods are taken during the day, ensure the builders are using noise suppression technologies, cover dust piles, and provide residents with reports of monitored dust, noise and vibration levels.
“I understand they need to build but they should do it under better terms and conditions for residents,” Mr Higgins said.
He said said the measures should have been included in the development application consent conditions.
Mr Higgins said he had spoken to the private certifier, councillors and Environmental Protection Authority NSW but he felt like his complaints had fallen of deaf ears.
A Wollongong council spokesman said the council believed the developer was complying with the conditions of consent.
“For all significant developments, the council actively monitor the works and the impacts on surrounding areas,” he said.
“The council is of the view that the consent conditions are adequate.”
The spokesman said if residents needed information or wanted to bring something to the attention of the developer, they should go to the private certifier in the first instance.
“Details of the certifier are available on the site itself, through the developer, or through the council,” he said.
“It’s the responsibility of the private certifier to ensure the developer complies with the conditions of the development approval.
“If there are any breaches of the conditions, it is the certifier’s responsibility to inform the developer and council as necessary.”
