June 28/06/2025

For context: As University of Notre Dame is planning to expand within Chippendale, we got in touch and UNDA confirmed a public discussion was planned. However, this has been cancelled for availability reasons, see below. Of course FoC remains committed to keep the conversation going with Notre Dame and all of our neighbours.

Dear Neighbours / Community Stakeholders, 

 I refer to the UNDA invitation to attend a Community Information Session on Tuesday 1st July 2025, in relation to the commencement of Development Works on the Blackfriars site located at 4-12 Buckland Street Chippendale, in accordance with the SSD 9571 Consent. 

Unfortunately due to the inability for some stakeholders to attend the community information session scheduled for next Tuesday 1st July 2025 on UNDA’s Campus, we will be changing the format for community engagement via UNDA’s website to ensure information can be accessible to all stakeholders at their convenience. The UNDA Blackfriars feedback email (Blackfriars.feedback@nd.edu.au) is still active and will remain the point of contact for communication with neighbours and the community moving forward. As such the Community Information Session for next Tuesday evening will be cancelled.

The below website link will include the necessary information planned for presentation in relation to the Development Works. 

https://www.notredame.edu.au/blackfriarsproject   

The link will be live from Tuesday 1st July 2025. 

Kind regards, 

Luke Gunson Director Projects - National The University of Notre Dame Australia 

May20th 2025:

Here is a copy of the newsletter highlighting our comments on the revised proposal and vision for Chippendale, send to all of our friends.

May14th 2025:

The developers have made several amendments to the original DA, here is a summary of our response to City of Sydney.

Unfortunately, the underlying pattern of minimal investment and disregard for existing regulations and residents persists. The proposal still fails to meet the standards of sustainable design or responsible construction and remains more harmful than beneficial to the area. While minor improvements are welcome and have been suggested, the core issues—including environmental, regulatory non-compliance and disproportionate negative local impacts—remain. Friends of Chippendale conducted a detailed review, identifying multiple issues that still persist and offering practical solutions to reduce the project’s harm.

Beyond this, the project misses an opportunity  lead by example, make itself future-proof and be a truly green and aspirational building. Something it can do whilst saving on running costs and improving the area.

The main points of contentions are:

• Sustainability: No wastewater management, no on-site recycling, no guarantee green electricity will be used.

• Traffic & Safety Risks: Eliminates Broadway access, rerouting all vehicles through narrow residential streets, breaching SEPP and DCP clauses.

• Overdevelopment: FSR increase from 3:1 to 3.78:1 exceeds planning limits by 26% without infrastructure upgrades.

• Non-Compliant Design: Minimal changes provided. Guest rooms and facilities breach City of Sydney minimum standards for storage, sanitation, and communal space.

• Ignored Community Input: Over 300 objections raised concerns unaddressed in revised plans; collaboration offers rejected by developer.

• Misuse of Developer Contributions: Chippendale sees minimal return on its contributions; urgent call for traffic calming and local reinvestment with CoS.

April 2nd 2025:

During our meeting, the community came together to identify positive, proactive ways to engage with key stakeholders. We're committed to collaboration, transparency, and practical solutions.

• Reaching out to architects, planners, and engineers to highlight DA non-compliance with professional codes

• Offering alternative, community-informed solutions that align with best practice

• Reinforcing our commitment to open dialogue and working together on shared goals

• Focus on traffic: exploring ways to improve local flow, reduce congestion, and prevent Knox Street from being used as a bypass to avoid main road delays

We are now focussing our efforts in addressing these concerns.