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Clarification on C7 & Global TV Marshalling prior to entering ATP studios

The following extract is taken from a letter from architectus on behalf of Global Television Services and Channel 7 in relation to DA number 051-08-09 to clarify the process of audience arrival and marshalling prior to entering the studios on 29 October 2009. As this letter addresses a number of issues which have been raised as concerns in the community during exhibition we have reproduced the clarifications here. The letter from which this has been extracted is part of the DA Application which is being exhibited until 2 December 2009.

We write on behalf of Global Television Services and Channel 7 in relation to DA number 051-08-09 to clarify the process of audience arrival and marshalling prior to entering the studios.

A meeting was held with the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) and Australian Technology Park (ATP) management on the 7 October 2009 regarding audience arrival/marshalling and the use of the plaza area. This letter confirms that the plaza area on the eastern side of the building is not required for use by Global Television Services and Channel 7, furthermore ATP confirms that landowners consent for the use of this space is not required. Furthermore, ATP management have no objections to the proposal. (Refer to Appendix A, e-mail from ATP management)

Joanne McGuiness (Senior Planner) has requested that this letter form an amendment to DA051-08-09, which was lodged on the 25 August 2009 for the use of the studios and runway areas as a place of public entertainment (POPE). Joanne also provided on the 8 October 2009 and 22 October 2009, copies of the submissions received during the notification period and this letter will addresses the issues raised in the public submissions received during the notification period. (Copies of the submissions are provided at Appendix B).

Appendix A, e-mail from ATP management)

Joanne McGuiness (Senior Planner) has requested that this letter form an amendment to DA051-08-09, which was lodged on the 25 August 2009 for the use of the studios and runway areas as a place of public entertainment (POPE). Joanne also provided on the 8 October 2009 and 22 October 2009, copies of the submissions received during the notification period and this letter will addresses the issues raised in the public submissions received during the notification period. (Copies of the submissions are provided at Appendix B).

Appendix B).
  1. Audience arrival and marshalling

  2. Audiences will arrive and enter the building through the eastern side doors via the plaza area situated on level 1 of the building. The audience will gather entirely within the building, within the nominated area, prior to being ushered up to the studios situated on level 2 by the producers of the show and support staff.

    Therefore, the plaza area is not required for use by Global or Channel 7, as part of the marshalling of the audiences and landowners consent is not required.

  3. Submissions

Three submissions plus two further submissions were received during the notification period which raised the following main areas of concern:

Noise

The submissions raised concerns with the potential noise created from audiences arriving and departing and the potential impact this may have on surrounding residents.

This amendment to the DA ensures that any potential noise from the audience arrival is contained entirely within the building and will not impact on the amenity enjoyed by surrounding residents. Furthermore, the residential properties are located to the south west in Rowley Street (approximately 150 metres away from the eastern side of the building) and the arrival point is to the south eastern side of the building fronting Central Avenue, therefore the impact to these residents in terms of noise is considered to be minimal.

Producers and support staff will ensure that the studio audiences will be marshalled up to the level two (2) studios following the internal path of travel outlined in the plan provided at Appendix C.

Appendix C.

In terms of audiences departing the site, staff and security will ensure that audience members are directed to the internal car park or taxi/public transport options in a timely and quiet manner.

Audience capacity across the four studios

The submissions raise concern regarding the potential amount of audiences arriving/departing at one time.

The proposed audience capacity across the four studios will be limited to 1000 persons, in accordance with the audience management plan prepared by Global Television at Appendix B of the application documents. The BCA egress requirements as per the original concept approval, stipulate that the maximum amount of persons per studio is 500 persons.

Based on the fact that the maximum capacity of an individual studio is 500 persons including cast and crew, an average audience size would be 250 to 300 persons. Furthermore, the individual studio times will vary, thereby staggering the various studio audiences through out the day/evening. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that there will ever be 1000 persons congregating in the café at the one time, more realistically there will be 250 to 300 persons (an average audience).

Parking

Submissions raise concern about the amount of parking provided on-site and that it is in-sufficient to be able to cater for the predicted audience visitors to the Channel 7 and Global Television studios.

As discussed in the Statement of Environmental Effects, there are 697 car parking spaces provided over two basement levels and in accordance with the concept plan approval (MP 06_0149), 347 spaces are allocated to tenants and occupants of the building, whilst 350 are provided to the landowner for uses associated with the other buildings at the ATP and for visitors. It is considered that the audience visitors will use the 350 visitor spaces, in addition to the visitor car parking spaces which are provided throughout the Australian Technology Park.

The Part 3A concept approval considered traffic generation of the proposed development including the use of the studios as a place of public entertainment. The Minister for Planning found that the proposed car parking was adequate. It is not proposed to alter the parking provision approved in the Concept Plan Consent. It is considered that this amount of parking is sufficient to adequately cater for audiences, given that the average audience size is 250 to 300 persons, and that the site is within walking distance to Redfern Station, not every individual will drive.

Hours of Operation

Submissions raise concern with the proposed hours of operation of the studios stating that audiences could arrive at 6am to get the best seats and depart at midnight, which will impact on the amenity of residential properties.

As indicated in the Statement of Environmental Effects, the original Concept Plan consent states that the studios will be in use on a 24 hourly, seven day basis and live audience television programs will generally being recorded between 7:30am and 11pm.

Global Television and Channel 7 will inform audience members when they are to arrive and to register for the filming of television shows. Audiences will be able to wait in the cafe area inside the building prior to being marshalled to the studios and as stated above, security and staff will ensure that audience members on the completion of filming are directed to their cars and other transport options in a quiet and efficient manner.

Liquor

Submissions raised concern regarding the service of alcohol to audience members and potential noise impacts this may create.

To address this concern, both Global and Channel 7 can confirm that they will not serve alcohol to audience members without first obtaining any required licence to do so. Furthermore, no alcohol is proposed to be available for sale, therefore mitigating the above mentioned concern about noise impacts.

Helicopters

At this stage it is not envisaged that there will be any helicopters arriving or departing from the subject site.

Source: Extracted from documents on exhibition at: www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/development_applications/development_proposals_on_exhibition.htm