This is a submission by the Urban City East Resident and Business Partnership (UCERBP) to Sydney City Council. It outlines areas for consideration on proposed land use planning reforms and local area action plans. The first section addresses matters related with the planning framework and the second part deals with strategic topic areas and accompanying key areas of concern.

These matters were identified during a number of public forums and consultative workshops. Over 500 hundred local residents and businesses participated in this consultative process.

1. Planning Framework: Identified Concerns

We have two concerns regarding a proposed framework for local area planning. First, that any area definition of City East should include Darlinghurst. The second relates to the current philosophical base that informs Council’s direction to develop a "City of Villages".

i. Any local area planning frameworks should take account of the historical landscape and natural connectiveness that is City East. Therefore, removing Darlinghurst from City East raises concern.

Darlinghurst forms part of the natural landform that is referred to as City East (or ‘East Sydney’). This is primarily due to the natural, cultural and historical connectiveness that exists between Darlinghurst and the adjoining suburbs of Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Potts Point, and Elizabeth and Ruschcutters Bays.

Topographically, Oxford Street follows the ridgeline and forms a natural boundary between Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. City East suburbs lie along the sloping hills that run down from the ridgeline to the harbour foreshore.

The planning review presents an opportunity to reconnect an area linked historically and culturally but badly fragmented by a series of major infrastructure projects over recent decades (the Eastern Suburbs Railway, Kings Cross Tunnel, Eastern Distributor and CCT).

ii. There is little evidence of clear overriding objectives or outcomes connected with the 'City of Villages' model. Our primary apprehension is that a broad definition such as "City of Villages', without any overriding objectives or outcomes can translate into planning decisions that may be inequitable. This concern is based on a current perception that a "City of Villages" so far has primarily been associated with street closures that are having a negative impact on local and surrounding amenity.

We would like the following points to be considered by Council in any local area planning process.

i. That all strategic and local area plans be based on a platform of building and interconnecting suburbs and communities.
ii. That the 'City of Villages' concept be accompanies by clear overriding objectives and outcomes

2. Key Areas Identified for Consideration In The Development Of Land Use Planning Instruments and Local Area Action Plans

Listed in the following section are strategic topics and key areas of concern that have been identified through a number of community consultations and planning forums. These consultation forums were co-ordinated by the City East Resident and Business Partnership (CERBP).

Each strategic topic is accompanies by key areas of concern, which were raised and discussed throughout the consultations. A facilitated workshop will be held in December 2005 to review these strategic topics.

STRATEGIC TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION

1. Access & Equity
2. Cultural Diversity
3. Economic And Employment
4. Governance
5. Heritage
6. Residential Amenity
7. Safety 8. Sustainability
9. Traffic & Transport

1. ACCESS & EQUITY

Council recognise that there are people in Sydney LGA who are socially and economically disadvantaged. In response to this matter Council should aim to eliminate all barriers that influence a persons capacity and/or opportunity to participate in Councils decision-making processes.

Key Matters For Consideration

• That access & equity be a primary objective in future infrastructure decisions;
• Foreshore access should be maintained and expanded wherever possible;
• Policy decisions should be underpinned by equity principles, particular in association with access to the Sydney Harbour foreshore;
• Sydney’s aging population should be taken into account in future infrastructure decisions;
• The development of affordable housing initiatives should take account of keys worker and social housing need.

Local Matters For Consideration

That access and equity be a principle consideration in any proposed development or redevelopment of Woolloomooloo Bay.

2. CULTURAL DIVERSITY

People often choose to live in inner cities areas based on a desire to engage with the existing culture, street life and amenity of that area. The impact of this can led to a process of gentrification and the introduction of new values systems. The values of newer resident can in turn be in conflict with the older established community. Council needs to recognise the inherent contradiction that are a product of this process and find ways to ensure that older residents are not disfranchised from decision-making processes. With this in mind Council should aim to maintain and respect the historical social and culture identity of an area.

Key Matters For Consideration

• Develop programs that support, respect and celebrate the cultural life of an area with regard for past, present and future generations;
• Encourage the development of programs that support the historical personality and spirit of an area;
• Work to ensure that the values expressed by different sections of the community are incorporated in the decision making process;
• Support policies that built opportunities for people to interact and mingle; • Maintain and encourage access to cultural and social heritage through policies that enhance street life;
• Establish and support art and cultural programs that respect and celebrate the various values that exist within communities;
• Ensure the provision of infrastructure that is appropriate for the end users including an aging and ethnically diverse population;
• Support the development of local business districts with a community focus.

Local Matters For Consideration

Consideration should be given to the history of sex street work in terms of its historical cultural linkages to an area (i.e. local band Cold Chisel’s famous song “The girls in the avenue”.)

3. ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT

That Council take into account the sustainable of local economies and employment outcomes as part of its strategic analysis and decision-making process.

Key Matters For Consideration

• Create sustainable economic outcomes by encouraging investments in local jobs that respond to local unemployment and identified employment opportunities;
• That Council identify the economic impact of planning decisions taking into account Sydney role as a Global City;
• Develop land use planning controls to facilitate the expansion of Cathedral street Woolloomooloo as an entertainment business district.

4. GOVERNANCE

Council should recognise that the historical social and cultural makeup of an area has an influences on the way communities engage not just with each other but with systems of governance. Council should aim to fairly and effectively represent all levels of the community across its varied social, cultural and economic spheres with the aim of building social capital, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Key Matters For Consideration

• To ensure that all groups are considered in the decision-making process, evidence based planning should be at the forefront of all Council’s decisions for the future;
• Council develop policies and training plans that aim to achieve the highest standard of accountability;
• Council should fairly and effectively represent its varied community across all social, economic and cultural viewpoints;
• Social responsibility should be at the forefront of Councils investment strategies.

Local Matters For Consideration

That Council lobby against the use of sniffer dogs at Kings Cross station turnstiles and surrounding streets due to the fact that it erodes social capital and a sense of fair governance through a process of disempowerment both in terms of the existing population and visiting tourists to the city.

5. HERITAGE

It is important to celebrate heritage in a meaningful way for past, current and future generations. Council through its leadership role and as a custodian of community heritage should ensure that heritage consideration go beyond the built form and include the cultural and social aspects that inform local landscapes.

Key Matters For Consideration

• That the existing heritage character of suburbs be preserved and enhanced wherever possible;
• New developments standard should complement existing heritage through innovative design principles.

Local Matters For Consideration

• Extend the Kings Cross Neon Precinct to incorporate the submission to City Council by the National Trust of NSW to the Signage and Advertising DCP and supported by the Art Deco Society;
• Extend the Kings Cross Neon Precinct include William Street with additional provisions for sky signs and their scaffold and restrict by disincentives blocked in advertisements (which replaced the scaffold neons);
• Promote Kings Cross area as an area of National Heritage Significance following the recommendations of the Art Deco Society;
• Extend Heritage Streetscape classification to include Darlinghurst Road (north and south) and William Street (south);
• List all modernist and early twentieth century buildings included on the DocoMOMA building register held at the Royal Institute of Architects;
• Establish Heritage Conservation Areas centred on St John’s and Sacred Heart Church precincts and their views to and from the church precinct;
• Recognise in all Council listings buildings, streetscapes, murals (including the early 1980s murals under the Eastern Suburbs Railway viaduct) associated with or saved by the Green Bans campaigns of 1972-1975 and key sites associated with the Department of Planning initiatives
• Establish an annual Jack Mundey Heritage Award for local heritage initiatives by community groups.

6. RESIDENTIAL AMEMITY

Neighbourhoods are shaped by many things i.e. location, landscape, history and heritage. In combination with this is the social and economic makeup of a community. These matters in turn influence the environmental and social amenity of areas and should be a primary consideration in addressing residential amenity.

Key Matters For Consideration

• That overriding aims and outcomes accompany the establishment of an urban village framework for Sydney;
• Social and economic concerns be primary in Council’s consideration regarding existing and future street closures;
• That any evaluation of pedestrian movements recognise that people will always take the shortest and most accessible route;
• That street landscaping initiatives aim to improve pedestrian movements by decreasing barriers or obstacles that inhibit pedestrian movements;
• Re-establish the historical street lines, which have been slowly eroded by large-scale infill development;
• Balance the demands for sporting and community infrastructure with the requirements for preserving, cultural and natural landscapes;
• Explore ways to facilitate the development of affordable/suitable aged accommodation options within the LGA;
• Aim to create a balance between the demands for new residential development against community aspiration to preserve the historical character of existing neighbourhoods. Local Matters For Consideration
• That the existing building heights along Darlinghurst Rd and William St be maintained;
• That setback along Darlinghurst Rd, especially those above the Kings Cross tunnel areas examined with the aim of re-establishing the historical street line;
• Remove street level barriers that divide the communities of Kings Cross, Woolloomoolloo, and Darlinghurst;
• That the creation of walled or cut off communities through street closures be evaluated, particular in terms of Bourke Street.

7. SAFETY

Creating a sense of safety is a fundamental aspiration for all sections of the population and it should be a primary consideration for Council in all its decision-making processes.

Key Matters For Consideration

Facilitate design principles that encourage both active and passive surveillance. Ensure existing and new infrastructure is designed and maintained so that it is easily accessible, attractive and safe.

8. SUSTAINABILITY

Undertake development initiatives and partnerships based on sustainability principles. Furthermore, sustainable principals should include social and community health impacts.

Key Matters For Consideration

Sustainability should be an overriding principal in terms of the commercial, residential, social and environmental amenity of the City. Partnerships between Council and other stakeholders should aim to enhance community sustainable. Initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles through activities such as walking and cycle usage should be encourages. Discouragement of street closures not based around sustainability principles. Water management principles should consider the maintenance of water quality, reduction of stormwater runoff, and water consumption.

9. TRANSPORT & TRAFFIC

Transport and traffic refers to the different modes of travel or movement required to undertake a range of daily activities associated with access to work, leisure, and social facilities. It is important to maintain the connectiveness of our city to its surrounding suburbs. For this reason we would encourage Council to support the creation and maintenance of accessible pathways between suburbs in terms of transport and traffic movements.

Key Matters For Consideration

• Future infrastructure decisions should aim to reduce local journeys destination transport movements.
• Implement systems that connect local and regional bike paths.
• Implement systems for bicycle parking and storage facilities.
• Develop system that ensure the integration of land uses and transport systems aimed of reducing car travel. Improve pedestrian accessibility.
• Give priority to connecting transport networks.
• Prioritise pedestrians in addressing all forms of transport infrastructure.

Local Matters For Consideration

Remove all existing opportunities for all day non-metered kerb side parking within a 2 km radius of the CBD.  

See Additional discussions on Traffic Planning - Public Meetings & Resolutions

CITY OF SYDNEY COUNCIL - City East Traffic Resolutions & Our Response

back to top