Sustainable Sydney 2030 receives widespread endorsement |
Business groups, government and community organisations have given the City of Sydneys Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision a glowing endorsement following a six-week exhibition of the plan for Sydneys future.
The plan is due to be considered for adoption at a City of Sydney Council meeting on Monday 30 June.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said the City is now moving from vision and consultation to partnership and implementation.
"The overwhelming majority of submissions are supportive of the strategy in general and appreciative of the enormous amount of work that has gone into this project,"Ms Moore said.
"This is testament to the comprehensive consultation undertaken during the past 18 months to develop the strategy which included more than 30 consultation meetings and events which directly communicated with more than 10,000 people.
"The hard work has been done. Now is the time to move forward and start making the vision of 2030 a reality. It wont always be easy, but what 2030 has done is solidify government, business and community belief that real progress - even radical change - is possible by working together with a mutual determination to create a better city,"Ms Moore said.
"Weve already started implementing some of the 2030 strategy by signing an MOU with the State Government to explore affordable housing in Glebe, establishing a panel to oversee the Eora Journey and Indigenous Cultural Centre, purchasing land opposite Sydney Town Hall to create a new park and construction has started on separated bicycle lanes."
The Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision proposes three great public squares linking Central Railway Station with Circular Quay along a pedestrianised George St complete with light rail.
The 2030 vision also suggests burying the Western Distributor and removing the Cahill Expressway, a new park at Darling Harbour, development over the scar created by the Central Railway Station railway lines, a new, lower-carbon, electricity generation system called Green Transformers, and an Indigenous Cultural Centre.
One of the central themes of the vision is reintegration - ensuring that all new city infrastructure delivers real improvements in city livability, economic and social performance and urban design.
The vision has been developed by the City of Sydney and a team of Sydneys leading urban designers, planners and architects with input from internationally renowned architect Jan Gehl.
Eighty-nine formal submissions were received on the plan as well as 157 emailed comments and 93 written comments from a 2030 exhibition at Customs House, Circular Quay and the Citys Neighbourhood Service Centres and Libraries.
More than 157,000 people visited Customs House during May when the exhibition was held, more than 245,000 people visited 19 other Council venues where 2030 information was available and 18,000 people visited www.sydney2030.com.au . A further 11 consultation meetings were held briefing 547 local residents, business and community leaders.
Some of the organisations to lodge formal submissions include the University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney, University of Western Sydney, World Wildlife Fund, NSW Health, Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Meriton, TTF, Bicycle NSW, NSW Taxi Council, Property Council of NSW and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma has already applauded the plan saying "I commend the City of Sydney for the detailed thought that has gone into it... Just as the State and the Commonwealth work together - so too the State and City need to work together in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation."
Urban Taskforce Australia CEO Aaron Gadiel said: "Our conclusion can be simply expressed: World-class experts have been involved in the development of this strategy and many of the projects and actions included are groundbreaking.
Liz Ann Macgregor, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art said: "The Sustainable Sydney 2030 strategy recognises the crucial role of art and culture in our City in a variety of ways. It acknowledges the relationship between art and culture and urban vibrancy, which in turn supports and encourages a thriving knowledge economy.
"It also recognises that art and culture can play an important role in community building and cohesiveness, and that art must be included as an integral part of our city - not just an optional add-on."
Energy Australia has already asked to partner with the city through a new strategic working group to further discuss the implementation of a green transformer network.
Green transformers use natural gas to simultaneously generate electricity and harvest the heat by-product for heating and cooling uses utilising off-the-shelf technologies with dramatic greenhouse gas reductions.
Christopher Brown, Managing Director Tourism & Transport Forum said: "The 2030 Plan will require the active participation of all levels of government. A collaborative approach will ensure the most effective examination of the proposals put forward in Sustainable Sydney 2030."
Stephen Loosely, the Chair of the Committee for Sydney said: "The Strategic Plan aims to establish a balance between objectives that might otherwise seem mutually exclusive. To provide for growth while improving the citys amenity.
"To acknowledge Sydneys global status without overlooking the needs of citizens in their communities. The City of Sydney has set an ambitious agenda. This is to be applauded, for far too often in politics agendas can represent the lowest common denominator."
All submissions received have been carefully considered and factored into the final Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision document.
The Sustainable Sydney 2030 team led by City of Sydney and SGS Economics and Planning includes: Simpson + Wilson Architecture and Urban Design; Kinesis; Strategic Economics; Australia Street Company; Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects; Neil Prosser; Gehl Architects; Geoff Anson Consulting; and Anagram. Project ideas developed by Lacoste Stevenson; Tonkin Zulaika Greer; Merrima Design; Tony Caro Architecture; Francis-Jones Morehen Thorpe; Johnson Pilton Walker; Hassell; Neeson Murcutt; Olsson Associates; Peter McGregor; James Mather Delaney Design and Bates Smart.
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➼ Sustainable Sydney 2030 receives widespread endorsement
➼ www.sydneymedia.com.au
➼ www.sydney2030.com.au
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