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31 July 2010 |
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City to bring life back into forgotten laneways28 November 2006 City of Sydney Council is proposing to breathe new life into CBD laneways with a range of creative initiatives to encourage more activity and recognise the cultural, artistic and historic significance of laneways. The "Live Lanes" program was one of 35 projects identified as part of the City's comprehensive Local Action Plan for the CBD - involving months of community consultation and development. The draft CBD plan (taking in Chinatown, Dawes Point, Haymarket, Millers Point, The Rocks and Walsh Bay) is the last of eight prepared by the City, covering every zone of the Local Government Area. It is inspired by the three attributes of renewal, vibrancy and liveability. Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said laneways provided an opportunity to create an environment for CBD residents, workers and visitors to meet, eat, shop and be entertained. "We are auditing 20 lanes in the CBD to develop a Live Lanes Revitalisation Strategy," Ms Moore said. "It is a long-term vision to revitalise City laneways and the City has already allocated $4.4 million to develop a strategy and enlist support from the business and arts community. "Council will provide the necessary infrastructure to assist with the change such as upgraded paving, lighting, landscaping, street trees and colour through banners and art. "We will set the stage, but we will be seeking the input of the business and arts communities in partnership with the City," Ms Moore said. The plan supports the City's desire to enhance facilities, improve transport modes, increase public safety and provide new open space, while building upon Sydney's global City credentials. "The CBD, as the core area of Sydney's City of Villages, has international, national and local significance. It also has a leading role in commerce, culture, landscape, administration, heritage, and tourism, to name a few," Ms Moore said. "Laneways are an important part of the CBD fabric and our Local Action Plan identifies an opportunity to capitalise on their location and function to strengthen social and cultural interaction in the City. "People often think back with fond memories of Rowe Street prior to its removal to make way for the MLC Centre in 1973. It was an example of an intimate laneway and was a popular destination for Sydneysiders to shop and socialise. "Rowe Street typifies how a contemporary approach to laneways can provide a social mechanism to link and enliven the City adding colour, culture and art," Ms Moore said. Some ideas currently being considered include:
Ms Moore said many of the projects in the CBD plan were suggested by members of CBD-based residential, commercial and cultural communities. "Some of these are already in progress as part of two and four year programs, while a number of major projects will require up to eight years to investigate and complete. "At the same time, the outcomes of community consultation and the array of tasks and projects identified across all zones within the LGA, including the CBD, will be fed into the Council's Vision 2030, which is now taking shape." Priority laneways to be assessed include: Loftus and Customs House Lanes, Bulletin Place, Tank Stream and Abercrombie Lanes, Penfolds and Hosking's Lane, Council Lane, York Lane, Albion Place, Angel Place and Ash Street, Lees Court and Rowe Street, Curtin Place and Little Hunter Street, Reiby Place, Wynyard Lane and Douglass and Eagar Lanes. Media contact: Josh MacKenzie on 0402 351 459
Priority projects for Sydney CBD and its neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Dawes Point, The Rocks, Haymarket, Millers Point and WalshBay The significant qualities valued by residents: "liveable, safe, clean City" "diversity, accessibility and Inclusiveness ": "celebration of outdoor life" " a sustainable and green City "a celebration of history, culture and creativity." RENEWAL Hyde Park - staged implementation ofthecompleted Hyde Park Plan of Management, based on the 1926 plan of Landscape Architect Norman Weeks, to preserve the park vistas, central spine and open grass areas. BelmorePark, Hay Street, Haymarket -improvements to Belmore Park, as an important green space, within the southern area of the CBD.Possible work includes restoring the rotunda for use as a live music venue in summer, expanding cultural events in the park, improving planting and facilities as well as promoting Belmore Park as a local community gathering place. ObservatoryHillPark, Upper Fort Street, Millers Point - work with community groups and local institutions to provide better access and establish Observatory Hill as a neighbourhood gathering place for cultural events, sport and relaxation. LangPark, corner York and Lang Streets, Sydney-seating, paving, landscape and public art improvements to create a new outdoor living space in the City. PottingerPark East - improve public amenity, seating and public art. Build on the experience of Sydney's urban outdoors and lifestyle - encourage use of Sydney's plazas and forecourts as "outdoor rooms", modelled on active public spaces such as Australia Square plaza, the MLC plaza, World Square plaza, the Barracks forecourt, the Mint courtyard and the Opera House concourse. Customs House Forecourt as a major gathering place - activate the forecourt through a range of strategies including extended café hours, an outdoor screen and expanded program of cultural events. Renewing Sydney Square- leading artists and landscape designers will redesign and transform the square, including options for a sustainable water feature, outdoor cafe, art works, cultural performances, seating and a greening and softening of the forecourt between the Town Hall and St Andrew's Cathedral. Queens Square -an urban design concept to renew Queens Square as one of the CBD's most important historic precincts, alongside St James Church and the High Court. St Mary's Cathedral forecourt -an urban design concept is being developed by the City for the forecourt to green and enrich the culture and liveliness of the precinct. Sydney's streetscapes - continuing streetscape improvements, and improving the enjoyment, safety and accessibility of walking and cycling in the CBD. The City is halfway through a four year upgrade program worth $18.9 million. Sydney's laneways -develop a series of urban design projects to enliven the laneways in the CBD and to encourage outdoor cafes and bars, artworks, installations, wi-fi connections, greening and lighting design. Some 20 priority lanes have been identified, including Bulletin Place, Abercrombie Lane, Angel Place, Albion Lane and Council Lane, off George Street. Chinatown improvements -enliven the main streets around Chinatown to reflect the contemporary culture of Chinatown and review Dixon Street. $5 million is budgeted over four years, with $200,000 to be spent on a study over the next year. Improved access between Sydney's historical and cultural centres -providing effective signage to facilitate pedestrian traffic between Circular Quay, The Rocks and Walsh Bay, and promote greater public access to the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Finding your way in the CBD - create a signage strategy and series of identified walking paths to link key destinations in the City, enhancing people's knowledge and enjoyment of the spirit of the place. The project would link special places, including:
Circular Quay, FirstFleetPark and the Custom's House forecourt -investigate an urban design plan to renew the public space of Circular Quay, Alfred Street Square and First Fleet Park and to rethink the use of the Custom's House forecourt. Martin Place-enliven Martin Place as a destination for people to meet in the CBD, with a series of lunchtime parades/music/events and retail marketing as a grand walking and shopping boulevard. Central Station Precinct, including Belmore Park - improving the links to and from the CBD's major rail station, as well as enabling surrounding parks to meet contemporary community needs for children's playgrounds, quiet spaces and green spaces. WalshBay Transport -investigate the potential for light rail and improved public transport for Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, to make the area a sustainable community village, connected to the CBD and beyond. Wynyard Station - improve pedestrian links to and from this busy CBD rail station, with enhanced public space to meet contemporary community needs. VIBRANCY Integrated public transport systems -Council to advocate and work with the State and Federal Governments for improved integrated public transport, with single ticketing systems to support economic growth and liveability. Integrated transport to include bus, train, ferry and light rail services, to ensure Sydney has a future as a sustainable, liveable global City. A pedestrian and cycle friendly City with fewer cars - implement the City Bicycle Strategy and develop walking and pedestrian links across the City from bus and train stations and key activity centres. Review traffic intersections to give priority to pedestrians. Provide parking for motor cycles and bicycles in and around the CBD. Promote walking -the City's new Pedestrian Strategy and Action Plan will focus on practical short term and innovative long term change to make walking safer and easier. Fostering a rich cultural life and harmonious community- implement the City's Social Plan and Cultural Plan to celebrate the diversity and identity of Sydney's communities. Cultural partnership strategies will enrich Sydney's reputation as a cultural capital, nationally and internationally. Promote Healthy Lifestyles - encourage active lifestyles by promoting walking, cycling and recreational activities. Promote the benefits of pet ownership and harmonious and equitable use of the parks in the City. Celebrating Sydney's early history and heritage - extensive heritage research now underway will strengthen the City's heritage controls and lead to new opportunities to celebrate and retain the heritage buildings of Sydney's villages and CBD. Cultural leadership -provide leadership and opportunities for debate and engagement in the life of the City for all Sydney residents, workers and visitors, through programs like City Talks and events such as Art & About. LIVEABILITY Sustainable, alternative transport, parking and traffic management -ongoing research, lobbying and funding for an integrated, effective transport system will be complemented by a range of strategies to review and improve traffic and parking management. Improved street cleaning - review community suggestions to improve street cleaning building on changes already underway. Promote keeping the City clean. Better noise control -enforce noise controls to reduce weekend and late night noise as well as illegal noise. Noise from waste collections is also under review. Council will work with police to prevent drag racing and vehicle noise. Providing for neighbourhood needs -as more people move into the CBD villages there are increasing needs for services that extend beyond business hours. The community is requesting more cafes and restaurants open in the late afternoon, evenings and weekends; more food specialty shops and supermarkets, a public school, a community bus, more activities for seniors, the young and children; as well as local doctors and health services. Enriching City life -the City will continue, through a series of programs and policies, to take a leadership role in shaping Sydney as a City with an exceptionally rich cultural life and heritage. A safe city - Council is working with police to improve the safety and perception of safety. A program extending the city's CCTV cameras is continuing. Council is also working with police to promote crime prevention behaviours. Assisting vulnerable members of the Community -Council adopted a new Social Plan in 2006 and is working with agencies to assist the homeless, and provide strategies and programs for seniors and young people. Council provides after school, weekend and holiday activities. Council is now reviewing community transport to assist local residents with access to services. Local sustainability - a range of initiatives to make the CBD more sustainable at a local level, including broadening its recycling program; more tree planting; roof gardens, community garden access for recycling green waste; green power initiatives and water recycling in public gardens. Initiatives such as these will be pursued through the City's Vision 2030 project. More parks, playgrounds, tree planting programs, and green space - the Council will work with the key cultural institutions to investigate creative play areas near the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW, and the Museum of Contemporary Arts and in Hyde Park. |
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