East Darling Harbour
While the redevelopment of East Darling Harbour is crucial to the future of the CBD, current planning is being fast-tracked without appropriate infrastructure commitments, without effective public consultation and without adequate research into traffic and transport implications.
East Darling Harbour, renamed Barangaroo by the State Government in October 2006, is the 22 hectare port precinct on the western edge of Sydney's CBD owned by the NSW Government. When stevedoring operations leave the site in late 2007, the site will be redeveloped, including an 11 hectare foreshore park.
The State Government's concept plan, which sets out the proposed rezoning and redevelopment of the land, was publicly exhibited in late 2006. The Concept Plan outlines the mix, scale, location and height of the proposed built form and land uses, including some 400,000square metres of gross floor area. The dominant use will be commercial, but the site will also include retail, hotel, residential and community uses.
I am concerned that the proposed pedestrian and public transport access to the site will be inadequate to meet the increased working and residential population. Proposed building heights are also out of scale with the existing City skyline and should taper down toward the water. More work is also needed on how retail on the site will integrate with the surrounding area, supporting rather than undermining the CBD.
There is need for significantly more and better consultation. A redevelopment project of this size, complexity and importance needs better than the legal minimum consultation to properly engage local residents and businesses, as well as the wider Sydney community.
The City of Sydney made submissions on each stage of the International Design Competition, as well as the recent Concept Plan public exhibition.
Further information, including the Concept Plan, is available at the NSW Government's promotional website, www.barangaroo.com.
Recent related information:
Hands off our Harbour – Not this at Barangaroo: I firstly acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of this land, and I pay my respects to the Elders, both past and present... (15/03/2011)
Barangaroo Remediation Checks Removed: The Planning Minister also changed state planning requirements this week to circumvent standard processes for cleaning up contaminated land at Barangaroo... (4/03/2011)
State News 60, February 2011: My focus for the past term as Member for Sydney was to keep inner city issues on the parliamentary agenda, such as our environment and sustainable living... (1/02/2011)
Community Sidelined on Barangaroo – Again: The State Government has taken control parts Hickson Rd, Sussex Street and Napoleon Street in Millers Point - removing community oversight of the clean-up of contamination... (21/01/2011)
Barangaroo Approved, Community Ignored: Yesterday the State Government gave the go ahead for the overdevelopment of East Darling Harbour, with its approval of the latest concept plan for Barangaroo... (17/12/2010)
CBD Community Forum: Sydney Town Hall—Hello, everyone, welcome to our forum for the CBD. I’d like firstly to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of this land... (17/11/2010)
Millers Point Public Tenants Meeting: Abraham Mott Hall—Introductions Welcome everyone. I’d like firstly to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of this land... (16/11/2010)
Barangaroo Public Meeting: Paddington Town Hall—INTRODUCTION Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this forum on Barangaroo. I’d like firstly to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation... (10/11/2010)
Barangaroo and CBD Community Forums: I invite you to the City's second Barangaroo community information session at Paddington Town Hall at 7.00pm, Wednesday 10 November. These information... (5/11/2010)
Barangaroo Public Meetings: The City is holding public forums about Barangaroo to provide information about the proposed redevelopment of this vital harbour foreshore precinct. The first meeting is Tuesday 19 October... (8/10/2010)
More...