Open Space & Recreation
Inner Sydney has the highest density residential areas in NSW with the lowest level of open space per person. We cannot afford to continue losing our green space for recreation, sport and the environment.
The City's Open Space and Recreation Needs Study in 2006 found the City local government area has 377 hectares of open space or 2.36 hectares per 1000 residents. As a comparison, the common benchmark is 2.4 hectares per 1000 people. New York has 1.8 hectares per 1000 people, San Francisco has 3.1 hectares per 1000 people and City of Melbourne has 7.38 hectares per 1000 people.
Public open space is essential in the inner city, where most residents live in terrace houses and apartments without backyards. Our parks promote health through exercise and relaxation, foster community and cultural links, and proved environmental benefits.
I have a long history defending public land and promoting new parks and foreshore reserves. I am the only Member of Parliament consistently defending our major city parklands, speaking out against the sell offs, alienation and commercialisation routinely inflicted on our precious public resources such as the Centennial and Moore Parklands, and the Botanic Gardens and Domain.
As State member, I supported Paddington residents' campaign for the park at the former Royal Hospital for Women site and campaiigned to have Woollahra Council save White City for open recreational space.
As Sydney Lord Mayor, I have made open space a priority: we are spending more than $100 million greening Sydney by expanding our urban forest with new parks and upgrading existing green space. The vision includes over 70 separate projects ranging from upgraded community playgrounds, parks, ovals and landscaping to the creation of new parks throughout the city.
Our major new recreation projects include the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo and Redfern Park and Oval, now under construction, and the new Green Square Pool and Recreation Centre, now in the planning stages.
In 2006 the City planted over 2,000 advanced trees in the city, adding to the 780 new street trees were planted the previous year.
Recent related information:
Wentworth Park Stage 2 Completion: Wentworth Park—Thank you, John Brooks and hello, everyone. I would like firstly to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of this land... (27/02/2011)
Making City Spaces More Welcoming: A month long trial to make some City public spaces more people friendly will begin on Monday. We will provide chairs, tables and deck chairs were people can relax... (18/02/2011)
Harold Park on the Agenda: Following extensive public consultation, Council will consider adopting proposed new planning controls for the Harold Park site that will ensure that the... (4/02/2011)
SCG Trees Bulldozed: The Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust (SCG) has cut down the remaining significant and mature trees on the Gold Members car park to develop the National Rugby League (NRL) headquarters... (21/01/2011)
Have a Say on Smoking: I encourage concerned residents to comment on NSW Health's “Strategic Directions for Tobacco Control in NSW 2011-2016 Discussion Paper”. The Paper identifies... (21/01/2011)
Scottish Hospital Proposals Need More Work: While there is community support for new aged care facilities, development on the Scottish Hospital site must be sensitive to local heritage streetscapes... (21/01/2011)
SCG Trashes Trees: Member for Sydney—Member for Sydney Clover Moore has condemned the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust (SCG) for cutting down the remaining mature... (17/01/2011)
Looking Forward, Looking Back: I look forward to 2011, which promises to be another challenging and productive year: the NSW election; my continuing work to achieve benefits and action... (7/01/2011)
Important Projects and Strategies on Exhibition: Have your say on important projects and strategies on public exhibition during January. Cycleway Improvements: The City continues to install... (7/01/2011)
Selling More of the Family Silver: Clover Moore MP has called on the Minister for Lands to halt the transfer of freehold title of part of the Sydney Common to Moriah College.— (23/12/2010)
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