Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
Moved by Councillor Thalis, seconded by the
Chair (the Lord Mayor) -
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council note:
(i)
the Department
of Planning, Industry and Environment's Design and Place State Environmental
Planning Policies (SEPP) Review foreshadows a number of new initiatives and
benchmarks for public space;
(ii)
key new
metrics in the SEPP focus on walkability, which are determined by block size
and street connectivity;
(iii)
the
City’s Walking Strategy and Action Plan outlines how we encourage walking by
improving footpaths, lighting, wayfinding, shade and seating, reducing
pedestrian waiting times at crossings, creating lively interesting streets,
improving ramps and footpaths, slowing down traffic;
(iv)
creating
a safe, high-quality, connected and inviting walking environment is a key City
priority and important to workers, visitors, residents and businesses as
evidenced by our ongoing investment to pedestrian and active transport
improvements;
(v)
many
areas in the City of Sydney Local Government Area (LGA) perform particularly
well on such metrics, such as established areas Surry Hills and Newtown as well
as areas undergoing positive redevelopment including Pyrmont, Ashmore Precinct,
Lachlan Precinct and Green Square that create new and connected street
networks;
(vi)
a few
areas in the Local Government Area do not perform as well, such as along the
broad railway corridor that restricts movement between Surry Hills and
Chippendale and between Alexandria/Waterloo and Newtown/Darlington. Similarly
fenced enclaves like Moore Park Golf Course frustrate free pedestrian movement;
(vii)
a
particular area that is challenging for pedestrians in the Local Government
Area is Elizabeth Bay, with its large block sizes and limited connections to
Potts Point/Kings Cross/Darlinghurst/Woolloomooloo; and
(viii)
the
Lord Mayor and Councillors have been contacted by parents requesting
improvements to pedestrian accessibility to Plunkett Street Public School and
the Juanita Nielson centre that runs after school care in Woolloomoolloo; and
(B) in order to assess and potentially improve
the walkability and legibility of the network of public spaces, the Chief
Executive Officer be requested to:
(i)
conduct
a study in the form of a spatial audit of block sizes and intersection
frequency in Elizabeth Bay and the limited connections to adjacent areas of
Potts Point/Kings Cross/Darlinghurst; and
(ii)
draw on
the study in future planning reviews to inform potential solutions to improve
walkability and pedestrian connectivity in this area that could have
applicability across the Local Government Area, such as:
(a)
new
linkages that can be created through the redevelopment of key sites under
current controls as well as potentially introducing development uplift, tied to
future planning reviews; and
(b)
any new
or expanded mechanisms for the creation of public space linkages.
Carried
unanimously.
S129265
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 09/08/2021
Date of decision: 09/08/2021
Decided at meeting: 09/08/2021 - Council
Accompanying Documents: