Transcript Invigorating the City of Sydney

Global Sydney
A Five Year Strategy for a
Vibrant & Competitive
City of Sydney
Prepare for the next growth phase
Asia Pacific middle class to grow six-fold to 3.2bn by 2030, to be ⅔rds of
the world’s middle class with spending power of $33 trillion
322
680
333
North
America
703
338
3,228
Europe
664
341
1,740
222
313
Central &
South America
251
181
137
525
Africa &
Middle East
2030
Asia
Pacific
2020
People
millions
2009
Source: OECD (2010) – Millions of people comprising each region’s “middle class”
Complacency
“The Lost Decade”
Contribution to
Australia’s GDP growth
PwC’s “Cities of Opportunity”
Sydney is a leader in Sustainability but lags for Transport
and Economy
Mercers ranking for
Sydney “liveability”
 2001 – 4th
 2011 – 11th
Sources:
SGS Economics (2011); Mercer (2012)
Source: PwC (2012) – Data variables modelled independently on PwC website
City of Sydney Council Area
The fast-growing core of Australia’s gateway to the world
Population
Sydney
Rest of NSW
2005
2011
Growth
159,844
185,422
2.5% pa
6.6 m
7.1 m
1.3% pa
International
tourists to
Sydney
Sources: ABS (2012); Tourism NSW (2012)
Financial Capacity
Financial Capacity
Increasing revenues and conservative policies have left the Council
with substantial cash and surplus assets
Operating Revenues
Cash & Liquid Investments (30 Apr)
519
Investment Properties
212
Other non-core Real Estate
SURPLUS
41%
Growth
Source: City of Sydney Council (2004-2012)
$m
1,300
$2.2 bn
No borrowings
-
NET ASSETS
$6.7 bn
Transport & Infrastructure
Transport & Infrastructure
George Street Light Rail
 2km from Central to Circular Quay is
relatively straight and flat
 Basic cost circa $75m, plus
repositioning of utilities and pipes
and “terminals”
 Private sector to build and run
 With Council underwrite work could
begin now and be done by 2015
Transport & Infrastructure
George Street Light Rail
Positive Impacts
 Remove 400 buses/hour at peak
(many of them empty) and switch
200 buses to unserved routes in
Western Sydney
 Faster, safer movement of
commuters and tourists
 Productivity and environmental
benefits
 More pleasant streetscape with
benefits for retail, locals and visitors
Transport & Infrastructure
George Street Light Rail
Free Travel
 Encourages use and prevents pricing
anomalies for short-hop travel
 Reduces fare collection costs and
commuter inconvenience
 Good for students and tourists too
Congestion Reduction Charge
 Peak time car charge at 6 entry points
from East and North of the CBD
 No charge from West until M4 and
fast Parramatta rail link completed
 20-25% reduction in CBD congestion
Urban Renewal & Environment
Urban Renewal & Environment
10 Strategic Sites as priorities
Urban Renewal & Environment
Supports the Global Centres of Excellence and improved Transport links
ARTS – Arts Ribbon Train Station
 Iconic artistic design
 Centre of the Arts hub
 Access to Barangaroo & Circular Quay
Heritage Buildings
 Better use of Education, Lands & Land
Titles buildings
 Asia brand 5-star hotel and 1st rate
global education institution
Wynyard Station
Town Hall Square
 Bus turning circle as Northern terminus
 Pedestrianized with views to Hyde Park
 Pedestrian plaza across George Street
 Bus turning circle as Eastern terminus
 Mixed-use residential and commercial
 Thin residential tower, green square
Urban Renewal & Environment
Revitalise the City’s tourist hotspots and life improves for residents too
Lower Oxford Street
 Landscaped gateway to Hyde Park &
the City at College St intersection
 Light rail extension from City supports
the Entertainment & Hospitality hub
 More flexible “mixed zoning” to
promote the area’s unique character
Exhibition & Convention Centre
Sydney Fish Market
 Owned by the State but leased
 No investment since the 1960s
 Improve the area and renew efforts to
upgrade to Busan/Tokyo style market
 Design to include public car parking
and bus interchange for commuters
from the West
 Support and encourage efforts to
upgrade the site as quickly as possible
Urban Renewal & Environment
A vibrant City needs far more housing at transport hubs
Central Station
 Free George Street Light Rail to
terminate at Railway Square plaza
 Bus turning circle as Eastern terminus
 Tall residential towers over rail tracks
with public parking for commuters
from South and South West
Goulburn Street Car Park
Green Square
 Upgrade the station to encourage public
transport between the City & airport
 CSPC to promote faster planning and
development of surrounding area
 Improve local traffic flows to offset
CBD street parking in short-term
 Redevelop as iconic residential tower
block focused on green sustainability
Governance
Governance
CSPC to be “one stop decision maker” for city planning and transport
 Sydney has a poor track record on major
projects – Light Rail, Metro, Green Square
 Singapore began planning Marina Bay
2 years after Barangaroo but it’s already
up and running, adding 0.8% pa. to GDP
 Central Sydney Planning Committee
(CSPC) to be upgraded with powers to
implement the plans in this Report
 The 7 members already represent both
Council and NSW State Government
Specific extension of CSPC scope:
 Tenders to build and operate George St
Light Rail, with Arts precinct extension
 Implement consequential traffic
changes to CBD
 Run design competitions including
“Citizen Juries” to give master approval
for the 10 Strategic Sites
 Final say over the City’s planning and
transport decisions with authority to
overrule NSW Govt Departments
Global Centres of Excellence
Global Centres of Excellence
Clustering of 8 sectors in which the City can have global success
█ Arts & CreativeIndustries
█ Environmental& Other Technologies
█ Finance& ProfessionalServices
█ Retail
█ Hospitality& Entertainment
█ AsianFood & Culture
█ Education& Health
█ Design& NewMedia
Recommendations
A Vibrant and Competitive Sydney
The Opportunity
Capacity to invest
The Strategy
 Transport and Infrastructure
 Integrated plan underwritten
with strong Council balance sheet
 Free Light Rail
Global momentum
 Lower Congestion
 Shifting centre of gravity to our
region
 Fewer Buses
 Ten Strategic Sites
Improve governance
 CSPC to drive process
 Co-operation between State,
Local (and Federal) governments
 Citizen Juries to make aesthetic
judgements
 Upgraded Central Sydney
Planning Committee
 Global Centres of Excellence
 Eight hubs to build upon
 Clustering for success
 Development Partnerships
www.globalsydney.org.au
Top 10 Recommendations
Encourage candidates in the upcoming election and NSW Government
to support:

Central Sydney Planning Committee
to become “1 stop decision maker”

Turning circles at Wynyard, Central &
Town Hall to eliminate CBD buses

Begin iconic constructions on the 10
Strategic Sites during Council’s term

Peak hour street parking in the CBD
replaced by underground parking

Underwrite funding for immediate
start to George Street improvements
with light rail, bike lanes and plazas

CSPC supported by Citizen Juries and
60 day response time from
Departments on Strategic Sites

Make the necessary lane
improvements to other CBD roads

Global Centres of Excellence strategy
to focus on 8 business clusters

George Street Light Rail to be free,
funded by Congestion Reduction
Charge at 6 city entry points

Freeze all rates during next Council
term, allocating 5% of Business rates
for Global Centres of Excellence