Initiatives include tri-generation which produces
electricity on-site and uses excess energy to produce heating and cooling for
the entire site. Rain water capture and sewerage harvesting are also among the
green initiatives proposed and it is expected the project will be able to
supply some services to its neighbours.
Not only will the site have strong green credentials it will
also look green, with rooftop gardens and hanging gardens a feature of what was
unveiled in front of the media and the Minister for Planning.
To help future-proof the development parking is concentrated
rather than under each building with entry near the site boundary. Parking will
be owned and administered as part of the development rather than sold with
floor space. This lowers building costs and has reduced the number of car
spaces needed to service the development.
The same spot can be used by businesses during the day and
residents and those visiting the new
Kensington Street strip during the night. It also
allows for car share spaces to be adjusted to meet future needs as well as for
car charging points and possible conversion of parking to other uses as car
usage changes.
Removing the car-dominated street layout has enabled Frasers
to open up the site to greater pedestrian use. A decision to reallocate floor
space has removed one building near the old brewery to create a new square and
increase public accessible space by one third.
By the time the development is completed there will be a
much stronger demand for green offices and units which Frasers hope to service
with this development. Frasers green announcement dovetails nicely with
council’s strategy for a green global and connected city so it came as no
surprise that Frasers project was given a prominent place at the City of Sydney’s Sustainable
Sydney 2030 launch.
Since purchasing the site Frasers has been in discussion with
residents, council and other stake holders about its concerns and what it would
like to see on the site. Many suggestions made in these discussions have been
taken up by Frasers and its international and Australian architects.
During discussions resident representatives expressed
concern about the density that had been approved for the site. So they were not
impressed that Frasers used the opportunity to also ask for a further 6.38%
floor space on the site in addition to increasing the proportion of commercial
space from 40% to 50%.
The increased floor space when added with floor space
reallocated from the removed building results in much greater density going
into the commercial part of the development near the corner of Abercrombie
Street and Broadway which now exceeds
the height of the old brewery chimney.
Councillor John
McInerney has already gone on record opposing the proposed
increase in floor space as have the Combined Chippendale Community Groups who
have written to Minister Sartor arguing that “the amended plan’s proposed
increase in massing and scale is contrary to the findings from the Design
Competition, independent expert opinion and the previous community consultation
process.”
The public will get its say when the new plans go on
exhibition in the near future. More information on the development can be found
at www.frasersbroadway.com.au
Geoff Turnbull
is spokesperson for REDWatch and has been involved in meetings between Frasers
and community representatives as well as attending the media conference.
Image:Caption:
Aerial view of development showing tallest building (same size as UTS) and
surrounding area in outlineSource: South Sydney
Herald May 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au