1.1 The
Redfern-Waterloo Plan
The Redfern-Waterloo Authority’s (RWA) operational area includes
the suburbs of Darlington, Redfern, Waterloo
and Eveleigh (Diagram 1.1 RWA’s Operational Area and RWA’s Strategic Sites).
Under the Redfern-Waterloo Act 2004, the Minister for Redfern-Waterloo is
required to prepare a Redfern-Waterloo Plan to provide an overall framework for
the revitalisation of the operational area through urban renewal, job creation,
improvements to the physical environment and improvements to the provision of
human services.
The Redfern-Waterloo Plan is an evolving document that will be
updated over time and in stages. The Redfern-Waterloo Plan will comprise three
major components – the Built Environment Plan, Human Services Plan and
Employment and Enterprise Plan.
This Built Environment Plan (Stage One) relates to the
planning and design of RWA’s strategic sites in Redfern-Waterloo (Diagram
1.1 RWA’s Operational Area and RWA’s Strategic Sites).
Under the Redfern-Waterloo Authority Act, the Minister for Planning
may prepare an environmental planning instrument to give effect to the planning
aspects contained within the Redfern-Waterloo Plan. Over the next decade it is
likely that the Built Environment Plan will be extended to incorporate other
sites in the RWA’s operational area.
The Human Services Plan establishes a framework for improving
access to health, education, employment and other essential services in
Redfern-Waterloo. It identifies actions to improve the delivery of services to
ensure positive results for individuals and the community as a whole.
The Employment and Enterprise Plan aims to address the area’s
social and economic disadvantage by fostering jobs, business and
educational/training opportunities. Strategies have been developed to support
the development of employment and enterprise opportunities for local residents,
as well as the broader Sydney
metropolitan community.
1.2 Purpose of the
Built Environment Plan (Stage One)
This Built Environment Plan (Stage One) (referred to as the Plan)
has been prepared to provide a planning framework for the redevelopment of the
RWA’s strategic sites.
The Plan has considered comments and ideas provided by
residents, land owners, business operators, peak organisations and government
agencies during the two month exhibition period of the draft Plan in early
2006.
The State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects)
2005 (as amended) provides the statutory basis to guide future development on
the RWA’s strategic sites The Plan has been prepared taking into consideration
the area’s regional, metropolitan and local context and issues.
It also draws on earlier work and community consultation undertaken
by the former Redfern-Waterloo Partnership Project and the former Department of
Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, as part of the Redfern,
Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo (RED)
Strategy in 2003.
The land use and design strategies in the Plan have been developed
through an urban design analysis of the existing context and site specific
conditions of each strategic site. This process has generated potential
development yields, and indicative employment and residential projections.
1.3 Area Covered by
the Plan
The Plan applies to the eight RWA’s strategic sites within the
RWA’s operational area as shown in Diagram 1.1. The RWA’s strategic sites are
identified in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005.
They are mostly State Government owned and are strategically located near
Redfern Railway Station and the Redfern Town Centre. They have a total area of
around 35 hectares.
The eight RWA’s strategic sites covered in this Plan are:
- Australian Technology Park
(ATP) - North Eveleigh
- South Eveleigh
- Eveleigh Street
- Redfern
Railway Station, Gibbons and Regent Streets - Former Rachel Forster
Hospital - Former
Local Court
House and Redfern Police Station - Former Redfern Public School.
Human Services improve quality & delivery of human
services Employment & Enterprise create jobs & training opportunities Built
Environment improve the physical environment and provide more opportunities for
housing & businesses, supported by improved transport, access &
infrastructure Sustainable Redfern- Waterloo community.
1.4 Implementation of
the Plan
The intent and direction of this Plan is reflected in the
State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) 2005 (SEPP (Major
Projects)). The SEPP replaces existing statutory plans and policies that
currently apply to the RWA’s strategic sites.
A Development Control Plan (DCP) for the RWA’s strategic
sites will be prepared to complement the SEPP and provide more detailed site
specific guidelines for future development. The DCP will include general
planning guidelines and controls that will apply to all sites. Site specific
requirements will be prepared where necessary as parts of a DCP or Concept Plan.
Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act the
Minister for Planning is the consent authority for the carrying out of
development on RWA’s strategic sites. A proposal for the carrying out of
development will be assessed under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act if it has a capital investment value of more than $5 million. A
proposal for development under $5 million may be assessed under Part 4 of the
Act. The Minister for Planning has the discretion to decide whether a development
should be determined under Part 4.
The Minister may require a Concept Plan to be prepared for a
development site in accordance with Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act.
1.5 Community
Consultation
The draft Plan and amendment to SEPP (Major Projects) were
publicly exhibited for two months between February and April 2006. During this
period the RWA undertook extensive community consultation including: the
distribution of 15,000 newsletters and around 2,000 copies of the draft Plan: briefings
to key stakeholders; presentations; a public meeting; feedback and information
sessions over a three week period; focus group sessions; and replying to
individual enquiries.
The consultation process raised many issues, which were
considered and assisted in finalising this Plan.
1.6 Structure of the
Plan
The Plan is divided into the following sections.
Section 2
The Redfern-Waterloo
Area
This section provides a snapshot of the social, economic and
environmental characteristics of the Redfern-Waterloo area and issues facing
the area now and in coming years.
Section 3
Strategies for
Revitalising Redfern-Waterloo
This section outlines the key strategies needed to achieve
the vision for Redfern-Waterloo including land use, urban design, open space
and public domain, infrastructure, heritage, transport and ecologically
sustainable development.
Section 4
Land Use and Design
Concepts for RWA’s Strategic Sites
This section details the proposed land uses and design
concepts for each of the RWA’s strategic sites.
Section 5
Future Key Tasks
This section summarises the key tasks to be undertaken to
progress the planning for the RWA’s strategic sites.
Section 6
Proposed Stage Two of
Built Environment Plan
The section gives an outline of the major issues currently anticipated
to form the basis of the future Stage Two of the Built Environment Plan.