This section presents the framework for revitalisation of
the built environment of Redfern-Waterloo.
The framework is based on the achievement of strategies for
the future development of the RWA’s strategic sites. The strategies relate to:
land use and zoning; urban design; open space and public domain infrastructure;
heritage; transport; and ecologically sustainable development.
The principles of sustainable development have been
considered in developing these strategies and underpin the Built Environment
Plan and State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Projects) for the RWA’s
strategic sites.
To achieve an improved social and cultural environment, the
Plan and SEPP (Major Projects) promote an increase in housing provision, choice
and affordability; safety and access; activation of sites adjoining residential
areas that are degraded and underutilised; fostering of retail and employment
activity; and quality community, cultural and civic spaces for residents,
workers and visitors.
To achieve an improved physical environment, the Plan and
SEPP (Major Projects) promote a place with a built form and civic spaces that
are responsive to the existing context; provides for increased emphasis on
public transport; improves access and connections; and encourages development
that has regard for environmental sustainable outcomes.
To achieve a more viable economic environment that provides
greater employment for local residents and the wider metropolitan area, the
Plan and SEPP (Major Projects) encourage high quality developments where
retail, cultural and commercial businesses are able to provide jobs for the
local and broader Sydney
population. A stronger local economy will mean greater investment that will
improve the places and spaces in the area.
To achieve a strong governance structure, the Plan will be
supported by the SEPP (Major Projects) that will provide the guidelines for
future development, and the initiatives of the Human Services Plan and the
Employment and Enterprise Plan.
The strategies are supplemented by site specific land use
and design concepts for each of RWA’s strategic site detailed in Section 4.
3.1 Land Use Strategy
The Land Use Strategy provides for sustainable outcomes
based on sound urban design principles. Diagram 3.1 (901 Kb PDF) illustrates the Land Use
Strategy.
The Land Use Strategy is underpinned by the following
actions, which have been developed from an analysis of metropolitan, local and
site specific issues:
- zoning
land to provide for flexible land uses - facilitating
economic and employment growth - facilitating
the creation of a town centre and improved linkages - developing
a design for the upgrade of Redfern Railway Station - facilitating
housing provision, choice and affordability - facilitating
community and cultural development.
Estimated Development
Yield
The following table illustrates the indicative development
yield that the Plan seeks to achieve on the RWA’s strategic sites.
Table 3.1 Potential Development Yield
Site Area (estimate) 35 hectares (350,000 square metres)
Total development yield (estimate) 600,000 square metres
Zoning and
flexibility of land uses
A plethora of land uses, land use zones, plans and controls
currently apply to the RWA’s strategic sites. The South Sydney Local
Environmental Plan; various Development Control Plans of the current City of
Sydney and former South Sydney Councils; Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No.
26–City West; Urban Development Plan–Eveleigh Precinct and the Australian
Technology Park Master Plan represent the myriad of planning instruments and
policies applying to the RWA’s strategic sites.
These plans and policies do not provide a consistent or
comprehensive set of controls and guidelines, and were not specifically
developed to revitalise and renew Redfern-Waterloo. They present a lack of
certainty and clarity for development opportunities and do not provide the
basis for achieving the vision for Redfern-Waterloo. These policies are no
longer appropriate and need to be replaced.
The Land Use Strategy proposes the adoption of new land use
zones that provide flexible land uses to encourage investment, generate jobs
and provide housing to facilitate the revitalisation and renewal of
Redfern-Waterloo. The new land use zones will replace the redundant and
restrictive zones currently applying to the sites.
For example, large areas of under-utilised surplus railway
land that are sterilised from redevelopment opportunities due to existing
railway zoning, will be rezoned to allow for a mix of non-residential and
residential uses.
The proposed land use zones indicated in Section 4 are based
on the land use zones included in the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental
Plans) Order 2006 under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Diagram 3.2 (2.2 Mb PDF) indicates the proposed land use zones for the RWA’s
strategic sites.
The land use zones allow for a range of business, office,
retail, light industrial uses; residential development; community uses and
public open spaces.
Facilitate economic
and employment growth
Economic and job growth is integral to the renewal of
Redfern-Waterloo. To encourage employment growth higher floor space ratios will
be provided for employment generating land uses on the strategic sites where
mixed uses are proposed.
The Land Use Strategy will generate development potential
(non-residential) of around 440,000 square metres to accommodate around 18,000
jobs in Redfern-Waterloo. It is envisaged that land uses will include a range
of activities including commercial and retail development, community and
cultural facilities, health facilities, educational establishments,
entertainment facilities, restaurants, light industries, film and television,
research and development. The Strategy complements the RWA’s Employment and
Enterprise Plan, which identifies actions to translate development potential
into actual jobs for local and non local workers through:
- education
and training, including a dedicated vocational training centre to provide
people with the opportunities to gain access to well paid work - strengthening
partnerships with local employers - industry
based employment strategies - employment
and enterprise strategies for Aboriginal people - support
for local business.
The strategy is based on harnessing the potential for job
growth and activity around the Redfern Railway Station, within Australian Technology
Park, on the disused railway land at
North and South Eveleigh and the Eveleigh Street
sites to meet local and metropolitan employment needs. The Strategy recognises
the need to establish a threshold density necessary to encourage employment
clusters, economic viability and vitality. It strongly supports job growth as a
key driver to achieving a sustainable community in Redfern-Waterloo.
The proposed concentration of activity and development
density around the Redfern Railway Station:
- reflects
synergies with Central Station - reflects
Redfern’s status as the southern gateway to the Sydney CBD - takes
advantage of the underutilised land capacity - is
environmentally responsible - builds
on the unique accessibility of Redfern Railway Station.
Importantly, the concentration provides an employment centre
for the south east metropolitan sub-region of Sydney and increases the opportunity for
residents to live and work within the region. It also arrests the significant
loss of traditional industrial and employment generating land from residential
rezonings that have occurred in the sub-region over the past decade.
Movement in and around Redfern Railway Station will be
directed to Redfern Town Centre and Regent Street to boost economic activity
and enhance the viability of the town centre.
The ATP, which is a unique employment hub located a short
walking distance from Redfern Railway Station, has not realised its economic
and investment potential. Further job growth at the ATP will benefit local
residents, as well as provide a vital employment destination for residents in
the south eastern metropolitan sub-region.
North Eveleigh provides the
unique opportunity as a precinct where people can live, work and recreate in an
iconic and artistic place within short distance of a major public transport
hub.
The Contemporary Performing Arts Centre being built by Arts
NSW will boost activity and interest in the area and encourage complementary
activity. North Eveleigh is ideally located
for a range of land uses, including student accommodation, innovative incubator
businesses, training centres, markets and other activities linked with its
cultural and artistic focus.
The Eveleigh
Street site, which extends to Cleveland Street, has traditionally been
a mixed use area with both housing and employment activity. Opportunities for
employment generating uses will be increased within this site, including the
potential for Aboriginal enterprises.
The scope of potential uses and activities will generate a
range of jobs for both skilled and less skilled workers in the local area and
in the sub-region.
Facilitate the
creation of a town centre and improved linkages
The town centre will grow around Redfern Railway Station and
provide the activity heart of Redfern. It will be a destination for jobs and housing,
and provide a focus for people to meet and socialise.
A central element of the town centre will be the improvement
of Redfern Railway Station and the creation of a civic space that connects
Redfern Railway Station to Redfern
Street, Regent
Street and the ATP through well defined pedestrian
and cycle linkages. Linkages between the town centre, North Eveleigh and the University of Sydney will also be improved to provide
better access. It is envisaged that the town centre will develop into a lively,
safe and attractive area with a quality civic space and public domain activated
by a variety of uses at street level.
A concept design study for the upgrade of Redfern Railway
Station has commenced and is being funded by the RWA and RailCorp. The study is
aimed at delivering a design for the upgrade of the Station to improve
capacity, provide access for people with disabilities, enhance pedestrian
movement and connectivity, and to support the vision of the Built Environment
Plan.
Facilitate housing
provision, choice and affordability
Around 2,000 new dwellings will be developed in
Redfern-Waterloo under Stage One of the Plan reflecting a potential population
increase of around 4,000 residents. The dwellings will be located throughout
the RWA’s strategic sites and include low, medium and high-rise apartment
development, town houses and terraces.
The increase in dwelling numbers, diversity and tenancy mix
will provide greater housing choice and contribute to the creation of a more
socio-economic diverse community.
The Land Use Strategy proposes that future residential
development located outside the town centre and adjacent to existing
residential areas will be designed to be compatible with the surrounding
residential areas. Design guidelines governing residential amenity for new and
existing residents will be outlined in supporting Development Control Plans.
The provision of affordable housing is important for
ensuring greater housing choice and a more socio-economically diverse
community. The RWA will develop an Affordable Housing Program largely financed
by new development on the RWA’s strategic sites and the Carlton United Brewery
site. The Program will target special groups and be supported by an Affordable
Housing Contribution Plan. It is envisaged that the Program and Plan will be
exhibited in the next few months.
Facilitate community
and cultural development
Community and cultural facilities are an important aspect of
a healthy and vibrant community. The RWA is committed to facilitating the
provision of community facilities in the area that cater to education and the
needs of the community, as well as cultural facilities that can play an
important role in revitalisation.
The key community and cultural actions are to:
- provide
for flexible land uses to enable the location and operation of community,
health and cultural facilities in accessible locations - provide
secure public open space including civic spaces that are well designed and
safe for the enjoyment of the community - encourage
community events and celebrations on public open spaces - support
increased housing provision and choice - facilitate
the establishment of a centre of Aboriginal cultural, social and sporting excellence - facilitate
opportunities for cultural enterprise developments.
The RWA has recently facilitated the purchase of the former Redfern Public School by the Indigenous Land
Corporation (ILC). The site will be transformed into a national centre of
Aboriginal cultural, social and sporting excellence. Educational services will
also be delivered from the site.
The RWA has also been instrumental in securing the former
Local Court House and Police Station as a community health facility that will
provide a range of services for the community in a central location.
The Employment and Enterprise Plan indicates the opportunity
to reposition Redfern-Waterloo as a cultural precinct in Sydney. The North
Eveleigh site has been identified as an ideal location to build a
cultural industry leveraging off art galleries, performance spaces and
practising artists in the area. Cultural activities are an important element in
creating a sustainable and vibrant community.
The new Contemporary Performing Arts Centre to be located in
the Carriage Works in North Eveleigh is scheduled to open in January 2007 and
will provide the foundations for future residential and commercial development
in North Eveleigh.
The RWA, Arts NSW and City of Sydney will be developing a Cultural
Industries Strategy to identify opportunities for cultural industry development
such as local markets, indigenous cultural tourism, festivals and indigenous
art.
The Plan reinforces the initiatives of the Human Services
Plan for achieving efficient and appropriate delivery of human services to
those in need in the community, by facilitating the provision of community
services through land use and zoning controls.
3.2 Urban Design
Strategy
The Urban Design Strategy complements the Land Use Strategy
and has been developed through site specific and contextual analysis of the
urban structure, the existing building form and massing, and the character of
places and buildings on RWA’s strategic sites. An integral component of the
Urban Design Strategy is respecting the urban structure; upgrade of streets and
open spaces; and establishing linkages and connections to transport,
employment, housing and open space.
Opportunities for architectural design excellence
competitions on iconic and important sites, such as North
Eveleigh, ATP, Redfern Railway Station and Gibbons Street will be encouraged to
promote design quality, innovation and the achievement of sustainable
development.
The Strategy proposes maximum height and floor space ratio
controls (Diagrams 3.3 (1.2Mb PDF) and 3.4 (997 Kb PDF)), a design concept and design principles
to inform future development outcomes on RWA’s strategic sites. The site
specific design concepts detailed in Section 4 of the Plan complement the
design concept and principles outlined in this Strategy.
The height and floor space ratio controls have been included
in the SEPP (Major Projects).
Development on RWA’s strategic sites will be required to
achieve a high standard of:
- architectural
design for buildings - design
and amenity within the public domain - environmental
amenity in terms of sustainable design, overshadowing, noise, wind,
reflectivity and solar access.
The design concepts and principles within this Plan will be
translated into more detailed controls and guidelines, and incorporated into
the plans and policies that will be developed subsequent to this Plan, to guide
development on RWA’s strategic sites.
Design concept
The design concepts for the RWA’s strategic sites are to:
- Maximise
density within the commercial core to facilitate the establishment of a
defined town centre around Redfern Railway Station, and maintain the
established character of residential areas. - Create
the greatest density around Redfern Railway Station in terms of built
form, use and activity. - Reconnect
east and west Redfern across the rail line and link the ATP, North
Eveleigh, South Eveleigh and the major
employment zones. - Improve
the public domain by improving pedestrian amenity, walkability and
increasing surveillance and ‘eyes on the street’. - Improve
streets and open spaces with quality landscaping, signage and street
furniture. - Ameliorate
traffic impacts to create safe pedestrian links across Gibbons and Regent
Streets to Redfern Street. - Reinforce
and continue existing pedestrian links to the street pattern and extend
street alignments into the RWA’s strategic sites to integrate them into
the broader context.
General urban design
principles
The following design principles will guide future
development on RWA’s strategic sites:
- Built
form and massing of new development is to respond to the immediate context
and character of the site and should provide a transition between scales. - Development
around the Redfern Railway Station to emulate the southern Sydney CBD (as
around Railway Square). - Reinforce
the sense of enclosure to the streets, reinforce street alignments and
achieve an appropriate human scale at street level. - Development
is to incorporate sustainability principles, including building design
that maximises energy efficiency. - The
massing and design of building must maintain solar access to adjacent
development, open space and the public domain in accordance with best
practice. - The
massing and design of buildings must minimise wind impacts on pedestrian
amenity. Future development proposals will be subject to detailed wind
tunnel testing and analysis to demonstrate the achievement of comfortable
wind conditions throughout the year. Within the Town Centre future
development proposals shall incorporate wind mitigation measures such as:
podiums; towers to be setback a minimum of eight metres from all sides on
the podium level; canopies around the base of buildings; podium level
planting and screening; street planting and screens; and maximum spacing
between adjacent towers. - Developments
are to be designed to maximise amenity for future occupants. - Ensure
glare reflectivity from new buildings will not adversely impact on the
uses of the public domain, occupants of adjacent buildings or motorist
visibility. - Ensure
that new development is designed and located to minimise acoustic and
vibration impacts from the railway corridor and traffic on major roads. - New
buildings must achieve design excellence in architectural, landscape and
urban design. Design competitions for significant sites will be
encouraged. - Provide
active frontages to all public domain areas including streets and parks to
maximise informal surveillance. - Encourage
quality landscape design within public spaces and at the interface between
public spaces and private development. - Create
new links and connections through larger sites with public streets and
laneways.
3.3 Open Space and
Public Domain Strategy
Open space refers to land on RWA’s strategic sites that will
be used as:
- Public
open space, recreation areas or thoroughfares including parks, civic
squares, pedestrian and cycle linkages, footpaths, verges and median
strips. These areas are generally owned, managed and maintained on behalf
of the community by government. - Private
open space areas that will be publicly accessible through managed access
arrangements made with the landowner such as sporting fields, training
grounds, tennis or basketball courts. These areas are generally privately
owned, managed and maintained. - Private
open space that will be required to meet the needs of new residents on
development sites. These areas are generally in private ownership of
individuals and/or body corporate schemes.
Diagram 3.5 (628 Kb PDF) identifies the indicative location of future and
existing publicly accessible open space areas within RWA’s strategic sites. As
indicated on the diagram these include:
- the
so called ‘Marian Street’
Park, which is currently zoned Special Uses-Railway to be rezoned Public Recreation - a
new civic space that will link the Town Centre and Redfern Railway Station
and potentially provide a focus for activity and enterprise - areas
within North Eveleigh comprising around
15 percent of the total site, including a substantial section of the Fan
of Tracks and the curtilage around the Chief Mechanical Engineers Office
building - areas
within the Australian
Technology Park,
including tennis courts, playing fields and pedestrian/cycle walkways - around
4,500 square metres comprising training and sporting fields at the former Redfern Public School site, which is
currently zoned Special Uses-Community and which will be rezoned Private
Recreation - land
located at the Pitt Street
frontage of the former Rachel
Forster Hospital
site, which is currently zoned Special Uses-Hospital.
New development on RWA’s strategic sites will be required to
provide private open space in the form of communal areas, courtyards and
balconies. The location and proportion of private open space will be determined
with more detailed concept, project or development applications to best respond
to each site and its characteristics. Guidelines are also being developed to
provide criteria for private open space provision based on best practice and
adopted standards for other similar infill areas and will include guidance on
sunlight access, security and safety.
The treatment of open space will depend on their relative
function (example, passive, active, heritage curtilage) and contribution to the
environment, intrinsic nature and local context. A preliminary analysis of
possible open space treatment has been undertaken for public open space areas
on RWA’s strategic sites. While not prescriptive they provide an interpretation
of the space and possible outcomes.
Possible treatment
for certain public open space on RWA’s strategic sites
• The Civic Space (Redfern Railway Station, Gibbons and Regent Streets)
The redevelopment of Redfern Railway Station provides an
opportunity to create a civic heart, which reinforces Redfern as the southern
gateway to the city and promotes a distinct character for the area.
It is envisaged that the civic space would provide a sense
of arrival. It would facilitate people moving through the plaza to or from the
Railway Station and also provide a dynamic gathering space to sit, wait and
meet.
The plaza is likely to predominantly comprise a paved open
space that people not only move through, but which also is viewed from above,
placing an emphasis on creating a graphic composition of paving and seating
elements such as low walls and benches.
Wind and traffic noise could be ameliorated by a grove of
Eucalyptus trees that would define the edge of the civic space and lead
pedestrians across Gibbons Street
to the Redfern Street
thoroughfare. The tree species and location would need to be designed to ensure
the highest level of security and surveillance. Lighting the grove could create
a unique and memorable night time experience; an opportunity for lighting as an
art installation.
Edges of the space could be activated by retail and cafes
with awnings providing shelter throughout the seasons.
[see possible landscape treatment from the RWA BEP Page 32]
• The Redfern Street
Thoroughfare (Redfern Railway Station, Gibbons and Regent Streets)
The Redfern
Street thoroughfare is primarily a space that
people move through, providing pedestrian connectivity between Redfern and
Regent Streets and the Railway Station, visually and physically. Conceptually
it is an extension of the Civic Space, and should be designed using similar
landscape elements and ground treatments.
It is envisaged that a grove of Eucalyptus trees could draw
pedestrians across Gibbons Street
and along the thoroughfare. A second grove could mark the termination at Regent Street. The
trees would reduce the impact of wind and provide scale and organic form to the
space. The tree species and location would need to be designed to ensure the
highest level of security and surveillance.
Buildings edging the thoroughfare should be designed to
engage with the public space, creating activity and improving safety.
[see possible landscape treatment from the RWA BEP Page 32]
• Little Eveleigh Park (North Eveleigh)
This park provides an important public space, as a major
pedestrian connection and ties into the existing pedestrian space adjacent to
The Foundry. It also provides a good curtilage to the heritage significant
Chief Mechanical Engineers Office building.
It is envisaged that the park could be linked to the ATP and
potentially the redeveloped Railway Station via an elevated pedestrian
connection. The space has the potential to also facilitate improved
connectivity between the Redfern Town Centre and the University of Sydney.
Elements in the treatment of this space could include the
introduction of new retaining walls, strengthening the tree cover, use of
interpretative heritage elements and lighting.
[see possible landscape treatment from the RWA BEP Page 33]
• Fan of Tracks (North Eveleigh)
The Fan of Tracks could be designed as the primary active
public open space for North Eveleigh and its
strong existing character provides exciting opportunities to retain and explore
the site’s heritage.
Design interventions could provide opportunities to heighten
perception and legibility of heritage items, and emphasise and exaggerate
existing forms and spatial qualities. It is envisaged that a significant
section of the Fan of Tracks will be preserved predominantly as active open
space, which is punctuated by the remnant exposed railways tracks, providing
subtle level changes across the site.
Areas of planting, turf and hard paving, which follow the
geometry of the railways tracks, create a textured ground plane. Informal play
elements designed from recycled railway materials should be incorporated into
the overall design. Views to the active railway and to the North
Eveleigh heritage buildings should be reinforced.
• Traverser 1 (North Eveleigh)
The Traverser, defined by two existing heritage buildings
(Paint Shop and Carriage Workshops), has a strong existing character, rhythm
and texture and creates a potential pedestrian connection between Wilson Street and
the ATP. Its existing qualities will be retained and enhanced to create a
contained, linear and dynamic public space.
The proposed viewing platform at the termination of the
Traverser at Wilson Street
will accentuate its heritage and design qualities. Possible treatment could
include a system of ramps, staircases, green elements, lighting and
interpretative heritage elements.
• The Public Garden (North Eveleigh)
This refers to a possible linear park, adjacent to a new
circulation road on the western section of North Eveleigh
and could potentially provide a garden setting for the heritage buildings, and
a public space that is domestic in scale.
The overall character of this garden would be dominated by
the historic buildings that form its edges, and other railway remnants could be
incorporated into the design of elements within the garden such as furniture, fences
and lighting. It is envisaged that pedestrian access to the surrounding
apartment buildings would also be through the public garden, which will
increase activation of this space.
Planting design and other semi permeable screening elements
may be used to increase privacy for the residential buildings.
3.4 Infrastructure
Strategy
The proposed increases in the residential population and
business activity in the area will have an impact on the capacity of existing
infrastructure. To ensure adequate infrastructure capacity and servicing in the
area more detailed development plans must be prepared and ongoing review of
infrastructure undertaken.
Development
contributions plan for public amenities and services
A number of strategies will be employed to facilitate the
delivery of public amenities and services including public domain improvements
and the upgrade of the Redfern Railway Station. These will include: the
imposition of development levies linked to value capture from increased
development potential; sale of government land with development approval;
borrowings; partnerships with State Government agencies; and partnerships with
the private sector. A Contributions Plan for public amenities and services will
be prepared to complement any plan governing development in the area.
Electricity
Energy Australia
has advised that the general capacity of the electricity network is monitored
and reviewed in light of new developments. Developers will be required to pay
for connections to the existing network and new substations as required.
RWA will inform Energy Australia of any specific proposals
under consideration to maximise the lead time for the installation of
infrastructure.
Gas
Access to the gas network is easily available to all the
RWA’s strategic sites. Agility has indicated that capacity is reviewed on an
ongoing basis in light of new developments arising. Agility will provide more
detailed comments at the site development design stage. Developers will be
required to pay for connections to the existing network.
Telecommunications
Telstra has indicated that they will provide additional
copper and fibre network capacity and additional fibre network coverage as the
needs of the Redfern-Waterloo area increase. For large development sites, such
as North Eveleigh, there may be a need to
relocate Telstra plants. Developers will be required to pay for connections to
the existing network and on-site works. Telstra has advised that they will
provide detailed advice at the site development design stage.
Water, wastewater and
stormwater
Sydney Water and RWA are working together to examine the
water and waste water capacity and infrastructure requirements for the RWA’s
strategic sites based on the indicative development yields that may be
generated for each site. RWA will work with Sydney Water and the City of Sydney to develop a more
holistic approach to water, waste water and stormwater management by exploring
water reuse and recycling schemes. This will reduce the potable water demand
and more efficiently use this water resource. A water tank is being installed
at the Contemporary Performing Arts Centre in North
Eveleigh to capture water for irrigating of local parks.
Sydney Water advised that developers are required to obtain
a Section 73 Compliance Certificate (Sydney Water Act 1994) as a condition of
development consent. This will ensure that developers have complied with all
relevant Sydney Water requirements, including appropriate connecting points,
correctly sized mains and amplifications, the procurement of trade waste
agreements and the payment of developer charges.
Developers will be responsible for costs with regard to
connection and augmentation of the water, wastewater and stormwater systems.
3.5 Heritage Strategy
The RWA’s strategic sites contain many buildings and
structures that provide evidence of the diverse and significant history and
heritage of the area. These buildings and structures also contribute to the
physical character of the area and can provide a unique quality to future
development. Heritage items on RWA’s strategic sites are identified in the
South Sydney Local Environmental Plan and the Sydney Regional Environmental
Plan No 26 City West (SREP No. 26). The State Heritage Register identifies the
Eveleigh Railway Workshops as an item of state significance.
The Heritage Strategy is based on:
- The
identification on a map of heritage items in the SEPP (Major Projects) for
RWA’s strategic sites. The heritage map in the SEPP (Major Projects) will
list relevant items that are identified in the South Sydney Local
Environmental Plan and the Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No 26 City
West, as well as additional items. Diagram 3.6 (640 Kb PDF) Items of Heritage and
Buildings of Historical Interest identifies the heritage items. Table 3.2
provides a summary of proposed heritage items. - The
introduction of a heritage clause in the SEPP (Major Projects) that will
relate to development under Part 4 of the EP&A Act. Under the SEPP
(Major Projects) a person may not demolish, dismantle or alter heritage
items identified, except with the approval of the consent authority. The
clause also provides that the consent authority must take into
consideration the heritage impact of carrying out of the proposed
development and may decline to grant development consent until
consideration of a Statement of Heritage Impact. - The
review of existing Conservation Management Plans and heritage inventories
for items on RWA’s strategic sites to determine the value of any items and
to provide for appropriate development controls. In some cases, Conservation
Management Plans and/or Heritage Impact Statements will need to be
prepared with Development Applications to identify existing significant
heritage items to be retained and appropriate management of heritage
items. Where any item needs to be removed, an archival record will be
prepared in accordance with the NSW Heritage guidelines. - Ensuring
that in cases where the proposed maximum height on a heritage item exceeds
that of any listed heritage item, any additional height shown is
contingent upon detailed heritage studies and compliance with SEPP (Major
Projects). - Adaptive
reuse of heritage items as far as practicable.
Table 3.2 Items of
Heritage and Buildings of Historical Interest
Items of Heritage
South Sydney Local
Environmental Plan
- Former
Local Court House building - Former Rachel Forster
Hospital – Five
storey surgery building and part of two storey colonnade building - Former
Redfern Public School-Two buildings on George and Phillip Streets
Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 26
- Locomotive
Workshop (ATP) - New
Locomotive Workshop (ATP) - Works
Managers’ Office (ATP) - Chief Mechanical
Engineers Office
Building (North
Eveleigh) - Large
Erecting Shop (South Eveleigh) - Redfern
Station Booking Office (Lawson
Street)
Proposed Additional Heritage Items
- Carriage
Workshops (North Eveleigh) - Blacksmiths’
Shop (North Eveleigh) - Telecommunications
Equipment Centre (North Eveleigh) - Scientific
Services Building
No.1 (North Eveleigh) - Paint
Shop (North Eveleigh)
Buildings of Historical Interest
- Clothing
Store (North Eveleigh) - Timber
Shed Extension pre 1911 (North Eveleigh)
3.6 Transport
Strategy
Changing Redfern-Waterloo from simply being an interchange
locality that funnels people to other areas in Sydney, to an area that is a key destination
for workers, visitors and residents, requires reconfiguration of transport
provision and servicing to the area. This shift is about providing better
access to Redfern-Waterloo and ensuring people can access activities and places
within the area safely and easily.
RWA has engaged a traffic and transport consultant to
provide technical advice on the provision of transport to the area, as well as
proposing strategies to manage new development on the strategic sites, without
compromising the existing amenity of the area. This information will be used as
a basis to develop a more comprehensive Transport Management Plan which will be
undertaken in partnership with key stakeholders.
The key transport initiatives are outlined below.
Public Transport
• Redevelopment of Redfern Railway Station
As discussed in Section 2, upgrading Redfern Railway Station
is central to the revitalisation of the area. Upgrading will enable the Station
to better cater for the proposed increased residential and worker population;
improve entry and connections to the area, provide disabled access; provide for
better rail to rail interchange; improve the attraction of rail travel; and
improve the physical amenity of the Station. A key aspect of the upgrade is to
ensure that the Station is better integrated with the surrounding land uses and
to improve the public domain around the Station area.
These changes in turn will make the area more accessible and
attract businesses to the area.
In addition to upgrading the Redfern Railway Station, the
land adjoining the Railway Station and Gibbons Street will be redeveloped for
residential and business activities. Retail and other active uses at street
level will create safer and more vibrant public spaces around the Station.
The RWA and RailCorp have engaged a consultant to assist in
developing a preferred concept design option for the redevelopment of the
Redfern Railway Station. These options are anticipated to be presented to the
community in late 2006.
• Improved connections to bus services
Due to the high regional connectivity provided by the bus
services in Redfern and the significant rail to bus interchange that occurs
during weekday morning and afternoon peaks, it is important to enhance the
visual and physical connection between the Railway Station entrance/exit, the
proposed civic space and well used bus stops on Regent and Lawson Streets. The
RWA will ensure that any development proposed for this area considers these
important connections to facilitate ease of access to other forms of transport
and will work with the Ministry of Transport and the State Transit Authority to
address these issues.
• Improved community transport provision
The RWA will work with community transport providers,
the Ministry of Transport and key stakeholders to improve
transport for frail older people, people with disabilities and people who are
public transport disadvantaged.
Roads and Traffic
Management
• Management of traffic generated from new development
RWA has undertaken a preliminary analysis of traffic impacts
associated with the development of the RWA’s strategic sites, namely North Eveleigh and the Redfern Railway Station, Gibbons
and Regent Streets sites. The preliminary analysis was used to estimate the
trip generation rates for the developments and the trip assignment of the
generated trips to the surrounding road network. The analysis was performed for
the morning and afternoon peak hours. Traffic from the Australian Technology
Park was also included.
For commercial development a traffic generation rate of 0.75
trips per 100 square metres of development was used.
This is based on a mode split of 30 percent for car driver
and passenger, due to the proximity to good public transport (both rail and
bus) and the CBD, and a high vehicle occupancy rate as observed in the inner
city area. A rate of 4 employees per 100 square metres gross floor area was
also applied. For residential a trip generation rate of 0.24 trips per
residential unit per peak was adopted. Based on the land use and planning
controls the number of trips likely to be generated from North
Eveleigh and the Redfern Station, Gibbons and Regents Streets
sites was estimated to be 1,560 vehicle trips per peak period (when development
is completed).
The intersection modelling software, SIDRA, was used to
analyse eight key intersections for pre-development and post development
conditions. The intersections analysed were Wilson and Forbes Streets; Wilson
and Golden Grove Streets; Wilson and Ivy Streets; Abercrombie and Shepherd
Streets; Abercrombie and Lawson Streets; Lawson and Gibbons Streets; Lawson and
Regent Streets; and Cleveland and Shepherd Streets.
The intersection analysis results for the existing condition
show that the intersections are currently operating at a level of service of B
(good with acceptable delays and spare capacity) or better, during the morning
and afternoon peak periods.
The intersection analysis results for post-development
condition showed that three intersections, Abercrombie and Shepherd Streets,
Abercrombie and Lawson Streets, and Cleveland and Shepherd Streets can be
managed to operate at a satisfactory level of service during peak hours with
modification of traffic light cycle times and minor changes to the
intersections. All other intersections would continue to operate at a good and
acceptable level of service post development.
As a result the RWA will be seeking to achieve these peak
hour traffic results by:
- Proposing
for business a mode target of 60 percent for non car use journey to work
trips in general, with a 70 percent non car use journey to work trips for
sites close to Redfern Railway Station. This would be achieved by
improvements to public transport, namely the upgrade to Redfern Railway
Station and improved bus services. - Implementing
a car parking policy for RWA’s strategic sites, to be incorporated into a
Development Control Plan. - Ensuring
with the assistance of the City of Sydney
that any car parking on surrounding streets is managed appropriately.
These preliminary results will provide a basis to undertake
more detailed traffic analysis, which will then be incorporated into a
Transport Management Plan. The Transport Management Plan will be developed in
partnership with the RTA, Ministry for Transport, City of Sydney, RailCorp and the Redfern Chamber of
Commerce.
Further traffic analysis will be undertaken by modifying the
RTA’s existing sub regional traffic model. There are some broader regional and
metropolitan traffic issues that impact on the area, which will take some time
to plan and implement.
• Improved traffic operations on Regent and Gibbons Streets
Regional traffic through Redfern is having a negative impact
on pedestrian amenity and the operation of businesses along Regent and Gibbons
Streets. This impact will continue to worsen due to foreshadowed increases in
vehicular and truck movements from the Airport and Port Botany. The RWA and RTA
will work together to look at options on improving the pedestrian amenity and
movement along these roads. To improve pedestrian amenity RWA will be
investigating options for an underpass at Gibbons Street. Any solution will however
need to take account of broader metropolitan and regional traffic issues and
address any associated congestion issues.
The RTA has recently lifted the clearway along the western
side of Regent Street
allowing for increased on-street parking and improved access to businesses. A
number of local traffic management initiatives such as improved phasing at
intersections may be introduced in the short term to improve pedestrian
movements across Gibbons and Regent Streets.
These actions would help to revitalise the Regent Street
retail strip by providing an improved environment for pedestrians and
additional on-street parking spaces.
Cycling and
Pedestrian
• Encourage safe and easy cycling in the area
There are a number of off-road cycle routes through the
Redfern-Waterloo area. The RWA and City of Sydney will work in partnership to ensure
that existing cycle routes are enhanced, including providing bicycle routes to
RWA’s strategic sites and to key destinations. The provision of bicycle
facilities/storage will be encouraged in new developments and at Redfern
Railway Station.
• Improved connection between ATP and North
Eveleigh
The rail corridor physically disconnects the northern and
southern parts of Redfern-Waterloo and limits access to key destinations such
as ATP, the University
of Sydney and other
health and educational facilities.
Pedestrian and cycle links are proposed to connect the northern
and southern part of Redfern-Waterloo. A link will be considered as part of the
overall concept design study for the Redfern Railway Station upgrade and may be
integrated as an unpaid access through the Redfern Station area.
The RWA has committed $6 million for the construction of a pedestrian
and cycle bridge between North Eveleigh and
ATP.
In addition, to overcome the disconnection RWA will also undertake
a design and feasibility study for a vehicle link between North Eveleigh and
the Australian Technology Park
to provide a direct north-south connection between the sites.
3.7 Ecologically Sustainable
Development Strategy
Development on RWA’s strategic sites will be required to contribute
to the implementation of an Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
Strategy. The ESD Strategy is based on
the achievement of the following initiatives:
- Energy
efficiency, conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas. - Applying
passive design principles in the orientation and design of development to
minimise the need for mechanical heating and cooling and artifi cial
lighting. This includes selecting materials with appropriate thermal mass,
use of insulation, provision of shading devices, installation of skylights
and other approaches that achieve this principle. - Water
conservation and grey water reuse. - Efficient
waste management, including minimisation and recycling in the demolition,
construction and operational phases of development. - Reduced
car dependence; promoting public transport use, cycling and walking
through improved access to public transport; minimising car parking
provision and providing facilities for cyclists. - Compliance
with BASIX for residential development and SEDA Building Greenhouse
Ratings for non-residential buildings.
Future development proposals for new buildings or major alterations
and additions to new buildings will need to be supported by a report prepared
by a qualified environmental energy consultant, which demonstrates achievement
of ESD requirements.
More detailed controls and guidelines regarding
sustainability will be formulated and incorporated into the plans and policies that
will be developed subsequent to this Plan.