But local resident Matthew Drake-Brockman has signalled he
intends to appeal against a NSW Land & Environment Court decision against a
motion to block the development, on the grounds that its approval by the Planning
Minister did not take account of the development’s impact on sustainable
development and climate change.
Dr Quek, chief executive of Frasers, said plans for the 5.8
hectare site, slated to accommodate up to 300 residents and 4000 office
workers, would aim for high sustainability outcomes.
An open day on Saturday would kick off an anticipated 18
months of new planning and public consultation to find out what stakeholders
wanted, Dr Quek said.
Yesterday he told The Australian Financial Review the inspiration
for the new plans was in part the group’s exposure to the strong sustainability
principles required in London by Mayor Ken
Livingstone plus the example of his home base, Singapore.
As well, the project would be eight years in development
and it was important to think ahead to what residents and commercial tenants
would want.
“Foster’s [Group, the previous owner] had a vision
and our vision is slightly different. We want to get all the stakeholders together
in building a modem urban village with the best ESD [environmentally sustainable
development] principles and a sense of place,” Dr Quek said.
“It
could serve to be a really true model for large urban sites.”
Greens councillor Chris Harris
said he welcomed the announcement but the single greatest benefit to ESD would be
dramatic reduction of the 2300 cars in the plans.
Dr Quek said the car issue was “something we have to look
at”. First it was important to “get the infrastructure working properly,
the trains working properly” .
Last June Frasers paid Foster’s $208 million for the
contentious site after lengthy consultations between Sydney City Council and
the community.
Dr Quek said he was disappointed with the planning
challenge news.
“We
have said we will stand behind the minister here. We are a little disappointed
that they said they are going to appeal, but we have to wait to see whether they
are actually appealing.”