Place Book. STAGE 1 Public Spaces Vision North Sydney CBD Public Domain Strategy North Sydney Council October 2018 A A vision for public life EXECUTIVE SUMMARY in North Sydney’s CBD. North Sydney Council is working to create a more engaging and resilient CBD that offers a greater WHAT WE HEARD STAGES range of activities and unique public spaces for workers, residents and visitors. Previous North Sydney consultation activities and feedback The Public Space Strategy is being undertaken in two stages: were reviewed to identify feedback relevant to the CBD Stage 1, summarised in this ‘Place Book’, is an ideas phase that Public Domain. Ideas and proposals were then developed This ‘Place Book’ has been prepared to guide the examines the potential of the North Sydney CBD public domain. and the community and stakeholders were given the It identifies: development of the public domain in the CBD opportunity to participate in a survey based on these initial • community expectations and ideas of North Sydney. This document establishes a ideas. Further consultation activities tested development of • opportunities to better align existing policies vision for the centre’s public spaces, identifies these ideas to inform finalisation of the draft strategy. • a framework for future public domain upgrades short, medium and long term projects on both • short-medium term projects that address known Consistently we heard that the community feels strongly private and public land and puts in place an issues and mitigate the impacts of construction about the need for the public domain to activate the CBD implementation plan to deliver change. • longer term, place–specific projects and visionary, through the inclusion of activity-based infrastructure which high–intervention opportunities. The Place book will be used to align both private is appealing to both residents and workers. and public investment in the CBD around a common vision for its future. The public domain should also provide places to gather and In Stage 2, to be undertaken in 2019, Council will develop a strategy It will inform Council’s: facilitate the movement of large numbers of people. There to deliver the ideas and proposals included in this Place Book. This • statutory and strategic planning was also strong support for quality, activated pedestrian links will ensure public space proposals are achievable, supported across decisions that may require road closures or traffic changes. Council and adequately funded. • future capital works programs • discussions with state agencies and the development industry. Stakeholder and community engagement This Public Spaces Vision document seeks ATTRACT | CONNECT has informed the vision for the CBD so to ensure that future growth in the CBD is that it reflects community aspirations and complemented by public spaces that improve ensures the proposals are aligned with vibrancy, safety, amenity, and appeal of DIVERSIFY | SATISFY public needs and benefits. the centre for workers, residents, students, visitors and investors. NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 2 A vision for public life North Sydney requires high quality public spaces befitting in North Sydney’s CBD. it’s role as part of a globally connected Harbour CBD. COMMUNITY COMMENT: ‘A strong sense of community exists in North Sydney and many families are keen to ‘stay and play’. Post Office Square. NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 3 The issues. The ideas. There are a number of issues affecting the There are four approaches proposed to public domain in North Sydney CBD: improve the public domain in North Sydney CBD: • A general undersupply of plazas and parks. • Increase the quantity of public domain and green space. • Existing public domain lacks delight and warmth. • Increase the quality and variety of public domain. • Heavy impact of peak hour vehicle movements. • Slow vehicle speeds and actively encourage walking and cycling. • Empty public spaces after hours and on weekends • Create new city-shaping spaces that connect with and a lack of after hour activities. cultural, social and transport hubs. NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 4 A Public Space key moves. NORTH SYDNEY VICTORIA CROSS METRO STATION STATION METRO STATION ENTRY PACIFIC HWY MCMAHONS MILLER WALK POINT PACIFIC HWY CENTRAL VICTORIA CROSS MILLER WALK SOUTH BLUES TERRACE M I L L E R S T R E E T MILLER PLACE C I V I C S P I N E M I L L E R S T R E E T LANEWAYS CORE WARD STREET PRECINCT WENDY WHITELEY’S WALKER CROSS M I L L E R P L A C E NORTH SYDNEY OVAL SECRET GARDEN W A L K E R S T R E E T LAVENDER ST LEONARDS PARK BAY MILSONS MILSONS POINT TRAMWAY VIADUCT POINT STATION BERRY STREET LUNA LANDBRIDGE PARK PARK OLYMPIC EAST WEST LINK POOL SYDNEY CYCLEWAY HARBOUR BRIDGE CAHILL WALK PUBLIC SPACE GAINS PUBLIC SPACE UPGRADES KEY MOVES 2 2 The biggest strategic opportunities for North Sydney + 3,000 M MILLER PLACE 3,500 M MILLER PLACE are to be created by the downgrading of vehicles 2 2 and traffic movements, and greatly increasing the + 2,700 M MILLER WALK SOUTH 3,000 M MILLER WALK CIVIC importance of footpaths, pedestrian spaces, walking + 1,200 M2 POST OFFICE SQUARE 5,500 M 2 LANEWAYS PRECINCT routes, squares and laneway links. New public spaces will be created by closing some + 3,500 M2 TRAMWAY VIADUCT 1,000 M2 LOWER MOUNT STREET streets to through traffic where possible, widening footpaths and upgrading existing spaces that are + 1,100 M2 BERRY SQUARE NORTH 800 M2 BERRY SQUARE currently in poor condition or unconnected to the public realm. 2 2 + 1,200 M WARD STREET PRECINCT 3,500 M LITTLE WALKER STREET There are three important linking elements; the Civic 2 2 Spine on Miller Street, the laneway system running + 3,800 M 10% WIDER FOOTPATHS 600 M BLUE TERRACE north—south and the east—west pedestrian link along Mount Street. + 16,500 M 2 TOTAL 20,900 M 2 TOTAL NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 5 The challenge of Public Space. EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN INCLUDING JUST TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO FOOTPATHS PER WORKER 2016 (60K) A MINIMUM OF 0.75m 2/person 16,000m2 of new With growth of 20,000 space* is needed new workers this rate will fall to á 2 0.55m /person â * Space gained from road COMPARISON: closures, footpath widenings, upgrades, rooftops. BARANGAROO SOUTH 2.0m2/person OPTUS MACQUARIE PARK 2.0m2/person By 2036 pedestrian activity will increase by 54% adding 22,000 people to streets and public spaces every weekday. NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 6 Potential Public Space gains. WHAT MAKES UP THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE CBD APPROX 13,000 m 13,000 APPROX PLAZA) (inc GREENWOOD PUBLIC DOMAIN APPROX 29,000m APPROX AREA FOOTPATH EXISTING APPROX 50,000m APPROX AREA: ROAD 2 2 2 DOMAIN: (12,818M PUBLIC 5% 2 ) 19% 11% ROAD AREA ROAD FOOTPATH AREA FOOTPATH 6% ADDITIONAL (IN CBD ONLY): PUBLIC DOMAIN POTENTIAL (15,395M 2 EXISTING PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE SPACES EXISTING PUBLIC FOOTPATH AREAS EXISTING ROAD SPACE ) AND PROPOSED PUBLIC SPACES KEY 11% FOOTPATHS Existing publicly accessible areas 29,000 M2 Potential public space gains 15% ROADS 40,500 M 2 Very little additional public space has 6% PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLES SPACE 2 been gained over the last half a century 17,000 M 6% NEW PUBLIC SPACE through the development process. + 20,000 M 2 NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 7 Don Bank Museum Garden Oasis Pacific Highway Focus on pedestrians & St Peters Church cyclists 1889 Post Office St Peters Park Post Office Square Upgraded park Close Mount Street Berry Street Miller Place A leafy boulevard Blue Terrace Gas Lane New CBD heart Upgrade harbour view space Upgraded link Victoria Cross Pedestrian Friendly Miller Walk North Sydney Station Linking CBD and parks Link to Wynyard and Chatswood Greenwood Plaza Victoria Cross Station Upgraded terrace and gardens Link to Barangaroo and Crows Nest Walker Stairs Mount Street Denison Street Upgraded link Shared Zone Upgraded lanes with retail Ward Street Precinct New lanes and squares Walker Cross Berry Square Upgraded Pedestrian Friendly Walker Street Tramway Viaduct Little Walker Outdoor Dining New urban spaces Upgraded laneway Open Space Mount Street The new Victoria Cross Metro Station, Upgraded pedestrian link to For future review currently under construction and due Alfred St Precinct (indicative area only) to open in 2024, is a major opportunity to rethink how the CBD works for The vision. residents, workers and visitors. NORTH SYDNEY PUBLIC SPACES VISION 8 North Sydney St Thomas Church in 2032. COMMUNITY COMMENT: ‘The Strategy should show private land owners and Council 100 YEARS how they can work together to 100 achieve the goals in the Plan.’ ON THE ‘OTHER SIDE’ Civic Park Upgraded and connected to the CBD via Miller Walk A place for life Council Stanton Library and people. St Marys Church The objective of this strategy is to establish a framework of new ideas Victoria Cross Station Miller Walk and opportunities for a revitalised and Access to North CBD, Oval and Park expanded public domain for North Linking CBD and Park Sydney’s CBD. Future Link The stimulus of recent state and private sector investment will have a significant impact on New lanes and green space links up to St Leonards Park the CBD over the next decade. The delivery North Sydney Oval Music Shell of the Victoria Cross Metro Station by the Major venue for sport & events Outdoor events space NSW Government provides transformational infrastructure that will improve access to the CBD. However, the projected commercial and residential growth that will accompany the metro means increased strain on the already stressed public realm of the North Sydney CBD.