Chinatown Public Domain Plan August 2010

CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN AUGUST 2010

PREPARED BY SPACKMAN MOSSOP MICHAELS TONY CARO ARCHITECTURE · ARUP (TRAFFIC) ELTON CONSULTING (COMMUNITY CONSULTATION)

FOR THE CITY OF SYDNEY 3 Oxford Street Paddington NSW 2010 PO Box 880 Darlinghurst NSW 2010 t: +61 2 9361 4549 f: +61 2 9361 4569 www.sm2group.com.au CONTENTS

1 Introduction ...... 1 3.6 Major developments 26 5.9 Valentine Street 74

1.1 Introduction 3 3.7 Two types of projects 27 5.10 Douglass Street & Douglass Lane, Eagar Street & Eagar Lane: laneways 2 The existing public domain...... 7 4 Chinatown–wide projects (overlays)...... 29 revitalisation 76

2.1 A divided precinct 9 4.1 Lighting overlay 30 5.11 Little Hay Street, Factory Street & Kimber Lane: early start 80 2.2 Pedestrian connections to Chinatown 10 4.2 Materials and wayfinding overlay 31 6 Public domain outcomes ...... 83 2.3 Under-utilised public domain 11 4.3 Furniture overlay 32 6.1 More space for people 85 2.4 Pedestrian activity within Chinatown 12 4.4 Street tree overlay 33 6.2 Improved pedestrian connectivity 86 2.5 Congested footpaths and intersections 13 4.5 Environmental sustainability overlay 34 6.3 Improved cycle connectivity 87 2.6 Shortage of gathering spaces 14 4.6 Public art overlay 35 6.4 A strong Haymarket hub 88 2.7 Street quality 15 5 Place–specific projects (upgrades) ...... 37 6.5 A variety of public space experiences 89 2.8 Community expectations 16 5.1 Dixon Street: renovation 38 7 Prioritisation...... 91 3 Initiating change...... 19 5.2 Sussex Street: trams 44 7.1 Community preferences 93 3.1 Win back space: taking control of traffic 20 5.3 Goulburn Street: connecting 48 7.2 Project prioritisation 94 3.2 On–street parking and loading 22 5.4 Hay Street: hub 52 7.3 Highest priority 95 3.3 Off–street parking 23 5.5 Harbour Street: welcome mat 58 7.4 High priority 96 3.4 Public transport development 24 5.6 Thomas Street: spine 62 7.5 Medium priority 97 3.5 Cycle strategy 25 5.7 Ultimo Road: cycle 66 8 References ...... 99 5.8 Quay Street: boulevard 70

1 INTRODUCTION < WORLD SQUARE < BELMORE PARK < CENTRAL STATION < GOULBURN STREET < ‘THE PEAK’ RESIDENTIAL TOWER < PADDY’S MARKET < PADDY’S < RAILWAY SQUARE < RAILWAY

ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE > CHINESE GARDENS > HAY STREET > HAY

POWERHOUSE MUSEUM >

source: www.nearmap.com, photo date: 22 Jan 2010

2 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN KENT STREET

BRBRIDGE >

BR DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA 1.1 INTRODUCTION EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET EAGAR LA PIER Chinatown is a distinctive part of Sydney, with a special urban character is lively, diverse and constantly changing. Possessing a vibrant culture GOULBURN STREET that is characterised by eating and shopping, Chinatown is very a popular place to visit for locals and tourists alike. FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET

HARBOUR STREET KIMBER LANE The City of Sydney has recently completed the Chinatown Public Domain Studyy (2009), a strategy document that aims to guide the improvement of Chinatown’s public domain. The study produced four guiding

GEORGE STREET directions, which were: LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST

KIMBER LANE 1. Strengthen the Haymarket Activity Hub CAMPBELL STREET 2. Foster the mix of traditional and contemporary

HAY STREET 3. Facilitate festivals and events 4. Improve the streets for walking, cycling and accessibility HAY STREET Following the completion of the initial public domain study, Council

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD resolved that: B. the City engage with key stakeholders of the Chinatown area

ULTIMO ROAD on the draft Chinatown Public Domain Study to test the study objectives and determine implementation priorities. BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE D. a report be brought back to Council incorporating a ﬁnal QUAY STREET THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE Chinatown Public Domain Study that includes the results of stakeholder consultation and a project implementation plan.

EDDY AVENUE VALENTINE STREET GEORGE STREET HARRIS STREET Consequently, Spackman Mossop Michaels, in collaboration with Tony Caro Architecture, Arup and Elton Consulting, have been commissioned by Council to undertake the present study. Responding to the Council resolutions, the purpose of the Chinatown Public Domain Plan is to further develop the recommendations of initial public domain study, test STUDY AREA PITT STREET their feasibility and prioritise their implementation in consultation the SHFA LEGISLATIVE BOUNDARY community. RTA ROADS

LEE STREET INTRODUCTION 3

BROADWAY THE STUDY AREA t improve the quality of the streets; and The Chinatown study area is located between Liverpool t activate underused streets and lanes. Street and Railway Square, extending westward from George Street to Harbour Street and Quay Street. Council These actions form the key objectives for the present study, has authority over most of the study area, the exceptions which further develops the preliminary ideas and concepts being: presented in the initial study. Ultimately, the aim of this report is to guide future improvements to the Chinatown’s t Paddy’s Market and the western side of Dixon Street public domain through the City’s capital works program. north of Goulburn Street, which are governed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA); and STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE t Goulburn Street, Harbour Street and Hay Street, which are controlled by the Roads and Trafﬁc Authority (RTA). Council’s overarching strategic objective of the Chinatown Public Domain Plan is: STUDY AIMS to respect, protect and build on the area’s historic links with Chinese culture and the Chinese community, Chinatown Public Domain Study (2009), the ‘initial study’. The fundamental aim of the Chinatown Public Domain together with the growing inﬂuence of other Asian Study (2009), which the present study extends, is to provide cultures and communities, while recognising the area’s a strategic urban framework for the improvement of the importance to contributing to the vitality and diversity of parts of the public domain that Council is responsible Sydney as a global City. for—the footpaths, streets and public spaces.

Under the framework of the guiding directions, the initial STUDY CONTEXT Chinatown Public Domain Study (2009) identified eight The Chinatown Public Domain Plan incorporates and actions for improving Chinatown’s public domain. These extends the City’s existing planning and strategy work for were: Chinatown and surrounding city area. In particular: support the Haymarket Activity Hub; t t Sustainable Sydney 2030 Strategic Vision (2008), which t enhance Chinatown’s traditional and contemporary identifies the Haymarket and Chinatown area as one of characteristics; the City’s ten ‘Activity Hubs’; t expand street markets; t the Public Spaces Public Life Study (Gehl Architects 2007); t provide better amenity for flexible uses; t the City’s Local Action Plans (2007), which describe improve pedestrian priority and accessibility; t individual actions for the Chinatown and Haymarket t improve amenity for cyclists; area;

4 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN t the City’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007-2017; provisions. The results of their analysis were presented as and an Existing Conditions Report (2009) to the study team. The proposed changes to Chinatown’s streets respond to t the City’s Inclusion Disability Action Plan 2007-2011. these initial findings and integrate detailed technical advice provided by Arup and Council’s Transport Strategy team. STUDY METHOD The Chinatown Public Domain Plan investigates in detail Community consultation how the eight key actions arising from the initial study’s A program of community stakeholder consultation guiding directions could be achieved across the entire was conducted as part of this study to gain a clear Chinatown study area. The recommendations of this understanding of the community’s expectations for study are presented as a series of individual projects, with Chinatown’s public domain, to gain feedback on the study’s the intention that they contribute to briefs for design guiding directions and objectives, and to help determine development and implementation in the future. implementation priorities. The community consultation activities comprised: The study was undertaken as a collaborative team effort, First community workshop, 10 November 2009 (photo: City of Sydney) which included: t a first community workshop, held on 10 November 2009, which was attended by approximately 120 t members of the City’s Design, Transport Strategy, and people; Public Art teams, t a ‘photo essay’ exercise, where community members t Spackman Mossop Michaels as lead urban design were asked to photograph things in Chinatown that consultants, in collaboration with Tony Caro they liked and disliked, using disposable cameras Architecture; provided by Council, or their own cameras with photos t Arup as transport and traffic consultants; and emailed back to Council; t Elton Consulting, who led the community consultation. t a street intercept survey, conducted from Friday 4 December 2009 to Sunday 6 December 2009, where Traffic and pedestrian study approximately 220 people were interviewed; a second community workshop, held on 09 February This study proposes substantial changes to the configuration t 2010, which was attended by approximately 80 people; of Chinatown’s streets, as a means to ‘win back’ space for and pedestrians and cyclists. In order to test the viability of the proposed street changes—and to determine their impact t a section on the City’s website dedicated to Chinatown’s on traffic flows through Chinatown—Arup has conducted public domain improvements. an investigation of the existing traffic and pedestrian flows through Chinatown, and an audit of the existing parking

INTRODUCTION 5

2 THE EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN

KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET 2.1 A DIVIDED PRECINCT EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T Within the study area, the busy east-west roads of Goulburn Street and WORLDWO SQUARE Hay Street divide Chinatown into three distinct parts: GOULBURN STREET GOULBURN STREET t a highly active urban core, situated between Goulburn Street and Hay FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET Street. This area is popularly recognised as the social and cultural

SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET heart of Chinatown, and can often be very congested—particularly in CENTRE Dixon Street and Sussex Street.

GEORGE STREET Chinatown north, the area situated between Goulburn Street and LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST t

KIMBER LANE Liverpool Street. This area has a noticeably less active public domain Goulburn Street than Chinatown’s core. CAMPBELL STREET t Chinatown south, the area situated between Hay Street and Railway LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE HA Square. This area includes Paddy’s Market and Market City, which are Y STRE ET signiﬁcant activity attractors in Chinatown. However, the area south MARKET CITY UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET of Ultimo Road has a noticeably less active public domain compared to the core, despite a wide variety of retail and restaurant businesses

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD being located here.

As one of the city’s main east-west arterial roads, Goulburn Street carries ULTIMO ROAD very large volumes of vehicular trafﬁc through Chinatown, which makes Hay Street BARLOW STREET it a signiﬁcant barrier to pedestrian activity. THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET While Hay Street is not an arterial route, it nonetheless carries a substantial volume of trafﬁc compared to other Chinatown streets. Furthermore, the tram line and the substantial width of the street create

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE confusing junctions for pedestrians. These factors combine to make Hay Street a signiﬁcant barrier to pedestrian connectivity in Chinatown.

PITT STREET Need for change

150m There is a clear need to improve pedestrian connections across both Goulburn Street and Hay Street, to relieve the current pressure in RAILWAY CENTRAL Chinatown’s core. SQUARE STATION 100 50

0 THE EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN 9

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

2.2 PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS TO CHINATOWN HARBOUR STREET EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T As one of the City’s major arterial roads, George Street also forms a strong north-south pedestrian spine at the edge of study area, providing WORLDWO SQUARE the primary points of access to Chinatown from the east. GOULBURN STREET

FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET

At western edge of the study area, Harbour Street separates Chinatown HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE from Darling Harbour. North of Goulburn Street, the width of Harbour ENTERTAINMENT Street, the heavy trafﬁc, and the scale of the Chinese Gardens, combine CENTRE to form an effective barrier to pedestrian connectivity from Darling

Harbour. The Liverpool Street pedestrian bridge provides a pedestrian LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET route between Darling Harbour and Chinatown in the north; however, it KIMBER LANE is Factory Street that forms the primary pedestrian route between Dixon CAMPBELL STREET Street/Chinatown and Darling Harbour, via the Entertainment Centre.

HAY STREET The large footprint of Paddy’s Market limits opportunities for access from CAPITOL SQUARE George Street the south and east; as such, Ultimo Road forms the primary pedestrian MARKET CITY connection between Chinatown and Ultimo. UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET In the southern part of study area, Quay Street forms the eastern ULTIMO ROAD edge of Chinatown, providing pedestrian access from Railway Square. Quay Street also forms an important pedestrian route between the Entertainment Centre and Railway Square. ULTIMO ROAD BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET Need for change THOMAS STREET PRIMARY PEDESTRIAN ENTRY POINTS RAWSON PLACE Although access to Chinatown along the George Street spine is well GEORGE STREET established and heavily utilised, there is a need to improve the quality SECONDARY PEDESTRIAN ENTRY POINTS of the pedestrian connections from the west across Harbour Street and VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE along Quay Street. BARRIERS TO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS

PITT STREET 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION 100 50

10 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

DENSD SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET 2.3 UNDER-UTILISED PUBLIC DOMAIN EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T Although privately owned, Chinatown’s large number of arcades are an WORLDWO SQUARE important part of its public domain because they create vital east-west GOULBURN STREET pedestrian connections that signiﬁcantly increase the permeability of the dense urban fabric. FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET

HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT North of Hay Street, arcades connect George Street, Sussex Street and CENTRE Dixon Streets. South of Hay Street, they connect George Street to Thomas Street.

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE The issue is that the function of the arcades as through-site connections is under-utilised, because often they do not have a strong visual presence CAMPBELL STREET in the street. The arcades constitute a ‘secret’ public domain available primarily to those with local knowledge of Chinatown. LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE Dixon House, Sussex Street (connects to Dixon Street)

MARKET CITY Need for change UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET There is a need to improve the legibility of the arcades to the general

THOMAS STREET public, in order to facilitate their increased usage as part of Chinatown’s ULTIMO ROAD pedestrian network.

ULTIMO ROAD

BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE Regal Arcade, Dixon Street (connects to George Street)

PITT STREET

THROUGH–SITE CONNECTIONS (ARCADES) 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION 100 50

0 THE EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN 11

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA 2.4 PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY WITHIN CHINATOWN HARBOUR STREET 204 W 516 S ST EAGAR DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T One of the deﬁning characteristics of the Chinatown urban experience 426 W 432 S is the large amount of pedestrian activity. Pedestrian counts undertaken 1524 W WORLDWO SQUARE 2730 S by Arup (2009) for this study, and supplemented data collected for the GOULBURN STREET 246 W Public Spaces Public Life study (Gehl Architects 2007), reveal that the 438 S FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET greatest concentration of pedestrian activity in Chinatown is to be found HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE around the Hay Street/Sussex Street/Thomas Street nexus. Furthermore, ENTERTAINMENT *1230 W CENTRE 2154 S the Dixon Street mall (between Goulburn Street and Hay Street) is also a 774 W 1740 S heavily utilised pedestrian space, servicing more than 2,000 people in the 354 W 300 S weekend peak hour. LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE 2274 W 2676 S The graph below, compiled using data collected by Arup and Gehl 30 W 12 S CAMPBELL STREET Architects, reveals that in general, pedestrian activity throughout 2298 W 2754 S Chinatown is higher on the weekend than during the week. LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE

MARKET CITY 5088 UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET 5000 1704 W WEDNESDAY 2796 S

PEAK HOUR THOMAS STREET SATURDAY ULTIMO ROAD 4000 PEAK HOUR * TRAFFIC COUNT BY GEHL STUDY ALL OTHER COUNTS BY ARUP, ULTIMO ROAD AS PART OF THIS STUDY 3000 1326 W BARLOW STREET 2754 2676 2796 2730 THOMAS LANE 1806 S * =PEDESTRIAN COUNTS BY GEHL STUDY QUAY STREET

2274 THOMAS STREET 2154 ALL OTHER COUNTS BY ARUP, RAWSON PLACE 2000 2298 GEORGE STREET AS PART OF THIS STUDY 1854 1704 1752 1806 1740 1524 W=WEDNESDAY PEAK HOUR 1584 1326 1752 W PEDESTRIAN NUMBERS 1584 S S =SATURDAY PEAK HOUR 1000 1230 VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE PEDESTRIAN NUMBERS 774 432 516 438 HIGH PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY 354 AVERAGE PEAK HOUR PEDESTRIAN NUMBERS 426 30 GREATER THAN 2,000 0 204 246 300 12 PITT STREET MODERATE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY *1854 W AVERAGE PEAK HOUR PEDESTRIAN NUMBERS 5088 S Hay St GREATER THAN 1,000 BUT LESS THAN 2,000 150m Quay St Sussex St Factory St Kimber La George St* Harbour St

Little Hay St LOW PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY RAILWAY CENTRAL AVERAGE PEAK HOUR PEDESTRIAN NUMBERS

Dixon St (north) SQUARE STATION LESS THAN 1,000 Dixon St (south)* 100 Goulburn St (Pier St end) 50 Goulburn St (George St end) Thomas St (north of Ultimo Rd) Thomas St (south of Ultimo Rd)

12 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET 2.5 CONGESTED FOOTPATHS AND INTERSECTIONS EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T The limited footpath space available throughout Chinatown, combined WORLDWO SQUARE with high volumes of pedestrian activity, has resulted in congested GOULBURN STREET footpaths throughout the study area.

FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET HARBOUR STREET Pedestrian congestion is particularly evident at key intersections along the

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT busiest streets, namely: CENTRE t at the intersection of Goulburn and Sussex Streets, where the

GEORGE STREET footpaths are particularly narrow; LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST

KIMBER LANE Sussex Street/Goulburn Street intersection t at the intersection of Hay Street, Sussex Street and Thomas Street; CAMPBELL STREET (photo: City of Sydney) t at the intersection of Thomas Street and Ultimo Road. LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE The Dixon Street pedestrian mall can also become very congested, MARKET CITY UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET especially on weekends and during events such as the weekly night markets.

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD Paddy’s Market is also a key factor in pedestrian congestion around Hay Street, as the markets and Market City are major activity magnets ULTIMO ROAD in Chinatown. The sheer scale of the building’s footprint concentrates

BARLOW STREET pedestrian activity at the intersections at its perimeter—Dixon Street and THOMAS LANE Sussex Street/Thomas Street along Hay Street, and the Thomas Street/ QUAY STREET THOMAS STREET Thomas Street/Ultimo Road intersection RAWSON PLACE Ultimo Road intersection. GEORGE STREET

Need for change VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE PEDESTRIAN CONGESTION There is an urgent need to relieve pedestrian congestion in Chinatown, particularly at major intersections in the high activity area around Paddy’s Market. PITT STREET 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION 100 50

0 THE EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN 13

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

2.6 SHORTAGE OF GATHERING SPACES HARBOUR STREET EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T Despite the high amount of pedestrian activity in Chinatown, there is an acute shortage of public gathering spaces in Chinatown proper. Dixon WORLDWO SQUARE Street mall and the small plaza space at the northern end of Dixon Street GOULBURN STREET (at Liverpool Street) are the only two spaces in Chinatown that offer FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET public seating. HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT Abutting Chinatown, the large forecourt spaces around the CENTRE Entertainment Centre—particularly the southern space adjacent to

Hay Street—function informally as supplementary gathering spaces for LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET Chinatown activities. KIMBER LANE Dixon Street during the weekly night markets CAMPBELL STREET As the social heart of Chinatown, and its only pedestrian-oriented space,

Dixon Street mall is the primary focus of programmed events and festivals HAY STREET in the study area. However, the surrounding streets also host events, CAPITOL SQUARE especially during the Chinese New Year festival, which causes signiﬁcant MARKET CITY congestion for pedestrians and cars alike. UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET Furthermore, the popularity of Dixon Street as a year-round destination ULTIMO ROAD has seen it increasingly struggle to cope with the large crowds of visitors. Acute congestion is particularly evident on the weekends and during the weekly night markets. ULTIMO ROAD Forecourt space south of the Entertainment Centre BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET Need for change THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET There is a clear need for more pedestrian-oriented space in Chinatown, to cater for programmed events and festivals and to relieve some of the current pressure on the Dixon Street mall. VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE GATHERING SPACES IN CHINATOWN

GATHERING SPACES NEAR CHINATOWN

PITT STREET 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION 100 50

14 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET 2.7 STREET QUALITY

In general, Chinatown’s public domain is characterised by disparate and inconsistent furnishings and ﬁnishes (such as paving and street furniture), which in many cases are quite worn due to sustained heavy use.

Need for change There is a clear need for the refurbishment of Chinatown’s streets and other public spaces, in order to improve the quality of the ﬁnishes and furnishings to bring them up to the standard of public spaces elsewhere in the City.

However, it is important to recognise that a distinguishing and highly valued characteristic of Chinatown’s urban character is the enormous variety of visual elements in its streets, which is derived from the individual shop fronts, colourful lighting and distinctive signage. These attributes should be encouraged to persist in any future development of Chinatown’s public domain.

As such, it is recommended that street quality improvements in Chinatown should not be overly ‘themed’, but instead provide a backdrop that allows the lived character of the area, which is created by its activities and users, to take precedence.

photo: City of Sydney

THE EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN 15 2.8 COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS

The ﬁrst community consultation workshop for this study, held on 10 November 2009, aimed to ascertain the community’s expectations and desires for Chinatown’s public domain. Approximately 120 people from the local community, including business and residents, participated in the workshop.

As part of the community consultation, workshop participants were asked to identify, on maps, which areas of Chinatown they currently liked and disliked. Yellow dots were used to indicate places that individuals felt were working well in Chinatown, while red dots were used to indicate areas that were felt to be in need of improvement. A summary of the responses is provided on the two maps shown on this page.

The ‘dislikes’ map clearly indicates that the community felt that improvement is required in the areas of greatest conﬂict between pedestrians and cars, namely: t the intersection between Sussex Street and Goulburn Street; t the entire length of Hay Street; and t the intersection between Thomas Street and Ultimo Road.

The section of Dixon Street north of Goulburn Street was also identiﬁed as an area that needed improvement, as many felt that it lacks the liveliness that characterises the Dixon Street mall, south of Goulburn Street. Additionally, the laneways associated with the Dixon Street mall were identiﬁed as needing improvement, particularly Kimber Lane and Factory Street, which many respondents felt were dirty and unsafe.

In conjunction with the workshop, a ‘photo essay’ exercise was conducted, where community members were asked to photograph things in Chinatown that they liked and disliked, using disposable cameras provided by Council, or their own cameras with photos emailed back to Council. The results of this exercise conﬁrmed the general trends found in the mapping.

AMALGAMATED ‘LIKES’ MAP AMALGAMATED ‘DISLIKES’ MAP (drawing by City of Sydney) (drawing by City of Sydney)

16 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN PHOTOGRAPHS RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS PART OF PHOTO ESSAY EXERCISE ‘LIKE’ INDICATED ‘DISLIKE’ INDICATED

THE EXISTING PUBLIC DOMAIN 17

3 INITIATING CHANGE KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

47,650* DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET 26,644*644* 55151 DOUGLASS LA

3.1 WIN BACK SPACE: TAKING CONTROL OF TRAFFIC HARBOUR STREET EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T Traffic data collected by Arup (2009) as part of this study indicate that 16,421*421* Liverpool Street, Goulburn Street and George Street function as the 13,03213,0332 primary traffic routes to and from Chinatown, each carrying over 20,000 GOULBURN STREET 13,380113,,38 vehicles per day. Ultimo Road is functions as a major through traffic 8,85988,88,85,85 FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET rout, connecting Harris Street to George Street. HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT Sussex Street, Hay Street, Harbour Street, Thomas Street and Quay Street CENTRE function as collector roads, servicing between 5,000 and 10,000 vehicles 1,,45, 545 daily. A key feature of the Chinatown road network is the number of LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET narrow, one way streets and laneways that play an important local KIMBER LANE function for building access and loading activity. 6,2356 CAMPBELL STREET

As Arup’s Existing Conditions (2009) report notes, a key characteristic of HAY STREET Chinatown is that it is a highly pedestrianised precinct, albeit informally. CAPITOL SQUARE The network of local narrow streets and laneways discourage through MARKET CITY trafﬁc from using many of the streets. As such, although street activity UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET can be congested and uncontrolled at times, it is acceptable as all use is 5,19055,

THOMAS STREET locally focussed. ULTIMO ROAD

In order to create more formalised pedestrian-priority space in Chinatown, the existing pattern of trafﬁc usage must be reconﬁgured. ULTIMO ROAD 14,802*22* BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE 2,18080

By taking through traffic out of Hay Street and much of Thomas Street, 234 AVERAGE WEEKDAY TRAFFIC VOLUME QUAY STREET (ARUP, NOVEMBER 2009) THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE it is possible to win back a significant amount of space for pedestrians in GEORGE STREET 234* AVERAGE WEEKDAY TRAFFIC VOLUME the heart of Chinatown, where the conflict between pedestrian activity (2005 RTA AADT (TWO-WAY)) and traffic is currently at its most acute. Although there is also great PRIMARY THROUGH TRAFFIC VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE contestation between pedestrian and vehicular activity on Sussex Street, HARRIS STREET COLLECTOR ROAD vehicular access must be maintained along this street. This is because 6,6176,6 7 3,5888 Dixon Street is already a pedestrian mall; as such, there is no feasible LOCAL TRAFFIC alternative to Sussex Street for maintaining traffic flow and business PITT STREET SHARED ZONE loading in Chinatown’s core. 150m There is also a great opportunity to increase the amount of shared zones RAILWAY CENTRAL throughout Chinatown, particularly in the small streets and laneways. SQUARE STATION 100 EXISTING TRAFFIC PATTERN 49,791*,7 1* 50

20 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG TUMBALONG PARK PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET LIVERPOOL STREET

ARDENSD SUSSEX STREET SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA DOUGLASS LA HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET

EAGAR ST EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T PIER S T

W WORLDWO SQUARE GOULBURN STREET GOULBURN STREET

FACTORY ST FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET DIXON STREET

HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE CENTRE

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE SUSSEXSUSSEUSS STREETSTREEEET KIMBER LANE BECOMESB MES TWO-WAYTWTWOO-WO-WAWWA

CAMPBELL STREET CAMPBELL STREET

HARBOURAR STRE HAY STREET HAY STREET BECOMESMMES TWO-WWO-WO CAPITOL SQUARE CAPITOL SQUARE WITH TURNINGRRNING CIRCC

MARKET CITY MARKET CITY UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET SHAREDS DRIVEWAYDDRI

THOMAS STREET THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD

ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD

BARLOW STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE THOMAS LANE EXISTING PEDESTRIAN-PRIORITY SPACES QUAY STREET QUAY STREET

THOMAS STREET THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET GEORGE STREET PROPOSED NEW PEDESTRIAN-PRIORITY SPACES

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE HARRIS STREET

PITT STREET PITT STREET 150m 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION SQUARE STATION 100 100 PROPOSED TRAFFIC PATTERN PEDESTRIAN–PRIORITY SPACE GAINED 50 50

0 0 INITIATING CHANGE 21

BROADWAY LEE STREET BROADWAY LEE STREET 3.2 ON–STREET PARKING AND LOADING

As part of this study, Arup (2009) conducted an audit of on-street parking provisions throughout Chinatown. The audit revealed that over

KENTKENT STREET KENTKENT STREET KENTKENT STREET STREET 2km of on-street parking spaces exists in the study area. These spaces BALONGBALONGG BALONGBALONGG BALONGBALONGG PAARKRK PAARK PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > TP generally comprise short-term, time restricted/metered parking in order P5 NP NP

DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS MPST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET LIVERPOOL STREET LIVERPOOLLIVEERPOOL STREET MP OL STREET ET NP ET

TP to increase parking turnaround in this high activity area. TP

SUSSEX STREET SUSSEX STREET SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA DOUGLASS LA DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET LA

EAGAR ST EAGAR EAGAR ST EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET DIXON STREET DIXON STREET There is also a substantial amount of loading zones and no parking STREET EAGAR LA STREET EAGAR LA STREET EAGAR LA PIIER S T PIIER S T PIIER NP

TP areas present in Chinatown. During Arup’s audit, trucks were observed P5 GOULBURN STREET GOULBURN STREET GOULBURN STREET parking and loading/unloading in ‘no stopping’ or ‘no parking’ zones MZ FFACTORY ST TP FACTORY ST FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET SUSSEX STREET SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET DIXON STREET DIXON STREET

HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET HARBOUR STREET USSEX STREET USSEX STREET NP IXON STREET TP

KIMBERKIM LANE LANE

MBER LAN KIMBER LANE KIMBER LANE KIMBER LANE either because loading zones were full or none were located near their ENTERTAINMENT BO TP ENTERTAINMEN ENTER NP CENTRE CENTRE C

LAN

NNE

TP destination. E

TP TP TP TP NP NP NP LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGEGEORGE STREET STREET LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGEGEORGE STREET STREET LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGEGEORGE STREET STREET TP NP NP TP TP TP KIMBER LANE KIMBER LANE KIMBER LANE KIMBER LAN LAN

P5 TZ

LANR

NS CAMCAMPBELL STREET CAMPBELL STREE STREET NP CAMPBELL STREE STREET

P15 Although parking is at a premium in Chinatown, the majority of visitors TP NP LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET arrive by walking or public transport*. Furthermore, local shops and CAPITOL SQUARE CAPITOL SQUARE CAPITOL SQUARE

N.P restaurants derive much of their business from passing foot trafﬁc. U HAY STREET HAY STREET HAY STREET

N.P

T.P T.P THOMAS STREET THOMAS STREET THOMAS STREET During the community consultation for this study, the potential reduction T.P ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD O ROADROAD MO ROAD T.P N.P in on-street parking spaces to make way for additional pedestrian space D.P ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD was not considered to be an issue of concern for local businesses. T.P BARLOW STREET BARLOW STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE THOMAS LANE THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET QUAYQUAY STREETSTREET N.P QUAY STREET THOMAS STREET THOMASTHOMAS STREETSTREET THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE RAWSON PLACE RAWSONAWSON PLACPLACE GEORGEGEORGE STREET STREET GEORGEGEORGE STREET STREET GEORGE STREET T.P

EET EET It is envisaged that any loss of on-street loading zones as a result of T.P T.P VALENTINEVALENT STREET EDDY AVENUE VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE VALENTINEN.P STREET EDDY AVENUE T.P creating new pedestrian spaces would be managed through timed access D.P N.P T.P T.P

T.P for loading, so as to not adversely impact servicing for businesses. G.G PITT STREET PITT STREET PITT STREET

N.P 150m 150m 150m

RAILWAY CENTRALTRALRALAL RAILWAY CENTRALTRAL RAILWAY CENTRALTRALAL SQUAREE STATIONATIOON SQUAREE STATIONAT ON SQUAREE STATIONATIOON 100 100 100

* As part of this study, Elton Consulting conducted a street intercept 50 50 50 survey that involved around 226 respondents. Of the people interviewed, 0 0 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET BROADWAY LEE STREET BROADWAY LEE STREET only 16% reported that they arrived in Chinatown by car. LEE STREET LEE STREET LEE STREET ON STREET PARKING LOADING ZONES ‘NO PARKING’ ZONES

22 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

P 212

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET 3.3 OFF–STREET PARKING EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T P 166 There are approximately 5,800 public parking spaces available in parking WORLD SQUAREE stations within Chinatown, or within viable walking distance from GOULBURN STREET P 1496 Chinatown. These parking stations make a signiﬁcant contribution to the public car parking provisions within the study area. FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET

HARBOUR STREET P 14 ENTERTAINMENT KIMBER LANE Any proposed changes to trafﬁc circulation in Chinatown will need to CENTRE ensure that access to existing parking stations is maintained. P 1980 P 51

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE AFFECT OF PROPOSED STREET CHANGES ON CHINATOWN’S PARKING

CAMPBELL STREET Currently, there are about 250 on-street car parking spaces and 5,800 off-street car parking spaces in and immediately adjacent to the study P 121 LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET area. This means that on-street car parking is approximately 5% of the CAPITOL SQUARE total provision.

P 614 MARKET CITY P 36 UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET It is anticipated that up to 80 on-street cars parking spaces could be removed if all the proposed street changes are implemented. This THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD represents a 32% reduction in on-street spaces but only a 1.5% reduction in overall parking availability when off-street car parks are included.

ULTIMO ROAD

BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE <100 CAR SPACES QUAY STREET P

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET P 100–249 CAR SPACES P 130 P 250–499 CAR SPACES

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE P 500–999 CAR SPACES HARRIS STREET P 1000 CAR SPACES P 600

PITT STREET 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION 100 50

0 INITIATING CHANGE 23

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

S SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

3.4 PUBLIC TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT HARBOUR STREET EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T A strong and multifarious public transport network services the Chinatown study area. The key characteristics of this network are: WORLDWO SQUARE GOULBURN STREET t Central Railway Station, located approximately 500m from the centre

1 0

of Chinatown, is easily accessible for visitors; FACTORY ST 2 300 100 SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET

HARBOUR STREET 200

KIMBER LANE t Town Hall Railway Station is a short ﬁve to ten minute walk for most ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE 400

people visiting Chinatown; 500m t the Metro Light Rail (tram) line has stations located in Capitol Square and near the Entertainment Centre, both on Hay Street; LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE t the Monorail has two stations at the edge of Chinatown, located at CAMPBELL STREET the Harbour Plaza and Entertainment Centre car park; and t a large number of bus routes along George Street. LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE 2

The street intercept survey conducted by Elton Consulting as part of MARKET CITY 1 HAY STREET this study revealed that a large proportion of the respondents visiting UTS PADDY’S MARKET Chinatown arrived by public transport (primarily train: 24%, and bus: THOMAS STREET 17%). The greatest proportion of respondents arrived on foot (38%). ULTIMO ROAD

The proposed expansion of the light rail network in Sydney has the ULTIMO ROAD potential to signiﬁcantly impact Chinatown in the future. Two of the BARLOW STREET route options currently under consideration by Transport NSW’s Light THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET Rail Feasibility Study directly affect the study area, as they propose light THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE rail along either Sussex Street or George Street. The Sussex Street option GEORGE STREET in particular will have a signiﬁcant impact on vehicular and pedestrian circulation in Chinatown. Arup (2009) indicate that in the order of 6,200 VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE vehicles per day would be affected by a future light rail line along Sussex 1 1 POSSIBLE FUTURE LIGHT RAIL Street (Arup 2009). SUSSEX STREET OPTION

PITT STREET 2 2 POSSIBLE FUTURE LIGHT RAIL There is an opportunity to utilise the light rail extension as a catalyst GEORGE/KENT STREET OPTION for the concurrent development of public domain improvements in HARRIS STREET 150m Chinatown, especially along Sussex Street. LIGHT RAIL CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION SQUARE

100 MONORAIL

CITYRAIL NETWORK 50

PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL GEORGE ST BUSES

24 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

DENSD SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET 3.5 CYCLE STRATEGY EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T The City of Sydney’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007–20177 proposes WORLDWO SQUARE to signiﬁcantly increase the provision for cyclists throughout the City, GOULBURN STREET including Chinatown. The City is progressively implementing its cycle strategy, which will have substantial effects on the way in which FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET HARBOUR STREET Chinatown’s streets operate.

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE The key cycle facilities proposed within the Chinatown study area include: t a separated cycle path along Ultimo Road, linking Harris Street to Hay LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET Street;

KIMBER LANE t a separated cycle path along Hay Street; and CAMPBELL STREET t separated cycle paths along Sussex Street, Goulburn Street and HAY STREET Liverpool Street. CAPITOL SQUARE

MARKET CITY The proposed development of cycle paths in Chinatown provides an HAY STREET UTS PADDY’S MARKET opportunity to concurrently implement streetscape improvements in the affected streets. Furthermore, there is the potential to improve cycle THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD connections to the west with a link through Darling Harbour.

ULTIMO ROAD

BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE PROPOSED SHARED PATH QUAY STREET THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE PROPOSED SEPARATED CYCLEWAY GEORGE STREET EXISTING ON ROAD LANE

BUS/TRAM LANE

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET

HARRIS STREET 150m

CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION SQUARE 100 50

0 INITIATING CHANGE 25

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

3.6 MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS HARBOUR STREET EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET Current development R R R R Sussex Hay Centre: 405-411 Sussex Street

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T (image: Crone Partners Architecture) A number of large redevelopments, both proposed and currently underway, have the potential to affect signiﬁcant changes on the urban WORLDWO SQUARE form and character of the Chinatown, especially in the west of the GOULBURN STREET study area. There is a great opportunity to utilise the change brought FACTORY ST about by these developments to concurrently develop public domain HARBOUR STREET

SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT improvements that could signiﬁcantly transform the character and urban DIXON STREET CENTRE function of Chinatown’s western edge.

Quay Street is currently undergoing substantial urban changes, with LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET mixed-use commercial and multi-unit residential redevelopments have KIMBER LANE recently been completed, or are currently underway, at a number of sites CAMPBELL STREET Proposed new development along its western side. A major redevelopment of the Wilson carpark site BELL STRE 61-79 Quay Street (image: Wolski Coppin Architecture) (61–79 Quay Street) has also been approved by Council. Furthermore, LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is planning to develop a CAPITOL SQUARE number of new buildings at its City Campus, just west of the study area, MARKET CITY as well as a major refurbishment of its Haymarket campus, located on UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET the north-western edge of Quay Street. Combined, these developments THOMAS STREET will have a signiﬁcant impact on the form and character of Quay Street, ULTIMO ROAD strengthening its role as a key entry point to Chinatown from Central and Broadway. ULTIMO ROAD

BARLOW STREET The future of the Entertainment Centre is also a key determinant of THOMAS LANE the character of Chinatown’s western edge. Should the Entertainment QUAY STREET THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE Centre site be made available for redevelopment by the State GEORGE STREET Current development Government, it would create a signiﬁcant opportunity to reconﬁgure PLAC Urbanest: 81-91 Quay Street the relationship between Chinatown and Darling Harbour. Particularly (image: Bates Smart Architects) desirable would be the extension of pedestrian access along the Quay VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE Street axis to Darling Harbour, and the creation of a large public plaza that addresses Chinatown across Harbour Street. PITT STREET 150m

RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION 100 CURRENT AND PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENTS 50

26 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET 3.7 TWO TYPES OF PROJECTS

This study proposes two types of projects to improve Chinatown’s public domain: t Chinatown–wide ‘overlay’ projects that aim to improve speciﬁc aspects of the public domain experience throughout the entire study area; and t Place–speciﬁc upgrade projects that aim to make physical improvements to particular parts of Chinatown. These projects focus on discrete areas of Chinatown, and can be implemented independently of one another.

Project objectives The primary objectives that for these projects are: t To increase the amount of public space available to pedestrians and cyclists t To improve the quality of the public domain experience t To create better pedestrian and cycle connections between Chinatown and the surrounding urban areas t To create distinctive public spaces that reinforce and enhance the unique characteristics of the Chinatown urban experience.

The following two chapters describe the overlay projects and upgrade projects proposed for Chinatown.

INITIATING CHANGE 27

4 CHINATOWN–WIDE PROJECTS (OVERLAYS)

This chapter describes a series of ‘overlays’ to the City’s existing palette of materials and ﬁxtures for the city centre. These overlays address speciﬁc aspects of public domain across the entire study area, with the goal of improving the overall quality of the Chinatown public domain experience.

The proposed Chinatown–wide overlays are: t Lighting overlay t Materials and wayﬁnding overlay t Furniture overlay t Street tree overlay t Environmental sustainability overlay t Public art overlay 4.1 LIGHTING OVERLAY

The colourful lighting throughout Chinatown—a result of public art projects as well as signage from shops and restaurants—is a distinctive and memorable aspect of the area’s urban character. This is particularly so in the core of Chinatown, the location of both the greatest concentration of businesses and the Haymarket decorative lighting projects designed by Peter McGregor in collaboration with Hassell (1997).

Concurrently, there are many parts of Chinatown where the street lighting is poor, resulting in dark spaces where pedestrians report feeling unsafe. Recognising that lighting makes a signiﬁcant contribution to the sense of place in Chinatown, it is important to ensure that the need to improve pedestrian safety does not result in over-bright, characterless streets.

Lighting objectives t To improve public street lighting throughout Chinatown. t To ensure that the atmospheric character of Chinatown’s lighting is maintained and enhanced.

Project steps t Implement public lighting improvements with each street upgrade, to ensure that the streets are adequately lit for pedestrian safety. t Take into consideration the light spill from late-opening businesses when providing public street lighting, and vary the intensity of the street lighting accordingly. t Implement standard street lighting or pedestrian lighting fixtures that are appropriate to the scale and character of each particular street; Dixon Street lighting (design: Peter McGregor & Hassell; photo: City of Sydney) Example of ‘village’ smart pole at Darlinghurst Road, for example, use smaller–scale smart poles and possibly a different which is smaller in scale and darker in colour than the smart poles used for public lighting in the city centre. coloured finish to differentiate Chinatown from the surrounding CBD fixtures. t Investigate opportunities for additional decorative lighting/public art projects throughout Chinatown.

30 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

RDENSD SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASS LA

HARBOUR STREET 4.2 MATERIALS AND WAYFINDING OVERLAY EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

TREE EAGAR LA PIER S T The materials and finishes used in the public domain can make a WORLDWO SQUARE significant contribution to an area’s sense of place. The materials and GOULBURN STREET finishes currently found in Chinatown’s streets are largely inconsistent and worn. It is expected that any streetscape upgrades will implement FACTORY ST

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET HARBOUR STREET the City of Sydney’s standard palette of public domain materials, in

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT accordance with Council’s Sydney Streets Design Code (2006, interim). CENTRE This is appropriate as the standard palette of ﬁnishes provides a neutral backdrop that allows each particular urban area’s speciﬁc characteristics

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET to take precedence.

KIMBER LANE Nonetheless, within the standard palette there is the possibility of CAMPBELL STREET introducing subtle variations in materiality or detailing that enable local

LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET differences to be expressed. Rather than introducing difference in the CAPITOL SQUARE palette for its own sake, it is possible to use material variation as a means

MARKET CITY to improve wayﬁnding in Chinatown’s public domain. For example, UTS PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET decorative insertions into the paving outside all arcade entrances could subtly yet clearly signalise the presence of through-site connections THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD where they might otherwise be easily overlooked in the busy streets.

Above images: photomontages showing possible ULTIMO ROAD Materials palette objectives insertions into the standard granite paving to subtly BARLOW STREET indicate arcade entrances THOMAS LANE t To upgrade public domain materials throughout Chinatown in

QUAY STREET THOMAS STREET accordance with the City of Sydney’s standards. RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET t To introduce local variations to the standard palette in a way that is purposeful rather than arbitrary.

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE Project steps t Implement the City of Sydney public domain materials palette with PITT STREET each street upgrade.

150m t Formulate a strategy for local variations, such as a decorative insertions/wayﬁnding overlay, that can be consistently implemented RAILWAY CENTRAL SQUARE STATION throughout Chinatown. 100 EMPHASISE ARCADE ENTRANCES 50

0 OVERLAY PROJECTS 31

BROADWAY LEE STREET 4.3 FURNITURE OVERLAY

The City of Sydney’s Sydney Streets Design Code (2006, interim) establishes a standard palette of street furniture—such as seats, rubbish bins, bollards—to ensure consistency throughout the City’s public domain. It is anticipated that any streetscape upgrade in Chinatown would implement the standard street furniture palette in accordance with Council policy. Sydney Streets

In addition to the standard palette, there is an opportunity to introduce E non-standard, custom-designed, furniture items to distinguish ‘special’ D places within Chinatown. The provision of place-speciﬁc custom- O

C designed furniture is an approach that has been adopted in other parts of the City, for example at Pitt Street Mall. Within Chinatown, custom N

G furniture should be considered only in discrete places with a strong I

pedestrian focus, with standard furniture provided in the main. E

D Project objectives t To improve and increase the provision of street furniture in accordance with the City’s standards. City standard seat, Dixon Street Custom seat (shown possibly refurbished), Dixon Street t To allow for place-speciﬁc custom furniture where appropriate.

Project steps t Implement street furniture improvements with each street upgrade. t Investigate place-speciﬁc custom furniture to distinguish pedestrian- focussed spaces. In principle, these should be places dedicated for public activity, such as: the Dixon Street mall and any proposed new plazas and squares.

32 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN S

EX ST

STREET Darling

Harbour GEORGE HARBOUR

Qp LIVERPOOL

Qp STREET

Pa Pa

DIXON Ph STREET Gb PIER GOULBURN Awnings Gb Ph STREET Ls ST

STREET FACTORY ST Monorail Li Li

STREET Lightrail Ls STREET

Fbt Qp Fbt Overhead catenary lights

Ph LITTLE HAY ST 4.4 STREET TREE OVERLAY

Ls STREET TREES LIST Fbt Fbt Qp

Qp HAY CAMPBELL ST Evergreen STREET Gb Gb Fbt Ficus benjamina - Weeping fig topiarised Fm Ficus microcarpa var. ‘hillii’ - Hill’s Weeping fig In addition to improving the urban microclimate, street trees have

Ph Deciduous trees ainerisedSTREET Ph HAY Gb Gingko biloba - Gingko the ability to greatly inﬂuence the cultural and urban character of the cont ROAD Fbt STREET Kp Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden rain tree public domain. Distinctive street tree plantings are often memorable,

STREET Li Lagerstroemia indica - Crepe myrtle Street MARY ANN ST and contribute signiﬁcantly to a particular area’s the sense of place. THOMAS BARLOW STPARKER Ls Liquidambar styraciflua - Liquidambar Tree LANE Ph Kp Pa Populus alba 'Pyramidalis' - Yunnan poplar Currently, the Chinatown’s deﬁning tree plantings are the Weeping Master QUAY Ph RAWSON PL Plan Ph Ph Platanus x hybrida - Plane tree ULTIMO Figs and Crepe Myrtles in the southern section of Dixon Street. Other 2004 THOMAS GEORGE Qp Quercus palustris -'Pringree' Green Pillar® - English oak ARSSTREET HARRIS VALENTINE Ph distinctive street trees include the Golden Rain Trees in Quay Street. Ph Kp ST Ph

STREET

PITT Ph Street tree planting throughout the City of Sydney is guided by Council’s Ph Volume 3 Street Tree Masterplan (2004). The Masterplan adopts a precinct-based RAILWAY SQUARE Central approach to street tree planting, including Chinatown, and describes Railway Right: the Haymarket [Chinatown] street Station recommended species for each street based on the principle of ‘the right Ph tree palette described in the City’s Street Tree tree for the right place’. In its species recommendations, the Masterplan Masterplan (2004) Fm considers local environmental factors, physical restrictions, functional

BROADWAY STREET criteria, and aesthetic and other design factors. REGENT ST

LEE Currently, the key limiting factors to street tree planting in Chinatown are restricted footpath widths and the awnings that extend the full width of the footpaths. As the proposed street upgrades provide for widened footpaths and new plazas and squares, there is an opportunity to substantially increase the amount of tree planting throughout Chinatown, as well as broaden the species palette.

Indicative expansion of the Chinatown street tree palette> Project objectives t Increase planting throughout Chinatown wherever possible. t Provide for shade in summer, solar access in winter. t Use distinctive street tree plantings to reinforce Chinatown as a unique place in the City.

Project steps t Introduce additional street trees wherever possible as part of each street upgrade. t Update the Street Tree Masterplan’s Chinatown tree palette in response to the opportunities created by the street upgrades. Weeping Figs (Ficus benjamina), Dixon Street mall Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica), Dixon Street Golden Rain Trees (Koelrouteria paniculata), Quay Street

OVERLAY PROJECTS 33 TUMBALONG PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET

SUSSEX STREET

DIXON STREET

4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OVERLAY HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

PIER STREET EAGAR LA The implementation of street upgrades throughout Chinatown provides a great opportunity to introduce environmental sustainability measures in conjunction with the upgrades. In particular, water sensitive urban GOULBURN STREET design (WSUD) initiatives, speciﬁcally in relation to urban stormwater, FACTORY ST would signiﬁcantly improve the environmental sustainability of HARBOUR STREET

KIMBER LANE SUSSEX STREET

Chinatown’s urban environment. ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET CENTRE

STORMWATER Project objectives INFILTRATION BEDS LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET t To improve the environmental sustainability of Chinatown’s urban KIMBER LANE Photomontage showing possible stormwater inﬁltration environment beds (rain gardens) along Quay Street CAMPBELL STREET Project steps LIGHT RAIL HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE t Implement WSUD initiatives with each street upgrade; for example, collecting stormwater off all awnings to water street trees. MA TS PADDY’S MARKETRK HAY STREET t Investigate the introduction of stormwater inﬁltration beds where space and topography permits; for example, along Quay Street. THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD t Investigate the potential for other major stormwater retention sites; for example, in the space north of the Entertainment Centre (subject ULTIMO ROAD

to negotiation and agreement from SHFA). BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE

QUAY STREET t Investigate other environmental sustainability initiatives for THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE Chinatown. GEORGE STREET

VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET WATER FLOW

MAJOR STORMWATER

150m INFILTRATION AREA

STORMWATER HARVESTING RAILWAY CENTRAL OFF AWNINGS SQUARE STATION 100 50

34 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0

BROADWAY LEE STREET KENT STREET TUMBALONGG PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

CHINESE OGASS DOUGLASS EX SERVICEMENS ST DOUGLASS LIVERPOOL STREET MONUMENT ET CHINESECHIN GARDENS SPANISH STEPS SUSSEX STREET

DOUGLASSDDOUGL LA

HARBOUR STREET OUGLASSUGLASSS 4.6 PUBLIC ART OVERLAY EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET A A LANEWAYS

STREET EAGAREAGA LA PIER AR LAA Public art has the ability to contribute signiﬁcantly to an urban area’s WORLDWO SQUARE sense of place and cultural expression. There are currently only four GOULBURN STREET major public art works in Chinatown (refer map at left). The City’s

KIMBER LANE plan to improve the public domain throughout Chinatown provides an FACTORYF ST

HARBOUR STREET excellent opportunity to introduce new public art projects as part of the

SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE

MMBER LAN ENTERTAINMENT BO DIXON STREET proposed street upgrades. CENTRE

NE E The City is currently formulating a public art strategy, the Chinatown

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST HAYMARKETGEORGE STREETLIGHTING Public Art Plan, with Gallery 4A. The Plan’s approach is to:

KIMBER LANE t embrace the potential offered by the constantly evolving expressions

R LAN CAMPBELL STREET N of contemporary Asian culture, while at the same time respecting the past public art in Chinatown, LIGHT RAIL GOLDEN WATER MOUTH t CAPITOL SQUARE Dixon Street lighting, Peter McGregor QUAY STREET HAY STREET which has employed a traditionally recognisable palette of Chinese (photo: City of Sydney) elements (such as lanterns and red lighting). MARKET CITY THOMAS STREET UTS PADDY’S MARKET The Chinatown Public Art Plan has been developed around four concepts:

THOMAS STREE ULTIMO ROAD t A conversation with the precinct—highlighting the density of textures, an awareness of old and new, and an invitation to engage with ideas as visitors move through Chinatown. ULTIMO ROAD t The symbolic heart—building upon the existing cluster of public art BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE projects around Dixon Street and Sussex Street QUAY STREET

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET t Strengthening the edges—acknowledging the different entry points to Chinatown, and the cultural and social activity occurring in these TV Asahi (Roppongi, Japan), Tatsuo Miyajima places. (photo: Dan Hill – cityofsound.com) VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE YA Example of artwork for illustrative purposes only. t Talking about public art—a program of public events and information delivery through talks and various technology platforms.

PITT STREET EXISTING PUBLIC ART Three types of public art projects are proposed:

PROPOSED PUBLIC ART t Major permanent projects as part of street upgrades (refer map, left) QUAY STREET 150m t Infrastructure for ongoing temporary and ephemeral projects, such as RAILWAY CENTRALTRALAL SQUAREE STATIONATIOON billboards, murals, banners; and 100 t Projects implemented as part of the ‘early start’ laneways projects at Kimber Lane and Factory Street. 50

0 OVERLAY PROJECTS 35

BROADWAY LEE STREET

5 PLACE–SPECIFIC PROJECTS (UPGRADES)

This chapter describes a series of place-speciﬁc projects that aim to make physical changes that improve Chinatown’s public domain. Each project focuses on a discrete area of Chinatown and can be implemented independently of the other projects.

The proposed Chinatown upgrade projects are: t Dixon Street: renovation t Sussex Street: trams t Goulburn Street: connecting t Hay Street: hub t Harbour Street: welcome mat t Thomas Street: spine t Ultimo Road: cycle t Quay Street: boulevard t Valentine Street t Douglass Street & Douglass Lane, Eagar Street & Eagar Lane: laneways revitalisation t Little Hay Street, Factory Street & Kimber Lane: early start 5.1 DIXON STREET: RENOVATION

THE EXISTING SITUATION the month-long Chinese New Year celebrations. The busy Chinatown Nigh Markets, held every Friday Dixon Street is a north-south street situated between evening, occupies the entirety of the mall space. The Sussex Street and Harbour Street. The street is community consultation for this project revealed bisected by Goulburn Street, a busy east-west arterial that there is a strong desire from the community, route through the city. Pedestrian crossing at the including local businesses, for additional space for Goulburn Street intersection is facilitated by trafﬁc events and festivals in Chinatown to relieve the lights. congestion that can often occur in Dixon Street.

The section of Dixon Street south of Goulburn Street The section of Dixon Street north of Goulburn Street is a pedestrian mall, and is popularly regarded as the is significantly less busy than the mall, with a weekday social and cultural heart of Chinatown. The Dixon peak hour of 204 people and a weekend peak hour Street mall has a bustling, lively urban character— of 354 people (Arup 2009). This part of Dixon Street with a weekday peak hour of 1,230 people, and a is a currently shared zone, and has substantially weekend peak hour of 2,154 people (Gehl Architects fewer active building frontages. The Trades Hall is a 2007, in Arup 2009). A number of retail arcades landmark building located at the intersection with connect Sussex Street to the Dixon Street mall, Dixon Street, and the Southern Cross on Harbour which is occupied on both sides by busy shops and Hotel and Garden Plaza occupy the entire western restaurants. Many of the restaurants also offer frontage of this section of the street. At the northern outdoor dining in leased areas along both sides of the end of Dixon Street is a small plaza which contains mall. the Chinese Ex-Servicemens Monument. A pedestrian bridge north of the plaza connects Liverpool Street to The Dixon Street mall underwent a major upgrade in Darling Harbour, across Harbour Street. There are no 2000, which included new granite paving, seating, street trees in north Dixon Street. decorative lighting and tree planting. Since 2000, the fig trees in the section of the mall between the Chinatown Gates have matured to become an iconic Constraints part of the mall’s character. The fig trees cast a deep The section of Dixon Street north of Goulburn Street dappled shade in the mall, which is well appreciated is governed by SHFA. Any changes here would in the summer. However, in conjunction with the require negotiation with, and agreement from, SHFA. dark granite paving, the shade can create a dark, somewhat gloomy, atmosphere at other times. Opportunities The Dixon Street mall is the focus of many of During the community consultation process for this Chinatown’s cultural festivals and events, particularly project, a suggestion was made by community and

38 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN DIXON STREET SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

18% 18% CARS PEDESTRIANS 0% GAIN

SHARED EXISTING 82% 82% CYCLE 28

EXISTING PROPOSED 1

STREET 6-12 HARBOUR

68 HARBOUR STREET 10 HARBOUR SOUTHERN CROSS

31-37 STREET PLAZA

HOLIDAY INN ON HARBOUR 28B

ITEHYSTREET HAY LITTLE GARDEN

B PAGODA/ PLAZA KIMBER LANE FACTORY INFO KIOSK 38

A 361 47 49 7-9 51-53 4-10

STREET 25-29 STREET DIXON STREET DIXON 92 63-69

DIXON 2-8

94 POTENTIALP SITE FOR

HAY

GOULBURN 2- 2 2 6-1 CHINESEH CULTURAL- CENTRE STREET 50-52 2 1A

17-19 REGAL 345B 54 96 71-73 STREET DIXON 12-14 TRADES HALL 355 98

56-66 POTENTIAL SITE FOR 385-387

STREET ARCADE

357 LIVERPOOL

SUSSEX CHINESE CULTURAL CENTRE 365-375 363 100 389-391 78-86

DIXON AUSTRALIAN CHINESE 39-45 EAST EX-SERVICEMEN'S 90 ARCAD MONUMENT

CENTRE 405-4

OCEAN

HOUSE 13

E 377-383 15 1 4

LEGEND 0 10 20 30 40 50 m 68-70 EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE

393-399 EXISTING SHARED ZONE

EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION EXISTING TREE 82-84 413-415 102-108 421-429

STREET UPGRADES 39 business leaders at the Lord Mayor’s Roundtable Luncheon t An incremental strategy is proposed for increasing the and private seating, and ensure that the licensed areas for the establishment of a Chinese Cultural Centre in ambient light levels in the space. This involves: do not compromise the public amenity of the mall. Chinatown. The northern end of Dixon Street would be a ¬ Incremental and ongoing maintenance trimming good strategic location for such a cultural centre, as it could (canopy thinning) of the fig trees to let in more light. Feasibility help to attract more public activity to this underutilised part This would be done as part of the City’s yearly tree of Dixon Street. The City of Sydney has the authority to undertake maintenance program. renovations to Dixon Street south. ¬ Ongoing monitoring of the trees and consideration THE PROJECT of other strategies should canopy thinning not be Unlike other parts of Chinatown, public domain sufficient in increasing the ambient light levels. This improvements in to Dixon Street would not require winning could include: back additional space for pedestrians, as the entire street − Selective removal of some fig trees. Preliminary is already a pedestrian-priority space. Instead, what is advice from the City’s arborists indicate that this required in Dixon Street is a renovation. As the existing may not be possible in some cases. character and public domain issues are very different north and south of Goulburn Street, the renovation project is − Additional lighting in the space, possibly considered in two parts which respond to the particular in-ground, that visually complements and needs at either end of Dixon Street. functionally supplements the existing overhead lighting. DIXON STREET SOUTH − Strategic introduction of lighter coloured paving. This could done in a selective manner Project objectives (for example, in bands) to avoid the wholesale replacement of paving. t To relieve pedestrian congestion. ¬ Increased ongoing maintenance cleaning of the To make the space brighter. t paving to improve its brightness. Project components t Increased visual prominence to the arcade entrances, possibly through markings in the paving (refer materials/ t As Dixon Street mall is already a pedestrian-priority wayfinding overlay description). 1.6m 1.8m 7.6m space, there is no opportunity to increase the amount Proposed: TO SUSSEX ST >> of pedestrian space to relieve the congestion. Instead, t Selective renovation of furniture items, such as the the proposed strategy is to increase the amount of public seating. Existing: space available for pedestrian activity, festivals and t Review of the management of the licensed areas for programmed events in the surrounding streets to relieve outdoor dining to resolve any conflicts between public SECTION A the pressure on Dixon Street.

40 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN TREES TRIMMED TO LET IN MORE LIGHT

EXISTING: DIXON STREET MALL DIXON STREET DIXON

SPECIAL PAVING AT ARCADE ENTRANCE

RENOVATE SEATS

MANAGE LICENSED OUTDOOR DINING AREAS TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC THE AMENITY OF THE MALL IS MAINTAINED

PROPOSED: DIXON STREET MALL

STREET UPGRADES 41 DIXON STREET NORTH Project beneﬁts Project objectives The public domain upgrade would make Dixon Street north more visually appealing and inviting. This would potentially t To improve the character of the street. attract more visitation and consequently facilitate increased t To encourage increased public activity. business activity fronting the street.

Project components Feasibility t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, Changes to Dixon Street north would require negotiation pedestrian lighting, and planting. with SHFA, the governing agency for this section of the street. Preliminary discussions with SHFA as part of t Renovation of the level change edge to the Garden Plaza this study indicate that it is supportive of the suggested to incorporate public seating and planting. improvements. t Increased visual prominence to the Regal Arcade entrances, both on Dixon Street Sussex Street, possibly through markings in the paving (refer materials/ wayﬁnding overlay description). t Investigate possible projected art at the Garden Plaza awning to increase the visual prominence and interest of north Dixon Street when viewed from the southern side of Goulburn Street. t Investigate the introduction of programmed events, such as the extension of Dixon Street’s weekly night markets into this space. t Investigate establishing a Chinese Cultural Centre at the former Harbour City Cinema site to create a prominent activity attractor at the northern end of Dixon Street.

SECTION B Shared zone Existing footpath

Proposed: 2.9m 1.6m 5.8m 1.9m TO SUSSEX ST >>

Existing: 4.5m 5.8m 1.9m 42 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN LIGHTING / PUBLIC ART

NEW TREES

REGAL ARCADE EXISTING: DIXON STREET NORTH DIXON STREET DIXON

NEW EDGE SPECIAL PAVING AT ARCADE ENTRY

NEW PAVING

PROPOSED: DIXON STREET NORTH

STREET UPGRADES 43 5.2 SUSSEX STREET: TRAMS

THE EXISTING SITUATION intersection, where the narrow footpaths experience significant congestion. During the community Sussex Street is situated immediately east of, and runs consultation for this study, the limited footpath space parallel to, Dixon Street. It is a lively street with active at Sussex Street was strongly identified as an issue to street frontages, consisting primarily of small retail be addressed. businesses and restaurants. A number of pedestrian arcades provide access to both George Street in the east, and Dixon Street in the west. Constraints t The primary constraint to widening the footpaths Sussex Street’s north–south orientation provides along Sussex Street is the need to provide for good solar access to the street. Despite limited loading access to the businesses along Sussex footpath space, there are existing street trees located Street and Dixon Street. along Sussex Street, primarily north of Goulburn t Along some sections of the street, the presence Street. At night, decorative lighting (designed by of awnings over the existing footpaths limit the Peter McGregor) suspended across the street forms opportunities for street tree planting. a luminous ‘ceiling’ above Sussex Street south of Goulburn Street. Opportunities The primary public domain issue at Sussex Street is Sussex Street has been identified by Transport NSW as the confluence of strong vehicular and pedestrian one of the potential routes for the planned light rail activity, which compete for limited space. A extension from Haymarket to Circular Quay. Should (southbound) one-way street, Sussex Street currently this route be adopted (subject to the outcome of experiences high levels of vehicular traffic (average Transport NSW’s Light Rail Feasibility Study), the weekday volume of 6,235; Arup, 2009). It also way Sussex Street operates would change. In all provides important service access (loading) to likelihood, the trams would run along the centre of businesses—not only along Sussex Street, but also the the street in both directions; consequently, Sussex Dixon Street pedestrian mall. Street would also become two-way for cars. Parking and loading would most likely need to be maintained The high volume of vehicular traffic coincides with on either side of the street. high levels of pedestrian activity along Sussex Street, (2,274 weekday peak hour, 2,676 weekend peak The significant physical and operational changes hour; Arup 2009). resulting from the introduction of light rail along Sussex Street could provide the impetus The conflict between vehicular and pedestrian for the simultaneous development of public activity is particularly evident at the Goulburn Street domain improvements. However, public domain

44 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN SUSSEX STREET: SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: 10 (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

36% 43% CARS PEDESTRIANS 24% GAIN

SHARED EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 64% 56% CYCLE 361

1% EXISTING PROPOSED 17-19 3 3-69 71-7 345B 9 2 6 8 3 -8 -12 385-387

REGAL 389-391 365-375 STREET 363

N GOULBURN DIXO STREET 50-52 355

ARCADE 357

SUSSEX RPOOL LITTLE EXTENT OF WIDENED

EAST FOOTPATH IN ABSENCE LIVE

STREET 377-383

DI OF TRAM STOP HAY 4-10

CENTRE

OCEAN 13

23-25 STREET 368

HOUSE

STREET 69 15

ARCADE

HAY 12-14 STREET 410-420 SUSSEX 56-66

54 SPANISH STEPS SUSSEX STREET 392-394 68-70 35-37 16-16A 380 404

374-378 DOUGLASS 406 STREET 53-55

408 STREET SUSSEX LANE 100

393-399 A

LANE 57-67 405-411 EXTENT OF WIDENED 413-415 FOOTPATH IN ABSENCE EAGAR 1 382-386 STREET 422

B OF TRAM STOP

SUSSEX EAGAR

82-84 PACIFIC

DOUGLASS 388-390 421-429 'GOLDEN WATER MOUTH' 651

SCULPTURE102-108 RELOCATED ST PETER 647-649

ARCADE BAPTIST SUNTOWER

EXISTING POSITION OF STREET

18-20A

ARCADE

SUITES JULIANS ARCADE

CHURCH SUMMI 'GOLDEN WATER MOUTH' CATHOLIC STREET

SCULPTURE 583A 417-419

CHURCH 591 629 627-62

398-402 T

569 LIVERPOOL 71 27-33 22-26 6

GOULBURN 6 5-617 11-613 -581 7A 05-60 73 603 431-439 5 5 619-625 61 434-436 631-635 637-645 LEGEND 0 10 20 30 40 50 m EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING ROAD EXISTING TRAM LINE RETAINED 659A 39-41

653-659 PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE PROPOSED ROAD EXISTING TRAM LINE REMOVED

PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED THRESHOLD PROPOSED SPECIAL ROAD PROPOSED TRAM LINE

661-663 PAVEMENT (EG: COBBLES)

681 EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION PROPOSED TRAM STOP EXISTING TREE 665-669 671-675

STREET UPGRADES 45 improvements to Sussex Street should not be contingent at the north-eastern corner of the intersection, in order t Street tree planting at widened footpaths, and upon the development of light rail. to maintain the existing busy left turn from Sussex Street elsewhere where space permits. into Goulburn Street. However, should trafﬁc volumes t Stormwater harvesting off building awnings, where change in the future, kerb widening at this corner applicable, to water street trees. THE PROJECT should be considered. Project objectives t Footpath widening to create generous mid-block Provision for cyclists pedestrian crossings. The crossings are strategically t To create more pedestrian space along Sussex Street, The City’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007-20177 has particularly at the Goulburn Street intersection. located at entrances to existing arcades, and have the potential to be expanded to form tram stops if required recommended the development of a separated cycleway t To maintain provisions for on-street parking and loading. in the future. along Sussex Street. In light of the potential introduction of light rail along Sussex Street, the type of provision for t To allow for potential future light rail development along t Increased visual prominence to the arcade entrances, cyclists here requires further investigation. There is the Sussex Street. possibly through markings in the paving (refer materials/ potential for cyclists to utilise the tram lanes in a shared wayﬁnding overlay description). environment, similar to the current situation along Hay Project components t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, Street. t Footpath widening at three sides of the Goulburn Street pedestrian lighting and street furniture. intersection. At this time, kerb widening is not proposed

Left: SECTION A Far left: SECTION B

Existing road Special road pavement Existing footpath

light rail, cars & cyclists light rail, cars & cyclists Extended footpath proposed: 6m 6m 6m proposed: 6m 6m 6m Proposed tram stop

existing: 3.2m 2.8m 6m 2.8m 3.2m existing: 3.2m 2.8m 6m 2.8m 3.2m FootpathParking One Way Parking Footpath FootpathParking One Way Parking Footpath

46 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW TREES

SMART POLES

EXISTING: SUSSEX STREET/GOULBURN STREET INTERSECTION < GOULBURN STREET > SUSSEX STREET Project beneﬁts t Increased footpath space that facilitates pedestrian

crossing. WIDENED FOOTPATH t Potential for outdoor dining at widened footpath areas. t On-street parking and loading provisions are POSSIBLE FUTURE substantially maintained. TRAM LINE

Feasibility SPECIAL PAVING AT t Council has the authority to undertake the upgrade. PEDESTRIAN INTERSECTION t Footpath widening and other streetscape improvements can be implemented regardless of whether the light rail development along Sussex Street occurs. PROPOSED: SUSSEX STREET/GOULBURN STREET INTERSECTION

STREET UPGRADES 47 5.3 GOULBURN STREET: CONNECTING

THE EXISTING SITUATION changes that affect the capacity of the road would be accepted. Goulburn Street is a busy two-way street that forms a vital east-west arterial route in the City’s road network. Within Chinatown, it bisects Dixon Street THE PROJECT and Sussex Street north of the Dixon Street mall, effectively separating the Chinatown’s ‘urban core’ Project objectives from its northern area. t To improve pedestrian amenity at the Sussex Street and Dixon Street intersections. The section of Goulburn Street east of Dixon Street is very lively, with active street frontages comprising t To increase the sense of connection between primarily retail businesses and restaurants. It forms a Chinatown’s core and Chinatown north. busy pedestrian route from George Street, providing the primary access to Chinatown from the north. Project components This is reflected in the high volumes of pedestrian t Footpath widening on Sussex Street to increase activity (1,524 weekday peak hour, 2,730 weekend pedestrian space at intersection (refer Sussex peak hour; Arup 2009), which coincides with high Street project description). volumes of vehicular traffic (26,412 average weekday traffic; Arup 2009). The competition between cars t Visually emphasise the intersections at Sussex and pedestrians for space along Goulburn Street is Street and Dixon Street, to prioritise the particularly evident at the pedestrian crossings at the pedestrian crossing experience and visually Sussex Street intersection. connect Chinatown across Goulburn Street, through: There is significantly less pedestrian activity on Goulburn Street between Dixon Street and Harbour ¬ decorative lighting across the intersections Street (426 weekday peak hour, 432 weekend peak ¬ change of road pavement surface at the hour; Arup 2009), where the road is substantially intersections, and wider and there is less commercial street frontage. ¬ raised pedestrian thresholds at the intersections. Constraints Goulburn Street is an RTA-controlled road; as such, Changes at the intersections could comprise any or all any changes to the operation of the road would of the above suggested components, depending on require negotiation with, and approval from, the negotiations with the RTA. RTA. As Goulburn Street forms a major east-west connection through the City, it is highly unlikely that

48 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN GOULBURN STREET: SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

CARS 36% 38% PEDESTRIANS 6% GAIN

28SHARED EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 64% 62% 1 CYCLE

EXISTING PROPOSED

380 569 581 CHIINESE GARDENS 583A

STREET

SUSSEX

HARBOUR EAGAR

FACTORY

STREET SOUTHERN CROSS EAGAR 28B LANE PIER ON HARBOUR 392-394 STREET 374-378 STREET 365-375 12-14

STREET 16-16A

A TRADES HALL 599 GOULBURN STREET 38 17 GEORGE WORLD SQUARE NOVOTEL CENTURY 603 SYDNEY 382-386

605-609 377-383 583 1B GOULBURN STREET

STREET 4-10 1A 585-587 STAR 388-390 591 HOTEL

HARBOUR HARBOUR PLAZA GOULBURN STREET

FACTORY 18-20A STREET 615-617 398 402 25-29 22-26 601

LEGEND 385-387 0 10 20 30 40 50 m 13 17-19 15EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING ROAD

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN389-391 SPACE PROPOSED SPECIAL ROAD PAVEMENT (EG: COBBLES) 23-25 EXISTING TREE 95 93 27-33

35-37 39-41 611-613

STREET UPGRADES 49 t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, pedestrian lighting and street furniture. Street tree planting where space permits. t Stormwater harvesting off building awnings, where applicable, to water street trees. Note: lighting shown here is for Provision for cyclists illustrative purposes only. The actual design of lighting would be The City’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007-20177 has recommended undertaken as part of the detailed the development of a separated cycleway along Goulburn Street, east of design development of the project. Sussex Street. As Goulburn Street is a busy arterial road and controlled by the RTA, the type of provision for cyclists here requires further investigation.

Project beneﬁts t Increased footpath space at Sussex Street facilitates pedestrian crossing t Visual emphasis on the Sussex Street and Dixon Street intersections connects Chinatown across Goulburn Street, and prioritises the pedestrian experience, without compromising the capacity of the Proposed: 11m road to handle large volumes of through trafﬁc. Existing: 11m Feasibility Shared Zone Two Way Pedestrian Zone DIXON ST NORTHGOULBURN ST DIXON ST SOUTH The City of Sydney has the authority to undertake the footpath widenings at the Sussex Street intersection (refer Sussex Street project description). Existing road Special road paving The other suggested changes at the Sussex Street and Dixon Street Existing footpath intersections would require negotiation with the RTA. Shared zone

50 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW LIGHTING ACROSS GOULBURN STREET REINFORCES CHINATOWN INTERSECTIONS GOULBURN STREET EXISTING

< SUSSEX ST

NOTE: LIGHTING SHOWN HERE IS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. THE ACTUAL DESIGN OF LIGHTING WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN AS PART OF THE DETAILED DESIGN DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT. PROPOSED

STREET UPGRADES 51 5.4 HAY STREET: HUB

THE EXISTING SITUATION has resulted in a largely inactive southern side to Hay Street, in contrast to its busy northern side. Hay Street is a key east-west connection in the city’s road network, servicing pedestrians, cars and light rail. It has been identified by both Sustainable Constraints Sydney 2030 (City of Sydney, 2008) and the Public t A heritage listed storm water channel is situated Spaces Public Life Study (Gehl Architects, 2007) as an under Hay Street. The location of the storm water important pedestrian route in the city, linking Belmore channel needs to be considered in any proposed Park to the Powerhouse Museum. Hay Street has also physical reconfiguration of Hay Street, and may been identified in the City of Sydney’s Cycle Strategy restrict the location of proposed services and tree and Action Plan 2007-2017 (2007) as a regional cycle planting. route. t Hay Street is an RTA-controlled road. Any changes to its operation would require In addition to being a major cross connection negotiation with, and approval from, the RTA. through the city, Hay Street also functions as Chinatown’s urban nexus, providing pedestrian access to Dixon Street, Sussex Street and Thomas Street, as Opportunities well as Paddy’s Market and the Entertainment Centre. t The heritage listed storm water channel is a significant cultural artefact that could potentially Hay Street currently experiences high volumes of be expressed as part of the street upgrade. pedestrian activity, with an average weekday peak hour of 2,298 people and an average weekend peak hour of 2,754 people (Arup 2009). However, high THE PROJECT volumes of road traffic (6,289 average weekday Project objectives volume, Arup 2009), in conjunction with the tram lines that occupy the southern half of the street, t To strengthen Hay Street’s role as the urban heart significantly impede pedestrian access between the of Chinatown Chinatown’s core and the area south of Hay Street. t To improve the pedestrian amenity of the street, and strengthen connectivity between Chinatown Paddy’s Market occupies much of Hay Street’s ‘core’ and Chinatown south. southern frontage, with the primary entry to the markets and Market City located at the intersection t To create space for events and festivals with Thomas Street. However, the market activity t To activate the northern façade of Paddy’s Market is internalised, and the presence of the tram lines immediately adjacent to the market building limits t To improve the character of the street pedestrian accessibility to its northern edge. This

52 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN HAY STREET: SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: 7% (footpaths, cycle paths and shared) 3%

CARS 35% PEDESTRIANS 163% GAIN

SHARED EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 65% 96% CYCLE 3010

78-86

EXISTING PROPOSED

434-436 ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE 71-73 647-649 28

KIMBER

DIXON SUSSEX 651 63-69 417-419 90 96 413-415 653-659 724-7 LANE STREET 82-84 98 659A 100 STREET 7-9 MONORAIL

92 94 431-439 STREET

421-429 A 665-669 102-108

661-663 STREET HAY

GEORGE EXISTING POSITION OF EXISTING TRAM STOPS 'GOLDEN WATER MOUTH' RELOCATED 671-675 SCULPTURE HAY STREET

'GOLDEN WATER MOUTH' SCULPTURE RELOCATED UTS PADDY'S MARKET QUAY 681 DRIVEWAY HAY CITYMARK STREET

STREET STREET ARCADE 9-13

2 THOMAS 730-742 691-693 746-748 LEGEND 744-744B 0 10 20 30 40 50 m EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING ROAD EXISTING TRAM683-689 LINE RETAINED

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING TREE EXISTING TRAM LINE REMOVED

PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED THRESHOLD PROPOSED TRAM LINE

EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION 181-187

STREET UPGRADES 53 Project components t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, Provision for cyclists pedestrian lighting and street furniture. t Close Hay Street to vehicular traffic west of Sussex The City’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007-20177 has Street, creating a pedestrian mall (similar to Pitt Street). t Tree planting along the new pedestrian mall, preferably recommended the development of a separated cycleway Vehicular access for loading would be maintained using a species with high visual impact and seasonal along Hay Street. However, with the development of a through timed access, similar to Dixon Street. interest. t The Sussex Street intersection would be reconfigured to t Stormwater harvesting off building awnings, where maintain vehicular connectivity with George Street, and applicable, to water street trees. allow for potential light rail development in the future. t A program of timed closures in the immediate or short Whilst the Thomas Street intersection would be closed term, prior to the implementation of major physical to traffic, vehicular access to the Marigold Carpark changes to Hay Street. Timed closures for special events, would be provided by a driveway from George Street. and/or on weekends, would allow for greater pedestrian t Reconfiguration of the Sussex Street intersection would use of the street while the complexities of the street most like require the minor relocation of the existing upgrade are being resolved. ‘Golden Water Mouth’ sculpture (to be undertaken in consultation with the artist). t Centre the trams in Hay Street by moving the southern (currently westbound) tram line north of the existing northern (eastbound) tram line. The result would be similar to Bourke Street Mall, in Melbourne. t The relocation of the tram line would provide more space adjacent to northern façade of Paddy’s Market, creating an opportunity to activate that edge with programmed activities and events, such as outdoor Paddy’s Market markets and festivals. t Develop an awning along the northern façade of Paddy’s Market, along with provision for access to power and water, to facilitate programmed activities and events. light rail & cyclists Proposed: 4.6m 3.9m 7m 4.4m 4.5m t A major permanent public art project at the north-

eastern end of Paddy’s Market, opposite Dixon Street. Existing road This project could be embedded in the paving and/or a Existing footpath kinetic electronic display, responding to the dynamism of Existing: 4.6m 6.5m 1.8m 7m 4.5m New pedestrian space the street activity (refer Chinatown Public Art Plan). Footpath One Way Median Light Rail Area Footpath

54 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW TREES

EXISTING

NEW AWNING pedestrian mall, it may be more appropriate to provide for cyclists in a shared environment in Hay Street. Details of < DIXON ST OUTDOOR MARKETS type of cyclist facility to be provided in Hay Street warrants HAY STREET HAY further investigation as part of the development of the concept design for this project.

Project beneﬁts FLUSH SURFACE t A major new pedestrian-priority space in the heart of Chinatown that strengthens east-west connectivity through Chinatown, and facilitates north-south TRAM TRACK MOVED TO CENTRE OF SPACE connectivity between Chinatown’s urban core and the PROPOSED area south of Hay Street. t Additional space for events and festivals within Chinatown, which will help to relieve the current pressure in Dixon Street as the activity focus of Chinatown. t This project creates opportunities to further win back public space elsewhere in Chinatown, particularly at Harbour Street and Thomas Street (refer respective project descriptions).

STREET UPGRADES 55 Potential extension of Hay Street west businesses. As such, a long and complex design process is likely to be required before this project The changes to Hay Street shown here extend west is realised. However, a program of timed closures to Quay Street, the limit of the study area. Between could be implemented in the immediate or short Harbour Street and Quay Street, the mall connects term, which would facilitate improved pedestrian with the existing forecourt space south of the use of the space for events and festivals. Entertainment Centre. From this space, pedestrian access west to the Powerhouse Museum and Harris t The reconfiguration of the light rail in Hay Street Street/Ultimo is currently provided from the Paddy’s would be a significant and costly undertaking. Markets monorail station via a pedestrian bridge. The While the public domain benefit of centring legibility of this route from Hay Street is very poor, the trams is also substantial, the creation of the and signposting is inconspicuous. pedestrian mall need not, and should not, be contingent upon the suggested changes to the Extension of Hay Street west, across Darling Drive to light rail. Macarthur Street, would significantly improve the east-west pedestrian route from Belmore Park to Ultimo. Such an extension would involve crossing the existing rail corridor at grade, and would require agreement from a number of agencies including SHFA and the Rail Infrastructure Corporation. The extension of Hay Street could form part of the Hay Street upgrade, or be undertaken as a separate project.

Feasibility t The pedestrianisation of Hay Street is a major undertaking that would require negotiation with multiple stakeholders, including the RTA, Left: Access to pedestrian bridge to Powerhouse Museum, SHFA, Paddy’s Market, Metro Light Rail and local at the Paddy’s Markets monorail station in Hay Street. Top: Light rail lines and pedestrian bridge at Darling Drive/Hay Street intersection. Above: Extension of Hay Street alignment to Macarthur Street would need to cross the existing rail corridor.

56 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 5 3 4

1. Hay Street 10 2. George Street 3. Macarthur Street 9 7 4. Powerhouse Museum 12 5. Museum forecourt 6. pedestrian bridge 8 7. Paddy’s Market monorail station 8. Entertainment Centre

9. UTS 1 10. carpark 11. Paddy’s Market 12. The Peak 11

EET STR PIER

WILLIAM HENRY STREET

HARBOUR STREET

POOWERHOUSS MMUSEUM

PADDY’S MARKETS CARPRPARK MONORAIL STATION HAY STREET HAY RAIL CORRIDOR ENTERTAINMENT 2 CENTRE LITTLE HAY STREET

DIXON STREET SUSSEX STREET MUSEUM FORECOURT

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE FROM HAY STREET source: www.bing.com, photo date: 2010

MACARTHUR STREET ULTIMO PEDESTRIAN NETWORK (SHFA) CAPITOL SQUARE

HARRIS STREET UTS PADDY’S MARKET QUAY STREET MARKET CITY HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET EXTENSION OF HAY STREET CROSSES RAILCORRIDOR GEORGE STREET

PARKER STREET PITT STREET

DARLING DRIVE

BELMORE PARK

0 50 100 150m

ULTIMO ROAD

STREET UPGRADES 57 5.5 HARBOUR STREET: WELCOME MAT

THE EXISTING SITUATION Opportunities Situated generally parallel to Dixon Street, Harbour The potential future redevelopment of the Street forms the boundary between Chinatown and Entertainment Centre would create an opportunity to Darling Harbour at the western edge of the study increase pedestrian-oriented space on Harbour Street, area. North of Goulburn Street, Harbour Street possibly with a plaza that addresses Chinatown’s functions as a busy main road that provides access western edge. to the Western Distributor and Harbour Bridge. The western side of this section of Harbour Street is bounded by the Chinese Gardens, which is enclosed THE PROJECT by a high wall with no openings to the street (entry to Project objectives the gardens is located in Darling Harbour). t To improve pedestrian connectivity between South of Goulburn Street, Harbour Street is one-way Chinatown and Darling Harbour, including the (northbound) road that operates in conjunction with Entertainment Centre and Chinese Gardens. Hay Street to provide a busy through-trafﬁc route t To create space for large events and additional from George Street. Small retail and restaurant street markets, to relieve the pressure on Dixon businesses, as well as the Holiday Inn hotel, front the Street. eastern side of this section of Harbour Street. The Entertainment Centre is situated on the western side t To maintain event access provisions to the of this section of Harbour Street; the large forecourt Entertainment Centre, as well as general access spaces surrounding the Entertainment Centre to businesses along the eastern side of Harbour function informally as supplementary event space for Street. Chinatown. t To improve the character of the street.

Constraints Project components t Harbour Street is an RTA-controlled road. t Closure of Harbour Street at Hay Street, and the Any changes to its operation would require introduction of two-way trafﬁc along Harbour negotiation with, and approval from, the RTA. Street with a vehicle turnaround at the Hay Street t The western side of Harbour Street is governed end. by SHFA; changes here would require negotiation t Widen footpaths on both sides of Harbour Street. with, and agreement from, SHFA. Provision for event coach parking outside the Entertainment Centre, and vehicle pull-in outside the Holiday Inn, would be maintained.

58 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN HARBOUR STREET: SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

CARS 47% 35% PEDESTRIANS 39% GAIN

SHARED EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 53% 60% CYCLE 5%

EXISTING PROPOSED 17 R O T 60 OU HARB

G PIER

DARLIN

Bridge STREET NOVOTEL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE CENTURY from CHINESE GARDENS

SYDNEY Darling

A Harbour HARBOUR STREET

28 >

PARKING 1 COACH HARBOUR (EVENT) STREET HARBOUR STREET HOTEL PARKING 38

STREET MONORAI

FACT L

HAY HARBOUR25-29

28B SPECIAL PAVING ORY LITTLE PLAZA STREET (EG. COBBLES) SOUTHERN CROSS TO RAISED THRESHOLD STREET ON HARBOUR SPECIAL PAVING 68 GARDEN (EG. COBBLES) HAY HOLIDAY INN 7-9 PLAZA TO RAISED THRESHOLD GOULBURN 92 STREET E KIMBER LAN 94 31-37 R LANE 47 49 KIMBE 1 78-86 A 45 51-53

39- DIXON STREET 63

LEGEND 0 10 20 30 40 50 m 96 EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING ROAD EXISTING TRAM LINE RETAINED

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE PROPOSED ROAD EXISTING TRAM LINE REMOVED 90 PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED THRESHOLD PROPOSED SPECIAL ROAD PROPOSED TRAM LINE PAVEMENT, EG: COBBLES EXISTING TREE

STREET UPGRADES 59 TUMBALONG t Raised pedestrian thresholds at both Little Hay Street PARK

P I and Factory Street, extending across Harbour Street to E R

S CHINESE T

R GARDENS

provide level pedestrian connectivity between Chinatown QUAY STREET E

E T

and Darling Harbour. STREET HAY

HARBOUR STREET

U L

t Shared pedestrian and cyclist path to Darling Harbour B

U R

(subject to further investigation at design development). DIXON STREET S

E T Existing route across Harbour Street t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, SUSSEX STREET to Darling Harbour pedestrian lighting, street furniture and street trees. t Stormwater harvesting off building awnings, where applicable, to water street trees.

Project beneﬁts t Stronger pedestrian connection between Chinatown and the Entertainment Centre and Darling Harbour. In particular, the extension of pedestrian-priority space (raised threshold) across Harbour Street at Factory Street strengthens the existing pedestrian route from Chinatown to the Chinese Gardens. t Additional space along Harbour Street for events and festivals, as well as easier access to the large forecourt spaces around the Entertainment Centre for events and festivals. The additional space would help to relieve the current pressure on Dixon Street as the activity focus of Chinatown.

Feasibility The closure of Harbour Street at Hay Street, and the introduction of two-way trafﬁc, is contingent upon Coach Parking the development of the Hay Street mall. However, the Proposed: 8.1m 7.7m 3.2m 13.2m Entertainment Centre suggested footpath widening on either side of Harbour

Street, as well as the raised pedestrian thresholds at Little Existing: 5m 14m 3.1m 10.1m Entertainment Centre Hay Street and Factory Street, could be implemented Footpath One WayCoach Parking Footpath irrespective of any changes to Hay Street. Nonetheless, Existing road these changes would require negotiation with both the RTA Special road pavement and SHFA. Existing footpath Extended footpath Shared pedestrian & cycle path

60 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW TREES

NEW TREES

< LITTLE HAY ST EXISTING

WIDER FOOTPATH HARBOUR STREET

RAISED THRESHOLD AT INTERSECTIONS

WIDER FOOTPATH, NEW PAVING

TUMBALONG PARK

P I E

S CHINESE PROPOSED T

R GARDENS

QUAY STREET E E

NEW T

HAY STREET HAY PLAZA

HARBOUR STREET

U R

DIXON STREET S

E Potential route across Harbour Street

E T to Darling Harbour, should the SUSSEX STREET Entertainment Centre be redeveloped

STREET UPGRADES 61 5.6 THOMAS STREET: SPINE

THE EXISTING SITUATION Opportunities Thomas Street is of vital importance to Chinatown’s The City of Sydney is the governing authority for pedestrian network, as it provides the only north- Thomas Street; as such, unlike some other upgrade south pedestrian route through the southern part of projects for Chinatown, physical changes to the street the study area. can be made without the need to seek agreement from other agencies. Nonetheless consultation The section of Thomas Street north of Ultimo Road is with agency stakeholders and the local community, very busy and active. It experiences very high volumes including businesses, would be required as part of the of pedestrian activity, with an weekday peak hour normal development process. of 1,704 people and a weekend peak hour of 2,796 people (Arup 2009). The high pedestrian activity coincides with high traffic volumes, with an average THE PROJECT weekday volume of 5,190 (Arup 2009). Conflict Project objectives between pedestrian activity and traffic is acutely evident around Paddy’s Market, at Thomas Street’s t To increase amount of pedestrian-priority space in intersections with Hay Street and Ultimo Road. the southern part of Chinatown. t To strengthen pedestrian access through the South of Ultimo Road, Thomas Street experiences southern part of Chinatown. noticeably less traffic and pedestrian activity, although it is by no means inactive. This section of Thomas t To improve the character of the street. Street services a weekday pedestrian peak hour of 1,326 people, and a weekend peak hour of 1,806 Project components people (Arup 2009). The average weekday traffic t South of Ultimo Road: volume here is 3,982. ¬ Create a small new plaza by closing Thomas Constraints Street between Ultimo Rd and Thomas Lane t Some provision for loading access to businesses ¬ Modify the intersection with Thomas Lane to must be maintained. create a one-way loop from Quay Street t Access to the Marigold carpark needs to be ¬ Footpath widening at Quay Street intersection maintained. ¬ Maintain parking along Thomas Street south of Thomas Lane, with intermittent footpath widenings to provide additional space for street tree planting and seating

62 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN HAY STREET ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN THOMAS STREET:

CITYMARK ARCADE CARS B 28% DRIVEWAY 37% PEDESTRIANS STREET SHARED 4% 681 63% 68% CYCLE THOMAS ST CLOSED

THOMAS TO CREATE 217-219 NEW PLAZA SPACE 683-689

EXISTING PROPOSED PADDY’S MARKET 2 MARKET CITY 76 691-693

SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: ULTIMO ROAD (footpaths, cycle paths and shared) 695-699

701 215A 75-77 95% GAIN THE PEAK EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 213-215 211

THOMAS ST CLOSED TO CREATE NEW PLAZA SPACE 703-705 713 ROAD A 707-709 THOMAS STREET EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE GREAT SOUTHERN HOTEL GEORGE STREET ULTIMO 203-209 711 PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE 35-39

PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED TH

EXISTING ROAD LANE 715-723

EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION

THOMAS STREET

EXISTING TRAM LINE RETAINED 191-199 E EXISTING TRAM LINE REMOVED 8 733-735 79 PRINC THOMAS 725-731 QUAY PROPOSED TRAM LINE CENTRE 737-739 741A 8 STREET EXISTING TREE 80 CAPITAL 741 TERRACE 8

8 14º

0 10 20 30 40 50 m 187-189 743-755 810

757-759 VALENTINE STREET

761-763

STREET UPGRADES 63 t North of Ultimo Road: pedestrian connection to the heart of Chinatown from the south. ¬ Create a small new plaza by closing Thomas Street between Ultimo Rd t Provision for loading access to and Hay Street businesses is maintained through the Thomas Lane–Thomas Street loop, and ¬ Provide a one-way driveway to timed access to the two new squares. maintain vehicular access to the Marigold carpark. t Access to the Marigold carpark is new plaza space maintained. Proposed: 4.5m 12m 3.6m ¬ Provide for cyclists in a shared environment (detail to be confirmed at design development) Traffic impacts Existing: 4.5m 9m 3m 3.6m Footpath Two Way Parking Footpath t Timed access to the two new plazas for Advice from Arup (2010) indicates that vehicle deliveries to businesses. the full closure of Thomas Street south of Ultimo Road is possible because local access t A major permanent public art project and circulation can be facilitated by the in Thomas Street, that establishes a loop system utilising Thomas Lane, and the Above: SECTION B, north of Ultimo Road dialogue with the existing ‘Golden removal of local through traffic to Ultimo Below: SECTION A, south of Ultimo Road Water Mouth’ sculpture (refer Road. Introduction of the local loop would potentially halve the number of vehicles Existing road Chinatown Public Art Plan). Existing footpath using Thomas Street each day. New plaza space t Increased visual prominence to the New plaza space arcade entrances, possibly through The closure of Thomas Street north of Cycle provision in plaza markings in the paving (refer materials/ Ultimo Road will remove some 5,000 wayfinding overlay description). vehicles that currently travel southbound daily. These vehicles would be redirected t Streetscape improvements, including: to George Street or removed from the new paving, pedestrian lighting, street area completely by choosing wider travel furniture and street trees. routes. The proposed driveway across the plaza could attract some 300-500 vehicle t Stormwater harvesting off building movements per day, making it suitable for awnings, where applicable, to water designation as a shared zone. Paddy’s Market street trees. Feasibility Project benefits The closure of Thomas Street between t Two new plazas in the southern part Ultimo Road and Thomas Lane could occur of Chinatown, located where current in the immediate to short term, as it is Proposed: 9m 3m 3.6m pedestrian activity is most concentrated. unlikely to cause significant adverse traffic shared driveway to Marigold t A pedestrian spine in the south of impacts (subject to detailed traffic study). Chinatown that provides a strong, clear, Existing: 4.5m 3m 6m 3m 3.6m FootpathParking One Way Parking Footpath

64 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW TREES NEW TREES

EXISTING: THOMAS STREET, SOUTH OF ULTIMO ROAD THOMAS STREET

The closure of Thomas Street north of Ultimo Road should more likely occur in conjunction with the closure of Hay Street. Nontheless, this part of the Thomas Street upgrade NEW SEATS is not contingent upon the Hay Street project and could be implemented independently of it, albeit with more substantial impacts to trafﬁc ﬂow than the proposed closure south of Ultimo Road alone.

THOMAS STREET CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TO CREATE NEW PUBLIC PLAZA

< THOMAS LANE

PROPOSED: THOMAS STREET SQUARE, SOUTH OF ULTIMO ROAD

STREET UPGRADES 65 5.7 ULTIMO ROAD: CYCLE

THE EXISTING SITUATION Opportunities Ultimo Road is a busy collector road that provides The City of Sydney’s Cycle Strategy and Action Plan a vital through traffic connection between George 2007-2017 (2007) has identified Ultimo Road as Street and Harris Street, Ultimo. The importance of the site for a separated cycleway, linking Ultimo to Ultimo Road to Chinatown’s road network is reflected Chinatown. Council’s preliminary traffic assessment by the traffic volumes it carries, servicing an average indicates that delivery of the cycle path is achievable of 14,802 vehicles a day (RTA 2005, cited in Arup in the short term. This provides an excellent 2009). opportunity to implement streetscape improvements in conjunction with the development of the cycle Concurrently, Ultimo Road provides an important path. pedestrian route between Chinatown and Ultimo. The UTS Library, located at the corner of Ultimo Road and Quay Street, attracts large numbers of THE PROJECT pedestrians from the UTS Broadway campus. Project objectives Ultimo Road has limited active frontages, with most t To provide for a separated cycleway along Ultimo of the restaurant and shop frontages located between Road. George Street and Thomas Street, and on the southern side of the street between Thomas Street t To maintain some on-street parking. and Quay Street. t To improve the character of the street. Constraints Project components t Through traffic access must be maintained on Ultimo Road. t Remove parking along the northern side of Ultimo Road, west of Thomas Street, to provide for a t Some on-street parking would need to be separated cycleway. maintained. t Widen footpath on southern side of Ultimo Road, between Quay Street and Darling Drive. t Widen footpaths at Thomas Street intersection, in conjunction with Thomas Street upgrades (refer Thomas Street project description).

66 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN ULTIMO ROAD: SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

26% CARS 36% PEDESTRIANS 73% GAIN 54% SHARED EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 74% CYCLE 10%

30 EXISTING PROPOSED

14-28

681

QUAY THE PEAK 683-68 217-219 T 9

DARLIN STREE STREE

T 691-69 G 7THOMAS6 DRIVE 3 UTS LIBRARY 29B 695-699

ULTIMO ROAD 215A ULTIMO

STREET ULTIMO ROAD

A 213-215 ROAD 75-77 211 GEORGE QUAY STREET TO HARRIS 35-39 2 STREET 701 CARPARK LANE 203-209 THOMAS 7 703-705 764 707-70 766 9

STREET 61-7 71 31 1 9 CENTRE PRINCE 713 9 715-723 A THOMAS 191-199 8

768 19º LEGEND 0 10 20 30 40 50 m EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE PROPOSED SEPARATED CYCLE PATH EXISTING ROAD

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION EXISTING TREE

PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED THRESHOLD

770-772

STREET UPGRADES 67 TUMBALONG PARK

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

HARBOUR STREET

PI ER STR EET t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, pedestrian POWERHOUPOWP WERHOUUSE lighting, street furniture and street trees. MUSEUMM M

SUSSEX STREET DIXON STREET t Stormwater harvesting off building awnings, where applicable, to water street trees. CCARPPARKK ENTERTAINMENT FACTORY ST GOULBURN STREET Project beneﬁts CENTRE t A dedicated cycle facility that provides an important connection

KIMBER LANE between Chinatown and Ultimo/Pyrmont. HARBOUR STREET

LITTLE HAY ST t Provision for on-street parking is maintained along most of the DIXON STREET southern side of the street. LITTLE HAY ST SUSSEX STREET

GEORGE STREET Feasibility KIMBER LANE UTS HAY STREET The City of Sydney has the authority to undertake this project, which could be implemented as part of the City’s current cycleways program. DARLING DRIVE PADDY’S MARKET MARKET CITY

HARRIS STREET

UTS THOMAS STREET

ULTIMO ROAD ULTIMO ROAD HAY STREET

QUAY STREET

ULTIMO ROAD THOMAS LANE

THOMAS STREET PROPOSED PROVISION FOR CYCLISTS AS PART OF CHINATOWN UPGRADES SEPARATED CYCLEWAY

GEORGE STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL/PLAZA RAWSON PLACE VALENTINE STREET WITH CYCLE PROVISION SHARED PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE PATH BUS/TRAM LANE

POTENTIAL FUTURE PROVISIONS PLANNED BY COUNCIL SEPARATED CYCLEWAY

HARRIS STREET EDDY AVENUE SHARED PEDESTRIAN AND Proposed: 7.1m 7m 3.5m 3.8m Existing road PITT STREET CYCLE PATH Existing footpath RAILWAY 19º EXISTING PROVISION Extended footpath SQUARE EXISTING ON ROAD LANE Existing: 3.6m 3.5m 7m 3.5m 3.8m Cycle path BUS/TRAM LANE Footpath Parking Two Way Parking Footpath BROADWAY 0 50 100 150m

LEE STREET RELATIONSHIP OF ULTIMO ROAD TO PROPOSED CYCLE NETWORK

68 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW TREES

EXISTING NEW TREES AT

WIDENED FOOTPATH ROAD ULTIMO

< THOMAS ST

SEPARATED CYCLEWAY

PROPOSED

STREET UPGRADES 69 5.8 QUAY STREET: BOULEVARD

THE EXISTING SITUATION to establish a strong pedestrian connection to Darling Harbour along the Quay Street alignment. Quay Street is a long, wide street that runs in a north-westerly direction from Railway Square toward t The substantial slope down from Railway Square Darling Harbour. Forming the south-eastern edge toward Darling Harbour, combined with the of Chinatown, it provides a key pedestrian route to generous width of the street, provides a good Chinatown from Central Station, Railway Square, and opportunity to implement water sensitive urban Broadway. design measures that are expressed as part of the streetscape. Quay Street experiences a weekday peak hour volume of 1,752 people and a weekend peak hour of 1,584 people (Arup 2009). As such, it is the only street THE PROJECT within the study area that experiences appreciably Project objectives lower pedestrian volumes on the weekend. Coinciding with the high volumes of pedestrian t To improve the connection to Chinatown from the activity, Quay Street also experiences a substantial Railway Square precinct, including UTS. volume of trafﬁc, with a daily average of 10,205 t To improve the pedestrian amenity of Quay Street. vehicles. t To maintain some on-street parking. Constraints t To improve the character of the street. t The Entertainment Centre’s service yard prevents pedestrian through access to Darling Harbour Project components from Quay Street. t Continue the George Street footpath across the UTS Quay Street intersection and provide a driveway RAILWAY SQUARE Opportunities entry from George Street. THOMAS STREET

PADDY’S MARKET t Major current and planned redevelopments t Continue the Quay Street footpath across the MARKEY CITY Valentine Street intersection and provide a ULTIMO ROAD along Quay Street, particularly along its western NEW HAY STREET PLAZA T

E driveway access to Valentine Street. E side (including the Wilson carpark site and R T TUMBALONG S R PARK IE UTS Haymarket campus) create an opportunity P CHINESE t Remove angled parking and widen footpath on GARDENS to concurrently implement public domain the western side of Quay Street, between Thomas HARBOUR STREET improvements. Street and Ultimo Road. Parallel parking could Potential route across Darling Harbour along Quay Street, t The potential future redevelopment of the be provided here to replace the existing angled should the Entertainment Centre be redeveloped Entertainment Centre creates an opportunity parking.

70 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN QUAY STREET SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

39% 45% CARS PEDESTRIANS 41% GAIN

SHARED EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 61% 53% CYCLE

EXISTING PROPOSED

THOMAS ULTIM

BIJOU

O ROAD

LANE STREET DRIVEWAY

A ACROSS FOOTPATH B UTS LIBRARY

UTS HAYMARKET QUAY STREETTRT 9 61-7 1-59

107-121 93-10 DRIVEWAY 815-821 QUAY ACROSS FOOTPATH STREET RAILWAY 81-91 SQUARE STREET QUAY VIEW TO ANGLICAN PRINCE CENTRE 803-813 CHRIST CHURCH STREET

OF ST LAURENCE ULTIMO UTS INSEARCH

VALENTINE ROAD GEORGE THOMAS 8 20 1 16-1 8 STREET THE PEAK 793-795 STREET 10-14 789-79

3 1 9-1 78 9

779 TERRACE 9 35-3 ANGLICAN 187-189 17-1 CHRIST3 CHURCH 775-777 77 OF ST LAURENCE9 CAPITAL

771

767-76 3

9 761-76 HAY STREET 2

757-75

743-75 741 191-199 814

LEGEND 119º 741A 9 0 10 20 30 40 50 m

737-73 EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE EXISTING ROAD EXISTING TREE 735

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE PROPOSED SPECIAL ROAD EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION 2B 814A PAVEMENT, EG: COBBLES PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED THRESHOLD

STREET UPGRADES 71 t Create a series of squares at the major intersections design of the new pedestrian space. New elements Project benefits along Quay Street, through: in this space, such as planting and seating, could be configured to emphasise the vista. t A new pedestrian boulevard along the south- ¬ Widened footpaths on both sides of Quay Street western edge of Chinatown, that could potentially be between George Street and Bijou Lane. Consider ¬ Widened footpaths on all sides of the Ultimo Road extended to Darling Harbour in the future (subject to special road pavement (such as granite setts) in this intersection. redevelopment of the Entertainment Centre). section of Quay Street to emphasise point of entry t Provide a separated cycleway between Railway Square from George Street. t Additional footpath space, and a series of squares, and Ultimo Road, as described in the City’s Cycle that increases the pedestrian amenity of Quay Street ¬ Widened footpaths on all sides of the Thomas Street Strategy and Action Plan 2007-2017. and facilitates other public uses of the street, such as intersection to create more pedestrian space and t Stormwater infiltration beds (rain gardens) along Quay temporary events and outdoor dining. reduce the emphasis on vehicular traffic at the entry Street where space permits. to Thomas Street. t A strong pedestrian-oriented connection between t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, Railway Square and Chinatown. ¬ At the south-western corner of the intersection, pedestrian lighting, street furniture and street trees. consider the vista along Valentine Street to the t Vehicular access from George Street is maintained, Anglican Christ Church of St Laurence in the detailed t Stormwater harvesting off building awnings, where ensuring access to businesses, existing car parks and applicable, to water street trees. Chinatown in general.

Existing road Existing footpath Extended footpath Cycle path

Proposed Proposed Proposed: 6.5m 6m 3m 5.9m 3m Development Proposed: 3.2mParking 6m 3m 5.9m 3m Development

Existing: 3.2m 3.3m 9m 5.9m 3m Carpark Existing: 3.2m 3.3m 9m 5.9m 3m Carpark Footpath Parking Two Way Front to kerb parking Footpath Footpath Parking Two Way Front to kerb parking Footpath

Section A Section B

72 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN NEW DEVELOPMENT

NEW TREES

WIDENED FOOTPATH AT INTERSECTION EXISTING t Provision for on-street parking is maintained, although STREET QUAY reduced, along the length of Quay Street.

Traffic impacts The Thomas Street/Quay Street intersection currently has wide unused pavement which can be easily converted to kerb extensions to create the new square, which improves pedestrian conditions and calms traffic flows. There is no WIDENED FOOTPATH expected traffic change as a result of these works.

Feasibility The City of Sydney has the authority to implement changes STORMWATER INFILTRATION BEDS to Quay Street south of Ultimo Road. SHFA is the governing agency for Quay Street north of Ultimo Road; as such any PROPOSED changes there would require negotiation and agreement from SHFA.

STREET UPGRADES 73 5.9 VALENTINE STREET

THE EXISTING SITUATION Project components Valentine Street is a small, one-way local street that t Continue the George Street footpath across the connects Quay St to George Street. Its traffic function Valentine Street intersection and provide driveway in the Chinatown system is minor; however, it does exit to George Street. provide an important pedestrian connection between t Widen the footpaths at the George Street end George Street and Quay Street/Thomas Street. On- of the street to create a small square off George street parking is currently provided on both sides Street that strongly addresses the Anglican Christ of the street. There are also entrances to off-street Church of St Laurence. private parking in buildings along the street. t Continue Quay Street footpath across the The buildings along Valentine Street serve primarily Valentine Street intersection, and provide institutional and commercial functions; the UTS driveway entry to Valentine Street. Insearch tower is located at the north-western end t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, of the street. The buildings at the eastern end of pedestrian lighting, street furniture and street the street have retail frontages along George Street, trees. and could relatively easily be modified to have active Existing Road frontages along Valentine Street. Special road paving Project benefits Existing footpath Extended footpath A key characteristic of Valentine Street is that it t Increased potential for active uses, such as frames a strong vista to the Anglican Christ Church outdoor dining, at the widened footpaths. of St Laurence on George Street, with the Central Station clocktower in the distance. t The continuous footpaths along George and Quay Streets facilitate traffic calming.

THE PROJECT Potential further improvements Project objectives The small square, or indeed all of Valentine Street, could potentially become a shared zone, with To emphasise the pedestrian entry from George t continuous paving raised ﬂush to the kerbs (subject street. to a more detailed trafﬁc study). t To maintain and enhance the existing vista to the Anglican Christ Church of St Laurence along Feasibility Proposed: 4.7m3m 4.7m Valentine Street. The City of Sydney has the authority to implement the t To improve the character of the street. suggested improvements to Valentine Street. Existing: 2.1m 2.6m 3m 2.9m 1.8m FootpathParking One Way Parking Footpath

74 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN VALENTINE STREET SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: (footpaths, cycle paths and shared)

CARS 45% 31% PEDESTRIANS 53% GAIN SHARED 55% EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL 55% 14%

EXISTING PROPOSED

737-739

741A

187-189

QUAY UTS INSEARCH 743-755 STREET

800 790-798 802 81-91

757-759A 804 VALENTINE STREET DRIVEWAY 761-763

ACROSS FOOTPATH STREET VALENTINE 806-808

17-19 ANGLICAN 93-105 10-14 SMALL SQUARE 812BCHRIST CHURCH STREET OF ST LAURENCE810-812A DRIVEWAY 771

ACROSS 773 767-769 FOOTPATH GEORGE 16 18 775-777 0 10 20 30 40 50 m NEW TREES

814A

LEGEND

EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACE

PROPOSED DRIVEWAY/RAISED THRESHOLD

EXISTING ROAD

SMALL SQUARE PROPOSED SPECIAL ROAD PAVEMENT, NEW PAVING EG: COBBLES

EXISTING TREE PROPOSED EXISTING

STREET UPGRADES 75 5.10 DOUGLASS STREET & DOUGLASS LANE, EAGAR STREET & EAGAR LANE: LANEWAYS REVITALISATION

THE EXISTING SITUATION a distinctive experience that visitors discover, remember and return to. Douglass Street, Douglass Lane, Eagar Street and Eagar Lane are a collection of interlinked laneways t A program of ongoing temporary art installations that connect Liverpool Street to Sussex Street. Two could be introduced, similar to the City’s ‘By arcades provide through-site connections from George! Laneways Art’ program. George Street to these laneways. The ‘Spanish Quarter Steps’ a distinctive lighting/public stair project THE PROJECT by artist Peter McGregor in association with Stanisic Turner Architects (2001) provides pedestrian access Project objectives Douglass Street, view to Liverpool Street Douglass Street, view to Douglass Lane between Sussex Street and Douglass Lane. t To facilitate the activation of these laneways for increased public use. This collection of laneways is defined and overlooked by tall surrounding buildings, most of which have Project components service entries located in the lanes. Entry to the Suntower parking station, which provides public t Create a shared zone throughout this entire parking, is located at the eastern end of Eagar Lane. collection of laneways, with continuous paving raised flush to the kerbs. As a group, these laneways have been identified in t Investigate the potential for a program of timed ‘Spanish Steps’, Douglass Lane the City’s Haymarket Local Action Plan (2007) for closures at Douglass Street, Douglass Lane and Douglass Lane (photo: Brett Boardman) laneway revitalisation, with the objective to make Eagar Street, whilst maintaining access to the them more lively, accessible and safe. parking station at Eagar Lane. Constraints t Make arcade entrances more visually prominent in the laneways and on George Street, possibly t The narrowness of the laneways inhibits the through markings in the paving (refer materials/ introduction of footpaths or the extension of wayfinding overlay description). existing footpaths. t Provide infrastructure for ongoing temporary public art installations, such as banner-type Opportunities projects. Eagar Street, view to Douglass Lane Eagar Lane, view to Sussex Street t The separate and self-contained nature of t Streetscape improvements, including: new paving, these laneways provides an opportunity to pedestrian lighting, and planting. be more adventurous with the public domain improvements. There is an opportunity to create

76 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 348-354

545-553

KENT 339A

STREET ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN DOUGLASS ST, LA &EAGAR ST, LA:

CARS 76-78 553-555 26% 26% PEDESTRIANS LIVERPOO L STREET SHARED 74% 74% CYCLE 345B

STREET 69 71 EXISTING PROPOSED 361 73 88 363 75

355 557-559

STREET X

DOUGLASS 368 53-55

357 SUSSE SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: 57-67 SPANISH STEPS (footpaths, cycle paths and shared) DOUGLASS 569-581 LANE SUMMIT ARCADE

77-79 291% GAIN A 380 1

EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL EAGAR 382-386 583A 561-567

LEGEND STREET 365-375 374-378 DOUGLASS STREET & LANE, EAGAR STREET & LANE EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACE 4-10 PARKING

STREET PROPOSED SHARED ZONE STATION591 EAGA EXISTING ARCADE CONNECTION R LANE SUNTOWER GEORGE PROPOSED TRAM LINE 392-394 ARCADE

EXISTING TREE 12-14 377-383 583 16-16A

599 585-587 388-390 601 385-387 603 0 10 20 30 40 50 m 605-609

95 GOULBURN STREET

18-20A

17-19 22-26

STREET UPGRADES 77 << ARCADE TO GEORGE ST

Existing road Proposed: 5.7m Existing footpath Proposed shared zone

Existing: 0.8m 4.3m 0.6m FootpathOne Way Footpath

78 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN PUBLIC ART

ACTIVE FRONTAGES

EXISTING DOUGLASS STREET & LANE, EAGAR STREET & LANE

Project beneﬁts t A vibrant new laneways precinct that enhances the urban experience of Chinatown. t The creation of a shared zone throughout the entirety of this collection of laneways improves and encourages pedestrian activity, and facilitates the development of active frontages.

NEW PAVING, SHARED ZONE Feasibility The City of Sydney has the authority to implement the suggested improvements to these laneways.

PROPOSED

STREET UPGRADES 79 5.11 LITTLE HAY STREET, FACTORY STREET & KIMBER LANE: EARLY START

THE EXISTING SITUATION THE ‘EARLY START’ PROJECT Little Hay Street, Factory Street and Kimber Lane The City of Sydney has identiﬁed Little Hay Street, are a collection of small streets that service Dixon Factory Street and Kimber Lane as the site for Street. Little Hay Street provides an important immediate public domain improvements, in the form vehicular cross connection between Sussex Street and of an ‘early start’ project. The design process for the Harbour Street, across Dixon Street. Factory Street early start project has been undertaken in parallel connects Dixon Street to Harbour Street and forms a with this study, and the proposed improvements primary pedestrian route between Darling Harbour were placed on public display in April 2010. The key and Chinatown. Situated between Dixon Street and features of the proposed early improvements include: Little Hay Street Harbour Street, Kimber Lane primarily provides service widened footpaths along Little Hay Street; the access to businesses along those streets. It does not creation of shared zones in Factory Street and Kimber currently operate as a pedestrian thoroughfare, due Lane; and new paving, lighting, street furniture and to its service function and lack of active frontages. planting.

Constraints OTHER SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS t Factory Street is quite steep, which can make it In addition to the improvements proposed as part of difﬁcult for some pedestrians to negotiate. the early start project, potential further improvements include: t At only 3.7m wide, Kimber Lane is very narrow. Factory Street t Extension of raised thresholds to Little Hay t The service and loading function of these small Street and Factory Street across Harbour streets must be maintained. Street, to improve pedestrian connections between Chinatown and Darling Harbour/the Opportunities Entertainment Centre. This could be implemented t Some of the pressure currently on Dixon Street as part of the Harbour Street improvements (refer could be alleviated by increasing the provision Harbour Street project). of pedestrian-priority space in Little Hay Street, t The reduction in trafﬁc that would result from which would enable it to better cater for changes to other Chinatown streets, in particular Kimber Lane programmed events. Sussex Street and Hay Street, could facilitate the t The pedestrian amenity of Factory Street could be creation of a shared zone in Little Hay Street. This improved to better facilitate its function as a key would extend full pedestrian priority throughout route between Chinatown and Darling Harbour. the entirety of the Dixon Street precinct. Service access to businesses would be maintained in a timed fashion.

80 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN Factory Street

Raised threshold to indicate the start and end of the shared zone

Proposed wall mounted decorative lighting Paved access stairs to terraces Signalised intersection to northern edge of street of similar style to at Harbour Street with pedestrian existing decorative lighting on Little Hay Street Proposed rubbish bin crossing point at the south improves east west connections speciÀ cally Continuous paving across Á ush footpath and Public meeting place with to Darling Harbour and The carriageway create a 10km/h shared zone permanent seating located on Entertainment Centre improves paved terraces under proposed pedestrian connections to west, trees. Materials to evoke unique (Subject to RTA Approval) character of Chinatown.

CONNECTIONS A TO DARLING HARBOUR HARBOUR STREET

FACTORY STREET DIXON STREET Design Statement A

Factory Street has been designed as a Raised road level at intersection shared zone, prioritising pedestrians through with Kimber Lane. Feature paving such as colour inlays and decorative Section A-A the street. catenary lighting create a focal point at entry points to Kimber Lane.

KIMBER LANE A continuous paving treatment will provide Paving pattern within shared zone providing visual interest in the a cohesive public space. The former ground plan. Access to all existing carriageway will be Á ush with footpaths to loading docks and garages maintained provide easier access for pedestrians. Widened footpaths at Harbour Street to emphasise proposed pedestrian crossing point. Adildj

Existing granite pavement Proposed street lighting Little Hay Street Asphalt pavement Potential on-street dining Proposed brick pavement Existing trees

HARBOUR STREET New street tree: tree KIMBER LANE Raised road level Public meeting place Existing ‘Heaven and Earth’ artwork Widened footpaths to allow greater Proposed granite pavement Proposed trees pits with tree grates at intersection with with custom seating, to be restored in current location. pedestrian circulation and street with possible collection Kimber Lane creates incorporating materials activation including on-street dining Existing monorail support and À ltration of stormwater a continuous at-grade to evoke the unique B Proposed street furniture runoff. footpath along Little character of Chinatown

Hay Street. Feature A paving such as colour DIXON STREET inlays and decorative catenary lighting create a focal point at entry points to Kimber Lane.

SUSSEX STREET

LITTLE HAY STREET LITTLE HAY STREET Signalised intersection at Harbour Street improves pedestrian connections to west, speciÀ cally The Entertainment Raised threshold Centre (Subject to RTA Approval) intersection to im pedestrian conn encourage a slo environment alo

Raised road level at intersection with Widened footpaths at Harbour Street Two western parking bays timed to Kimber Lane creates a continuous Permanent street Proposed vehicle parking Existing decorative Proposed bike r at-grade footpath along Little Hay B

to emphasise proposed pedestrian allow for outdoor dining during peak A furniture including City bays / loading zones to wall mounted lighting towards street in crossing point. dining times Street. Feature paving such as of Sydney standard bin southern edge of street. to remain colour inlays and decorative catenary and bench located along Higher quality unit paving used lighting create a focal point at entry the street. to delineate parking bays points to Kimber Lane.

Section A-A Section B-B Perspective View

Kimber Lane STREET & KIMBER LANE FACTORY STREET, LITTLE HAY

10km/h one way shared zone Access to and from all loading Removable bollards allow timed Raised and paved thresholds Removable bollards allow timed to promote a more pedestrian docks and À re egress points to closure of street for events and out located at intersections. closure of street for events and out friendly environment. Existing be maintained door dining within the lane. door dining within the lane. kerbs retained on both sides of lane with one way vehicle trafÀ c north. This page: proposed ‘early start’ KIMBER LANE KIMBER LANE

A A public domain improvement

FACTORY STREET Coloured paving inlay and decorative catenary lighting Coloured paving inlay and Robust stencilled pattern applied Permanent bollards located at LITTLE HAY STREET provides a vibrant entry to Kimber projects, designed by Aspect. decorative catenary lighting to existing road surface providing pedestrian and Lane encouraging pedestrian use. provides a vibrant entry to Kimber a visually stimulating and vibrant vehicle intersections Lane encouraging pedestrian use. ground plane These draft drawings were placed HAY STREET on public display in April 2010. Section A-A Plan Legend Indicative Stencil Patterns

04268 10M Proposed asphalt pavement

Proposed granite pavement Design Statement Proposed wall mounted street lighting

Targeted improvements to Kimber Lane Existing trees Vibrant stencils applied to the surface of Kimber Lane may include a mix of traditional and aim to change the perceived identity of contemporary Chinese patterns used to create a graphic carpet on the surface of the lane encouraging pedestrian use. Traditional chinese colours of gold and red may inform the colour palette the lane and create a pedestrian friendly Proposed trees used within these stencils. environment.

STREET UPGRADES 81

6 PUBLIC DOMAIN OUTCOMES

KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET S 6.1 MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET PIER EAGAR LA Thus far, the strategy of winning back space for the public domain has been described as individual street upgrade projects that aim to increase WORLD pedestrian-priority space in a targeted, place-speciﬁc way. As it is GOULBURN STREET expected that the upgrade projects would be implemented individually, the public space gains in Chinatown would be achieved incrementally. FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET Nonetheless, should all of the proposed street upgrades be implemented,

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET there would be a 44% increase in the amount of space dedicated to CENTRE pedestrians and cyclists in Chinatown—a signiﬁcant win for the public domain.

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE

CAMPBELL STREET

HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE UTSU MARKET CITY PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD DARLING DRIVE SPACE FOR PEDESTRIANS & CYCLISTS: UTS (footpaths, cycle paths and shared) LIBRARY ULTIMO ROAD

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE 44% GAIN

THOMAS STREET EXISTING PROPOSED ADDITIONAL RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET

ULTIMO ROAD VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET 150m

CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

0 PUBLIC DOMAIN OUTCOMES 85 LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET 6.2 IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY GARDENSDE

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET The winning back of pedestrian-priority space in Chinatown’s streets PIER EAGAR LA would give rise to signiﬁcant improvements to pedestrian connectivity between Chinatown and surrounding city areas, and within Chinatown WORLDWORL SQUARE itself. GOULBURN STREET

FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET The pedestrian mall in Hay Street would be a major new urban space in SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE Chinatown—a hub that facilitates pedestrian connectivity between the ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET CENTRE Chinatown’s core and the areas to its south. The Hay Street mall would POSSIBLE also contribute signiﬁcantly to east-west pedestrian movement between FUTURE

Belmore Park and the Powerhouse Museum. EXTENSION LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE

The proposed improvements to Thomas Street and Quay Street would CAMPBELL STREET strengthen pedestrian routes in Chinatown’s south, connecting the area to Broadway, UTS and Ultimo. Pedestrian movement along Quay Street HAY STREET could be potentially be extended north to Darling Harbour, should the TO POWERHOUSE CAPITOL SQUARE MUSEUM UTSU Entertainment Centre be redeveloped in the future. MARKET CITY PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET Thomas Street and Quay Street would complement the existing strong THOMAS STREET TO BELMORE PARK north-south pedestrian movement along Dixon Street and Sussex Street, ULTIMO ROAD which would be strengthened with improvements at their Goulburn DARLING DRIVE

Street intersections. Together, these four streets would provide the UTS primary north-south pedestrian routes in Chinatown. LIBRARY ULTIMO ROAD

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE The proposed improvements to Harbour Street, Factory Street and Little THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE Hay Street would improve pedestrian connections between Chinatown GEORGE STREET and the Entertainment Centre/Darling Harbour. The improved pedestrian

ULTIMO ROAD connection across Harbour Street to Factory Street is particularly VALENTINE STREET signiﬁcant as it facilitates better pedestrian access between Chinatown EDDY AVENUE and the Chinese Gardens.

PITT STREET HAY STREET MALL PRIMARY E/W CONNECTION 150m PRIMARY PEDESTRIAN ROUTES IN CHINATOWN EXISTING PRIMARY CENTRAL PEDESTRIAN ENTRY POINTS

RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE STRONGER CONNECTIONS WEST TO DARLING HARBOUR

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

86 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0 LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET ENS 6.3 IMPROVED CYCLE CONNECTIVITY

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET PIER EAGAR LA including: separated cycleways, shared pedestrian/cyclist paths and WORLDWORL SQUARE shared pedestrian/cycle spaces. Combined, the proposed cycle facilities GOULBURN STREET would form a new network of cycle routes through Chinatown, connecting with the City’s existing and planned cycle network beyond FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET the study area.

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET CENTRE The key features of the new Chinatown cycle network include: t A separated cycleway on Ultimo Road that connects Chinatown to LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE Harris Street and Ultimo/UTS.

CAMPBELL STREET t Provision for cyclists in the new Thomas Street plaza north of Ultimo Road, connecting the Ultimo Road cycle path to Hay Street. It is HAY STREET envisaged that a shared pedestrian and cyclist facility would be CAPITOL SQUARE provided (detailed resolution to be provided at design development). UTSU MARKET CITY PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET t Provision for cyclists in the new Hay Street mall, which forms part of an east-west regional cycle route planned in the City’s Cycle Strategy

THOMAS STREET and Action Plan 2007-2017. It is envisaged that cyclists would utilise ULTIMO ROAD

DARLING DRIVE the tram lines in a shared environment (detailed resolution to be provided at design development). UTS LIBRARY ULTIMO ROAD t A separated cycleway along Quay Street that connects Railway

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET PROPOSED PROVISION FOR CYCLISTS THOMAS LANE AS PART OF CHINATOWN UPGRADES Square to Ultimo Road, and a shared pedestrian/cyclist path from SEPARATED CYCLEWAY Ultimo Road to Hay Street and the Entertainment Centre. Should the THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL/PLAZA Entertainment Centre site be redeveloped, this cycle route would be WITH CYCLE PROVISION SHARED PEDESTRIAN extended north to connect with Darling Harbour. AND CYCLE PATH ULTIMO ROAD VALENTINE STREET BUS/TRAM LANE EDDY AVENUE t A shared pedestrian/cyclist path along Harbour Street and north of the Entertainment Centre that connects Hay Street to Darling POTENTIAL FUTURE PROVISIONS PLANNED BY COUNCIL Harbour. This cycle path provides an additional connection west, SEPARATED CYCLEWAY PITT STREET thereby relieving pressure on the King Street cycleway. SHARED PEDESTRIAN AND

150m CYCLE PATH t Provision for cyclists on-road along Sussex Street, utilising the tram EXISTING PROVISION lines. EXISTING ON ROAD LANE CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION 100 BUS/TRAM LANE SQUARE

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

0 PUBLIC DOMAIN OUTCOMES 87 LEE STREET 0 0 300 100 200 6.4 A STRONG HAYMARKET HUB 400 500m The proposal for the creation of a pedestrian mall in Hay Street creates a major new public space in the very heart of Chinatown. The Hay CIRCULAR QUAY Street mall would supplement Dixon Street mall’s function as a cultural and social hub, and provide much needed extra space in Chinatown for programmed events.

The Hay Street mall would also contribute to the realisation of a key strategic urban vision for Sydney: the ‘Beating Heart’ that is proposed in the Public Spaces Public Life Studyy (Gehl Architects 2007) and the City’s MARTIN PLACE Sustainable Sydney 2030 Strategic Vision (2008). The ‘Beating Heart’ vision describes one main street (George Street), three main squares and a network of pedestrian-friendly streets. Hay Street is identiﬁed as one of PITT STREET the key ‘pedestrian-friendly streets’, connecting Belmore Park, Chinatown MALL and the Powerhouse Museum/Ultimo.

Potential extension of Hay Street west The changes to Hay Street proposed in this study extend west to Quay Street, the limit of the study area. There is the potential to extend Hay Street west, across Darling Drive to connect with Macarthur Street. This TOWN HALL would signiﬁcantly improve the east-west pedestrian route from Belmore Park to Ultimo. Refer description of the Hay Street project for more details. THE ‘BEATING HEART’: ONE MAIN STREET, THREE MAIN SQUARES Public Spaces, Public Life Study (Gehl Architects 2007)

THE THREE MAJOR SQUARES POWERHOUSE MUSEUM PEDESTRIAN MALLS HAY STREET EAST / WEST CONNECTIONS

BELMORE PARK

CENTRAL

88 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET S 6.5 A VARIETY OF PUBLIC SPACE EXPERIENCES

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET PIER EAGAR LA Combined, the proposed upgrade projects create a network of public spaces that introduces a range of new public space experiences to WORL Chinatown. A hierarchy of public spaces would be created, which would GOULBURN STREET improve the legibility of the Chinatown’s public domain.

FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET Chinatown’s new network of public spaces would comprise:

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET CENTRE t the Dixon Street and Hay Street pedestrian malls; t plazas at Thomas Street and north Dixon Street; LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET a series of squares along Quay Street and on Valentine Street; KIMBER LANE t shared zones in the laneways and at Dixon Street north; and CAMPBELL STREET t t the forecourt spaces at the Entertainment Centre. HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE UTSU MARKET CITY PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD

DARLING DRIVE

UTS LIBRARY ULTIMO ROAD

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET PEDESTRIAN MALL THOMAS LANE PLAZA THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET SQUARE

SHARED ZONE ULTIMO ROAD VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET 150m

CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

0 PUBLIC DOMAIN OUTCOMES 89 LEE STREET

7 PRIORITISATION KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET PIER EAGAR LA

GOULBURN STREET

FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET CENTRE

LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET

KIMBER LANE

CAMPBELL STREET

HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE UTSU MARKET CITY PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD

DARLING DRIVE

UT LIBRA ULTIMO ROAD

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET

ULTIMO ROAD VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SPACES

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN SPACES

EXISTING SHARED ZONE PITT STREET PROPOSED SHARED ZONE 150m PROPOSED DRIVEWAY / RAISED THRESHOLD

PROPOSED CYCLE PATH CENTRAL

PROPOSED TRAM STOP RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE PROPOSED SPECIAL ROAD PAVEMENT TEN PROJECTS FOR CHINATOWN HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY 0 LEE STREET 1 2 Dixon Street North Hay Street 7.1 COMMUNITY PREFERENCES

< projects ranked according to total Attended by approximately 80 people, the second community number of votes from the community consultation workshop for this project was held on 09 February 2010. The aim of the workshop was to ascertain which of the proposed upgrade projects were most preferred by the community. 3 4 Dixon St South Thomas Street At the workshop, a draft public domain strategy was presented; this included the overlay projects and the upgrade projects. Workshop participants were asked to individually identify the top three upgrade projects that they would like to see implemented initially. Note that the Valentine Street project was not included as part of the community voting process, and Dixon Street was shown as two separate projects— Dixon Street north and Dixon Street south. 5 6 Harbour Street Quay Street The three projects that were most preferred by the community, in terms of both ﬁrst preferences and total votes, were: Hay Street, Dixon Street (north and south) and Thomas Street.

TOTAL VOTES FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES

35 14 7 8 Goulburn Street Ultimo Road 30 12

25 10

20 8

15 6

10 4 THIRD PRIORITY 5 2 9 10 SECOND PRIORITY Sussex Street Douglass St, La/Eagar St, La FIRST PRIORITY 0 0 h h d treet treet S S urn Street our Street uay Street Hay Street Hay timo Roa b Quay Street Q lb ussex omas Street Ultimo Road Ul Sussex Street S h Thomas Street T Harbour Street Har Goulburn Street Gou Dixon Street North Dixon Street South Dixon Street Nort Dixon Street Sout ass St, La & Eagar St, La 11 l

Valentine Street Douglass St, La & Eagar St, La Doug

PROJECT PRIORITISATION 93 7.2 PROJECT PRIORITISATION

In order to prioritise the upgrade projects for design development and % gain in Cycle Extra space Community Governing implementation, the project team has considered a number of factors in public space provision for events Cost preference Buildability agency addition to the preferences indicated by the community. These factors include: Sussex Street 24% City of Sydney The degree to which the project achieves the guiding directions for t Goulburn Street 6% RTA this study, including: ¬ the proportion of pedestrian-oriented space (footpaths, plaza Hay Street 163% * RTA space, squares, shared spaces, etc) gained by the project, RTA Harbour Street 39% (SHFA @ Ent Cent) ¬ whether the project provides for cycle connectivity, Thomas Street 95% City of Sydney ¬ whether the project facilitates festivals and programmed events. t The strategic potential of the project, in terms of offering ‘early wins’ Ultimo Road 73% City of Sydney for the public domain or unlocking the potential for other changes. Quay Street 41% City of Sydney t The potential cost of implementing the proposed changes. Douglass St, La & Eagar St, La 291% City of Sydney t The community’s preference for each project. t The buildability of the project, taking into account construction Dixon Street South 0% City of Sydney complexities associated with the proposed changes. Dixon Street North 0% SHFA t Whether Council has the authority to develop the project, or if not included in Council would need to seek agreement from other governing Valentine Street 53% ratings City of Sydney agencies in order for the project to be realised. * Cost for Hay Street could potentially be very high due to the relocation of the light rail (to be confirmed at detail development). However, the proposed public domain improvments to Hay Street could be implemented without reconfiguring the light rail.

94 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET 7.3 HIGHEST PRIORITY

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET PIER EAGAR LA The three projects recommended for receiving the highest priority for development and implementation are:

GOULBURN STREET t Hay Street t Thomas Street FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE Dixon Street (north and south) ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET t CENTRE Hay Street Although Hay Street is a complex project, it is very important strategically both for Chinatown and the city. Hay Street also unlocks further LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET potential for public domain improvements in other projects, particularly KIMBER LANE Harbour Street. CAMPBELL STREET Thomas Street is a project that would be relatively straightforward to HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE develop and implement, particularly the section south of Ultimo Road. It UTSU Thomas Street also provides a substantial increase in the amount of public space in the MARKET CITY southern part of Chinatown, and creates a public space focus at the busy PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET area around Paddy’s Market.

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD Improvements to Dixon Street were strongly preferred by the community, DARLING DRIVE and their implementation would be a highly visible ‘win’ for the quality UTS LIBRARY ULTIMO ROAD of Chinatown’s public domain.

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE Dixon Street North Combined, these three projects would create a strong core of pedestrian-

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE oriented space in Chinatown, uniting the entire study area. These GEORGE STREET projects were also most preferred by the community.

O ROAD VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET Dixon St South 150m

CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

0 PROJECT PRIORITISATION 95 LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

7.4 HIGH PRIORITY SUSSEX STREET

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET The four projects recommended for receiving high priority for PIER EAGAR LA development and implementation are: t Sussex Street GOULBURN STREET t Quay Street FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET

Harbour Street KIMBER LANE t ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET CENTRE Sussex Street t Ultimo Road

These projects would provide signiﬁcant improvements for pedestrians LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET and cyclists in Chinatown. KIMBER LANE

CAMPBELL STREET Although the Sussex Street improvements have been described in relation to the potential introduction of light along the street, they could easily HAY STREET be implemented independently of any light rail development. The CAPITOL SQUARE UTSU Quay Street Sussex Street project should receive high priority because it addresses the MARKET CITY acute conﬂict between pedestrians and vehicles along this busy street, PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET particularly at the Goulburn Street intersection. THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD The Harbour Street, Quay Street and Ultimo Road projects not only DARLING DRIVE improve the quality of the public domain experience in Chinatown, UTS they facilitate stronger connections for pedestrians and cyclists between LIBRA ULTIMO ROAD

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET Chinatown and other parts of the city. As such, they should receive a THOMAS LANE Harbour Street high priority for development and implementation. THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET

O ROAD VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET Ultimo Road 150m

CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

96 CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN 0 LEE STREET KENT STREET

TUMBALONG PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE > PARK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE >

LIVERPOOL STREET DOUGLASS ST DOUGLASS

SUSSEX STREET 7.5 MEDIUM PRIORITY

HARBOUR STREET DOUGLASS LA EAGAR ST EAGAR

DIXON STREET

STREET PIER EAGAR LA The three projects recommended for receiving medium priority for development and implementation are:

GOULBURN STREET t Goulburn Street t Douglass Street, Douglass Lane, Eagar Street and Eagar Lane FACTORY ST

HARBOUR STREET SUSSEX STREET

KIMBER LANE Valentine Street ENTERTAINMENT DIXON STREET t CENTRE Goulburn Street Although the Goulburn Street project does not provide additional public space for Chinatown, it does contribute qualitative improvements to the LITTLE HAY ST LITTLE HAY ST GEORGE STREET pedestrian experience by emphasising the pedestrian routes that cross KIMBER LANE the street. As such, this project is recommended for medium priority. CAMPBELL STREET The projects for the Douglass and Eagar laneways and Valentine Street HAY STREET CAPITOL SQUARE both provide substantial qualitative improvements to the public domain UTSU Douglass St, La/Eagar St, La experience, but these improvements are localised. As such, these MARKET CITY projects are also recommended for medium priority. PADDY’S MARKET HAY STREET

THOMAS STREET ULTIMO ROAD

DARLING DRIVE

UTS LIBRARY ULTIMO ROAD

QUAY STREET BARLOW STREET THOMAS LANE Valentine Street

THOMAS STREET RAWSON PLACE GEORGE STREET

O ROAD VALENTINE STREET EDDY AVENUE

PITT STREET 150m

CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION 100 SQUARE

HARRIS STREET 50

BROADWAY

0 PROJECT PRIORITISATION 97 LEE STREET

8 REFERENCES

Documents produced as part of this study Arup 2009, Chinatown Public Domain Study: Existing Conditions Report Arup 2010, Chinatown Future Trafﬁc and Parking, advice to study team Elton Consulting 2009, Chinatown Community Engagement Workshop— 10 November 2009: Outcomes Report Elton Consulting 2009, Chinatown Street Intercept Survey: Outcomes Report Elton Consulting 2010, Chinatown Community Engagement Workshop— 09 February 2010: Outcomes Report

Background documents City of Sydney 2009, Chinatown Public Domain Study City of Sydney 2008, Sustainable Sydney 2030 Strategic Vision City of Sydney 2008, Inclusion Disability Action Plan 2007-2011 City of Sydney 2007, Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007-2017 City of Sydney 2006, Local Action Plans City of Sydney 2006, Sydney Streets Design Code (interim) City of Sydney 2004, Street Tree Masterplan Gallery 4A 2010, Chinatown Public Art Plan (currently in draft form) Gehl Architects 2007, Public Spaces Public Life Study

Image credits Unless credited otherwise, all images and drawings were produced by Spackman Mossop Michaels.

3 Oxford Street Paddington NSW 2010 PO Box 880 Darlinghurst NSW 2010 t: +61 2 9361 4549 f: +61 2 9361 4569 www.sm2group.com.au