ATTACHMENT B CHINATOWN AND CITY SOUTH PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN REVIEW 2015 WITH AMENDMENTS CHINATOWN AND CITY SOUTH PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN REVIEW DRAFT AS AMENDED NOVEMBER 2015 3 Oxford Street Paddington NSW 2021 PO Box 880 Darlinghurst NSW 1300 t: +61 2 9361 4549 f: +61 2 9361 4569 www.spackmanmossopmichaels.com CHINATOWN AND CITY SOUTH PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN REVIEW DRAFT AS AMENDED NOVEMBER 2015 Prepared by SPACKMAN MOSSOP MICHAELS ARUP (TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT) Prepared for THE CITY OF SYDNEY DRAFT PRINT: 12 Nov 2015 3:18 PM CONTENTS 1 Introduction ............................................................... 1 3.5 Urban scale connections 25 5 Belmore Park .......................................................... 83 1.1 Introduction 2 3.6 Cycle network strategy 26 5.1 The current situation 84 1.2 Background 4 3.7 Street character 27 5.2 Park landscape values 87 1.3 Study scope 6 3.8 Street trees 28 5.3 Park issues 88 1.4 Study method 8 3.9 Public art 29 5.4 Recommendations 89 1.5 Report outline 9 3.10 Community expectations 30 6 Connecting streets .................................................. 91 2 Urban context .......................................................... 11 4 Interface streets ...................................................... 31 6.1 Thomas Street 92 2.1 Authority overlaps 13 4.1 Hay Street issues and opportunities 32 6.2 Ultimo Road 96 2.2 Significant urban renewal 14 4.2 Harbour Street issues and opportunities 39 6.3 Darling Drive 106 2.3 Darling Harbour redevelopment 15 4.3 Hay Street & Harbour Street 6.4 Mary Ann Street 110 Option 1 – Conservative 46 2.4 CBD and South East Light Rail 16 6.5 Macarthur Street 4.4 Hay Street Option 1 project details 49 and the Powerhouse Museum 112 2.5 Traffic changes 17 4.5 Harbour Street Option 1 project details 56 6.6 Quarry Street 116 2.6 Powerhouse Museum redevelopment 18 4.6 Hay Street & Harbour Street 6.7 William Henry Street 118 3 Public domain context ............................................. 19 Option 2 – Hay Street Mall 60 7 Outcomes ................................................................121 3.1 Recent and upcoming public domain 4.7 Hay Street Option 2 project details 63 improvements 21 7.1 Achieving the Guiding Directions 123 4.8 Harbour Street Option 2 project details 71 3.2 Darling Square scale 22 8 References ..............................................................127 4.9 Quay Street 76 3.3 Darling Square interface and public domain 23 8.1 References 129 3.4 The Goods Line 24 8.2 Image credits 129 v DRAFT PRINT: 12 Nov 2015 3:18 PM This page has been left intentionally blank. vi CHINATOWN AND CITY SOUTH PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN REVIEW · INTERFACE STREETS AND CONNECTING STREETS · DRAFT [E] · NOVEMBER 2015 1 INTRODUCTION DRAFT PRINT: 12 Nov 2015 3:18 PM 1.1 INTRODUCTION Chinatown is a unique and distinctive part of Sydney, characterised by a special urban character that is lively, diverse and ever changing. It embodies a rich combination of the city’s history and its contemporary role as a global city in the Asia Pacific region. Possessing a vibrant culture that is characterised by eating and shopping, Chinatown is a very popular destination for locals and tourists alike. In many ways, Chinatown is a victim of its own success – its limited footpaths and public spaces are often congested and struggle to cater for thousands of daily visitors as well as regular festivals and events. The Chinatown Public Domain Plan (2010) proposes a series of much needed projects to both significantly increase the quantity, and improve the quality, of Chinatown’s public domain. Following extensive community consultation to develop and refine the design proposals, the Plan was endorsed by Council in 2010. The Plan was preceded by the Chinatown Public Domain Study (2009), a strategy document that provided guidelines for the development of projects to improve Chinatown’s public domain. The Study identified four guiding directions for public domain improvements throughout Chinatown, and eight associated actions for the realisation of those guiding directions. These are summarised in Table 1.1 on page 5. Since 2010, a number of major urban developments have been approved in and around Chinatown and the southern part of the City Centre, which have been completed, are currently underway, or imminent. These include: • the CBD and South East Light Rail (CSELR) and related traffic circulation changes throughout the CBD; • urban renewal of Darling Harbour (the Sydney International Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct 2 CHINATOWN AND CITY SOUTH PUBLIC DOMAIN PLAN REVIEW · INTERFACE STREETS AND CONNECTING STREETS · DRAFT [E] · NOVEMBER 2015 DRAFT PRINT: 12 Nov 2015 3:18 PM (SICEEP) development), including the Entertainment Centre site; • development of the northern section of the ‘Goods Line’ (formerly Ultimo Pedestrian Network); • significant upgrades and redevelopment of the UTS City Campus; • new student housing and residential developments along Quay Street; and • urban renewal of the Carlton and United Breweries site (Central Park development). Additionally, in February 2015 the NSW State Government announced its intention to relocate the Powerhouse Museum to enable residential redevelopment of its site. Spackman Mossop Michaels, in association with Arup, have been commissioned by the City of Sydney to prepare this Chinatown and City South Public Domain Plan Review in response to the significant urban changes that are affecting the southern end of Chinatown and City Centre. The purpose of this current study is threefold: • to review and update the parts of the Chinatown Public Domain Plan that are affected by the recent developments; • to develop project recommendations for better connections between Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Central and Ultimo that would form the basis of a future City South Precinct Plan; and • to provide timely input to Infrastructure NSW, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Darling Harbour Live, the Goods Line and Powerhouse Museum on public domain direction for their current and upcoming projects. Introduction 3 DRAFT PRINT: 12 Nov 2015 3:18 PM 1.2 BACKGROUND TBA LE 1.1 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN STUDY (2009) CHINATOWN PUBLIC DOMAIN STUDY GUIDING DIRECTIONS KEY ACTIONS PROJECTS OUTCOMES TO DATE The 2009 Chinatown Public Domain Study provides a 1. Strengthen 1.1 Support Haymarket * Parallel projects to inform public – The City’s continual support of the strategic framework for improvements to Chinatown’s Haymarket Hub Activity Hub domain work: local Business Chamber and dedicated – Haymarket Business Precinct Plan Business Precinct Coordinators. public domain. The Study’s recommendations formed the – Future Community Facilities Plan – The City has developed the Economic basis of the Chinatown Public Domain Plan (2010) and Development Strategy (2013) remain directly relevant to the current study. 2. Foster the mix of 2.1 Foster Chinatown’s * Parallel projects to inform public – The City has developed a Community traditional and traditional and domain work: Strategic Plan (2013) The Chinatown Public Domain Study (2009) identified contemporary contemporary – Haymarket Business Precinct Plan – In 2010 the City committed to support four guiding directions for public domain improvements characteristics – Future Community Facilities Plan and partner with the Centre for Cultural in Chinatown. Under the framework of these guiding Research at the University of Western directions, eight actions were recommended to define Sydney to conduct research on ‘Sydney’s Chinatown in the Asian Century’. This possible improvements to the public domain, with possible project is in progress. projects identified for each of the actions. 2.1.1 Engage local artist to create artworks – ‘In Between Two Worlds’ by Jason Wing that celebrate Chinatown’s traditional installed in Kimber Lane Table 1.1 summarises the guiding directions, their associated and contemporary characteristics. – ‘Cloudgate’ by Lindy Lee actions and related projects. It also provides an update on integrated with the Thomas Street upgrade the status of the actions and projects. For a more detailed 3. Facilitate festivals 3.1 Expand street 3.1.1 Investigate options for the expansion of – The management and extent of the discussion of the guiding directions and actions, refer to the and events markets street markets. Chinatown Night Markets are reviewed Chinatown Public Domain Study (2009). regularly in keeping with Council policy 3.2 Provide better 3.1.2 Investigate the options for flexible use – The City has appointed a specialist curator amenity for flexible structures to accommodate market and for its Chinese New Year Festival and uses festival uses. a new advisory panel to help guide the festival’s future direction 4. Improve streets for 4.1 Improve pedestrian 4.1.1 Investigate opportunities for footpath – Footpath widenings and improved walking, cycling and priority and widening and improved pedestrian crossings along Harbour Street, Quay accessibility accessibility crossings. Street and Thomas Street 4.2 Improve amenity for 4.2.1 Implement Cycle Strategy’s Hay Street – Cycle route shared with light rail corridor cyclists route and coordinate with street along Hay Street improvements 4.3 Improve quality of 4.3.1 Investigate and priorities the upgrade of – Thomas Street upgrade is currently streets Sussex Street, Goulburn Street, Thomas underway Street and Ultimo Road. 4.4 Activate under used 4.4.1 Investigate and prioritise activating – Laneways upgrade of Little Hay Street,