WESTERN GATEWAY SUB-PRECINCT PUBLIC DOMAIN STRATEGY Prepared by Hassell + Aspect Studios for Dexus / Frasers / Atlassian + TfNSW May 2020 Acknowledgement of Country The Western Gateway sub-precinct applicants respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land within Central Precinct, the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, and recognises the importance of this place to all Aboriginal people. The Western Gateway sub-precinct applicants pay their respect to Elders past, present and emerging. 2 Western Gateway Sub-precinct Public Domain Strategy Western Gateway The site has a unique character that draws on its location within Sydney’s Central Station precinct, the legacy of the station heritage and cultural values, and its fusion with the topography of the adjacent landform and landscape conditions. The public domain will draw on this distinctive local character, and explore opportunities to create authentic places grounded by the relationships between circulation, landscape features and architecture to enrich this significant and unique part of the city. 3 INTRODUCTION Public Domain Strategy The Public Domain Strategy defines a unified strategy for the public domain for the Western Gateway sub-precinct. The strategy forms part of a response to submissions that have been received. The Public Domain Strategy demonstrates a commitment to creating a place that is wholly connected to the wider Central Precinct. The strategy represents a partnership of interested parties to ensure a precinct that is high quality, activated and which creates opportunities Clearly defines useable Multi-level pedestrian for conversation and collaboration, public spaces access transit and relaxation. The public domain within the Western Gateway sub-precinct will prioritise The Western Gateway sub-precinct A key element of the Western the pedestrian experience, improving public domain will clearly delineate Gateway sub-precinct is Henry Deane connectivity and pedestrian legibility useable public space through Plaza and pedestrian access up to within the sub-precinct and provide materiality, tree planting and level the deck along the Devonshire Street clear direct links to Central Station changes. Link as well as access to Central and its surrounds. Walk West. The Western Gateway The public domain will feel part of the sub-precinct provides a unique greater Central Precinct and the City opportunity to create a multi-layered of Sydney, with a connected language public realm that creates a diverse and quality of public domain range of spaces and vistas. materiality. This strategy is intended to help guide the realisation of this outcome. 4 Western Gateway Sub-precinct Public Domain Strategy Defines the unique Addresses wind, solar and Prioritise E-W movement heritage and cultural daylight values The Western Gateway sub-precinct The Western Gateway sub-precinct The Western Gateway sub-precinct will contribute to a uniform connected public domain will respond to micro- will enable a key city-making public realm which includes heritage climate conditions such as wind, solar connection, the Devonshire Street integration and interpretation to and daylight. Link over the Central rail yards to inform the public of the unique The placement of seating and tree the future Over Station Development heritage and cultural values of the planting will directly respond to these (OSD). This connection will bring area. factors to ensure comfortable and people through the sub-precinct from attractive places are created that will Surry Hills and Chippendale, activate be used throughout the day. the OSD in both day and night, and integrate the sub-precinct into the wider city. 5 PLANNING BACKGROUND Planning Background controls. The Western Gateway sub-precinct is In July 2019, Central Precinct The intended outcome of the made up of three blocks: was declared a nominated State proposed rezoning of the Western •Block A – commonly known as Significant Precinct (SSP) in Gateway sub-precinct is to create an the Railway Square YHA site and recognition of its importance to the exciting new ‘place’ and ‘destination’ proposed to be redeveloped for region and New South Wales due to at the southern end of Central Sydney an iconic tower which will become its potential to boost investment and that celebrates the area’s historical Atlassian’s global headquarters, deliver new jobs. significance whilst also paving the including new YHA tourism The SSP nomination commenced a way for a new globally recognised accommodation and a range of detailed planning and investigation innovation and technology precinct. spaces to support local and emerging process involving technical studies The Site Tech-Start-up companies and stakeholder and community The Western Gateway sub-precinct •Block B – commonly known as consultation. The detailed planning has an area of approximately 1.65 the Henry Deane office block and process is now underway and is hectares and is located within the proposed to be redeveloped by intended to identify a new planning Central Precinct and the City of Dexus Funds Management Limited framework for Central Precinct. Sydney Local Government Area (LGA). and Frasers Property Australia for a If approved, it will facilitate its It occupies land at the southern end dynamic civic space and workplace transformation into a vibrant mixed of Central Sydney and is bound by of the future comprising commercial use zone while maintaining its critical Lee Street to its west, the Devonshire and retail gross floor area within transport function. Street Tunnel and Central Station to a podium, two towers, lower and The Central Precinct SSP its east, Ambulance Avenue to its upper ground plane over a three level investigation area has been divided north and the Lee Street Bus Layover basement. into sub-precincts to facilitate the to its south. •Block C – commonly known as the future renewal in a manner that The sub-precinct forms an important Adina Apartment Hotel building and positively responds to the varying gateway at the western entrance the Henry Deane Plaza and subject to character of the surrounding area. to Central Station and its western a separate stage 2 rezoning process. The Western Gateway sub-precinct surrounds, providing access and has been identified as the first sub- pedestrian connections between precinct for renewal. the station and future Over Station New planning controls are proposed Development, Railway Square and for the Western Gateway sub-precinct the neighbouring suburbs of Ultimo, to enable its redevelopment for a Haymarket and Chippendale via the technology and innovation precinct. Devonshire Street Tunnel and the Amongst other matters, these new subterranean Railway Square Tunnel. controls are intended to incentivise development for non-residential uses through the provision of greater building height and gross floor area 6 Western Gateway Sub-precinct Public Domain Strategy Figure 1: Land Application and Development Blocks Western2 Purp Gatewayos sub-precincte land ownership 7 The purpose of this Design Guide is to supplement the provisions of the SLEP 2012 by providing more detailed provisions to guide development on land within the Western Gateway Sub-precinct as shown in Figure 1: Land Application and Development Blocks. Development applications (DA) for new development will be assessed on their individual merit having regard to the SLEP 2012, this Design Guide, other matters listed in Section 4.15 of the Act, and any other adopted relevant policies that relate to development within the Western Gateway sub-precinct. 2.1 Desired future character The Western Gateway Sub-Precinct is to focus and propel economic development for the future Harbour City at Central Station. It will catalyse emerging innovation, employment and business by providing places for workers in innovative industries, and their associated support industries. It will provide services and places for workers, visitors, transport customers and others in the surrounding city with activity 24 hours per day with high quality, publicly accessible spaces. It will celebrate heritage and demonstrate leadership in sustainability initiatives. The Western Gateway sub-precinct will: (a) Create a new and exciting ‘destination’ at the southern end of Central Sydney Draft Design Guide Version 2 Western Gateway Sub-precinct 5 CENTRAL PRECINCT CONTEXT Vision Building, Parcel Post Office (Adina communities will also be realised, Central Precinct will be a vibrant and Hotel) and the former Inwards Parcels creating a truly interconnected active exciting place that unites a world- Shed, Central Precinct will be focused transport network. class transport interchange with around a new public square that will contribute to realising the City innovative and diverse businesses High value innovation and and high-quality public spaces. It will of Sydney’s vision for three squares along the George Street spine linking technology jobs anchoring Central embrace design, sustainability and Sydney south connectivity, celebrate its unique built Central, Town Hall and Circular Quay. form and social and cultural heritage The third square is focused The City of Sydney has a strategic and become a centre for the jobs of immediately to the north of the vision for the expansion of the City the future and economic growth. Western Gateway sub-precinct Centre to the south. The renewal of and includes the connected public Central Station will be at the heart domain of Railway Square. Lee of this expansion. With 24 hectares A world