Andrew Clennell, State Political Editor for the Daily Telegraph wrote on 3 December 2015 in his report “Greater Sydney Commission: Lucy Turnbull named Chair” that the PM’s wife, former Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull had been appointed as Chair of the NSW Government’s new Greater Sydney Commission.
Whose idea was this?
Lucy Turnbull has been appointed chair of the Greater Sydney Commission. Picture: John Appleyard
It was reported the decision had been made at Cabinet in the prior week.
And that both Premier Mike Baird and Planning Minister Rob Stokes dismissed concerns of a conflict of interest with Mrs Turnbull, the wife of the Prime Minister.
‘The Daily Telegraph understood Premier Mike Baird and Planning Minister Rob Stokes bypassed concerns of a conflict of interest with Mrs Turnbull being the wife of the Prime Minister.’
Mrs Turnbull prior to this appointment had been the Chair of the ‘Committee for Sydney’, and a former Sydney Lord Mayor from 2003 to 2004.
Rob Stokes and Mike Baird are not concerned about Lucy Turnbull’s relationship to the Australian Prime Minister.
The following day, 4 December 2015 the Meriton Group issued its Media Release:
‘Last night, Chair of the Committee of Sydney, the honourable Lucy Hughes Turnbull officially launched Meriton’s two towers, Centrium, in the affluent business district of Chatswood.
Ms Hughes Turnbull was accompanied by Meriton Group’s CEO, Harry Triguboff AO and both will be welcomed by over 150 people who attended the private launch which included government, council officials and media.’
SO where did the idea of a ‘Greater Sydney Commission’ come from? When it is alleged it was ‘set up in order to stop the bickering of councils and get Sydney moving’ … does that sound something like Harry would say? With his Meriton a member of the developer lobby group, the Urban Taskforce? From where numerous like Media Releases issue. And a good friend of the Turnbulls?
Planning Minister Rob Stokes in putting it through parliament has said that “for too long Sydney’s urban planning has operated in silos of councils and government departments, without effective joined-up co-ordination of the infrastructure our city and suburbs need”.
The role of the GSC will include:
-regular reviews of Councils’ Local Environmental Plans
-to become the decision maker on rezoning proposals previously undertaken by the Minister
A levy on new buildings in the centre of Sydney will be tripled, amounting to millions of dollars for high-rise towers, under a plan to raise up to $43 million a year for parks, paving and other public infrastructure.
Developers and business will be slugged with the proposed 3 per cent levy on building developments costing $200,000 or more, part of the biggest shake up of planning controls in the core of the CBD in more than four decades.
The changes will allow for towers to be built significantly higher in four areas set for more intensive commercial development, such as near Barangaroo, Circular Quay, Central Station and Town Hall. It will mean towers can be higher than 300 metres.
Building heights in the city centre have been capped at 235 metres for decades, apart from the 309-metre Sydney Tower and Crown’s $2 billion casino tower under construction at Barangaroo, which was exempted from height limits and will reach 275 metres once completed.
The City of Sydney council estimates more than 90 per cent of the money raised from the levy, which has been endorsed by the Berejiklian government, will come from developments costing more than $1 million.
The proposed changes to the council’s infrastructure taxes are contained in its draft strategy for managing development in central Sydney, which councillors endorsed at a meeting last week.
But Liberal councillor Craig Chung said applying the levy would disproportionately impact small businesses, such as those spending money refitting their shop or restaurant. The existing levy is 1 per cent for developments costing $200,000 or more.
“It really is a tax on small businesses,” he said. “We know the effect of the lockout laws, we know the night-time economy is struggling. We’ve had light rail, coronavirus is having a huge impact on Sydney, and now we want to triple this levy. I don’t think it’s fair.”
In an amendment voted down by the council’s majority bloc, Cr Chung proposed a “sliding scale” where projects between $250,000 and $500,000 were levied 1 per cent of development costs, projects from $500,000 to $1 million gave 2 per cent and projects over $1 million contributed 3 per cent.
Cr Chung estimated such a scheme would reap $41.5 million per year – only slightly less than the $43 million the council expected to amass under the proposed changes.
The deal struck with the NSW government will allow buildings higher than the 309-metre Sydney Tower to be built in clusters in some parts of the CBD. CREDIT:RYAN STUART
He said the council collected about $14.5 million a year from developers under the current 1 per cent levy and the vast majority – about 91 per cent – was gleaned from $1 million-plus projects.
But Labor councillor Linda Scott said developers needed to “pay their fair share” to ensure a “sustainable global city”, and lowering the planned 3 per cent levy would reduce Sydney’s liveability.
Last year, 185 applications for developments in the CBD cost $1 million or more, ranging from office, retail and restaurant fitouts to multi-storey towers.
Property developer group Urban Taskforce said the levy would amount to millions of dollars for some developers constructing large buildings. But chief executive Tom Forrest said the release of details about the extent of the levy gave developers certainty, allowing them to factor it into the cost of construction.
“Broadly speaking, we welcome that certainty,” he said.
The council’s director of city planning, development and transport, Graham Jahn, said at a committee meeting this month the developer contributions had been used to fund infrastructure such as the $220 million project to pave the public spaces along the George Street light rail corridor.
“These infrastructure contributions make meaningful differences towards the tourists, the community and the businesses that visit Sydney,” he said.
Council papers show the levy is comparable with other centres in Sydney, such as Parramatta and Chatswood where a 3 per cent levy is imposed on developments costing more than $250,000.
But Planning Minister Rob Stokes gave in-principle support to the strategy in December, clearing the path for the council to prepare changes to the scheme before it was endorsed for public exhibition.
LUCY TURNBULL SLATED FOR GREATER SYDNEY COMMISSION PLANNING ROLE
“It is outrageous that the government is ramming these changes though Parliament without proper public consultation,” said the chief executive of the Nature Conservation Council, Kate Smolski.
“It will reduce the input people will have into how their communities can be developed, and concentrate power into the hands of the minister and planning bureaucrats.”
Greens MP David Shoebridge warned communities around the state could lost control over local bushland and the environment to Macquarie Street.
“Every protection people thought they had, every bit of local order is all up for grabs,” Mr Shoebridge said. …
Mr Stokes said fears communities could lose out were “misleading” and said they would play a role in decision-making through the appointment of six district commissioners …
ALAS … thus true to form … as the community figured …
The chief executive of development lobby the Urban Development Institute of Australia, Stephen Albin, said this week the commission would “change the way our city will be shaped”.
“I think you’ll find … they will start really getting involved and forcing the hand of local governments and other stakeholders in areas to ensure we get development.“
GREATER SYDNEY COMMISSION LUCY TURNBULL NAMED CHAIR
The GSC, established by NSW Minister for Planning Rob Stokes in 2015,
Planning Minister Rob Stokes in putting it through parliament has said that “for too long Sydney’s urban planning has operated in silos of councils and government departments, without effective joined-up co-ordination of the infrastructure our city and suburbs need”.
The GSC, which will be based in Parramatta, Sydney’s geographic centre, will consist of a Chair, Environment Commissioner, Economic Commissioner, Social Commissioner.
There will also be six District Commissioners, nominated by their councils and three key government heads on the Commission — the heads of Planning, Transport and Treasury.
TURNBULL APPOINTED CHIEF OF NEW GREATER SYDNEY COMMISSION
“The position would dovetail with the determination of her husband, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, to use the power of the federal government to improve Australian cities, and would be sure to raise questions about the two working together,” reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
Support for Turnbull in the role was strong among NSW government ministers, particularly the minister for planning Rob Stokes. When introducing the legislation for the commission in NSW parliament, Stokes quoted from Turnbull’s book, Sydney: Biography of a City, which he referred to as “seminal.”
Lucy Turnbull, the wife of the Prime Minister, and a former lord mayor of Sydney, has been appointed to chair the Greater Sydney Commission.
*The commission is being established by the Baird government to bring metropolitan-wide planning to Sydney.
*It will be able to overrule local council zoning decisions.
It will take over planning decisions which are currently done by the Minister for Planning Rob Stokes.
Ms Turnbull, who has been chair of the lobby group The Committee for Sydney, was seen as the ideal candidate for the job until her husband became Prime Minister.
The Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, a former planning academic, even quoted approvingly from Ms Turnbull’s book, Sydney: Biography of a City when he introduced the legislation establishing the commission, calling it a “seminal” work.
However, there were concerns that the position would lead to conflicts of interest with her husband’s position, as well as considerations that federal government funding for Sydney could be seen to be favouring his wife.
*In fact, the former prime minister Tony Abbott was generous to Sydney, funding the WestConnex and NorthConnex motorways, as well as promising federal funding for infrastructure to support the Badgerys Creek airport.
Ms Turnbull has handled such conflicts before. Earlier this year the chief executive of the Committee for Sydney, Dr Tim Williams criticised the state government’s massive WestConnex Motoway project, which is partly funded by the federal government. He later apologised for the remarks.# See below for what happened!
There will be 13 commissioners, including the chair; an environment, economic and social commissioners; six district commissioners, nominated by local councils; plus the heads of the three government departments — Planning & Environment, Transport and Treasury.
It was supported by the Labor Party but opposed by the Greens, who criticised it for overriding local government planning powers and taking away democratic control over planning.
Greens MLC David Shoebridge said almost all the commissioners would be appointed by the Minister for Planning.
With a bit of sweet talk from Tim … I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine …
Recently it was announced that Dr Tim Williams had resigned from his role with the Committee at the end of this year to take up a new role as the Head of Cities with global consultancy firm ARUP.
The GREATER SYDNEY COMMISSION, (the GSC) was established by NSW Minister for Planning Rob Stokes in 2015 …
Mrs Turnbull described Chatswood as the … ideal model for high density urban growth … urban density done well …
That is her opinion … however, many find it to be congested … overdeveloped for a monoculture …
Its sewer system … more than 100 years old not coping … with a foul odour permeating in the air …
With the Meriton Group having led the way for other developers … by seeking its market entirely from China is this what is meant by Sydney as ‘a global city’?
FAST FORWARD TO 2019: CHATSWOOD is a city in the middle of nowhere being built by the Chinese Communist Party …
CONTRARY to Mrs Turnbull … Australian Key Workers (Professionals) such as teachers, nurses, paramedics and police officers have now been priced out of living closer to Sydney and their workplaces … and replaced by the ‘Silent Invasion’ …
WITH the Hong Kong Consortium MTR privatising what were publicly owned heavy rail lines for the SYDNEY METRO … all connecting to CHATSWOOD … there is no need for the new ‘Permanent Residents’ to own a car if they choose … however, they have not only laundered ‘hot money’ in real estate but drive European limousines …
READ more from Ian Paterson in the North Shore Times in ‘Lucy Turnbull labels Chatswood CBD Model to creating high-rise across Sydney’
‘NEWLY appointed chairwoman of the Greater Sydney Commission Lucy Turnbull has hailed a northern Sydney suburb as the ideal model for high density urban growth.‘
December 12, 2015
Meriton Centrium towers in Chatswood. Picture: Supplied.
THE newly appointed chairwoman of the Greater Sydney Commission — Lucy Turnbull — has hailed Chatswood as the ideal model for high density urban growth.
*“Chatswood is actually the perfect illustration of urban density done well. It is right on the train line and there is a huge cluster here of jobs, shops and housing including the Meriton apartments,” Mrs Turnbull said.
*“It is a really amazing model for transit oriented developments and densitydone well.”
Mrs Turnbull made the comments to the North Shore Times before attending the launch of Meriton’s $700 million mixed-use Centrium apartments in Chatswood on December 3.
CAAN: There is no reference to identifying other suburbs along the north shore line for increased housing density … was the reference deleted or redacted?
How much influence/lobbying was exerted by the ‘North Shore’ to protect their neighbourhood? Has the North Shore set the BENCHMARK for other communities to follow?
“It is really important in a global city such as Sydney that there is a big range of different price points for people to access so you can have key workers such as teachers, nurses and police officers living closer to the city if that is where they want to be,” Mrs Turnbull said.
Chatswood has been put forward as the model for other centres throughout Sydney to follow.
Photo: Daily Telegraph: 2014: the northern view over the railway line; massive residential towers in Chatwood … up to 46 storeys!
CLICK THE SOURCE LINK … and this is the Media Release in Mandarin(?) … Harry makes no secret of the fact … Meriton’s market target is China …
A quote from Harry that supports this …
“China has more than 1 billion people,” he said. “And they love Australia. I think they love Australia as much as we love Australia. So there will always be enough of them that will buy.”
The latest masterpiece of the MERITON Group—CHATSWOOD TOWERS
Last night, Ms. Lucy Hughes Turnbull, Honorary Chairman of the Sydney Commission, unveiled the Centrium of Meriton Group’s two buildings in the Chatswood business district.
Ms. Hughes Turnbull and the founder of Meriton Group, Mr. Harry Triguboff, and more than 150 people participated in the grand opening ceremony, including government officials at all levels, members of parliament and media workers.
Chatswood is named after Charlotte Harnett, the wife of Richard Harnett, the mayor of Willoughby. People call her “Chattie” affectionately, and wood is derived from the lush trees in the area. But it is unknown when “Chattie’s Wood” will be renamed Chatswood.
Today Chatswood has developed into a large town in Sydney’s north that brings together business, shopping and living, with large shopping malls, quality gourmet restaurants and convenient transportation facilities. The completion of Centrium will not only allow residents living here to enjoy convenience, but also enjoy unparalleled panoramic views of Sydney city.
Mr. Triguboff announced that the two buildings will not be sold for the time being, one of which will be used as a serviced apartment under Meriton and the other will be used for long-term rental. Meriton will provide more rental options for the Chatswood business district.
“If we find a vacancy in the market, we will fill it in time,” Mr Triguboff said.
“If we see a large number of apartments for rental here, we will keep these apartments to alleviate the shortage of the housing rental market in the region.”
“I have a soft spot for Chatswood. I have built a lot of apartments here, but I have never left any. The two buildings will become new landmarks here, so I want to keep a small one here. Block area. “
Earlier, there were some comments in the market that Mr Triguboff chose to keep some apartments because he thought the real estate market would become unpredictable.
“It’s all nonsense,” Mr Triguboff said.
“Chatswood is a very strong market. I only saw yesterday that another property developer just sold 100 apartments last weekend in just two days.”
“Keeping these apartments is both my personal will and a decision based on market needs. These apartments will alleviate the shortage of apartment rentals in the area.”
Just a stone’s throw from Chatswood Railway Station, Centrium is a multi-use development valued at $ 700 million.
The first building includes 337 Meriton serviced apartments and is equipped with Meriton’s classic resort-style facilities, including: indoor heated pool, spa, sauna and fully equipped gym. These luxurious apartments are suitable for both business people and tourists.
The second building consists of a total of 286 apartments and is expected to be fully leased by mid-2016. The 38-storey tower offers panoramic views of the Sydney city skyline and panoramic area. Including 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units, all apartments will be designed with super-large units, and all residents can also use resort-type facilities.
“Most of the apartments built in Chatswood are very small,” Triguboff said.
“And the apartments we build provide more space for residents to experience top comfort and luxury.”
This project also includes a small shopping area consisting of 4 shops, all of which are now rented out; a child care center with an oversized outdoor activity area that can accommodate 56 children; and Willoughby City Council Provides up to 250 underground parking spaces.
To date, the Meriton Group has managed a total of 3,612 serviced apartments across Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Harry Triguboff to retain Meriton’s Centrium towers in Chatswood
Meriton’s two-tower project Centrium in the business district of Chatswood was launched by Lucy Turnbull, on Thursday evening shortly after it was advised that she will head the new organisation charged with overseeing planning and development across Sydney, the chair of the Greater Sydney Commission.
Centrium will have one tower as serviced apartments and the other aslong-term rental accommodation, according to Meriton Group CEO Harry Triguboff.
He said Meriton was giving the Chatswood business district much-needed rental options.
It is now is one of the North Shore’s major commercial, retail and residential districts. Some of Sydney’s best shopping, dining and transport facilities can be found in Chatswood.
“If we see a gap in the market, we fill it accordingly,” Triguboff said.
“If we see that there is a great need for long term rental accommodation we retain the building to help boost the depleted rental market.”
Chatswood was named after Charlotte Harnett, wife of the then mayor of Willoughby, Richard Harnett. Her nickname was ‘Chattie’ and wood came from the original wooded nature of the area. It was Chattie’s Wood and the date it actually changed to Chatswood is not precisely unknown.
The announcement that former Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull will head up the Greater Sydney Commissionwas good for Sydney but there are major challenges ahead, says the Urban Taskforce CEOChris Johnson.
“Her background as Lord Mayor of Sydney and her interest in metropolitan wide planning auger well for ensuring the commission acts with big picture thinking,” he said.
Greater Sydney Commission boss and former Sydney lord mayor Lucy Turnbull.CREDIT:LOUISE KENNERLEY
THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE … Instead of running around with the same old chooks with their heads cut off, halve immigration and take the pressure off everything …
HAS Lucy Turnbull left the office to view Leppington? Because here is an update for Mrs T from a Commentator:
‘It draws plenty of traffic from massive developments at Austral to the north and south of Camden Valley Way. It won’t be long until the station is more than fully utilised.
Further, why would anybody … look to make Olympic Park a major residential centre? It is a peninsular so is inherently transit restricted (ask the Commonwealth Bank who are bailing from the district to go to Redfern because staff hate working there).
Learn from the cluster that is Rhodes before you repeat the mistake all over again (but with the added challenge of hosting major events multiple times a year)’
At CAAN we agree! Already Ryde Road is in gridlock for much of the day. The Parramatta River is tidal so the ferries cannot run 24/7, and Sydney Olympic Park is already largely redeveloped!
Yes, GREEN SQUARE is choking … back in December 2018 …
‘When News Local visited the station last week, it was standing room only on the trains, with some passengers unable to board. … Mr Hoenig said development had got out of control with little thought for the supporting infrastructure. Green Square is nowhere near finished. “There are hundreds more buildings yet to be finished and tens of thousands more residents to come, some in the very near future.”
View: Mirvac is squeezing in another 316 apartments and terraces … into Green Square!
She is the human wrecking ball for the former Eden turned smoking crater called Sydney:
Greater Sydney Commission boss Lucy Turnbull has warned governments must avoid the mistakes of Green Square and Leppington in a massive redevelopment of Parramatta and Olympic Park over the coming decade.
The commission has developed a draft “Place-based Infrastructure Compact” for the area, which it describes as a world-leading attempt to unite 20 government agencies and align population growth with infrastructure and service delivery.
The GSC estimates the Parramatta and Olympic Park precinct could add up to 95,000 new dwellings and 122,000 new jobs by 2036 under what it calls a “visionary” growth scenario.
Speaking to The Sun-Herald after feedback on the plan closed, Ms Turnbull said the area needed to avoid the pitfalls of Green Square, where homes had come before infrastructure, and Leppington in the south-west, which had trains but no residents.
“Our core mantra is to align infrastructure and growth,” she said.
Passengers were standing throughout the carriages, including on the stairs, when we visited the station last week. December 2018: News Local
Oh genius. How much is Turnbull paid to offer this gemafter fifteen years of failed development and crush-loading?
Why should the public have any faith in Turnbull or the Growth Lobby or the planning authorities?
To wit, another hairbrained scheme: ‘Multiple Sydney Harbours Plan to drought proof NSW with lakes’
Could this be very convenient for the Mining Sector and the Developer Lobby? To boost population growth in Newcastle?
And it would save Miners huge sums for rehabilitation of the sites ….
Is this an exercise in playing wedge politics with both the pro and anti coal groups?
The Upper Lusatian Biosphere Reserve in Germany has been created from disused coal mines.CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES
The Berejiklian government is investigating an ambitious plan to convert open-cut coal mine pits into a vast lake system the size of “multiple Sydney Harbours” to drought-proof parts of NSW.
Three pits in the Hunter Valley are ready to be turned into artificial lakes and, as more mining operations end over the next 10 to 20 years, more voids will become available.
The proposal is modelled on Europe’s largest artificial lake system in eastern Germany, where old coal mine pits have been turned into recreational lakes, with cycling paths and watersports.
….”This project can be the modern day Snowy River hydro scheme underpinning economic, social and environmental progress for northern NSW,” he said.
…One key concern of the government is understood to be the higher evaporation rates in NSW than in the lakes system in Germany.
I don’t want to say that it won’t work. I hope it does. But it’s hardly an answer when Sydney is going run out of water in a year.
How did it evercome to that?
The first principle answer is simple: stop doing harm. Instead of running around with the same old chooks with their heads cut off, halve immigration and take the pressure off everything.
David Llewellyn-Smith is Chief Strategist at the MB Fund and MB Super. David is the founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness and was the founding publisher and global economy editor of The Diplomat, the Asia Pacific’s leading geo-politics and economics portal.
He is also a former gold trader and economic commentator at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the ABC and Business Spectator. He is the co-author of The Great Crash of 2008 with Ross Garnaut and was the editor of the second Garnaut Climate Change Review.
WHAT this boils down to … what we suggest it really means …
Gladys said at a recent gathering of acolytes that she will proceed with projects contrary to planning rules because …
-she is up for any criticism -only half of projects in NSW would have proceeded ‘if they had stuck to the rules’ -this justifies the rules being broken in the future
So …
-are we being softened up for a wholesale assault on the fabric of the built environment?
AND
-the setting aside of all the rules protecting the natural environment to this becoming the ‘new norm’?
Berejiklian to overhaul planning laws with push for 30-minute cities
Premier Gladys Berejiklian will prioritise an overhaul of planning laws in 2020 with a push to create 30-minute cities to ease congestion on public transport, roads and in Sydney’s CBD.
In a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) on Wednesday, Ms Berejiklian will outline a vision for the state’s planning system, which will be her focus next year.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s focus in 2020 will be overhauling the state’s planning laws.CREDIT:AAP
Her State of the State address will outline what the government will change, including reducing assessment timeframes and making e-planning mandatory for metro councils.
The government will also “supercharge” new hubs to ensure people can live close to their work as well as fix the uncertainty of developer contributions.
Ms Berejiklian said the major reforms would create jobs and boost the economy.
“The current system does not give investors certainty – some planning proposals are taking years to determine and there are too many layers of bureaucracy which is unacceptable,” she said.
“Under the new reforms, we will deliver the simplest and most effective planning system in Australia that creates thousands of jobs and improves the way people live and work, right across the state.”
A Transport for NSW website page says its vision for the greater Sydney area is one in which people could reach their nearest metropolitan and strategic centres within 30 minutes on public transport, seven days a week.
Ms Berejiklian said she wanted NSW to be a state where people did not spend hours commuting.
*“The NSW economy is the strongest in the nation but we want to ensure we remain the investment capital of Australia. Planning reform is key to this,” Ms Berejiklian said.*
“The government wants to create communities that offer residents fulfilling work, great social amenities and a choice of public spaces.”
“Thirty thousand Central Coast residents, or 30 per cent of its working population, commute to Sydney each day, spending as much as five hours a day in the car,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This places unnecessary stress on commuters, families, roads, public transport and the Sydney CBD.”
She said the government would create a network of new hubs, “providing people work opportunities they’ve never had before, right on their doorstop, and enabling communities to develop their own unique character”.
“Our hub strategy will provide regions with the resources and infrastructure needed for NSW to compete nationally and globally, while enriching the lifestyle of local residents,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“At the heart of this hub strategy will be high quality jobs near where people live. This strategy is the next step in the government achieving its vision for 30-minute cities.”
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said a series of reforms would be introduced to the planning system over the coming months, including fast-tracking projects in high growth areas.
“This is about demystifying and restoring confidence in the planning system so we can get on with the job of delivering fantastic new places right across NSW,” Mr Stokes said.
“We have already made significant changes to the planning system over the past few years and these changes will keep driving our state forward.”
Lucy Turnbull unveils bold 20-year vision for Greater Parramatta
The Greater Sydney Commission is set to unveil a 20-year plan for the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsular – which includes 105,000 new jobs for the region.
Edward Boyd, Exclusive, The Daily Telegraph
|November 7, 2019
AAP1:36Businesses want West Metro faster, support value capture
October 21, 2019. Western Sydney Business Chamber Executive Director David Borger speaking to media in Parramatta about the state government’s announcement of the West Metro p…
Parramatta’s position as the economic heart of Sydney will be realised under a phased development plan announced by the Greater Sydney Commission today.
The plan is the next step in the three cities vision that was announced by GSC chief commissioner Lucy Turnbull at The Bradfield Oration three years ago.
The new proposal outlines about $30 billion worth of infrastructure the Parramatta region will need over the next 20 years to help it grow into Sydney’s economic heart — including new transport routes, housing precincts, parks, schools and hospitals.
The area — coined the Greater Parramatta to Olympic Peninsula (GPOP) by the commission — is already receiving about $11.3 billion in infrastructure investment, but the GSC said this will need to be tripled over the next two decades if the “transformative” scenario for the region is to be realised.
The report comes ahead of the launch of The Daily Telegraph’s Bradfield campaign tomorrow — named after the Harbour Bridge designer John Bradfield — which celebrates visionary thinking for future development in the Sydney region.
There is already major investment in the GPOP region, including $2.4 billion for Parramatta light rail, $1 billion for the Westmead hospital redevelopment, $619 million for the new Children’s Hospital at Westmead, $645 million towards the new Powerhouse precinct and $225 million for redevelopment at Arthur Phillip High School and Parramatta Primary School. A further $6.4 billion has also been committed to Sydney Metro West.
Lucy Turnbull pictured at NSW Parliament House in August 2019. Picture Rohan Kelly.
The GSC’s “transformative” scenario — which requires some land use changes around the new metro stations, a light rail line through Ermington and Olympic Park, and improvements to the T1 railway line from Granville to Strathfield — will add 105,000 jobs and 84,000 new dwellings by 2040.
“A breakdown of the estimated capital infrastructure costs over 20 years apportioned to GPOP for the ‘transformative’ scenario … these costs were estimated at between $20 billion and $30 billion,” the GSC report reads.
Ms Turnbull (pictured) said the plan builds on the GSC’s 2016 idea for Sydney to grow into three cities — the Eastern Harbour City, the Central Parramatta River City and a Western City in and around the new airport.
Parramatta is set to become the new heart of Sydney. Picture: Justin Sanson
“We have done much more detailed planning for GPOP, it has been a two or three-year project. The (three cities vision) was the broad outline and now we have done the work for one of the key areas within Greater Sydney,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
Ms Turnbull said her organisation would seek community feedback on the proposal until December 18 before it is presented to government for a response.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “With new businesses, universities and transport solutions, there are few more dynamic economic precincts in Australia today than GPOP.”
Starting tomorrow: What we need to bring life to Sydney and drive our international city into the future.
Bold vision for Parramatta CBD as taller buildings reflect area growth
A new vision for the Parramatta CBD will reflect the incredible growth the city will see in the next 20 years.
Urban development experts have created a bold image of what Parramatta will look like by 2040, including a striking design of eel-shaped buildings in homage to NRL team the Parramatta Eels.Ben Pike, Urban Affairs Reporter, The Sunday TelegraphSubscriber only|July 20, 2019 9:00pmClose
DAILYTELEGRAPH1:00How Sydney will look in the future
Developers have created a bold vision for Sydney by 2040. So what will these homes look like and where will they go?
Buildings shaped like an eel and high-rise gardens that hang from the sky could be part of the future for Parramatta.
Urban development experts have created a bold image of what Parramatta will look like in 2036.
The most striking design for Parramatta includes the eel-shaped buildings in homage to NRL team the Parramatta Eels.
The Urban Taskforce’s vision for the Parramatta CBD reflects the incredible growth the city will see in the next 20 years.
The suburb’s population is projected to increase by 58 per cent in the next 17 years, going from 35,149 to 55,598 in 2036.
This is like the population greater than Bathurst’s (42,000 people) squeezing into an area 720 times smaller.
Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger said the designs reflect a big investment in the western CBD.
“I think we should be ambitious for our architecture; we want designers who are prepared to take risks and developers who are willing to back them,” Mr Borger said.
“We don’t want to be Dallas on the cheap. We want to be a memorable place.
“With the confidence in Parramatta now you are going to see very tall building volumes and hopefully great quality architecture as well.”
Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger has a bold vision for Parramatta. Picture: AAP/Jordan Shields
The NAB and thousands of NSW public servants are moving to Parramatta as part of the $2.7 billion Parramatta Square development by Walker Corporation.
More than 300,000 new jobs will be created by 2036 in the corridor between Greater Parramatta and central Sydney at places like the Parramatta CBD, Sydney Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct.
Jobs growth will be driven by the Sydney Metro West rail project that will link these areas. Construction starts next year.
Parramatta city is also booming thanks to the new 30,000-seat Bankwest Stadium.
“Parramatta is fast becoming a real city as a series of tall buildings are getting approved that include jobs in commercial buildings as well as residents in apartment buildings,” Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson said.
“The NSW Government is also moving the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta and a new football stadium has recently opened.”
The images have prompted Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson to call on the state government to return planning powers to local councils.
He said visions like this area great because there are “less boxes”.
“It is a pipe dream until someone puts money into build it,” he said.
He said while all big buildings are subject to a design competition, that competition only applies to that one building at a time.
“If we were given power by the state government we would have international design competitions to co-ordinate taste throughout the city,” he said.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes declined to comment.
BAR IN THE SKY A CLUE TO WHAT LIES AHEAD
Twenty years ago boutique bar owner Sven Almenning thought Parramatta was “just a big suburb with a shopping centre”. Not anymore.
And now Mr Almenning has put his money where his mouth is, pouring millions into high-end cocktail and champagne bar Nick and Nora’s.
The Parramatta bar opened in November and is part of a migration of classy venues to Western Sydney.
Calleum Pecqueux and Rennie Tukua at Nick & Nora’s sky bar in Parramatta. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
They are popping up thanks to the influx of white collar jobs in the area along with the simple fact that it’s in the centre of Sydney’s population.
“People have asked me whether or not Parramatta is ready for what we were going to bring out, and I’ve always said that it’s a silly question,” the Speakeasy Group owner said.
“Whether it be great food and shopping options or the business and finance jobs here, Parramatta is very vibrant.
“Parramatta will continue to grow as Sydney’s second CBD.”
The venue is perched on the 26th floor of V by Crown, a $309 million, 519 apartment tower on Macquarie St.
The development also has a private pool deck and wine room, 25m lap pool and sauna, gym, music room, conference and library facilities, landscaped resident gardens, gaming room and theatrette.
“A huge number of people who go to high-end bars in the city actually live out in Western Sydney,” Mr Almenning said.
“It’s just a matter of getting them used to going out in Parramatta which is closer to home.”
