{"id":10477,"date":"2015-11-02T13:23:45","date_gmt":"2015-11-02T02:23:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.architecture.com.au\/news-media\/?p=10477"},"modified":"2019-07-24T16:23:43","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T06:23:43","slug":"nsw-chapter-president-02112015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.architecture.com.au\/news-media\/nsw-chapter-president-02112015\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW Chapter President"},"content":{"rendered":"

There has been progress on a number of fronts in the big picture built environment space:<\/p>\n

Coalition for NSW Planning Reform<\/strong><\/p>\n

This loose grouping of like-minded built environment organisations, including ourselves, PIA, AILA, the Property Council and the Sydney Business Chamber, first came together in August 2007 to lobby the then Labor government. We had several wins along the way, such as the delegation of major project assessments to the Planning Assessment Commission and the creation of the Housing Code and Joint Regional Planning Panels.<\/p>\n

Our principal focus this time is to convince the Baird Government that the process of planning reform shouldn\u2019t stop just because the O\u2019Farrell Government failed to win the support of the Legislative Council to pass its new planning legislation two years ago.<\/p>\n

There was broad community and industry acceptance of the White Paper reforms, specifically in areas such as strategic planning, community participation and infrastructure delivery. It was mainly in the area of development assessment that the major differences and contentions arose.<\/p>\n

The coalition is therefore proposing that Minister Stokes moves quickly to implement these reforms while also laying the groundwork for the eventual re-introduction of the new planning bill.<\/p>\n

Greater Sydney Commission<\/strong><\/p>\n

In last month\u2019s message I welcomed the government\u2019s announcement of the shape of the Greater Sydney Commission, while noting that design was absent from the scheme.<\/p>\n

I have since written to the Department of Planning & Environment recommending four inter-related proposals:<\/p>\n

Built Environment Committee<\/span><\/p>\n

As the principal focus of the Commission\u2019s work is the re-configuration of the built environment of the region I have recommended the creation of a built environment committee sitting alongside the Commission\u2019s other committees to focus on this essential task.<\/p>\n

Observer status for the Government Architect\u2019s Office (GAO)<\/span><\/p>\n

It is clear that the GAO will be adopting a more strategic role in the future, giving it the opportunity to provide advice on the achievement of design excellence across the government and public sector agencies. In my proposal it would share observer status with Infrastructure NSW and UrbanGrowth NSW.<\/p>\n

Design for Sydney<\/span><\/p>\n

I envisage Design for Sydney operating in a similar manner to Design for London within the local planning context, identifying opportunities to use major infrastructure projects to create new connections and public spaces, and advising on the implementation of major public benefit programs- such as the green grid strategy. It could be comprised of design experts in key government agencies.<\/p>\n

Design review pane<\/span>l<\/p>\n

The Commission\u2019s Sydney Planning Panel will determine major developments currently assessed by the Sydney East and West Joint Regional Planning Panels. I therefore propose a design review panel to provide both strategic design advice and design advice on specific development proposals to the panel, following the procedures outlined in the SEPP 65 Apartment Design Guide<\/em>. The panel should be chaired by the GAO, as is currently the process in South Australia.<\/p>\n

Circular Quay \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

While we welcomed the Premier\u2019s announcement of a major review of the Circular Quay wharves last month, he missed the opportunity to address the strategic renewal of the precinct as a whole.<\/p>\n

Circular Quay fulfils a number of key roles in the city:<\/p>\n