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Frasers Property's vision for 6 green star urban quarter on Broadway

This in the Media Release and Background Media Briefs from the Frasers Media Conference to announce the Amended Concept plan Application on 8th April 2008.

Frasers Property's vision for 6 green star urban quarter on Broadway

About Frasers Property Australia

Frasers Broadway Fact Sheet

Tri-generation- How does it work?

Frasers Property's vision for 6 green star urban quarter on Broadway

World-class architecture, innovative sustainability initiatives and a new inner-city square for Sydney

8 April 2008 – Today Frasers Property briefed the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, on their plans for the $2 billion redevelopment of the 'old Kent Brewery' site on Broadway.

Frasers Property acquired the site in June 2007, four months after Mr Sartor approved a concept plan for the 5.8 hectare precinct. Today Frasers foreshadowed their proposal to amend the concept plan, integrating innovative sustainability initiatives and achieving a dramatic increase in publicly accessible open space on the site.

Under the proposed amendment to the concept plan, the new precinct would be powered by its own gas-powered, low carbon usage tri-generation facility.

Tri-generation, together with other sustainability initiatives (including design efficiency, green rooftops, smart metering and solar powered public spaces), will achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and Frasers is pro-actively investigating all available technologies and techniques to target 100% carbon neutrality.

In addition, a comprehensive water recycling scheme is planned. 100% of non-potable water will be supplied through on-site rainwater capture and waste water recycling. Mains water will only be supplied for potable uses.

Following extensive consultation with the local community and leading sustainability consultants, Frasers appointed an international design team to reconsider the concept plan. Foster + Partners (United Kingdom), 2008 Pritzker Prize winner Ateliers Jean Nouvel (France) and Richard Johnson of Johnson Pilton Walker (Australia) have been appointed as Master Architects to the precinct. They are working with public domain designer Jeppe Aagaard Andersen (Denmark) and Turf Design, and Australian firms PTW, Tzannes Associates and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer on specific components of the site.

"The extraordinary expertise of this global design team is exactly what this exceptional location demands," announced Dr Stanley Quek, Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Property.

"This site will have a revolutionary effect on Sydney's southern gateway. We are working to create a people-centred urban quarter which marries world-class architecture with the latest sustainability technologies," added Dr Quek.

In an Australian first, Frasers is aiming to achieve 6 green star rating for the precinct, as a pilot project for the new precinct rating scheme under consideration by the Green Building Council.

The University of Technology's Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) is Frasers' sustainability partner, setting a demanding agenda for world-class clean, green urban design for the site.

"On a project of this magnitude, Erasers have the opportunity and the will to take a world-leading position on sustainable initiatives. Frasers have set a high benchmark for the precinct, and are pursuing these innovative solutions with remarkable initiative," said ISF's Professor Stuart White.

The amended concept plan will deliver 33% more publicly accessible open space, expanding the current 5400sqm park into an extensive inner-city square with a wide green corridor linking Chippendale to Broadway. The old Brewery Yard, one of 33 heritage items, will be comprehensively restored and opened up to the new inner-city square, creating the heart of this animated and accessible new urban quarter.

"We have listened carefully to the local community and other stakeholders and we recognise our responsibility for setting new standards for social, cultural and environmental sustainability across this precinct," said Dr Quek.

"This is a rare opportunity to design from the ground up, on a grand scale, with the future of Sydney in mind," said Dr Quek.

"Erasers Property welcomes the NSW Government driving the sustainability agenda and we are looking forward to working with the government, the City and the community on this exciting project," added Dr Quek.

Frasers Property will submit its amended concept plan to the NSW Department of Planning within a fortnight. Demolition of non-heritage structures commenced in April and continues until late 2008. Development of the new precinct will occur in stages for up to 8 years.

About Frasers Property Australia

Frasers Property Australia is the Australasian division of Frasers Property, the international property arm of Erasers Centrepoint Limited. Frasers Property Australia is currently planning or developing AUD$4.5 billion in residential property, including the old Kent Brewery site on Broadway, Lumiere, Lorne Killara, Trio in Sydney and residential subdivisions in Western Australia and New Zealand.

Erasers Centrepoint Limited, a leading property company based in Singapore, was established in 1988 and now comprises a number of divisions including Frasers Centrepoint Homes, Frasers Centrepoint Malls, commercial properties, Frasers Hospitality and is represented overseas in China, Thailand, UK, Australia and New Zealand under the umbrella brand of 'Erasers Property'.

Erasers Centrepoint Limited forms the property division of Fraser and Neave Limited (F&N), one of Singapore's largest listed corporations, whose core operations comprise property, food, beverages, publishing and printing.

Founded in 1883, Fraser and Neave Limited has shareholders' funds in excess of S$5billion, total net assets employed of over S$11 billion, and operations in more than 20 countries spanning Asia Pacific, Europe and the USA.

Frasers Broadway Fact Sheet

April 2008 – On the site of the old Kent Brewery, on Broadway, Frasers Property is working with an international design team to create a people-centred urban quarter which marries world-class architecture with the latest sustainability technologies. A project of this magnitude, which will take up to eight years to deliver, is both an opportunity and a responsibility for Frasers Property to contribute to the shaping of Sydney's future.

Location

Frasers Broadway is a 5.8 hectare site in the suburb of Chippendale, bounded by Broadway, Abercrombie Street, O'Connor Street, Balfour Road and Kensington Street.

The site is 1.5 kilometres from Sydney Town Hall, five minutes' walk from Central Railway Station, light rail and Central bus interchange. It is also situated within Sydney's education precinct, adjoining University of Notre Dame, the University of Technology, Sydney, and a short walk from the University of Sydney.

Background

The NSW Minister for Planning, Mr Frank Sartor, approved the concept plan for the old Kent Brewery precinct in February 2007. In June 2007, Frasers Property purchased the precinct.

The original concept plan included building envelopes for:

  • A number of architecturally designed buildings, creating a mixed use development of apartments, offices, shops, restaurants and community services.
  • The protection of 32 heritage items, including the old brewery chimney.
  • The creation of open space for both the new and existing communities.
  • A new street network to minimise traffic on local streets.

Frasers has assembled an international architectural team of Foster + Partners, Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Jeppe Aagaard Andersen. An equally strong Australian team includes Johnson Pilton Walker, Tzannes Associates, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Turf Design.

This group has been working collaboratively since November 2007 to exhaustively test the approved concept plan and to resolve issues raised by the community and other stakeholders.

Working with the Community

After purchasing the site, Frasers Property began a voluntary and extensive consultation program, which included:

  • A community information session and site tour, followed by a two-day stakeholder and community workshop.
  • A website and community newsletters.
  • Ongoing dialogue with community leaders.
  • A community relations officer to work directly with local residents.

Frasers is pro-actively and voluntarily continuing this community consultation programme.

What is Frasers proposing?

Frasers Property is proposing changes to the approved concept plan for the old Kent Brewery site in response to issues raised by the local community and recommendations for change from the international architectural team.

An amended concept plan would allow Frasers and its sustainability partner, the Institute of Sustainable Futures, to ensure the project reflects the latest thinking and most up-to-date technology in the fast-moving sustainability industry.

In summary



Approved concept plan Amended concept plan
 Sustainability  4.5 green stars target  6 green stars target
 Product mix
 60% residential
40% commercial/retail
50% residential
50% commercial/retail
 New buildings   11  
 10
 Protected heritage items  32  33
 Total floor space  235,000 approx  250,000 approx
 Parking spaces  2300  2000
 Publicly accessible open space  27,000sqm 36,000sqm (+33%)

What the changes deliver for Sydney

  • A 33% increase in publicly accessible open space with a new inner-city square, creating a new destination for Sydney and markedly increasing the open space in a suburb that currently has only two small pocket parks.
  • One major building has been removed to create the increased publicly accessible open space.
  • Jean Nouvel and Foster + Partners will create two iconic buildings along Broadway. This is an unparalleled investment and vote of confidence in the southern CBD.
  • Kensington Street will be transformed into a people-centred laneway, drawing on the best of Newtown and Darlinghurst, providing a vibrant space for shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes and bars. This project will commence immediately with the establishment of artists' studios on Kensington Street, during the construction period.
  • Surface traffic will be markedly reduced by directing cars quickly into an integrated basement and underground road system. Sixty percent of vehicles will enter underground basements within 10 metres of the site's perimeter.
  • Transport initiatives include reduction in parking provision within the precinct, future-proofed car park provision, car share schemes and integration into the inner city bicycle network.
  • The amended concept plan will deliver much needed office space by increasing the commercial area relative to residential, from 40:60 (residential) to 50:50.
  • Heritage buildings are retained and restored, with views to the Brewery Yard greatly improved by the deletion of one major new building.
  • Retail space is consolidated in the North Eastern corner of the site, creating a community-scale retail amenity.

The largest Sustainability Project in Australia

ENERGY

  • Frasers Broadway is striving to be the first urban development to achieve a 6 green star rating for the entire precinct, under a pilot programme under consideration by the Green Building Council of Australia. This would be an Australian first.
  • Frasers Broadway will be the largest urban development in Australia to introduce on‑
    site tri-generation (known as 'green transformers') for power, heating and cooling.
  • Tri-generation is natural gas-powered, a clean fuel alternative to coal power.
  • Together with other sustainability initiatives (including design efficiency, green rooftops, smart metering and solar powered lighting in public spaces), this will achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and Frasers is pro­actively investigating all available technologies and techniques to target 100% carbon neutrality.

WATER

  • 100% of non-potable water will be supplied through on-site rainwater capture and waste water recycling.
  • Mains water will only be supplied for potable uses.

CONSTRUCTION

  • An innovative recycling programme is already in place for the reduction, re-use and recycling of waste from initial demolition throughout construction of the precinct. 90% of all demolition waste will be recycled, including 100% recycling of timber and metal. Frasers believes this will be one of the largest recycling projects in Australia.
  • Innovative building materials, finishes and design will all contribute to the highest level of environmental performance and amenity.

SUSTAINABILITY COSTS and BENEFITS

  • Through these initiatives, Frasers Broadway may have the additional capacity to export treated water to its neighbours, and to supply surplus energy back to the power grid, reducing Sydney-wide demand on infrastructure.
  • The total investment in sustainability initiatives is estimated at $100 million – which will produce a major dividend for the community.

SOCIAL and CULTURAL

  • Frasers Property is committed to creating a place for people with a distinctive personality, an animated and creative community of residents, workers and visitors.
  • Frasers' social sustainability strategy will include the following initiatives:
o        Recruitment of local community and institutional partners, such as UTS.
o        An arts and cultural strategy that begins now - through providing artists' studio space during the construction period.
o        Using the existing grain of the site to create small urban laneways and engaging human-scale spaces that complement the larger city-scaled components of the precinct
o        A local economic development strategy.

Current status of the project

  • Various consultants — including heritage, remediation, engineering and recycling experts — have been underway since Frasers acquired the site in June 2007. Consent to commence major demolition was received in March 2007, with hard demolition commencing on site in April, and scheduled to continue until late 2008.
  • Architectural and sustainability consultants will continuing refining plans for infrastructure and individual buildings throughout 2008, with the construction of the first individual building expected to commence in 2009.
  • Development will occur in stages for up to 8 years.

Tri-generation- How does it work?

Prepared by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, April 2008

Tri-generation is the simultaneous production of three forms of energy: electricity, heating and cooling. A trigeneration system can provide power, hot water, space heating and air conditioning from a single system.

Generators lose heat as they create electricity. A tri-generation facility captures this heat that would otherwise be lost and uses it to generate both hot and cold water.

The chilled water is created by an absorption chiller, which is generated by the excess heat and which operates like a refrigerator. It creates water at sufficiently low temperatures to be used for air conditioning.

Efficiency

Tri-generation facilities are efficient for two reasons:

  • First, they avoid the losses associated with the transport of electricity.
  • Second, they capture waste heat which is normally lost. Tri-generation facilities, like the one proposed at Frasers Broadway, can achieve overall energy efficiencies of 80-90%, compared to only 35% on average for conventional supply of electricity from the grid.

Technology

  • The Frasers Broadway tri-generation facility would use gas engines. These are a cost-effective and mature technology. The co-generation demonstration projects, developed by the NSW Department of Planning for residential communities in Rouse Hill and Chatswood, use gas engines.

Fuel

  • The Frasers Broadway tri-generation facility would use natural gas which is the most commonly used fuel for tri-generation due to its relatively low cost, ease of transport (via pipeline), wide availability and low greenhouse intensity.

Emissions

  • Together with other sustainability initiatives (including design efficiency, smart metering and solar powered public spaces), tri-generation will result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and Frasers Property is pro-actively investigating all available technologies and techniques to target 100% carbon neutrality.

Reliability

  • Tri-generation equipment has high reliability. Shutdowns for planned maintenance are required at regular intervals and unplanned shutdowns can also occur from time to time.
  • The Frasers back-up system will involve a combination of options, including emergency load shedding (using smart metering, direct load control and appropriate tariffs), grid backup, dual-fuel generators (which can run on stored diesel if gas is interrupted), gas storage, backup diesel generators, batteries and hot and chilled water storage.

Demand

  • Frasers Broadway may have the additional capacity to export surplus energy back to the power grid, reducing Sydney-wide demand on infrastructure.

Noise

  • The Frasers facility will be well soundproofed. As a result, noise and vibration are not issues for well-designed tri-generation facilities.
Also see: Minister Reviews Revised CUB Proposal

CCCG Response: “Green and Mega Big” - Former CUB site - Amended Plans