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CITY OF SYDNEY PUTS THE GREEN BACK INTO GREEN SQUARE

The City of Sydney today officially gave the ‘thumbs-up’ to begin moving to tender for the new urban renewal area at Green Square, which is set to become Australia’s newest vibrant, dynamic and sustainable urban centre — an eco-village reports a media release from the Lord Mayor Clover Moore on 23 February 2007.

The 10 year project will see a massive $1.7 billion invested in the area which lies between the CBD and the Airport.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said this is an opportunity to put the green back into Green Square, with the City’s planning framework for the new Town Centre ensuring that it achieves the highest design standards. Green Square promises to be a world-class residential, commercial and cultural hub – a place where new benchmarks are set in urban design and public domain spaces, in architecture, facilities and environmental planning.

“The new town centre will add to the vitality and mix of our City of Villages with its own unique character – as our first eco-village. This is a great opportunity to partner with the State Government and set new benchmarks in green urban design, as we work with the community to ensure an outcome that benefits all of Sydney.

“We are working to ensure exciting and innovative sustainable features in both building design and infrastructure, so that this development acts as a model for future eco-development.”

“Residents and workers will have access to a network of new high quality parks and open spaces for relaxation and recreation. Council will also deliver a range of new community facilities, with a library, aquatic centre and childcare facilities to be built as a priority — facilities that are essential in a modern City context and it is vital that community space is provided to accommodate a growing population."

“The City of Sydney and Landcom will work to make this one of the greatest and greenest urban centres in the world.”

"The site's focus on the Green Square Railway Station sets the platform for sustainable transport and I will continue to push for this service to be integrated into the core public transport network. We will work with the Government to ensure Green Square is well-serviced by public transport networks including light rail."

The City of Sydney's design guidelines for the project along with a rigorous Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan have resulted from on-going community consultation.

The text of the Lord Mayor’s speech at Green Square is below:

Thank you, Minister Sartor. I’d like first to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the original custodians of this land. I’d like also to acknowledge the Hon Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning and William Kirby-Jones, Chairman of Landcom and the City’s partner in this exciting project.

I’d also like to acknowledge my colleagues from the City of Sydney, Councillor Robyn Kemmis, Councillor John McInerney and Councillor Phillip Black.

I’m delighted to be here today, to see this long-planned scheme come closer to on-the-ground reality. Within a matter of years, Green Square will be the vibrant commercial and cultural heart of Sydney’s fast-growing inner south.

It will be a vital link between the CBD and the airport, and a world-class example of green urban renewal. It will also be one of the biggest urban renewal projects in Australia.

The City’s planning framework for the new Town Centre will ensure that it achieves the highest design standards. This work will be completed with the community to ensure an outcome that benefits all of Sydney.

With Landcom, we are determined to ensure that this becomes a viable and sustainable development, and we will be applying the lessons we’ve learned in the critical areas of water and energy efficiency.

It's no secret that environmental quality is an increasingly important factor in the competitiveness of global cities. It spurs innovation, develops new industries, and attracts and retains a skilled resident workforce.

Business that is geared for the green economy will have a significant edge over "old" businesses. To encourage green development the City is exploring incentives such as waiving application fees for development such as rainwater tanks, solar panels and grey water treatment systems that contribute to environmental sustainability.

Smart businesses, residents and investors all now demand sustainable development and the City takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously indeed.

Residents and workers will have access to a network of new high quality parks and open spaces for relaxation and recreation. Council will also deliver a range of new community facilities, with a library, aquatic centre and childcare facilities to be built as a priority.

The site's focus on the Green Square Railway Station sets the platform for sustainable transport and I will continue to push for this service to be integrated into the core public transport network. We will work with the Government to ensure Green Square is well-serviced by public transport networks including light rail. The City will plan the centre to encourage walking and cycling networks, and we will plan for future transport corridors to service the area.

We’ve recently received tenders from a selection of leading architects and will shortly be appointing one firm to design the new public domain. This framework of high-quality streets and open spaces will showcase the City’s ability to deliver an outstanding public domain and will also encourage high-quality private development.

The new town centre will add to the vitality and mix of our City of Villages with its own unique character. It will become a true urban eco-village that integrates with the surrounding areas, with the edges of the new development stepping down to a scale compatible with the existing neighbourhoods.

This will be a place where people will want to work, live work and recreate, and the City of Sydney will bring important new community facilities on line as the Town Centre develops. No more six-year wait for the services to catch up with the population increase!

At the City of Sydney, we take pride in our city’s premier status as Australia’s only global city. We recognise Sydney as the powerhouse of the Australian economy and we recognise the importance of encourage investment in our Local Government Area in order to sustain the city’s leading edge.

So we will ensure that the Green Square Town Centre is developed in a timely and efficient way.

We’re delighted to be working with Landcom to achieve this exciting and important project. Through our partnership, we will bring the Green Square Town Centre to reality in the coming years. I look forward to your participation in its evolution.