‘Plenty of room for growth in city suburbs’
Suburbs around the CBD will take much of the strain as Sydney continues to grow. That is the view of a planning expert speaking following the release of aerial photos showing our development hot spots.
Central Sydney
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Suburbs around the CBD will take much of the strain as Sydney continues to grow.
That is the view of planning expert Chris Johnson, chief executive of the Urban Taskforce group.
He was speaking following the release of a series of aerial photographs showing the rate of development in the city over the last decade.
Aerial imaging company Nearmap has released several photographs from suburbs including Waterloo, Chippendale, Zetland and Forest Lodge showing the transformation from low-rise residential and industrial to high-rise residential blocks.
Mr Johnson said we can expect our suburbs to look vastly different in another 10 years.
“We’re becoming more like London and New York. We are moving towards living in units and blocks and we must embrace that.”
The Greater Sydney Commission, which has been tasked with planning the city’s growth over the next generation, has predicted a metropolis of three cities based around the CBD, Parramatta and the new Western Sydney Airport.
Led by Lucy Turnbull, it predicts the west will accommodate a big chunk of Sydney’s population growth over the coming decades.
But Mr Johnson said the CBD and Sydney Harbour will still be the main draw for new residents.
“People keep talking about the idea of three cities but I think people will want to live within 15km of the CBD.
“This is a global city with all its institutions and cultural attractions. People still want to live close to the city.”
As a result Mr Johnson said suburbs close to the CBD will have to accommodate hundreds of thousands more residents.
“There is still plenty of room. Places like Waterloo, Marrickville and Balmain.
“I also think Pyrmont has the potential to end up like the CBD.
“There should be taller buildings and it should be mixed use with offices, residential areas and entertainment.”
He also pinpointed St Peters and Newtown but said developers should be careful to protect what makes the suburbs so desirable.
“There is definitely space but development must be strategic.
“The last thing you want to do is lose that village character. Key transport routes will be vital, that is where you can put denser development.”
Shane Preston, Nearmap executive, said the city’s greatest challenge is addressing population growth while improving liveability.
“That is, ensuring all planning and design is people-focused, from the importance of well-located housing, to beautiful public places, efficient transport, and local infrastructure.
“Over the past decade, Nearmap has been taking aerial photos of the Australian urban landscape capturing its dramatic transformation from above.
“Expansion in areas such as Sydney’s eastern suburbs and inner west is only set to continue — for local governments and urban planners to successfully cater to this growth, they also need to deliver high liveability standards to the population. The best way they can achieve that is by planning and visualising a project.”
Fore more details visit nearmap.com.au.