Newsletter 47 – Tall Buildings
- Posted by IanMuttonAdmin
- On October 17, 2022
We need to plan for North Sydney’s future. Let’s talk about tall buildings. North Sydney hosts more than 100 buildings with more than 12 storeys. The community has over time had the need to provide amenities the cost for which were beyond its capacity to pay. One funding device was to allow developers to build […]
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<li>An example - in 1895 by adding a seven-story clock tower to North Sydney’s post office to greet and inform people travelling along the Pacific Highway.</li>
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<li>To put in place low-cost housing.
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<li>An example - in 1954 (Greenway) by making apartments affordable by spreading the land cost over 309 apartments.</li>
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<li>To beautify streetscapes by adding open green space.
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<li>An example - in 1957 (the MLC building on Miller Street) with part of the site set aside for a park and pedestrian plaza.</li>
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<img class='alignnone size-full wp-image-815' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bld1.jpg' alt='' width='191' height='264' /><img class='alignnone size-full wp-image-818' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bld3.jpg' alt='' width='180' height='280' /><img class='alignnone size-medium wp-image-816' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bld3-300x212.png' alt='' width='300' height='212' />
Think about it, each of these, the North Sydney Post Office, Greenway apartments and the MLC building has heritage significance.
The point is that the worth of a building should be considered both in the light of the amenity it delivers to the community and design/artistic merit – inclusions of plazas and setbacks from the edge of the street should become a minimum requirement.
Being tall is not inherently bad ..
<img class='alignnone size-medium wp-image-836' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/operah-300x200.jpg' alt='' width='300' height='200' /><img class='alignnone size-full wp-image-837' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tower.jpg' alt='' width='183' height='275' />
…. so let’s have discussion about how to drive great outcomes for North Sydney rather than just oppose all things that are tall.
For further reading – <a href='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NorthSydenySun-Sept22.pdf'>North Sydney Sun</a>
Let me know your thoughts on how Council should manage planning issues going forward – <a href=){kind=link}
 – described at the bridge opening:
The Bridge (is) both architecturally and from a standpoint of engineering, holds pride of place amongst the arch bridges of the world.
The heritage value is immense and it is being put at risk by Transport for NSW.
The community’s concept plan for a ramp in Bradfield Park Central – see picture and concept plan that follows.
<img class='alignnone size-full wp-image-775' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ramp-concept1.png' alt='' width='842' height='446' />
<img class='alignnone size-large wp-image-776' src='https://www.ianmutton.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ramp-concept-2-1024x724.jpg' alt='' width='940' height='665' />
There’s a ray of hope.
Minister Stokes has instructed his Department that the final ramp must be consistent with four key Principles.
The Minister's four stated Principles:
• The ramp should be safe and easily used by riders of all ages, genders, and abilities. Anyone who lives in or visits Sydney and wants to ride over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge should be able to do so.
• Public open space is a primary consideration in the design of the ramp. Any impacts to public open space should be mitigated or offset through improvements to the local public domain.
• Design of the ramp must demonstrate design excellence through a rigorous competitive design process that incorporates comprehensive expert advice and allows for review and refinement.
• The national heritage significance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and its curtilage must be a paramount consideration of the design process. The design of the ramp should not detract from the Sydney Harbour Bridge's heritage significance.
The community concept plan recognises the heritage value and largely saves Bradfield Park – it satisfies the Minister’s four Principles.
The community’s concept plan
• provides a rideable cycle access to the Bridge cycleway,
• preserves the existing landscape and heritage values of Bradfield Park North and the SHB itself
Transport for NSW so far has exhibited no concern for the loss of Bradfield Park and open green space – think of:
• the damage to Cammeray golf caused by the building of the Western Harbour and Beaches’ tunnels;
• the State Government’s refusal to now make good on its promise to make the western foreshore of Berrys Bay open green space); and
• the State Government pulling back on approval for work on the Sydney Harbour High Line to start.
Sometimes I just despair at the state government we have.
Use every opportunity to let Minister Stokes and local member Felicity Wilson know that the Government’s attitude to open green space in North Sydney is not acceptable – won’t even be tolerated.
Minister stokes can be reached at <span id=){kind=link}