City of Sydney secures award for Green Square precinct revitalisation

The City of Sydney has secured a Property Council of Australia innovation and excellence award for government leadership in recognition of the Green Square precinct revitalisation from an industrial area to buzzing neighbourhood.

The award acknowledges the City’s work with property investment and development industries in creating Green Square’s town centre which showcases world-class urban design with sustainable infrastructure and community facilities. This includes a library, aquatic and recreation centre, an early education centre, parks, a creative hub and a future primary school and new community spaces.

The City of Sydney was judged on customer service, strategic planning, development assessment process, project management and market benefit.

The town centre is part of Australia’s largest urbanisation project, that is set to accommodate 63,000 residents once complete.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore advised “we want Green Square to be an exemplar of a high-density urban village, with a thriving town centre, a community sustained by community facilities, rich cultural life, more than 40 parks, sport and recreational facilities, shops and entertainment.

“And we want it to be an exemplar of sustainable development, with public transport, walking and cycling, recycled water and low carbon buildings at its core.”

Long seen as an opportunity to unlock underused industrial land and infrastructure to host housing more economically, early development in the town centre stalled due to complex ownership, land contamination and flooding, and a lack of infrastructure and funding.

The City of Sydney notes “In 2006 we took the lead on land use, urban design, traffic, transport, streets, open spaces, stormwater and social infrastructure in the precinct. Importantly, a financial framework to build infrastructure was established to support local development.

“Our infrastructure funding and partnerships with private developers and the NSW Government helped secure $22 billion worth of construction for the wider Green Square area.

“This award celebrates a truly co-ordinated vision for the area, based on input from all sides.

“This is high density living done well with the town centre we’ve created at its heart.”