16 June 2016
The sensational scaremongering about Hong Kong like densities for the redevelopment of Waterloo by the City of Sydney Council is based on incorrect facts, says the Urban Taskforce.
“The City of Sydney Council held an evening meeting on Wednesday 15 June to address residents about the council’s exaggerated predictions of excessive density of development at Waterloo,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “ This is scaremongering of the worst kind to generate community opposition to the renewal of the social housing estate by using incorrect comparisons with other developments.”
“The Lord Mayor began with an image of wall to wall towers 30 stories high to let the audience know what was coming to Waterloo. This image bears no relationship to any of the Government’s proposals for the precinct.”
“Council’s stated concern is that 700 people per hectare is too dense. UrbanGrowth NSW have disputed this figure saying it is closer to the Green Square Town Centre density of 470 people per hectare but the award winning Central Park development on Broadway is 900 people per hectare (2,213 apartments X 2 + 1,040 student beds = 5,453 people in 6 hectares).”
“The City Chief Planner reeled out various densities from around the world to prove that Waterloo will set global records for density but these figures can easily be adjusted up or down depending on what boundary is taken. The Waterloo site, for instance, would appear far less dense if the adjoining 8 hectares of open space were included in the area.”
“The implication from the briefing by the City Council is that the two generators of increased density, a new railway station and an integration of private and public housing, are not necessarily supported by the council. The clear message from the City of Sydney Council was that the whole project should be stopped reinforced by images of the Government’s plan with the word STOP in bright red
“The City Council seem to be taking a negative approach to the renewal of Waterloo mainly because they are not running the project. The fact is that most of the land is owned by the State Government and it is the State Government that is providing the metro rail station.”
“One consequence of council’s opposition to the Waterloo renewal could be to switch the new metro rail station to Sydney University and to undertake minimal work at Waterloo.”
“It was clear at the council meeting that residents would prefer to stay in place and then relocate to new accommodation.”
“The Urban Taskforce calls on the City Council to stop their scaremongering campaign about the redevelopment of the Waterloo estate and to take a constructive role that supports the State Governments urban renewal project and supports the residents of the estate.”
Download PDF Version to see images.
