This URBAN//FOCUS article looks at the upcoming major centre development of Green Square.
Half way between the CBD and the airport, sitting in a light industrial area between Zetland and Waterloo lies Green Square. The area has been slowly decaying in recent decades and is home to disused public buildings like the South Sydney hospital and the Waterloo incinerator.
While new developments like the Green Square train station and the more recent Victoria Place residential project have begun to renew the site it still has a long way to go. In 1996 the South Sydney Development Corporation was created to manage the development of the South Sydney Growth Centre. Twelve years later, we're finally seeing some movement on the site. The project, which has transferred from the now non-existent South Sydney council to the City of Sydney council, has been re-branded as the Green Square Town Centre and this year has seen bulldozers finally on the ground with demolitions underway.
The NSW Government's Sydney Metropolitan Strategy identifies the various satellite cities and major centres in the Sydney metropolitan area, including three planned major centres to be developed in growth areas. The first two are Rouse Hill and Leppington, new centres at the heart of the North West and South West Growth Centres respectively. The third planned major centre is Green Square and is expected to grow from around 5,800 jobs in 2001 to 14,000 jobs by 2031. This will put it at around the same expected size as Norwest Business Park as well as the majority of existing major centres, including Bondi Junction, Bankstown, Blacktown and Campbelltown. It will be 1.5 times as big as Rouse Hill and Lepington.
The 14 hectare Town Centre at the heart of the project will accommodate half the jobs with the remainder created within the surrounding 278 hectare urban renewal area that includes parts of Alexandria, Beaconsfield, Rosebery, Waterloo and Zetland.
Plans for the Town Centre site are currently being finalised and plans are currently with council for approval. The plan for the Town Centre revolves around key principles of having a sustainable, connected place for pedestrians. The public area will be divided into four 'places', each with its own character and function. The four places will be connected by running water in the form of Shea's stream.
The first place is Transport Place - a redevelopment of the area west of the Green Square Train Station, which is currently a barren expanse of black asphalt. Plans call for underground parking, a retail strip on the station concourse, a covered area at ground level, places for bicycles and a large, at-grade pedestrian crossing across busy Botany Road. This place will form a hub of rail, bus, cycling and pedestrian links across the local suburbs.
The second place stretching to the south east of Transport Place is the Civic Plaza. This area will be a large open paved space similar to Melbourne's Federation Square (but smaller!) It will be a place for shopping and large civic events including art and multimedia installations. There will also be a community centre built on the western side of the site that will help shield the area from the noise of Botany Road.
Continuing east across a small shared traffic street is Neighbourhood Plaza. This is a smaller, greener area with a cafe and a children's play area.
The final place, bringing the Town Centre to Portman Street and the South Sydney Hospital site is Shea's Park. The park will be bounded by plantations and a wildlife pond.
The first stage in the process, the demolition of the Waterloo incinerator is complete. Construction for the Town Centre itself is expected to commence in 2009 with the first residents and shops in place by 2010.
