Barangaroo must proceed, even with Wynyard woes: Lord Rogers

Barangaroo must proceed, even with Wynyard woes: Lord Rogers
Jonathan ChancellorJuly 7, 2011

The Barangaroo waterfront development project on Sydney’s western CBD foreshore ought to proceed, even if the nearby Wynyard station faces being overloaded after the project’s completion, the project's lead architect says.

“Would it be better with more public transport? The answer is yes,” Lord Richard Rogers said when asked if there was a public transport deficit surrounding the project.

“You have to go ahead, even without it, as otherwise the precinct will be even less sustainable,” Lord Rogers said in an interview proceeding the release of the NSW Auditor-General's report that suggests an extra 13,000 commuters a day will pass through Wynyard station to get to work at Barangaroo within a decade.

The Auditor-General's report highlighted the transport challenge of delivering 22,700 people to Barangaroo, with the former government lacking any specific transportation initiatives.

“It was a pity they (the Labor government) haven’t done more and I hope [the Coalition government] go ahead now, especially with the light rail,” Lord Rogers said.

He said all he could assume was if the density was increased “then ideally a visionary government will put the public transport”.

“It will all help – using the harbour more would be wonderful. I don’t understand why it’s used so little,” he said.

Lord Rogers describes the renewal of the 22-hectare stretch of concrete and East Darling Harbour wharves as ''turning Sydney's back door into another front door''.

“The water is critical, the public space is critical, the city is growing and you need more public space,” he says.

The Barangaroo Development Authority has set a target that 63% of commuters will travel to the precinct by train.

“You could also persuade people to go by bicycle … and you wouldn’t have a congestion problem here if 37% went by bike like in Copenhagen.

“It would help if Sydney had more walking, better roads, beautiful trees and safer footpaths,” he says.

“I have been delighted to see there’s a lot of stress on new infrastructure and public transport (from the new government), which I think is really critical,” Lord Rogers says.

“It would be wrong to restrict the development to existing infrastructure,” said Ivan Harbour, a partner at London-based architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, whose design was selected for the project.

Lord Rogers spoke about the development when he was in Sydney in May to review the project and to meet NSW Planning Minister, Brad Hazzard.

Wynyard, which opened in 1932, averages about 108,000 passenger movements a day between Monday and Friday. As the third-busiest station on the CityRail grid, it has more than 37,000 people arrive there every morning.

The Auditor-General’s report revealed that even without the Barangaroo development, Wynyard would hit capacity by 2017.

''The success of Barangaroo depends very much on people being able to get there and leave with ease,'' Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat says.

The NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister, Brad Hazzard welcomed the AuditorGeneral’s report on Barangaroo, stressing it highlighted issues Labor failed to address when in government.

“Barangaroo is a bold project for Sydney and this report confirms the government’s view thatthe former Labor government failed to address all aspects needed to maximise the potentialof this project,” Mr Hazzard says.

“The report also confirms the government was right to instigate a ‘short?sharp review’ of theprocesses involved in Barangaroo.

“What is contained in the Auditor-General’s report comes as no surprise to the newgovernment, but is a very valuable tool in ensuring the best possible outcome forBarangaroo.

“Barangaroo is a golden opportunity for world?class development and working with Lend Lease, the NSW Government will ensure Sydney becomes number one again.

“I will be working with my colleagues, including Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian toaddress the issues necessary to make the outcome of Barangaroo the very best.”

The Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter says there is an urgent need to analyse the transport requirements for the development site and for the government to be satisfied that the requirements would be met within the timeframe of the proposed development of Barangaroo South.

“A full transport plan is required,” the institute says in its submission to Brad Hazzard’s review of the project.

“The government has an obligation to co-ordinate adequate infrastructure to respond to the transport needs of the site’s development.

“While the proposed ferry service will be a welcome addition to the transport mix, what is needed for the anticipated peak-hour demand is a second heavy rail line or a Metro, and possibly both.

“There is a possibility at Barangaroo of creating a new precinct that fundamentally alters the public/private transport mix in favour of public transport.“But a shift of this kind requires careful long-term planning and infrastructure funding.

“The Transport Management and Accessibility Plan submitted with the developer’s concept plan modification proposal was largely completed in 2008, prior to the cancellation of the City Metro.

“The 2010 update acknowledged the need for a new high-volume pedestrian tunnel from Barangaroo to Wynyard Station and George Street and two bridges over Hickson Road.

“The problem is that Wynyard Station is known to be over capacity already.

“The design of the platforms has been assessed as being critically narrow to the point of risk to life.

“There needs to be an analysis of the loading capacity of light rail from the CBD to Circular Quay via Sussex Street and Hickson Road and of the ferry service to and from Margaret Street, particularly at peak hours.

“In addition, an appropriate area needs to be set aside for transport purposes at the southern end of the site to safeguard future heavy rail and future metro services,” the institute says.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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