Committee for Sydney

Guess where this surfer caught this wave in Sydney 🌊 The answer isn't one of Sydney's eastern beaches, like Tamarama, Maroubra, or even Bondi - but in the west, at Sydney Olympic Park! URBNSURF, the city's newest wavepark, has recently opened in Western Sydney - giving locals the chance to catch a wave without spending an hour in the car heading to the nearest beach >> https://lnkd.in/dXSXm7ks Sydney has a global reputation for beautiful beaches and sandy shorelines - but these aren't always accessible to everyone. We love seeing more watering holes equitably distributed across the city (the same goes for parks and outdoor recreational spaces) - it's a key part of tackling spatial inequality, which affects our health, environmental and social outcomes. For example, there are plans to make Parramatta River fully swimmable by 2025 - this would support healthy ecosystems, provide outdoor leisure spaces to a rapidly growing community, and welcome opportunities for local business development >> https://lnkd.in/dKc83JNa Chris Barrett, Paul Scully, Hayley Wallace, City of Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Christopher Mater, Surfing Australia, Western Sydney University, Tom Nance, Kerry Robinson OAM, Daniel Sobkowski, CTS, Surf Life Saving NSW, Penrith City Council, Prue Car, Sarah Bolger, Alexandra Metros, Pierre Esber, Gail Connolly PSM, Western Sydney Lakes, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

🚌 Great move. If we're going to take advantage of the huge investment in trains, metro lines and light rail across Sydney, the first step has to be designing bus services that feed passengers onto the rail lines >> https://lnkd.in/gJe2EcdW The next step, and what's really needed, is a whole-of-bus-network review and optimisation for Sydney, to make sure our public transport modes are complementing each other - not competing.   Optimising bus services when new rail lines open would mean some buses can be redeployed and used to increase the frequency of other services in the network - without additional investment in the bus fleet.   To make this work, buses connecting to rail need to run frequently enough that it's easy to travel across multiple modes - whether it's bus, tram, train or any other form of transport. People need to be able to turn up and go.    👀 Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming report on improving Sydney's bus network. Harri Bancroft, Sydney Metro, Transport for NSW, Jo Haylen, Sydney Trains, Jack Begbie, Josh Murray, Matt O'Sullivan, Peter Regan, Chris Minns, Michael Silman, MTR Corporation (Australia), Metro Trains Sydney , Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District, Howard Collins, OBE, Busways Group

🐟 Did you know that our iconic harbour has more fish species than the Mediterranean sea? Or that the costs of heatwaves to Western Sydney are expected to jump to $6.8 billion by 2070? Sydney is abuzz with conversations on our climate future, with the inaugural Climate Action Week bringing over 100 events to our city - including this one with our climate resilience leader Sam Kernaghan on Friday 17 May, discussing practical solutions with UTS experts and industry practitioners >> https://lnkd.in/gtBrhWjq Climate Action Week started in New York City, and has now landed in Sydney for the first time - and we're thrilled to see so many community organisations, advocates, investors, and researchers come together to explore how Sydney can accelerate climate action. Read our reports focused on climate resilience: 🔥 Burning Money >> https://lnkd.in/gX3CxsdH 🌧️ Defending Sydney >> https://lnkd.in/g54zVUZP 🌲 Nature Positive Sydney >> https://lnkd.in/eNKdH8i3 Climate Action Week Sydney, Elizabeth Mossop, Stefan Lie, PhD, Mona Mashhadi Rajabi, Unnikrishnan Kuzhiumparambil, Jenny Newell, Carmel Reyes, University of Technology Sydney, Powerhouse, Australian Museum, UTS Business School, Adam Davis, Annalise Kerr, Greenhouse, Gabriela Scharf, Caitlin MacPhail, Rebecca Huntley

🔎 Check out the proposed designs for the new Rouse Hill Hospital! This will be the first major adult hospital built in Western Sydney in over 40 years, bringing critical health services to the rapidly growing area. It will also be one of the first sites to adopt the full campus model, which incorporates health worker accommodation and childcare services. Western Sydney Local Health District, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Kiersten Fishburn, Chris Minns, Western Sydney University, Mohamed Nasr, CBRE, The Hills Shire Council, Blacktown City Council, Kerry Robinson OAM, Peter Gangemi, Mitchell Blue, Graeme Loy, Helen Ryan

👀 Keep an eye out in Parramatta - daytime tram testing kicks off in the city today, a major milestone on the way to passenger services starting later this year. The 45 metre long trams will run through the Parramatta city centre between 10am and 3pm, travelling from the Camellia stabling facility to Carlingford and back to Parramatta. More info here >> https://lnkd.in/gP9AtRfd Jo Haylen, Donna Davis, Transport for NSW, City of Parramatta, Josh Murray, Gail Connolly PSM, Howard Collins, OBE, Belinda Gadd, Kate L., Helen Machalias, Jack Begbie, Michael Jollon, Parramatta Light Rail, CPB Contractors, Ventia, Downer, GREAT RIVER CITY LIGHT RAIL PTY LTD, Anna Bradley, Lisa Havilah, Satvir Mand, David Holm, Ian Connolly, WSP in Australia, Aurecon, Transdev Australia & New Zealand, Laing O'Rourke

✏️ Designs are out for Canva's beautiful new office in Surry Hills, featuring a community event space, a bio-solar green roof, and retail spaces proposed to be operated by nonprofit organisations. Located near Central station and an emerging tech hub, it will breathe new life into a 1970s office building, leveraging existing infrastructure. The green roof will provide insulation to reduce heat load, and there are plans to use the rooftop to breed, raise and harvest fish, shellfish and aquatic plants >> https://lnkd.in/gZK7rib7 The project is expected to be completed in 2026. Elliott Stewart, Cox Architecture, Arcadia Landscape Architecture, Yerrabingin Pty Ltd, Jessica Hodge, Lachlan Andrews, Zach Kitschke, Kate Marsden, Cameron Adams, Jonathan Harley, Chris Low, City of Sydney, Lachlan Abercrombie, Alex Small, David Holm, John Richardson, Junia Ooi, Robyn King, Sally Woellner

💡 A few things about Bankstown you may (or may not) already know: 1. Bankstown boasts the second-largest cohort of registered small enterprises in New South Wales, numbering 37,000 - trailing only behind the bustling Sydney City CBD 2. It's one of Greater Sydney's biggest multicultural hubs, with a flourishing arts and culture scene - it's the home of Bankstown Poetry Slam, Ramadan Night Markets, Outloud and Bankstown Arts Centre 3. Its unique position makes it a leading connector in the NSW ecosystem. It has a $1.3 billion health precinct, a newly opened $350 million Western Sydney University Campus, and a multi-million revamp of Bankstown Airport that has contributed over $1 billion to the NSW economy. Bankstown is one of Sydney's most dynamic and fastest growing city centres, making it the focus of our +10 event in June: a half-day conference bringing together local community members, industry leaders, government and policymakers to discuss the region's most pressing challenges and opportunities >> https://lnkd.in/g7bg58JA Join us on Friday 7 June, 9.00am - 2.00pm, as we explore Bankstown's future precincts, local business growth, and arts and culture opportunities, as well as how urban planning can consider community, not just the workforce. 🗣️ Speakers include: - Mayor of Bankstown, Clr Mayor Bilal El-Hayek - Daniel Jarosch, CEO, Aeria Management Group - Tom Nance, Policy and Strategy Lead, Centre for Western Sydney, Western Sydney University - Khadijah Habbouche, Winner of the 2022 Premier’s Multicultural Youth Medal and was CB Council’s 2023 Young Australian of the Year - Vy Hoang, Senior Urbanist, Ethos Urban - Michael Wheatley, Head of Housing, Homes NSW - James Carey, Director, City Future, City of Canterbury Bankstown - Estelle Grech, Planning Policy Manager, Committee for Sydney - Eamon Waterford, CEO, Committee for Sydney - Jeremy Gill, Head of Policy, Committee for Sydney + more to be announced soon! Get tickets now >> https://lnkd.in/g7bg58JA Western Sydney International Airport, Rachelle Harika, Dr Rhonda Itaoui, PhD, Centre for Western Sydney, nbn® Australia, Wally Mehanna, Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce, Jihad Dib, Nina Macken, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Transport for NSW, Josh Murray, Suzie Djordjevic, Peter Munro, Bankstown City Aged Care, Camille Lattouf, Matthew Stewart, Michael Clancy, Sonia Marshall, Aware Super, Deanne Stewart, Sydney Metro, Jo Haylen

💡 The federal budget is fast approaching, and we've got some ideas on where the cash should flow - more disaster funding, higher education support and rethinking our National Industry Policy are a start. 🏡 Double the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) The number of social housing homes has been going backwards in NSW, despite the growing waiting list of almost 60,000 households. NSW should set a target to reach 10% of stock being social and affordable housing by 2040. The HAFF needs to be doubled, and more, to help NSW and Sydney achieve this. 🎓 More support for higher education research and development Recent migration reforms have negatively impacted the international education sector – Sydney’s largest service export. This will impact the sector’s ability to fund research and deliver world-class education for domestic students. The federal government needs universities to invest in research and education to grow the cutting edge industries that will help decarbonise and transition our economy over coming economic cycles.  🚆 Invest in infrastructure to support Sydney’s population and economic growth  We will need more infrastructure investment to support housing growth. The federal government has identified big projects of interest – high speed rail, social housing and urban rail. We agree – and we'd like to see the sort of catalytic investment that turns these ideas into tangible projects with timelines and budgets.  Meanwhile, let’s not forget about buses. Small investments in operational and capital funding can deliver quick, substantial improvements to our city’s transport network.  📍 Apply a place lens to National Industry Policy  The federal government has a renewed priority on industry policy. We welcome this – Australia is poised to be the home of globally-competitive industries in tech and manufacturing. But not every city will be the home of a globally-significant digital technologies ecosystem, nor a green hydrogen hub. If we’re going to agglomerate the business, academic and social investment behind scaling future economy sectors, this federal budget should align government's investments to places – specific states, cities and innovation districts.  🌩️ Double down on disaster dollars  The federal government allocates $200 million annually for disaster preparedness. This falls short of addressing climate challenges: the 2022 East Coast Floods cost approximately over $15 billion in disaster recovery. This fund should double its annual allocation and apply a more strategic funding logic, linking grants to local adaptation planning. Read our full statement >> https://lnkd.in/dX7Qzgqg Anoulack Chanthivong, Penny Sharpe, NSW Reconstruction Authority, Cherie Gray, Michael Rose, Christine Covington, Kiersten Fishburn, David Borger, John Graham, Josh Murray, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Investment NSW, Prue Car, Tom Nance

New plans have been revealed for the original Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo >> https://lnkd.in/gA5erRWR The proposed plans would demolish the forecourt to create a new library, learning centre and courtyard, and strip out modern internal additions made to the museum - ramps, stairs and mezzanines used for smaller-scale exhibitions, education spaces or visitor view points - to open up the original heritage features and facade of the historic buildings. A new entrance would open out to the Goods Line and Chinatown, with an internal courtyard protected, overnight dormitories for visiting country school children, a new loading dock, library and eight workshops for creative workers that opens to Harris Street. See the plans and make submissions here (closes 30 May) >> https://lnkd.in/gvFq_sar More information and consultation bookings here >> https://lnkd.in/g9Vu2Na7 Lisa Havilah, Powerhouse, Infrastructure NSW, Create NSW, Annette Pitman, Durbach Block Jaggers, Architectus, Youssofzay and Hart Pty. Ltd., Tom Gellibrand, John Graham, Steve Kamper, Lizzie Butterworth, Angud Chawla, Heath Aston, Anna Burns, Mark Crees, Linda Morris, Jonathan Symons, Matt Levinson, Jeremy Kelshaw, TYRRELLSTUDIO , Yerrabingin Pty Ltd, Finding Infinity, Arup, Sara Rollason, Emily McDaniel, Clare Holland, Carmel Melouney, Jamie Twist, Mark Wilsdon, Jemma Birrell, Nikki Brogan, Roslyn Mayled, Ethos Urban, Michael Oliver, Ella Coleman, Nina Macken

When our public spaces are built, designed and approved, gender equity is rarely front of mind. Unsurprisingly, women get left behind. Violence against women is most likely to occur at home, and by men they already know, yet the fear of violence and sexual harassment in public spaces is routine and normalised. Women and girls are conditioned to take routine precautions to be, and feel, safe. Every day women take the longer route or avoid 'dodgy' places. They do it to avoid unwanted interruptions, being stared at, wolf-whistled, followed, touched, raped, murdered. Our chronic gendered violence crisis demands urgent action from our leaders. Adequate funding for essential services (including legal aid and affordable housing), legal reforms that hold perpetrators accountable and protect victim-survivors, and addressing attitudes that drive violence against women are critical steps, but we must also unpick systemic inequalities harming women in all aspects of life. Urban policy is part of this puzzle: we must prioritise gender equity in the way we design our city. So, what needs to change in our approach to urban policy when it comes to creating a safer, more equitable Sydney? Here are three things the government can action immediately to start shifting the dial (it's not just about adding more lighting or CCTV)! 🤝🏽 Put equity and care at the heart of every decision this government makes: the Committee has been vocal about ensuring the government’s new housing policies not only focus on accessibility to transport, but also essential social infrastructure people of all ages and genders need to live rich and full lives. 🔍 Review existing laws and policies for hidden discrimination: thoroughly review existing and proposed legislation to remove hidden discrimination in how we build our cities. Many elements have been built for men (even our pedestrian crossing times are based off the pace of a 6ft man!) and ignore the needs of women. 📊 Mind the gender data gap: if effective policy relies on comprehensive evidence, what happens when women are underrepresented in decision-making data? Consider transport planning: one of the only sources we have to understand how women move around Sydney is the census’ ‘journey to work’ question. This overlooks other trips like doctor appointments, school runs, and coming home from a night out. We must commission and share gender disaggregated data so we can understand women’s needs in planning and infrastructure investment - especially those from minority and marginalised groups. These changes may seem detached from physical violence, sexual assault, and deaths of women from gendered violence. But in a city largely shaped by men, for men, for over 200 years, urban policy that prioritises women and girls builds the physical and social infrastructure that protects, values and empowers their lives. Estelle Grech, Alison Holloway, Sara Stace, Dr Rhonda Itaoui, Jodie Harrison, Michael Rose, Eamon Waterford