Calls for Darling Harbour social infrastructure
Image: An artist's impression of Darling Harbour Live / Photo: darlingharbourlive.com.au
Local community groups have voiced concerns over the lack of social, health and educational infrastructure in the Darling Harbour Live (DHL) development, which is set to overhaul the Darling Harbour and Haymarket precincts by 2016.
The project, which will reportedly generate $200 million annually for NSW, includes the construction of a new international convention centre, entertainment theatre and 900 room hotel, in addition to the regeneration of the Haymarket area.
A spokesperson for Infrastructure NSW (INSW) said the plan would “deliver substantial community benefits, including improved and expanded public spaces, contemporary meeting places and far better pedestrian connections through the precinct”.
While DHL has been branded a “once in a generation” opportunity by INSW, local groups such as Pyrmont Action are worried that the plan does not provide the necessary infrastructure to serve the growing population of the Bays Precinct.
Of concern is the lack of primary schools, child care and aged care facilities and the absence of sports and recreation facilities. Elizabeth Elenius, Convenor of Pyrmont Action, said it was the cumulative strain of a number of developments in the area, not just DHL in isolation, that was cause for concern.
“The issue is that DHL is just one of several major development projects which are being or have been considered in isolation to each other,” she said. “The Ultimo Public School is the only school in the Pyrmont/Ultimo/Haymarket area and it’s full now. There are only two childcare centres in Pyrmont.”
A spokeswoman for DHL partners Lend Lease said the developers were open to community input and encouraged local residents to air their concerns. “We have received feedback about a range of initiatives such as more public space, recreational facilities, a childcare centre and a new library, and we would like to include a number of these within the overall precinct,” she said.
Mrs Elenius expressed concern over how seriously INSW were taking the suggestions of local residents, opining that ignoring such suggestions could have dire consequences. “To undertake all these developments in the absence of any planning for social infrastructure is a recipe for social alienation isolation and dysfunction,” she said.
