‘Central Park’ construction to begin by Christmas

By Jennifer Lush

Construction to transform the old Carlton United brewery site into Sydney’s own ‘Central Park’ is set to begin before Christmas.

Frasers Property Australia was granted approval by NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly in February 2009 to complete the project and this week tenders to begin construction of the first residential stage of the project were formally called for.

Mr Kelly said the approvals represent a huge step in the renewal of the South Sydney site by boosting housing supply near major public transport networks and sparking the revitalisation of Broadway.

“Frasers Property Australia has indicated these projects will generate 1100 construction jobs and 4300 ongoing positions,” the Minister said.

‘One Central Park’ is the name given to the two residential towers containing 593 apartments to be built above a five-level retail podium.

The towers will be complimented by a commercial campus designed by Foster + Partners and a 6500 square metre park.

“[It] will become a city landmark by bringing greenery and light to the skyline, with the walls to feature vibrant vertical gardens of climbing plants as well as a ‘heliostat’ system, which is a set which is a set of mirrored panels that reflect light onto landscaped urban spaces and sunken piazza area.”

Following pressure from community groups for the developers to consider the environmental impact of their project, Dr Stanely Quek, Managing Director of Frasers Property Australia has assured the community that the company will be sticking to its commitments.

“We have ensured that each stage of Central Park not only features outstanding international design but is also sustainable, taking us closer to our goal of achieving the first 6 green star mixed-use precinct in Australia,” he said.

Nevertheless, Lindsay Charles, co-convenor of the Chippendale community group FoCUS, (Friends of the Carlton United Site), said she would be keeping an eye on developers to make sure they live up to their word.

“They’ve been resolved and approved and what we need to see now is them actually going in and it becoming real,” she said.

Ms Charles said there was ongoing discussion between the Chippendale community and Frasers Property about how the site could best serve the neighbourhood.

“One of the things we’ve asked them to consider is opening up all of the facilities of the site to all of the community, not just to the residents there,” she said.

“Also: establishing community gardens on the rooftop of the buildings that the whole community of Chippendale could participate in.”

Ms Charles conceded that these ideas were still a bit distant given tenders have only just been sought.

“We don’t have an answer to those things yet, but we’re a long way from having roofs so I’m sure there’s a long period of negotiation,” she said.

Construction of the commercial campus is to begin next year, with the entire complex expected to be completed in eight to ten years.