‘Regaining Sydney One Street At A Time’: Calls For King St & Enmore Rd Transformation
Image: Wikimedia Commons
A new community group is calling for an overhaul of Newtown’s King Street and Enmore Road, envisioning the abolition of clearways, pedestrianisation and a reduction in traffic, among other ideas which it argues will make the neighbourhood nicer.
Project K-Shift describes itself as “a local, citizen-led effort” to reimagine the high streets as settings “where walking, cycling, public space and community life take priority over traffic and congestion.” It has received support from the Newtown Enmore Business Community – a local business chamber – as well as the City of Sydney.
Nic Lowe, who billed himself as its “Chief Hassler and Pusher,” said that they held a meeting at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre about three months ago – and are just getting started.
On Monday 8 December, the group hosted a talk by Dr Tim Williams, who leads architecture firm Grimshaw’s research on cities. He previously headed the Committee for Sydney, and was also involved in major projects such as the George Street light rail corridor and High Speed 1 in southern England.
Dr. Williams was optimistic about the opportunities for improving the thoroughfares. The goal is “to fill the streets with life,” he said, borrowing a phrase from former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
He pointed to examples near and far of urban renewal. “We always think Amsterdam has always been a bicycle city. No, it wasn’t.” He compared transformations seen there and in Dusseldorf, Utrecht and other cities to what was done on George Street when the light rail line was built.
“We sometimes think that other countries are doing these great things, or we’re not. We did a great thing in George Street, and we need to be inspired to do more of it, not just at that level,” but on a grander scale, he said.
“What you’re doing here matters,” he told the attendees. “It’s regaining Sydney one street at a time, as it were.”
Williams outlined six guiding principles: that streets are public spaces, for everyone, should be safe, are multimodal, are ecosystems, create economic value and should promote good health.
He argued in favour of reducing speed limits along the two streets and others like it to 30 km/h – something recently proposed by Balmain MLA Kobi Shetty.
Removing clearways a step toward safer high street, says business group
James Thorpe, president of the Newtown Enmore Business Community, said that removing the clearways on King Street “is a practical step toward a safer, more functional main street – one that supports local businesses, pedestrians and the everyday life of the neighbourhood.”
Clearways are stretches of road on which parking is prohibited. In 2017, the New South Wales Government backed down on a promise not to introduce clearway restrictions on King Street.
“This isn’t about being anti-cars — it’s about designing King Street for how people actually use it: stopping, meeting, shopping and spending time.”
Responding to a question about how the streets can be improved, one Newtown regular emphasised “native plants, signs telling people to walk on the left, lower wattage street lighting and more Danny Lim.”
Another said that accessibility could be improved. “Walkways are cramped and e-bikes can be left everywhere. Pavements usually aren’t super smooth.”
He added that there “could definitely be more pedestrian crossings, as it feels more like a stroad.”
