The future Central Barangaroo commercial and residential development is still on the horizon,although now,mercifully,it will be smaller. The former Perrottet government threw out the far-too-large previous proposal following community uproar. The developer Aqualand and Infrastructure NSW have gone back to the drawing board.
Harbour Park or theme park? An artist’s impression of the winning design for Central Barangaroo.NSW government
But at the same time we were promised a new foreshore “Harbour Park” on the other half of the Central Barangaroo site. Not a bad outcome maybe? A new park and a smaller development?
But yesterday’s announcement shattered that expectation. The newly announced winning entry for Harbour Park is a park like no other I have seen. It is more a theme park,an outdoor entertainment area based around a theme – the celebration of Aboriginal culture in design. There is little grass. Hard surfaces proliferate,interspersed with water features,two large public sculptures – a “water vessel” and “moon vessel” – both jutting into the sky,plus a large new retail building. It would be more fitting at Sydney’s new international airport terminal to welcome visitors to Australia.
It seems Harbour Park was never intended to be a traditional green park,despite its name. Close reading of Infrastructure NSW’s objectives on includes “world-class design excellence”,“Aboriginal connections”,“maximise public space”,and a “place that welcomes all”. The word “park” is not mentioned,except in the name.
Harbour Park could and should have been an extension of the lovely naturalistic Headland Park,for which we can thank former prime minister Paul Keating. It is hard to believe that Keating was a supporter of this winning entry,even though he was formally on the jury. How did the jury make its selection?
The Minns government is making a major blunder if it approves this park. We need real green space,for the thousands of new residents destined to live at Barangaroo,and for the enjoyment of all Sydneysiders.
Near to Barangaroo,two other redevelopments – both approved prior to the election of Minns’ government – are now irreversible. Both impact harbour views and are close to each other.
The Fort Street School – atop heritage Observatory Hill,Millers Point – is being redeveloped and significantly expanded. Its bulk and height will overwhelm the heritage structures on the historic hill – buildings constructed in the earliest days of the colony. The redeveloped school will set a precedent for more new development. This is a great loss to Sydney’s heritage landscape and should never have been approved.
Just opposite,across the bridge,the tall Sirius apartment building in The Rocks is covered with scaffolding. Built in the late ’70s by the NSW Housing Commission,it is a significant heritage building and a fine example of brutalist architecture. It was right that it was not demolished. However,it is in the world-heritage listed Opera House “buffer zone” and blocks views to the famous sails. It is likely a redeveloped Sirius may look new and more jarring on the landscape than the original structure. It should have been conserved in its original state.
But good news. The Minns government has made the right decision by,except for the upgraded ferry wharves and promenade. That proposal was far too large for historic Sydney Cove and thankfully will not proceed. Also,good news is that Sydney’s significant parkland trusts have been moved back under the administration of the Department of Planning and Environment from Transport. Finally,and thankfully,there will be no (no joke) constructed around the world-heritage listed Hyde Park Barracks.
So what of the future? It is not difficult to envision a future where Sydney’s most prized historic precincts will be erased from view. The present trajectory will take us there. One solution is to prohibit significant new building in our most sensitive historic areas. This is an easy and straightforward policy choice. It would have public backing. It is a policy sorely needed to save our heritage for future generations.
Linda Bergin is founder of Headland Preservation Group and a long-time advocate for the protection of heritage sites on the Sydney Harbour foreshore.
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