Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

COVID-19 has seen cities and local areas rapidly change how public spaces are used. In an effort to improve the daily lives and wellbeing of communities during the pandemic cities have implemented changes that were previously thought to be “radical”. How these temporary measures can transition to permanent design is a key renewal strategy in Sydney which is focusing on the vision of a people-centred city that aims to tackle the various social, health and equity challenges that recovery will bring. Their recent study, based on international best practice and data tracking, explains how to look beyond “basic infrastructure and traffic to create a city that people want to live in, visit, work and spend time in”. Consider the renewal recommendations set out in ‘Sustainable Sydney 2050, towards a more attractive and liveable city’:

Create ‘a city for all’

• Co-produce the planning and design of public spaces with the community and stakeholder groups
• Collect “public life data” and evaluate this data to inform decision-making
• Provide welcome spaces, increase facilities for children, close streets off to traffic at lunch time, expand the use of community buildings and ensure free Wi-Fi across the city – to make public spaces “more attractive for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds”
• Support “public art and creative expression” to engage communities in the design of the city

Build a ‘green and cool city’

• Reinforce and drive action in “emissions control, waste, water and greening”
• Expand “tree canopies, biodiversity and the use of shade structures and awnings in public spaces”
• Upgrade transport links between the “city, parklands and the harbour” to improve mobility in and around public spaces

Protect the ‘heart’ of the city

• Transform the currently “traffic-dominated streets to people friendly streets”
• Capitalise on the “Metro, train and light rail infrastructure as the most efficient modes of transport for people”
• Increase walking space and pathways across the city
• Improve the connection of cycle networks to other transport networks (Metro/train) to promote cycling

The strategy also includes long-terms plans for four new “green avenues” which are “arterial roadways identified for transformation with reduced traffic, increased tree plantings and space for people”. A key message in the strategy is that partnerships between “all levels of governments, businesses and the community” is key to transforming cities.