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Direction 5 A Riverfront Centre with Nature at its Heart
Direction 5
A Riverfront Centre with Nature at its Heart
Nature and ecology is an important part of Campsie’s future. As such, a high standard of urban greening and biodiversity will be achieved within the public and private domain to enhance the community’s wellbeing, improve urban aesthetics, minimise urban heat and improve ecosystem biodiversity and resilience.
Campsie will be transformed into a water sensitive precinct. Enhanced pedestrian and cycle connections to, along and across the River will improve waterfront accessibility and elevate the role of the River as a key destination in Campsie. The riverfront will be activated with a mix of land uses and high-quality buildings that benefit from water views, northerly and north-easterly aspect and proximity to major open spaces. Wetlands and bushland on the River corridor will be re-established to better manage and retain water in the urban environment and improve amenity and biodiversity. Open spaces will be enhanced to deliver quality riverfront recreational activities. A pedestrian and cycle loop along and across the river will link Campsie to Canterbury Town Centres and provide opportunities for active recreation. People will live, work and play close to quality and interconnected green open spaces. High quality landscaping, tree canopy and water management practices will be incorporated into the built form, development sites, streets and open spaces. Urban tree canopy will be maintained and increased in the public and private realms of Campsie.
What do we know?
· Campsie’s urban fabric and sense of place is highly influenced by the presence of the Cooks River. However, large portions of the foreshore are currently land locked, inaccessible or under several land ownerships, with challenges in terms of access, operation and day to day management. · Open space analysis shows there are considerable areas of Campsie which lack accessibility to quality open spaces. · In terms of performance most of the neighbourhood and pocket parks are at capacity or too constrained in size to service a growing population. · The overall supply of open space across the local area has a limited range of park settings and types. Key sites such as
ANZAC Park and Lofts Gardens service more regional catchments, restricting opportunity to meet the needs of local residents. · Campsie has an overall tree canopy cover of 13%. Within the areas along Beamish
Street canopy cover is lower than the average, achieving 6% canopy cover. This is largely a result of the more constrained street typology and greater site coverage typical of the urban character of this area.
Higher proportions of canopy cover can be found in ANZAC Park, Little Tasker Park, and the areas between Ninth Avenue and
Seventh Avenue. · The Cooperative Research Centre for Water
Sensitive Cities, supported by the Local
Strategic Planning Statement and CBCity 2028, identify Campsie as a potential pilot precinct for achieving a water sensitive city.
Artists Impression of the Cooks River Foreshore proposed bridge connection to Canterbury Racecourse
Objective 5.1
Align urban renewal with delivery and improvement of open spaces
Actions
5.1.1 Council to develop a program for the enhancement of existing neighbourhood and pocket parks within Campsie Town Centre, supported by development contributions. 5.1.2 Council to establish planning mechanisms for the delivery of infrastructure on individual sites in the form of open spaces or through site links in accordance with the Urban Design Framework Plan. The delivery of this objective is in accordance with the South District Plan’s Planning Priority S16 “high density development should be located within 200 metres of quality open space”.
The Master Plan proposes areas of intensification are within walking distance of considerable areas of open space such as the Cooks River Foreshore, Tasker Park, ANZAC Park and Lofts Gardens.
To re-enforce the role of these open spaces, a network of pedestrian through site links, pocket parks and corner plazas are proposed in areas of greater intensification, such as the areas of the Town Centre North, Town Centre South and Campsie Medical and Lifestyle Precinct. The aim of these open spaces and through site links is to ‘balance’ the intensity of redevelopment with the delivery of amenity for residents and workers of those areas. This will also address the gaps in open space provision by improving connectivity to open spaces by introducing new pedestrian, cycle ways and shared paths to the existing and proposed open spaces to ensure the parks are within 200-400m catchment in accordance with the Draft Greener Places Guide (Government Architect NSW).
The location of open spaces on the Campsie Centre, Woolworths site and other ‘pocket parks’ are indicative.
Future Development Control Plan provisions will provide guidance on the quantum and location of open space on key sites. They will be subject to detailed design. The Urban Design Framework allows for flexibility in design while maintaining the intent of connectivity to, and distribution of open space.
The delivery of the open space on Duke Street/Unara Street is seen as a key missing open space to complement the provision of open space within the area of Campsie which is further away from substantial pieces of open space.
Several parks within or in proximity to the Town Centre were considered to be underperforming in their role of open space. This will require a comprehensive program for the upgrade and enhancement of the existing neighbourhood parks and pocket parks within Campsie. This will also be in line with the provisions of the Urban Tree Canopy Master Plan.
By 2036, almost all of the Campsie Town Centre would be within a 200-400 metre walk of open space. Overall, the Master Plan envisages over 3 hectares of new publicly accessible open space and through site links.
Today
2036
Indicative change in open space accessibility
Indicative New Areas within 200m Walking Catchment (All Open Space) 200m Walking Catchment (All Open Space)
200m Walking Paths (All Open Space) District and Neighbourhood Parks Pocket Parks
Proposed Open Spaces Not to scale
Proposed Open Spaces Map
Proposed Strategic Streets Existing Vehicular Bridges/Underpasses Existing Pedestrian/Cycle Bridges
Proposed Pedestrian/Cycle Bridges Proposed pedestrian and/or cycle street Proposed Vehicle street Cooks River Foreshore Trail
Open Space Existing Open Spaces Proposed and expanded neighbourhood and pocket parks Proposed expansion of existing laneways Proposed linear open space with pedestrian laneways Proposed Civic Plaza Through site link above existing drainage infrastructure Open Space To Be Upgraded Cooks River Foreshore Landscape Management Area Built Environment
Intensification Areas Area subject to future investigation and detailed master plan
1:10,000 (A3) 0 100m 200m
Objective 5.2
The Cooks River Foreshore is one of the main sources of open space and amenity within Campsie. The Master Plan proposes to set planning and development mechanisms to ‘unlock’ the potential of the foreshore. It will be established as a linear park, between Tasker Park and Federation Reserve. This will also link in with the proposed Sydenham to Bankstown active transport corridor. It is proposed the foreshore be established as a Landscape Management Area which draws on best practice landscape design to:
· Mitigate and manage flood and stormwater, to address the seasonal flooding of the
Cooks River and the stormwater overland flows within surrounding areas. · Expand the Cooks River riparian corridors and existing mangroves promoting biodiversity. · Expand the network of open spaces and possible location of recreation areas. · Ameliorate and mitigate the visual impact of the existing power lines along the Foreshore. · Create a high quality, high amenity river foreshore precinct that becomes a focal point for Campsie. A key item within this proposal is also the establishment of the Cooks River Foreshore Trail. The proposed trail extends north along the foreshore from Canterbury Road and the East-West Cycle link, to Beamish Street near Byron Street, connecting to the existing network of cycle and pedestrian paths leading to Federation Reserve. The establishment of the Cooks River Foreshore Trail will also promote a new bridge connection between Clissold Parade and the Canterbury Racecourse precinct should the site cease to operate as a racecourse. Actions
5.2.1 Council to prepare a coordinated Master Plan for the Cooks River Foreshore between Tasker Park and Beamish Street, to include: · Cooks River Foreshore Cycle Trail. · New bridge connection to Canterbury Racecourse at the end of Clissold Parade for delivery of any future change in use on the site, should the Racecourse cease current operations, and the associated Planning Strategy also identifying this as an important connection. · Landscape Management Area between the river and existing built form. · Upgrades and naturalisation of the river edge. · Screening and mitigation of visual impact of existing power lines. 5.2.2 Advocate for the removal or undergrounding of high voltage power lines along the Cooks River. 5.2.3 Appropriate planning mechanisms to be implemented to deliver a 30 metre wide, publicly accessible open space along parts of the Cooks River that are currently constrained in terms of access. 5.2.4 Continue to work with the Cooks River Alliance and Sydney Water to achieve the vision for the Cooks River Foreshore. 5.2.5 Assess, review and respond to the potential risks associated with fuel/oil pipelines along the Cooks River through the Planning Proposal process. A Plan for the Cooks River Foreshore
R m o e v e barr iers to open space and advocate for the removal of powe r l i n e s in co llaboration with relevant agencies (aspirational )
3 .
o p en sp aces to establish riparian corridor and manage fl ooding N e w 1 . Protect Coastal Wetlands . 2
Figure 6. Riparian reed plantings in foreground, saltmarsh bench in background, looking downstream. Quick facts
Project overview
Location Cost and time
Masterplanning, design and construction of environmentally friendly riverbank to replace deteriorated concrete channel at three sites along the Cooks River. Croydon Park, Belfield and Campsie on the Cooks River, inner south western Sydney.Proposed Strategic Streets $8.6 million total budget. Planning 2007-2011. Design 2011-2014. Cup and Saucer Wetland Existing Vehicular Bridges/Underpasses Construction 2010. Riverbank Construction 2014-2015. Existing Pedestrian/Cycle Bridges Proposed Pedestrian/Cycle Bridges Existing Pedestrian/Cycle Connections Cooks River Foreshore Trail Built Form Proposed Corner Shops Open Space Existing Open Spaces Proposed Open Space Existing Open Space To Be Upgraded Protected Coastal Wetlands
Funding and technical support For the $900,000 Cup and Saucer Wetland at the Campsie site: • $265,000 from Canterbury City Council (now City of Canterbury Bankstown). • $335,000 from the Australian Government. • $300,000 Sydney Water contribution. Key project facts and outcomes 1.1km of deteriorated concrete channel replaced with natural banks stabilised with sandstone and native plants. Over 100,000 local native plants. A 0.25 hectare constructed wetland to treat stormwater and provide habitat.
Project partners
Parsons Brinckerhoff - Flood study, flood impact assessments and hydraulic design. Thompson Berrill Landscape Design - Naturalisation masterplanning, concept design, detailed concept design and construction supervision. Total Earth Care - Cup and Saucer Wetland construction. Josa Constructions - Riverbank construction. Toolijooa - Vegetation planting and establishment. 06 | COOKS RIVER NATURALISATION | CASE STUDY | AUGUST 2017
a t u r a l ise the r iver edge N
6 .
P ot e n t i a l for a new br idge to connect Clissold Pde to Canterbury Racecourse
4 . 5. Create the Cooks River Trail to connect Mary Mckillop Reserve to B eami sh S t r e e t e w boar dwalk to connect Little Tasker and Tasker Parks N
7 . 8. Upgraded Acquatic Centre
9. Improve access from Tasker Park to Cant e r b u r y Rd
Not to scale
Objective 5.3
Maximise opportunities to increase tree canopy
The Urban Tree Canopy Master Plan establishes a canopy cover target of 15% for commercial centres, and a canopy cover target of 25% for urban residential areas, to meet current outlined in Draft Greener Places Guideline (2020).
To achieve such targets, both public land in the form of streets and open space, and private land will need to contribute to tree canopy cover. The tree canopy cover target for streets and open space is 40%, whilst the target for private land is a minimum of 5% in commercial centres and 20% in urban residential areas.
The Campsie Complete Streets Project will further investigate the potential for provision of tree canopy along with the overall improvement of the public realm. The updated Development Control Plan for Campsie will include development controls which consider the achievement of the targets within private properties.
Actions
5.3.1 Subject to findings from Complete Streets and detailed design of the public realm, Council will establish a program for street tree planting within the Centre. 5.3.2 Review the Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan controls for Campsie based on recommended targets for establishment of deep soil zones, tree canopy on ground and tree canopy on structure where practical. 25%
in 2036
13%
overall canopy cover in 2021
>68%
of land in Campsie is privately owned 15%
in 2036
To meet the canopy cover targets
Power lines that limit tree growth to be should be undergrounded
20%
target for private land in urban residential areas
5%
target for private land in commercial centre Not to scale
40%
target for streets and open spaces
Objective 5.4
Improve stormwater management within the Town Centre
The Master Plan proposes the introduction of water sensitive urban design controls to improve stormwater management and address flooding issues.
The principles conveyed by the CRC study informed the Master Plan Framework, particularly in areas Campsie adjacent to key sites such as of Campsie Centre and Woolworths. Wider setbacks are proposed along drainage areas, allied with introduction of deep soil zones, and possible co-location with small pocket parks, which are designed with Water Sensitive Urban Design principles, to allow for mitigation of the impacts of overland flow along the edges of the properties.
No development intensification has been proposed in medium or high flood risk areas associated with the Cooks River. Following finalisation of the Master Plan, Council will review and update its current flood information to inform appropriate planning controls. Actions
5.4.1 Review and update Flood Study and Floodplain Risk Management Study & Plan to inform future planning controls. 5.4.2 Introduce Water Sensitive Urban Design controls for areas adjacent to Cooks River, Canals and new public or publicly accessible open spaces. 5.4.3 Council to prepare an up to date drainage and stormwater plan based on the recommendations of the Campsie Town Centre Master Plan.
Example of a verge built with WSUD principles in mind
Objective 5.5
Maximise solar access to parks and main streets
It is anticipated an increase in building heights will occur, within the intensification areas, adjacent to parks and open spaces. This increase requires careful consideration of solar access to open spaces. This is particularly relevant in existing parks such as ANZAC Park and Lofts Gardens.
Within the intensification areas the Master Plan proposes the introduction of development controls which determine the minimum number of hours which the park should retain in solar access. This will promote the retention of existing tree canopy and the establishment of future tree canopy within those parks. The built form controls, including height and floor space ratios, will be appropriate set to achieve solar amenity to parks.
Actions
5.5.1 Review the Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan controls for the Centre based on recommended targets for establishment of adequate solar access to parks and main streets. Proposed Solar Amenity Map
Intensification Areas
Open Space Existing Open Spaces Proposed Open Spaces Solar Amenity Targets Local Parks, Min 2hrs Sunlight for 50% of the park, Winter solstice Neighbourhood Parks, Min 5hrs Sunlight for 50% of the park, Winter solstice
Key Streets, Min 2hrs Sunlight for 50% of the park, Winter solstice Area subject to future investigation and detailed master plan
ANZAC Mall view from above
