12.6 Appendix F: Reference materials for Stakeholder Workshop

12.6 Appendix F: Reference materials for Stakeholder WorkshopAppendix F: Reference materials for Stakeholder WorkshopAppendix F: Reference materials for Stakeholder WorkshopAppendix F: Reference materials for Stakeholder Workshop

(Summary of issues, ideas and suggestions raised by the community as part of the engagement process for the Rhodes Peninsula Place Plan)

Element of place 1 Element of place 1 Element of place 1 Element of place 1--Social and cultural life Social and cultural life Social and cultural life Social and cultural life 1. There is an important role for the Community Precinct Community Precinct Community Precinct Community Precinct as a community hub: – Provide activities for people of all ages – including young people and seniors (eg movie nights, indoor sport and recreation, educational classes, cafes, reading area, playgroup, activities for teens) – Provide opportunities for cross cultural engagement such as public art projects, activities and celebrations in the Community (eg Tai Chi classes, Dragon Boat racing, community garden, Chinese New Year celebrations, community choir, arts festivals, interesting talks – about politics, environment, other issues – such as those held in Concord Library) 2. Opportunities for community and cultural development community and cultural development community and cultural development community and cultural development identified by the community included festivals, community celebrations, public art projects, open air cinema 3. Neighbourhood networks Neighbourhood networks Neighbourhood networks Neighbourhood networks (informal, participant driven activities) identified by the community included playgroups, a walking group, and community volunteers (to assist with community education initiatives) 4. Community groups and activities Community groups and activities Community groups and activities Community groups and activities (generally more formal, structured activities often involving Council or another organiser) identified by the community included cooking, fitness classes, Tai Chi, Pilates, yoga, Kung Fu, choir, etc 5. Fresh food, farmers, and arts and crafts markets markets markets markets were identified as an important place activation strategy. Please consider: What would be a good location for markets? How often should they be held? 6. A lively restaurant, café, bar scene restaurant, café, bar scene restaurant, café, bar scene restaurant, café, bar scene – with a range of options for day and night. Many members of the community expressed a desire for a greater level of amenity and liveliness within the Peninsula – more places to meet, shop, eat and socialise, particularly at night. 7. Promote cultural oppo cultural oppo cultural oppo cultural opportunities (including public art) rtunities (including public art) rtunities (including public art) rtunities (including public art): – Opportunities to incorporate public art into foreshore areas (favoured by 55% of survey respondents), such as contemporary art / small pieces that consider local context, Sculpture by the Sea – Opportunities for intergenerational and cross cultural engagement / participation in public art projects (eg faces of Rhodes and Liberty Grove project, art competitions, gallery / exhibition space in Community Precinct) – Heritage interpretation in parks and open space areas (eg Armory Wharf Cafe) 8. Promote an inclusive approach to diversity diversity diversity diversity within the Peninsula: – Provide spaces and activities within Rhodes Peninsula where members of different cultural groups within the community can come together, such as public art projects, activities and celebrations in the Community Precinct (eg Tai Chi classes, Dragon Boat racing, community garden, Chinese New Year and Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, food festival) – Provide culturally and age specific activities and opportunities – such as a youth specific facility and activities, social activities and exercise classes for older people, English classes and support services for new arrivals, space that can be used by families in the Community Precinct, Chinese grocery store / supermarket – Address negative attitudes within the community towards people from diverse cultural and linguistic groups - for instance, through cross cultural interaction and Council leadership

Element of place 2 Element of place 2 Element of place 2 Element of place 2--Uses and activities Uses and activities Uses and activities Uses and activities 1. There is a current need for a primary primary primary primary school school school school (in or near Rhodes Peninsula), with Concord West public school already at capacity and many more children in Rhodes Peninsula reaching school age. Provision of local high schools was also described as limited. 2. There is strong current demand for chi chi chi childcare ldcare ldcare ldcare in the Peninsula, particularly long day care to meet the needs of working families, and the need for childcare is expected to increase over the next few years. There are a number of childcare centres currently operating in the local area (including Council’s facility in the Wellbank Centre). However there may be a role for Council / providers in helping to communicate what is currently available in the area – both in terms of childcare and other facilities (such as playgrounds with public toilets/baby change facilities). 3. There is an important role for the Community Precinct Community Precinct Community Precinct Community Precinct as a community hub – a place for people to meet and get involved in activities that appeal to them. The Community Precinct was seen as an opportunity to combine the things people like – walking, waterside experience, places for people to meet and socialise, a backyard space, cafes and restaurants. Facilities which the community identified for the local area included: – Multipurpose indoor/outdoor space for a range of community activities (eg dancing, singing, Tai Chi, Pilates, library kiosk, table tennis, badminton, half court basketball, birthday parties, celebrations like Chinese New Year) – Multipurpose indoor / outdoor space for a range of community supports (eg Council services / community education on local issues, playgroup, baby health care, counselling, English language classes / CV assistance, quiet space to study) – Space for just relaxing – A mix of free and low cost community activities and events – Potential location for dog park / off leash area and or community garden – Address potential amenity issues for local residents such as loss of views, noise and impacts relating to the proposed Homebush Bay Bridge connection – Consider the interface between the Community Precinct and Homebush Bay Bridge, with a focus on accessibility, safety and visual appeal 4. Recreation and open space: Recreation and open space: Recreation and open space: Recreation and open space: – Many participants identified an existing need for sporting and recreational facilities. Suggestions focused on: a dedicated indoor recreation centre like Five Dock Leisure Centre (eg including space for indoor soccer); facilities which could be provided as part of the Community Precinct (such as table tennis, badminton, half court basketball); other outdoor facilities (such as tennis courts and outdoor fitness stations). – The need for amenities such as a coffee cart coffee cart, kiosk, gathering spots with shade and seating, outdoor fitness equipment / outdoor gym, and dog park / off leash area in parks and open spaces – to assist in bringing people out of their homes to make the most use of the Peninsula – Rhodes Foreshore Park and Rhodes Waterside Park are the most frequently used, however lack amenities such as BBQ areas, seating with shade protection, public toilet facilities, and other attractions such as water features for children’s play, and a coffee cart / kiosk – Mill Park was also described as lacking amenities – McIlwaine Park was regarded as providing a high level of amenity, but was described as requiring more garbage bins and more prompt and regular rubbish removal (particularly given its popularity and high levels of use), and upgraded public toilets / baby change facilities – Opportunity for dog park/s or off leash area/s, bag dispensers and rubbish bins within the Peninsula. Locations suggested included: the Community Precinct, adjoining Concord Hospital carpark, King Georges Park on Concord Road Opportunities to incorporate public art into parks – including upgrading of the Brays Bay Reserve memorial / removal of graffiti

5. Recognise the important role of streetscapes streetscapes streetscapes streetscapes in enabling activity at the ground level. Participants had mixed views on the height of new buildings within Rhodes Peninsula. Several discussed the importance of ‘getting community right at the ground level’ – ensuring multiple opportunities for active use of the public domain, with less concern about the height of new buildings as long as there are things to do and the place has a good vibe. Several had previously lived in cities including Shanghai and Hong Kong which are characterised by dense multi storey precincts, coupled with vibrant street life. Opportunities to improve streetscapes included: – More shops, cafes and bars open during the day and night – Places to sit, meet, people-watch, eat lunch without having to go to a café – Outdoor seating areas with shade – Improved lighting, pedestrian and bike paths – Public art 6. Harness the large and growing local population to create opportunities for fun and excitement opportunities for fun and excitement opportunities for fun and excitement opportunities for fun and excitement – through activated spaces (eg markets, performances, kids water play), a wider variety of facilities and services (shopping, car share, shuttle bus), and a program of engaging events and activities (festivals, classes, fitness, talks, social activities and clubs) Project specific feedback: Project specific feedback: Project specific feedback: Project specific feedback: 7. Relevant considerations for the Town Square Town Square Town Square Town Square include: – Importance of activated street level public domain with places to sit, meet, people-watch, eat lunch without having to go to a café – Provide adequate shade and rubbish bins – Retail, cafes, bars – contributing to activation of the Town Square during the day and night – Opportunity to incorporate public art, such as an interactive digital community noticeboard 8. Relevant considerations for the Station Precinct Station Precinct Station Precinct Station Precinct include: – Mixed views on building heights within the community - some don't mind 25 storey buildings, while others want no more than 8 storeys – Improved pedestrian and bicycle access to Rhodes train station is critical - including Walker Street footpath upgrade, universal access to station (eg underpass or larger lift), improved lighting – Enhanced amenity is also critical (eg shops, cafes, indoor / outdoor experience) – An activated public domain at street level is important, with places to meet, sit and people-watch – Traffic and parking is likely to present a major issue for the local community - with opportunities for car share / bike share schemes to help mitigate increased congestion – Lobbying for improved train / public transport services is critical, to cater for the growing community within Rhodes Peninsula and commuters from Wentworth Point – Potential community benefits delivered as part of the Station Precinct may include an indoor recreation facility (like Five Dock Leisure Centre, indoor soccer) 9. Relevant considerations for Central Park Central Park Central Park Central Park include: – Potential for outdoor performance space / amphitheatre (Village Green) – Provide good quality children’s playground with shade protection – with opportunities for community input into detailed design – Consider accessibility, child- and family-friendly design, and safety as key issues – Opportunity to incorporate public art – Opportunity for BBQ areas, a community garden, seating with shade protection, water features for children’s play, coffee cart / kiosk, and rubbish bins – Provide public toilets that are easily accessible for children and parents visiting the children’s playground – Potential location for dog park / off leash area

Element of place 3 Element of place 3 Element of place 3 Element of place 3--Comfort and image Comfort and image Comfort and image Comfort and image 1. Council, other local stakeholders (including the shopping centre and other local businesses) and the community should work together to ensure the public domain public domain public domain public domain within the Peninsula is clean, tidy and well maintained: – Provide more rubbish bins in parks and public spaces throughout the Peninsula – Provide more regular and coordinated Council waste management, street maintenance, grass cutting and weed removal services (currently waste and green waste services take place at the same time of day) – Develop a more proactive approach to abandoned shopping trolleys (involving shopping centre and retailers) – Provide for prompt removal of graffiti and abandoned cars – Provide for more community education about littering, illegal dumping, responsible use of trolleys / dog ownership – Provide dog tidy facilities in parks and public spaces 2. Promote local economic development: local economic development: local economic development: local economic development: – Convenience to shops, facilities, and work was highly valued by members of the community – There is an important and growing role of businesses within the Peninsula (including Rhodes Waterside shopping centre, other retail, cafes, restaurants, bars, health and medical facilities), as resident and visitor populations grow – People value opportunities for live and work / study – making strategies to support these options important – Rhodes Peninsula’s central location and access to work throughout the Sydney metropolitan area is also highly valued – making transport services and connections increasingly important as the community continues to grow – There is an opportunity for a commercial café / restaurant in the Community Precinct – Fresh food, arts and craft markets were identified as an important addition to the Peninsula – Opportunities for business and workers in Rhodes Peninsula to participate in community life (eg places for people to meet and socialise at lunch / after work, seating and tables in parks) 3. Provide amenity in the public domain – places to sit, people watch, gather, have BBQs and picnics sit, people watch, gather, have BBQs and picnics sit, people watch, gather, have BBQs and picnics sit, people watch, gather, have BBQs and picnics (along foreshore, in parks and open space areas) 4. Include community gathering / meeting spaces community gathering / meeting spaces community gathering / meeting spaces community gathering / meeting spaces – such as outdoor amphitheatre for performances / outdoor movies, publically available hall / multipurpose space, meeting rooms, function space in the Community Precinct (with kitchen facilities) 5. Promote safety by desi safety by desi safety by desi safety by design gngn gn – encourage street activity, well lit public spaces, and wider / safer pedestrian and bicycle paths. Specific suggestions included: improved pedestrian and bike paths along Walker Street improved pedestrian paths along Blaxland Road; an accessible underpass or large lifts providing access from Walker Street to Blaxland Road (near Rhodes train station); an overpass for crossing Concord Road; a signalised pedestrian crossing around Mary and Walker Streets to improve pedestrian safety; improved pedestrian access from Liberty Grove to Rhodes). Please discuss: How will community safety be promoted through design / community education? How will existing issues be addressed? If initiatives are already in place, how can they be better communicated? 6. Promote quality design of built form quality design of built form quality design of built form quality design of built form through Council leadership and ongoing community consultation 7. Provide child friendly and accessible design child friendly and accessible design child friendly and accessible design child friendly and accessible design – considering children and people with limited mobility in future planning, involvement and decision making. Places for children to get active were seen as particularly important as many are living in more compact housing. This was particularly important Please discuss: How will child friendly design be promoted? Are there innovative ways of doing this? 8. Provide clean, unobstructed, easy to navigate, pleasant streetscapes streetscapes streetscapes streetscapes for walking, including more garbage bins and improved maintenance (identified hotspots include Walker Street near Rhodes train station). Please discuss: How will streetscapes be improved?

Element of place 4 Element of place 4 Element of place 4 Element of place 4--Connectivity Connectivity Connectivity Connectivity 1. Encourage use of public transport public transport public transport public transport – There is a current need for more frequent and better coordinated public transport (trains, buses, ferries), particularly during peak times; infrastructure improvements will be required to meet additional demand as the population (within Rhodes Peninsula and nearby Wentworth Point) grows 2. Improve pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle and public transport connections connections connections connections (including connections between Rhodes East, West and Liberty Grove and along foreshore): – Upgrade walking and bicycle paths within the Peninsula to improve safety and access. These are needed along Walker Street, around Rhodes train station (including underpass), along the Rhodes West foreshore (connection is nearing completion), and between Liberty Grove and Rhodes – Enhance links to wider networks and key destinations in wider area including connections with John Whitton Bridge to the north and with proposed Wentworth Point Bridge to the west (eg improved safety, signage) – Provide universal access to ensure Rhodes Peninsula is an accessible place for all – including parents with strollers and older people with limited mobility (eg more / better aligned ramps for prams and strollers, enlarged ‘kiss and ride’ area at Rhodes train station, enlarged area for buses to stop, improved safety and weather protection of bus stops) 3. Address traffic management and parking traffic management and parking traffic management and parking traffic management and parking issues: – There is limited road access to and from Rhodes Peninsula, resulting in driver safety issues and traffic congestion particularly during peaks. Specific suggestions included: improved / safer access from Liberty Grove onto Homebush Bay Drive (turning north and south – including new sign for off ramp under Homebush Bay Drive); a signalised intersection or roundabout to address traffic congestion at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Rider Boulevard; a signalised intersection to address safety issues at the intersection of Leeds Street and Blaxland Road; greater access to Concord Road for traffic turning left from Averill Street (eg by opening up the end of Leeds Street); improved signage throughout the Peninsula to communicate 50km speed limit; traffic calming measures, particularly near the childcare centre and targeting speeding traffic in Rider Boulevard turning right into Homebush Bay Drive; improvements to address poor visibility for vehicles exiting Nina Grey Street; measures to address bus flows around Community Precinct if Homebush Bay Bridge proceeds. – There is a current shortage of parking for residents and their visitors (introduction of resident parking permits was suggested), and limited parking for customers of local businesses (eg for older people near pharmacy) – Provide opportunities for car share and bike share / bike rental 4. Peninsula Peninsula Peninsula Peninsula--wide community and cultural events wide community and cultural events wide community and cultural events wide community and cultural events should include Chinese New Year celebrations, cultural festivals (including food festivals) 5. Communications Communications Communications Communications should include wireless hot spots, accessible community information on Council’s website (eg on children’s facilities, connecting local students to local employment opportunities, access to walking maps, information on ‘what’s on in the local area’), Chinese speaking community liaison officer 6. Wayfinding initiatives Wayfinding initiatives Wayfinding initiatives Wayfinding initiatives should include public art, signage, pathways, trails (reflecting cultural heritage of Rhodes)

Element of place 5 Element of place 5 Element of place 5 Element of place 5--Voice and influence Voice and influence Voice and influence Voice and influence 1. Support establishment of additional local residents groups local residents groups local residents groups local residents groups such as a residents association, Local business groups (eg Business Chamber of Commerce) 2. Host ‘Talk to Council’ ‘Talk to Council’ ‘Talk to Council’ ‘Talk to Council’ sessions in community centre / Council’s Rhodes Office – providing the local community with direct access to their Council 3. Promote volunteering volunteering volunteering volunteering opportunities – Community volunteers to work alongside Council and Police to support community (eg monitoring misuse of disability parking spaces, assisting with community education about responsible dog ownership), Community volunteers running activities in Community Precinct 4. Community education Community education Community education Community education initiatives should include a welcome kit, community education about living in Rhodes (eg responsible dog ownership, use of trolleys) 5. Suggestions for future contacts and communications contacts and communications contacts and communications contacts and communications with Council included: – Moving Council’s Rhodes Office to the proposed Community Precinct – and providing for a wide range of Council services in this location (eg including paying rates, finding out about community events, etc) – Including content in the @Rhodes newsletter that is relevant to members of the community from both Rhodes and and and and Liberty Grove – Employing Chinese and Korean speaking cultural liaison officers / language aides – to promote community events, and provide community support at the Community Precinct, etc – Translating community information and education materials into key community languages – Use of noticeboards in Liberty Grove, and strata buildings in Rhodes – Advertising in community newspapers (including Chinese and Korean press) – Letterbox drop / direct mail – Distributing flyers to walkers along the foreshore in the evenings (to target members of the local Chinese community) – Communicating with existing groups including Rhodes Community Reference Group, strata committees, Mums and Bubs, Churches, language schools and primary schools (to target members of the local Korean community), and other local groups