WHAT IS THE VISION FOR BLACKTOWN? MP calls for design competition

BLACKTOWN MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Public Spaces, Stephen Bali has thrown down the challenge for councils to improve their vision and planning for their CBDs.

Mr Bali said architectural design competitions have successfully delivered better outcomes for the development of CBDs everywhere.

Mr Bali’s challenge came from a recent speech he delivered in NSW Parliament demonstrating that architectural design competitions “promote innovation and enhance a city’s design reputation” through a collaborative approach “with multidisciplinary teams, including architects, developers, community groups, infrastructure experts, arts, civic leaders.”

Mr Bali provided examples of cities across Australia and internationally that have successfully used design competitions regarding transport, CBD development or facilitating sustainable and liveable cities by enhancing the environment.

The Central Living District (CLD) is the new way to design the old fashion CBDs to ensure a visionary approach for a more inclusive future for the community.

The population of Blacktown City local government area is expected to pass Tasmania by 2035 and Mr Bali said it’s time to start “thinking like a State capi- tal, not an unrecognised, small suburban town located in Western Sydney.”

Mr Bali has called for more transparency in developing the future of Blacktown CLD by introducing design competitions where residents would be bought along for the journey rather the current “behind-closed-doors presentations” to a select few people.

Mr Bali argued that the CLD concept is an opportunity to move Blacktown CBD from an old fashion stagecoach town to a new Blacktown CLD that is a thriving, world-leading metropolis that incorporates work, live, play and study principles within a safe and sustainable environment.

Mr Bali has called for the four major landowners of the 45 acres in Blacktown business district to come together to make a collective positive transforma- tional change rather than treating each block in isolation.

“The concept of allowing developers to buy individual [Council] blocks within a CBD, build skyscrapers, say ‘isn’t this wonderful?” and it’s “bringing jobs, jobs, jobs” is an outdated, simplistic sales pitch and is insulting to the local community,” Mr Bali said.

“CBD development should be transparent, have a clear vision of the future and allow for design competitions so that we can get the best for the local area.”

Mr Bali said historically important buildings like the Bowman Hall – seen by many as the birthplace of multi-cul- tural Australia through Prime Minister Whitlam’s visionary campaign speeches - or the Blacktown Arts Centre located in the historical former Anglican Church could be saved if we are planning for the area rather than individual blocks.

Mr Bali said the new city centre ought to have a capacity for 24/7 festival town square; new police station, courthouse and civic buildings; better placed commercial and residential towers rather than just rows of buildings; and a place and movement framework to allow for a healthy environment and deal with car parking before it becomes a problem.