Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Assessment 2 PLAN9063 Strategic Planning and Design Individual report- Accessibility to open green spaces SID- 490204054 Introduction Open green spaces are a significant indicator of liveability and sustainability in urban areas ("Sydney Green Grid", n.d.). The Government Architect NSW has ascertained a web of high-quality open green space that links major town centres, public transit hubs, and major dwelling areas in Greater Sydney. Called the Sydney Green Grid, it is an essential component of the Greater Sydney region and the five districts ("Sydney Green Grid", n.d.).
Greater Sydney Commission considers the green open spaces as a crucial socio-environmental infrastructure for a sustainable, efficient and resilient city ("GREATER SYDNEY REGION PLAN A Metropolis of Three Cities – connecting people", 2018). Studies have been conducted over the past few years to understand the physical and mental health benefits of urban open green spaces and it has been found that the provision and access to open green spaces can help people live longer, recovery from ailments faster, improve physical activity and help socialise (Ives, Oke, Cooke, Gordon & Bekessy, 2014). The liveability and sustainability of all the three cities within Greater Sydney will be in alignment with the vision of the Greater Sydney Regional Plan to provide Green Grid network for the enhanced landscape.
At the local level, the city of Parramatta, has been considered to study the issue of quality and access to open spaces. Parramatta has a wide range of green open spaces; ranging from parks, to sports grounds to bushland and is also considered as the valuable asset for the Westmead Innovation District and the Greater Parramatta Olympic Peninsula ("City of Parramatta Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement", 2019).
The issue and its examination The accessibility and the quality of the urban green spaces differs noticeably across the Parramatta Local Government Area as historically, parts of City of Parramatta LGA were under the jurisdiction of other councils and hence took different strategies to deliver and maintain green spaces and parks. The communities have also influenced and shaped the open spaces in Parramatta LGA ("CITY OF PARRAMATTA Parks & Outdoor Recreation Network", n.d.). Parramatta has restricted capacity to supply new urban green spaces, except for the renewal areas in the bigger precincts within the Central River City ("City of Parramatta Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement", 2019). The access time to the open green spaces within Parramatta is highly variable – as there is a lack of systematic plan and design for walkability connecting the dwellings to these spaces, and also the prevailing bike lanes are fragmented ("City of Parramatta Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement", 2019). Northmead, Westmead, Camellia, Granville, Melrose Park and Rydalmere are some