Is there any other major commercial centre in Australia that has a projected population growth to reach over 600,000 by 2041, larger than the State of Tasmania, and yet no major CBD that rivals a Hobart, Canberra or Darwin.
Blacktown and Riverstone CBDs do not reflect the Darug Aboriginal heritage, our youthful population or multicultural diversity, in the talented City that we are.
It is time we aspire to what an exciting and futuristic City of Blacktown can be in 2041 and stop accepting piecemeal approaches to development and growth.
Looking at current planning and designs of emerging CBDs such as Parramatta, we see substantial investment by property developers and State Government, delivering shiny high-rise buildings with tokenistic references to Aboriginal or local heritage.
Parramatta CBD in particular has a wind-tunnel effect of rows of closely packed skyscrapers without a real soul to define the city. Do we want this for Blacktown or Riverstone CBDs?
Can we do better? What can happen?
Both Riverstone and Blacktown CBDs have large areas of land ready for redevelopment. What we must avoid at all costs, is for developers turning up and buying out the area and delivering so-called environmentally sustainable buildings with office space and massive amounts of additional residents.
We need a people led design for an aspirational CBD facilitated by Council.
Riverstone is currently going through the rezoning process and waiting for NSW Government approval. This article will focus on Blacktown CBD but the same opportunities are possible for Riverstone.
Blacktown CBD is in a unique position where large areas of land is owned by a handful of organisations.
Warwick Lane is all owned by Blacktown Council. The potential Blacktown CBD development area covers the southern Blacktown CBD and consists of approximately 45 acres that is owned by just five organisations.
95% of this southern CBD is owned by three landowners: Blacktown City, QIC and Blacktown Workers Club.
All landowners have a demonstrated record in community support and corporate social responsibility. So why don’t they jointly design a futurist CBD for the benefit of residents?
We need leadership to drive a wonderful legacy that will define Blacktown over the next century.
Mark McCrindle in his recent presentation on the future of business and cities to the North West Business Chamber, cleverly noted that CBDs should be seen as Central Living Districts (CLD) that allow people to work, study, play and live.
What features could we include in a Blacktown Central Living District?
Imagine the ability to live, work, play and study in a safe, ecofriendly environment that is culturally sensitive to the Darug heritage.
• We consult with our world renowned Darug artists to incorporate a culturally sensitive interpretation of Blacktown City’s Darug heritage.
• Accessibility friendly walkways with restaurants, clubs, cafes and health/exercise hubs.
• Business incubation hubs resourced for the emerging entrepreneurs to succeed.
• Australian Catholic University providing multi-faculty course offerings needed for our growing community.
• Five storey underground cark park covering the 45-acre development thereby removing the need for surface roadways and replaced with pedestrian friendly environment.
• An emerging arts precinct supporting film, radio, fine arts and performance spaces.
• Smart Office commercial hubs which is sustainable, equipped with new technology hub; data and connectivity; neurodiverse spaces; allowing for flexibility and hybrid wok spaces attracting financial, law, medical and other high paid jobs into the CLM.
• Leading providers of private hospitals; specialised surgical institutes; and assisted age care living.
• Quality living apartments providing opportunities for affordability, disability access and for key workers.
The current Blacktown design shows the unimaginative piecemeal approach of selling of small sections of land to developers to maximise their profits at the cost of our community.
We can then truly become a 24/7 CLM that is safe, fun and futurist but only if our current land custodians work together and not take quick simplistic profits.
A quick search of the internet provides a Rotterdam example, see image. Imagine what can be achieved if we put our collective minds support by leading town planners and designers.
We need greater transparency and collaboration with the community by our Council leaders.
Let’s not waste this golden opportunity by allowing a property developer to swoop in cherry picking the land to deliver high rise wind tunnels that may look shiny & new in the short-term but leave a legacy of an unsafe ugly environment in the future.
Today, we can seize the future. We need a collaborative approach led by Blacktown Council, supported by the State Government and in partnership with the landowners.
Let’s improve community consultation and develop a vision for our City that is inclusive, proud of our Darug heritage and providing our youth of the future to achieve their full potential.
Stephen Bali MP is State Member for Blacktown and was a councillor on Blacktown City Council from 2004 to 2019 and Mayor of Blacktown City Council from 2014 to 2019.
