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Clover Moore wants to Re-Invent Sydney City Central
Local chamber sees similar potential for Corrimal
Corrimal Chamber of Commerce was working on the final draft of its Corrimal Revitalisation Master Plan submission to Wollongong City Council when Sydney Lord Mayor Clover released (on March 26) her vision for the transformation of the heart of Sydney.
Many of Lord Mayor Moore's ideas coincided with, although massively grander than, the thinking of the Chamber's project team.
Clover Moore's concepts for Sydney include:
Using airspace over the tracks at Central Railway. Corrimal's submission suggests using airspace within the Corrimal CBD.
Changing roads. Corrimal's submission involves several road and traffic changes.
Removing eyesores. Corrimal's submission is to convert eyesores such as waterways, into assets.
A new park stretching from the harbour's edge to Paddy's Market. Corrimal's submission calls for a Green Mile transformation within central Corrimal.
Green space for children to play – Corrimal's submission calls for more open space central to (not remote from) the centre of the population.
Citywide cycle network - Corrimal's Green Mile would provide a cycleway circuit.
Transport plaza - Corrimal's concept is a transport interchange allied with new community facilities in a parkland setting.
Reinvent Darling Harbour as a residential/community precinct - Corrimal's case is to consolidate services central to the residents in the well-established central community precinct. Corrimal's case also calls for an exit strategy for the Coke Works with a mix of residential, commercial, employment generation and open space across the Coke Works and adjoining Corrimal Leagues Club lands.
The Sydney reaction to Lord Mayor Moore’s vision has been overwhelmingly positive. Here is just a snippet of the many complimentary responses:
"Big, bold and visionary" - Sydney Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Patricia Forsythe
"A new burst of optimism about the future…the city is getting itself back into gear" – Sydney Festival Director, Fergus Linehan.
"Even great cities like Sydney need the inspiration of a greater, grander, greener vision. Out with the cynics. Welcome optimists". - NSW Art Gallery Director, Edmund Capon.
"Moore’s audacious bid to reshape the city is a breath of fresh air" - Sydney Morning Herald Urban Affairs Editor, Wendy Frew.
Corrimal Chamber expects similar local acceptance and support for its master plan concepts - some visionary, some contentious, others simply pure common sense.
For a full transcript of the submission rendered to Wollongong City Council click on the links to current projects/revitalisation.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Local Chamber of Commerce produces its vision for the future of Corrimal
In its draft paper the Chamber has taken a blue sky approach to developing strategies and major projects to allow for 20,000 more people in the regional catchments serviced by Corrimal Town Centre over the next 20 years.
Vice President, Bruce Anderson indicated that the Chamber's contribution to the "Corrimal District Centre Revitalisation Strategy" initiated by Wollongong City Council has been developed in two parts.
In the first 10 years he said, "The focus is on two major projects."
"The first involves the area south of Short Street encompassing Robert Ziems Park and adjacent public land as the prime site for the creation of a major new public park area which will become the "postcard" feature of Corrimal in 2017 and beyond". Bruce added, "This will provide Corrimal with a much needed "point of distinction".
The second devotes an emphasis on a triangulated linkage of the existing two shopping centre malls with a new mall to be located on the site of the Underwood Car Park thereby retaining a balance between malls and strip shopping in the general area between Short Street and Collins Street. This will also facilitate the creation of a condensed public area with a focus on paved pedestrian areas and outdoor dining and entertainment areas.
Beyond 2017 the major project involves the re-development of the Railway Street coke works site into a major building project encompassing a substantial shopping centre, community based services, an integrated medical centre and with provision for units for residential occupation. Bruce commented that "these visionary proposals include an overhead Bridge at Corrimal Railway Crossing and an underpass at the Railway Street intersection with the Northern Distributor".
In announcing the upload of the draft paper to its website, the Chamber's President, has invited the community to have their say. Peter Leiner said, "We welcome feedback as it is a vital part of the process of gaining community and stakeholder consultation on such a highly important matter as this."
31 October 2007
Cuts to WorkCover premiums welcomed by local businesses
THE Corrimal Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement by the NSW Government of cuts to WorkCover premiums of 5 per cent.
The cut in WorkCover premium costs is expected to save NSW businesses about $110 million a year. The 5th consecutive cut in premium costs is attributed to the management of the WorkCover scheme, which has seen a successful transition over the last 5 years from a deficit of $3.2 billion to a surplus of $812 million.
"The State Government and Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, are to be congratulated for the turn around in the performance of the NSW worker's compensation scheme and the sustained reductions in premiums over recent years," said Peter Leiner, President of Corrimal Chamber of Commerce.
"This is the 5th premium rate reduction in two years and amounts to a 30 per cent discount, saving NSW businesses $785 million per year."
"The latest cut will further help Corrimal Chamber of Commerce businesses to be competitive.
"The overall reductions in premiums are important, and we would hope continuing improvement in the scheme's performance will enable future reductions.
"The cuts will take apply to new or renewed policies from December 31.
NSW Business Chamber CEO, Kevin MacDonald said that while the overall reductions in premiums are welcome, it is also important the Scheme operates fairly between industry sectors and companies.
"We think it would be timely for WorkCover to review how the current premium system is working, whether premium rates for industries reflect their cost to the scheme and if there is equity between different sized companies.
"NSW Business Chamber has always held the view that fair and reasonable benefits for injured workers and affordable premiums are not mutually exclusive.
"It is important that benefit changes announced by the Government are properly targeted and do no add unstainable costs to the scheme."
