Coalition of Glebe Groups (COGG) Priorities

 

Glebe And Forest Lodge Priorities for 2005 and beyond:

1. Glebe Point Road
The top priority for Glebe in 2005-06 is to make the suburb, and especially the community and commercial heart, Glebe Point Road, safer and more attractive to residents and visitors on foot and using bicycles or public transport. We urge Council to fund improvements to Glebe Point Road as a lead program in furthering its "City of Villages" concept.
Initial actions designed to achieve this goal include:

A) Reduce crime through coordination of an interagency group including relevant government departments and service providers. This is a political/administrative action with minor budget implications. An important objective for the interagency group will be the improvement of infrastructure, e.g. installation of CCTV where appropriate, and the installation of vandal-proof street lighting.

B) Conduct and implement a Traffic Management Study for Glebe, especially in the light of recent developments such as the Cross City Tunnel. The aim should be to reduce through traffic and improve pedestrian, cycle and public transport access. The study should include a parking strategy and the reclassification of Bridge Road for light traffic only. Funding for traffic-calming measures should be included.

C) Upgrade of Glebe Point Road starting at Broadway to increase attractiveness and pedestrianisation of commercial districts and integration with other development projects in Glebe (COGG will present a robust upgrade plan mid year). This strategy should include an integration of St Johns Road and Ross Street as one continuous commercial strip. The upgrade should plan to minimize commercial disruption where possible.

The plan should include but not be limited to the following:
** The Gateway to Sydney to be moved from Broadway to the entrance of Glebe Point Road.
** Widen footpaths at appropriate sites to improve pedestrian access and flow, and allow sufficient space for street seating, recycling and public art. Remove all unnecessary signs and remove or relocate whatever impedes pedestrian movement.
** Underground overhead wires to improve the streetscape and allow appropriate tree plantings to reach maturity and attractive shapes. In conjunction with undergrounding, install under-awning and footpath lighting in shopping strips to increase pedestrian and business safety, unify the street and illuminate shopfronts, including art displays.

D)
Marketing/Event Coordination resources for Glebe should be allocated to help 'City of Villages' concept. (COGG in coordination with the Glebe Point Revitalization Team will release a comprehensive Strategic Marketing plan by June 05)

E). Redesign and extend Minogue Reserve to create a more usable and attractive space for residents and a better pedestrian and cycle link between the Broadway Centre and Glebe Point Road. A program of incentives, such as combined cinema/café/restaurant tickets, and attractive signage to encourage pedestrian links should be included.

F). Institute a Heritage Loans Scheme to encourage owners of commercial properties to restore and improve their heritage buildings to the same standard as has occurred in residential parts of Glebe. The aim should be to enhance Glebe's heritage character and make it obvious and distinctive to residents and visitors on foot.

Actions (E) and (F) should be initiated in 2005 but may extend over a longer period.
Comprehensive plans relevant to Glebe are being developed by other groups representing a wide range of interests and will be available later in the yea

2. Foreshore walk
Complete construction of the foreshore walkway and cycleway from Bicentennial Park to the Sydney Fish Market, and the restoration and, in consultation with the Glebe community, the adaptive reuse of Bellevue. Funding for this project was allocated in previous Council budgets.

3. Town Plan
Develop, in consultation with the Glebe community, a new Glebe Town Plan based on the principles of Heritage Conservation and Sustainability in which:
a. protection for the Conservation Area and Heritage Items is updated and strengthened;
b. all elements that have special significance for the heritage character of Glebe are listed and described;
c. there are special provisions to ensure appropriate protection and treatment of the Conservation Area and Heritage Items in the DCP;
d. all new development is required to be sustainable and compatible with the existing scale and form of the suburb;
e. all new development is required to contribute to making the suburb's infrastructure sustainable;
f. development in all zones, including the Business Zone, is required to be sustainable;
g. any bonuses and special provisions (e.g. adaptive reuse) are required to be sustainable; and
h. there is provision for requiring masterplans.

4. Blackwattle Bay/Wentworth Park
Develop a concept for the future development of the Blackwattle Bay and Wentworth Park area, and seek support from State Government authorities in the implementation of this concept. Such a plan would address matters including:
a. the future use and development of the Blackwattle Bay (Bridge Road) wharves, and how they can be linked to the park and the foreshore walkway and cycleway;
b. developing better physical links between the park and surrounding residential areas with the aim of making it the natural recreation area for the increasing population of surrounding suburbs (Glebe, Pyrmont and Ultimo, the Fish Market and the new developments along Broadway;
c. how the area can become a link between Glebe and the CBD rather than a no-man's land dividing the two areas; and
d. the eventual restoration and redevelopment of the park when the greyhound racing clubs agree to relocate to a more relevant part of Sydney.

5. Walter Burley Griffin incinerator
Recognising the pending completion of its refurbishment, implement, in consultation with the Glebe community, a plan for the adaptive re-use of the Walter Burley Griffin incinerator.

6. Orphan School Creek
Secure, plan and implement the creation of attractive open space in the Orphan School Creek area.

7. Parks
Complete the upgrading of Foley Park in accordance with a plan of management agreed with the Glebe community, and proceed with the development and implementation of management plans for other major Glebe and Forest Lodge parks.

8. Ferry service
Conduct a feasibility study on the introduction of a ferry service linking Glebe with the CBD.

9. Council-owned heritage buildings
Commit to a program of restoring Council-owned heritage buildings in Glebe, particularly the Glebe Town Hall.

ON-GOING TASKS
10. Infrastructure and services
Ensure that basic infrastructure and services are properly maintained and where possible improved. Infrastructure and services include people-support services, particularly those directed to the aged and underprivileged, the Glebe library and in particular its ability to provide IT services to the community, and infrastructure such as lighting, drainage and footpaths.

11. Cleaning
Maintain a high standard of street and public space cleaning, paying particular attention to litter and graffiti. Implement a "respect your suburb" community responsibility education program.

12. Noise
Strictly enforce noise abatement guidelines against property owners who breach local codes, especially with respect to noise from air conditioning and similar plant and equipment.

On behalf of the Coalition of Glebe Groups (COGG):

The Glebe Chamber of Commerce Inc.
The Glebe Society Inc.
The Glebe Community Action Group
The Glebe Point Residents Group