Sydney has grand designs for the future of Circular Quay

CIRCULAR QUAY may play an even bigger  role in the future of Sydney than it has in the past, with grand designs for it to ‘re-connect' with the city itself and boost the visitor experience.

 

Reconnecting Circular Quay to the city, improving public access to the harbour and creating more open spaces around the foreshore are all on the ‘to do' list at tonight's University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Zunz Lecture on the future of Sydney.

Sponsored by engineering consultants Arup and the City of Sydney, the ‘Re-imagining the City's gateway' event is part of the University of Technology's Zunz annual lecture series aimed at stimulating high-quality public dialogue on the future of the city.

As it happens, this year's Zunz lecture  marks the end of the month-long Sydney Opera House 40th birthday celebrations.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said improving people's experience of Circular Quay by reconnecting the harbour to the rest of the city was crucial to Sydney's future liveability.

"The opportunity to reconnect Circular Quay to the rest of the city for millions of visitors is one of the greatest challenges, and opportunities, of our city's future," the Lord Mayor said.

"The harbourfront - as Jorn Utzon recognised so well - provides a natural focus for people, and Circular Quay has some of our city's strongest cultural assets like the Sydney Opera House, the MCA, Customs House and the Museum of Sydney.

"Sadly it is being held back by mistakes of the past that cut it off from the rest of the city. At the moment Circular Quay is a congested space, made worse by the lack of clear wayfinding and visible visitor information.

"The introduction of light rail and transformation of George Street provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-work Circular Quay as our foremost cultural hub, while also being the city's grand entry point.

"I am keen to hear from the Zunz lecture's expert panel and look forward to beginning a conversation to help people imagine a better future for Circular Quay."

Ms Moore  will join with civic leaders, planning, tourism and transport experts who will share their vision for a more accessible and engaging Circular Quay at a panel discussion at the Sydney Opera House this evening.

The City of Sydney's Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision proposes removing the Cahill Expressway to improve access and views to the water, as well as renewing the public square in front of Customs House with more spaces for people.

There are also plans for creating a cultural ribbon to better connect public art, museums, galleries, theatres and other creative institutions along the harbour foreshore.

Hosted by Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron, the Zunz Lecture will include panel members: 

• Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore - Lord Mayor of Sydney, with a vision and passion for what the gateway to the city can become and what that means for its residents;
• Bruce Baird - Chairman of the Tourism & Transport Forum, on the opportunity to better connect the precinct with Sydney's community and its visitors;
• Malcolm Smith - leader of Arup's Masterplanning practice worldwide, bringing a global perspective on urban development and reinvigoration and its application to this key precinct;
• Prof. Roy Green - Dean of the Business School at UTS, on what the city's transformation into a creative, digital, entrepreneurial powerhouse, can contribute to its gateway; and
• Louise Mason - managing director of AMP Capital Office & Industrial, bringing a view on the role of business and commerce in transforming the city's key precincts.

The UTS Zunz Lecture ‘Re-imagining the City's gateway' opens at the Sydney Opera House Playhouse at 5.30pm for a 6pm start. Entry costs $30 for adults, $20 for students and $20 for UTS alumni.

www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/reimagining_the_quay.aspx

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