The NSW government has released a draft public spaces charter outlining a series of principles for a state with “more and better” public spaces.
A focus on public spaces has been a feature of the government’s messaging on urban development, with a new ministerial portfolio for public spaces created in 2019.
The proposed charter would be a resource to support the planning, design, management and activation of public spaces across the state.
It has been released for public comment alongside a draft “evaluation tool,” which has been developed with an international peer review panel, and is designed as a simple site survey that anyone can use to identify a public spaces strengths and areas for improvement. The information could be used to inform future planning, design, and investment.
Alex O’Mara, group deputy secretary at the planning and environment department, said the initiatives would help support the government’s priorities for greener spaces, which aims to increase walkable access to quality public space.
“COVID-19 is changing the way we use public space and has shone a light on how vital these places are to support healthy, happy, resilient communities,” she said.
“We want to use everything in our toolbox to consolidate and improve what we have and create more. We’re asking the community to help us design a tool that will allow people to tell us what they like about public spaces and where we can improve.”
The ten principles outlined in the charter are: open and welcoming; community-focused; culture and creativity; local character and identity; green and resilient; healthy and active; local business and economies; safe and secure; designed for people; and well-managed. You can read the draft principles here.
The draft public spaces charter and evaluation tool will be on public exhibition until 17 November. All state government agencies will be asked to endorse the final charter and local government and industry will be encouraged to adopt its principles.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
