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sydney-city-centre-review-of-environmental-factors

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zones, loading zones, mobility parking, authorised vehicle zones, other<br />

authorised parking zones and general on-street parking).<br />

Surface drainage and utility modifications, some tree pruning and removal, and road<br />

furniture relocation would also be needed to support the proposed footpath,<br />

intersection and kerb width adjustments.<br />

For ease <strong>of</strong> reference, the proposal has been split across five precincts (refer to<br />

Figure 1-1 in Chapter 1):<br />

Precinct 1: north-west<br />

Precinct 2: retail<br />

Precinct 3: southern<br />

Precinct 4: college<br />

Precinct 5: financial.<br />

Each precinct contains one or more <strong>of</strong> the 17 work site locations (refer to Table S-1<br />

below).<br />

The proposal is being assessed under Part 5 <strong>of</strong> the Environmental Planning and<br />

Assessment Act 1979 (the EP&A Act). Subject to planning approval, construction is<br />

anticipated to start in the first half <strong>of</strong> 2015 and it would take up to one year to<br />

complete due to the complexities <strong>of</strong> programming the works to avoid significant<br />

impacts on the <strong>city</strong>’s traffic and transport.<br />

Traffic management controls and lane closures would be required at many <strong>of</strong> the<br />

work sites. Consequently, in order to minimise impacts on some <strong>of</strong> Sydney’s busiest<br />

roads, the majority <strong>of</strong> the construction works would need to take place outside <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Environmental Noise Management Manual (Roads and Maritime, 2001)<br />

recommended standard construction hours <strong>of</strong> 7.00am to 6pm Monday to Friday,<br />

8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays and no works on public holidays or Sundays (termed<br />

‘out <strong>of</strong> hours’ work). This would achieve the most efficient and shortest construction<br />

program to be achieved. Affected residents would be notified and consulted prior to<br />

out-<strong>of</strong>-hours’ work as detailed in Chapter 7.<br />

The proposal may be <strong>review</strong>ed once 40 per cent <strong>of</strong> George Street is pedestrianised<br />

under the CBD and South East Light Rail (CSELR), to ensure the traffic capa<strong>city</strong><br />

improvements are operating effectively and to confirm the need for any modifications.<br />

Any changes to the proposal may be subject to separate <strong>environmental</strong> assessment,<br />

determination, and community and stakeholder consultation.<br />

Need for the proposal<br />

The proposal is required to support the growing demand for access into the Sydney<br />

<strong>city</strong> <strong>centre</strong> and to improve road network functionality over the coming years, including<br />

during construction and operation <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> projects proposed under the<br />

Access Strategy.<br />

The Access Strategy prioritises and allocates street space in the <strong>city</strong> <strong>centre</strong> for light<br />

rail, pedestrians and cyclists, private vehicles, buses, taxies, freight and service<br />

vehicles, in order to address existing competing and conflicting transport priorities<br />

and deliver an integrated transport network in the <strong>city</strong> <strong>centre</strong>.<br />

In support <strong>of</strong> the Access Strategy, a number <strong>of</strong> projects are proposed to be<br />

constructed and operated in the <strong>city</strong> <strong>centre</strong> over the coming years, including the<br />

approved CSELR and Sydney City Centre Bus Infrastructure projects and<br />

Sydney City Centre Capa<strong>city</strong> Improvement Plan<br />

Review <strong>of</strong> Environmental Factors<br />

ii

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