Sydney Opera House conservation plan

–48–32. Unacceptable ‘temporary’ (i.e. longstay) venue for hire located against thenorth wall of the podium. The air conditioningplant is on the right and theservicing trucks are out of the picture onthe left. The structure remained in placefrom September 2002 to April 2003. JSKphotograph 19.9.2002.Policy 3.1 The erection of long stay structures as venues for hire (orfor any other purpose) is unacceptable on the forecourt, broadwalk andpodium stairs and platform.Policy 3.2 Long stay commercial concessions to sell merchandise andfoodstuffs with their attendant service, supply, storage, waste, sign andshelter requirements are inappropriate on the forecourt, broadwalk andpodium stairs and platform.Apart from the visual intrusion in heritage spaces of such importanceto the Opera House itself, the cumulative effect of thegrowth of such outlets and venues results in an awkwardincrease in infrastructure needs and housekeeping andsupervision problems.While policy 3.2 on commercial concessions remains a validprinciple, there are circumstance in which (and processesby which) food and drinks outlets may become acceptable.Where they are placed, how they are designed and requirementsfor associated infrastructure and servicing will bedetermining issues. Such proposals should go through theprocesses outlined in the last section on managing changeto establish whether, how and where they may be introduced.The forecourt, broadwalk and podium have been, and willbe, seen as a splendid place for a whole range of impedimenta:freestanding sculptures, planter beds, statues tobenefactors, memorial tablets on plinths, avenues of flagstandards, and a surfeit of bollards, railings and directionalsigns to guide the unwary have all been, or are likely to be,proposed. In order to preserve the stark and dramaticpresentation of the Opera House, the unnecessary shouldbe resisted and the necessary kept to an absolute minimum.32a North-eastern broadwalk in 1993with vision across the broadwalkretained. JSK photograph 93.9.10.Policy 3.3 Objects should only be permitted on the forecourt,lower forecourt sea wall path, broadwalk, podium deck andsteps, if they do not interrupt or intrude upon the open and unclutteredcharacter of the place, or if they are absolutely necessary for the safety ofvisitors.