Monorail Removal Project - Review of Environmental Factors (REF)

11. Socio-economics and land use11.1 Assessment approach and methodologyThis section provides the results of the socio-economic and land use assessment of theproposal. The assessment involved the following tasks:• reviewing background information on the proposal and the socio-economic and land useenvironment of the study area• undertaking a site inspection of the Monorail route and surrounding land uses• preparing a land use survey and a photographic record of key features of the localenvironment• analysis of available survey data:– Monorail users (Monorail Profile Research, 2009 produced by the then privateoperator and owner)– communities (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census of Population andHousing, 2006 and 2011)– visitors (Destination NSW, Travel to Sydney Data, year ended June 2012 andPrecincts data, May 2011)– businesses (City of Sydney Visitor Accommodation Monitor, April 2011 and FloorSpace and Employment Survey, 2006)– City of Sydney’s Draft Economic Development Framework (February 2007).• preparing a profile of the existing community that may be impacted by the proposal• identifying the changes/impacts that may occur as a result of the proposal on the socioeconomicand land use environment• undertaking a desktop analysis of the potential negative and positive impacts, and directand indirect impacts of the proposal on the environment• developing mitigation measures, including plans and strategies for monitoring andmanaging the impacts identified.This section provides the results of the assessment. It describes the existing social, economicand land use environment of the study area; assesses the potential impacts of the proposal onthis environment; and identifies measures to respond to the predicted impacts.11.2 Existing environment11.2.1 Land useThe City of Sydney LGA is densely urbanised. Land in the area is intensively used for a varietyof purposes, including residential and commercial use as well as tourist and cultural attractions,parks and open space. It is home to the highest commercial and residential densities inAustralia. As noted in section 2.3, the proposal site and study area consist of a wide range ofland uses, including:• Retail – including major retail developments such as Harbourside, World Square,Galeries Victoria, the Queen Victoria Building, Westfield, Paddy’s Markets, the southernend of Pitt Street Mall and above Town Hall Arcade.• Business/commercial – including various commercial office towers and developments.GHD | Transport for NSW - Monorail Removal Project REF | 103