Planning Greater Sydney Districts – St George Case Study

Abstract

Planning of the St George District, the third of three case study districts of Greater Sydney, is examined in this chapter. The chapter acknowledges the Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 proposed mergers and expanding the boundaries of nominated councils noted in Chap. 2. Having examined the question of global transition and planning practices of the three municipalities within the District (Chaps. 14, 15 and 16), the chapter addresses: (1). planning the St George District as a whole; and, (2). the extent the State (responsible for district planning) is meeting the planning issues of the District. Key planning principles as adopted in Chapter 2 to apply to Greater Sydney (and this district) are reviewed. These key principles include: (1). Developing Sustainable Urban Centres; (2). Developing Sustainable Transport; and, (3). Protecting the Natural Environment. Sample plans and developments within St George are critiqued under each of these principles. After reaching a conclusion under each principle, an overall conclusion will be drawn on extent the State (planning the District) is meeting the planning issues of the District. Finally, it’s noted that these St George District conclusions will be assessed alongside conclusions reached in examining Sydney Inner West District (Chaps. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) and Greater Parramatta District (Chaps. 10, 11, 12 and 13). All these conclusions are examined in Chapter 18 (examining directions for planning a sustainable Greater Sydney or a sustainable city anywhere).

Plate 17.1

Past Citizens of St George District. Left to right Miles Franklyn; Sumner Locke; Christina Stead; and H.V. Evatt. (Source Hurstville Council Archives 2015)

A snippet on each of the identities follows:

Miles Franklyn (1879–1954) was an Australian writer and feminist who is best known for her novel My Brilliant Career,

Sumner Locke Elliott (1917–1991) was an Australian (later American) novelist.

Christina Stead (1902–1983) was an Australian novelist and short-story writer acclaimed for her satirical wit and penetrating psychological characters.

Dr H.V. Evatt (1894–1965) was an Australian judge, lawyer, parliamentarian and writer. (Source Wikipedia 2015)