Working through collaboration

Collaboration in the planning and delivery of infrastructure, housing, jobs and great places is essential to realise the full benefits of growth.

The complexities of a growing region mean different approaches are required depending on the context. This ranges from nationally significant investment, corridors of renewal and land release, to a focus on a specific strategic centre or precinct.

The role of the collaboration also varies: it may be for the development of an integrated strategy where alignment of agencies is critical, for coordination of investment across different tiers of government to achieve land use outcomes, or for the delivery of specific projects.

Table 1 outlines the approaches supporting land use and infrastructure planning and delivery.

The suite of Collaboration Areas, Growth Areas and Planned Precincts are highlighted throughout this District Plan.

The Greater Sydney Commission's facilitation role in bringing together various parties with an interest in the District's future and channelling their collective energy into improved planning outcomes is demonstrated by Collaboration Areas and support for collaborative processes. This collaborative approach is underpinned by Directions for a Greater Sydney and is central to the way the Commission works.

The responsibility for creating great places does not rest with any one organisation. As a non-statutory initiative, Collaboration Areas offer a new way of working to deliver improved planning outcomes that support growth and change. Collaboration Areas are a place-based process led by the Greater Sydney Commission to address complex issues that require cross-stakeholder solutions. This will be undertaken by identifying and aligning the activities and investments of government and stakeholders, based on evidence, to deliver significant regional and district liveability, productivity and sustainability outcomes.

Other collaboration roles by the Commission include providing expert advice on significant regional and district collaborations led by other State agencies such as the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's Planned Precincts.

Each Collaboration Area starts with a Collaboration Area Agreement. The Agreement is a governance tool that sets out the shared vision and purpose, outputs and membership of each Collaboration Area. The collaborative process is characterised by:

• transparency: share information openly
• consistency: speak with one voice about the Collaboration Area
• respect: recognise that everyone has a view to contribute
• early involvement: involve stakeholders throughout the process
• exploration: explore and understand all perspectives before finalising recommendations.

A tailored approach for each Collaboration Area is established through the following steps. Members of each Collaboration Area will:

• establish a shared vision for the area
• identify impediments and opportunities
• agree to priorities for the Collaboration Area
• identify projects and initiatives to deliver the vision.

These elements will be documented in a Place Strategy which will identify the role of State agencies and local councils, governance arrangements and strategies and actions required to deliver the desired outcomes for the area. It is also likely that these outcomes will be reflected in updates to the District Plan to provide enhanced clarity on the priorities for the area, and provide certainty to the community and the private sector, and inform the NSW Government's investment and policies to creating great places (refer to Planning Priority E6). In the Eastern City District, the following have been identified as places where the Greater Sydney Commission will chair collaboration processes:

• Camperdown-Ultimo health and education precinct, led by the Commission, will bring together the City of Sydney, Inner West Council, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, University of Notre Dame Sydney Campus, TAFE Ultimo and medical research institutions.
• Randwick health and education precinct, led by the Commission, will bring together Randwick City Council, the University of NSW Kensington Campus, Prince of Wales public and private hospitals, the Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children's Hospital.
• Rhodes East - where the Commission will facilitate collaboration between the City of Canada Bay, utility providers, Transport for NSW, NSW Department of Planning and Environment and other key institutions and agencies to develop a long-term sustainability initiative

Other projects in the District which involve a collaborative process between various agencies include:

• Central to Eveleigh Urban Transformation Strategy - the Strategy is being realised through a number of linked, but separate, projects being led by Transport for NSW and the NSW Department of Family and Community Services with support from UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation.
• Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Corridor, led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, provides a framework for development that is cohesive with the existing character and amenity.
• Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, initially developed by UrbanGrowth NSW, will be a collaboration between councils implementing the Strategy, supported by the Commission.
• Bayside West is a Growth Area being led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and includes the Arncliffe Communities Plus project, which will deliver a mix of social, affordable and private dwellings.

Additional projects where collaboration will assist with outcomes are outlined in Planning Priority E5. Collaboration is key in delivering other land use projects that support growth and change.

Planned Precincts will be consistent with the objectives and strategies of A Metropolis of Three Cities and this District Plan. They will be delivered in collaboration with councils and informed by the asset plans of relevant agencies. Planned Precincts will be supported by a Special Infrastructure Contribution or similar satisfactory arrangement to help fund the delivery of essential community infrastructure such as health facilities, schools, open space and roads.

The Greater Sydney Commission is also collaborating with local councils to improve regional open space and deliver Greater Sydney's Green Grid through the administration and management of the Metropolitan Greenspace Program (refer to Planning Priority E17).