Civic Improvement Plan - Wollongong City Council - NSW Government

3. Special city centre projects3.3 CIVIC AND CULTURAL PRECINCTREVITALISATIONThe purpose of the Civic and Cultural PrecinctRevitalisation project is to rejuvenate andreactivate the precinct and civic squares as themain place and focus to celebrate civic events,community activities, social gatherings, and asa day-to-day public place for workers, residentsand visitors in the city centre.The main planning and design principles forthe Civic and Cultural Precinct Revitalisation(see Figure 3.4) are:• community uses in adjoining buildingssuch as library, art gallery, and museum;• active building frontages onto outdoorcivic spaces with retail shopfront, café/restaurant uses;• improved relationship and interfacebetween building forms and outdoorcivic spaces;• building forms and designs that definethe civic squares;• visual and pedestrian access connectionsbetween Crown and Burelli Streets;• permeable buildings around the perimeterof the civic squares for public pedestrianaccess through the buildings;• sunlight access maintained in autumn,winter and spring to outdoor civic squares;• functional landscaping and public furnitureto connect the different buildings andspaces in the Civic Precinct and providea high level of amenity and functionality;• high level of sense of safety and securitythrough lighting, active uses and passivesurveillance, CCTV and limited opportunitiesfor crime;• incorporation of ESD measures wherepractical (eg. water sensitive urban design,solar power lights etc.);• incorporation of residential and commercialfunctions to keep the precinct alive afterbusiness hours.The Civic and Cultural Precinct Revitalisationproject is estimated to cost $21million. Thisdoes not include the redevelopment of themain entertainment venue.Cultural ExpressionThe Civic Square and Burelli Street andassociated squares and lanes form thebackbone of the Civic and Cultural Precinctin Wollongong. The revitalisation of thisprecinct, including the provision of newcommunity facilities and associated squares,would rebrand Wollongong as the culturalcentre of the region. This precinct should beconsidered as a whole, with art, public spaceand cultural facilities working together to createa vibrant and memorable precinct focusing onperformance, celebration, festivals, markets,art and outdoor dining. Funding should allowfor artworks of scale, quality and regional ornational significance in the precinct.FIGURE 3.4 CIVIC PRECINCTREVITALISATION28 WOLLONGONG CITY CENTRE CIP 2007