Community inspiration sought for city laneway redesign

Artist's impression of what Railway Serviceway could look like once tactical urbanism interventions have been installed.

Liverpool City Council is partnering with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) for a temporary overhaul of a laneway in the Liverpool city centre, to create a colourful new public space with painted surface treatments, potted plants, public art, shade and seating.

The tactical urbanism project will involve flexible low-cost projects temporarily being installed in Railway Serviceway, which experiences high foot traffic, with Council and DPIE now seeking the community’s input to help inform the final concept design.

“The temporary laneway redesign will help improve pedestrian safety and shape Railway Serviceway into a new shared public space for people who work, study, live in and visit Liverpool to enjoy,” Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said.

“Tactical urbanism is a fantastic opportunity to trial long-term streetscape improvements to improve amenity and support local businesses in an affordable way.

“Temporary interventions could include painted surface treatments, potted plants, public art, shade and seating, but to get the right balance we’re calling on the community for their feedback and ideas.”

The project is being delivered in partnership with DPIE as part of its Places to Love Program, with tactical urbanism interventions to be installed in late 2020 and remain in place for a period of 12 months or more dependent on community feedback.

DPIE’s Public Spaces Executive Director, Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, said the Places to Love program will encourage and test quality improvements and ideas in open spaces, public facilities and streets across the state.

“We want everyone to reimagine and reinvigorate public spaces and Liverpool City Council’s rejuvenation of Railway Street is a great example of making a space work harder for the betterment of local business and the community,” Dr Butler-Bowden said.

Mayor Waller said the project marked a milestone for Council’s highly regarded Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Master Plan.

“The Railway Serviceway tactical urbanism project will be one of the first of 76 projects to be implemented as part of our Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Master Plan,” Mayor Waller said.

“The Master Plan is our 10-year vision for reshaping public spaces and paving the way to a greener, more vibrant and active Liverpool city centre while fostering an 18-hour economy.

“Wider footpaths, dedicated cycleways, more street trees and vegetation, public art, better furniture, pedestrian lighting and new paving materials are among the improvements suggested in the plan that will improve accessibility and amenity for people from all walks of life.”

Members of the public are encouraged to visit listens.liverpool.nsw.gov.au to provide feedback about the Railway Serviceway project by 18 September 2020.

About the Places to Love Program Throughout 2020 the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has been working closely with six councils – three each from Sydney and regional NSW – to deliver public space projects focused on improving walkable access, and the quality of open spaces, public facilities and streets.

About Liverpool City Council Liverpool is one of the largest local government areas in metropolitan Sydney, Australia, with more than 220,000 residents living in 42 suburbs. Home to Western Sydney International Airport, the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Liverpool Innovation Precinct, Liverpool is emerging as Sydney’s third CBD and Liverpool City Council is working to make the growing city a wonderful place to live, work, invest, study and visit. At the heart of every council is our ability to deliver local community services – such as the maintenance of parks, roads and collecting household waste.