Sydney 2035 Masterplan - Western Sydney Aerotropolis

Like many cities around the world, to plan for future growth of cities as well as incorporating United Nations sustainable development goals. Every city including Sydney drafted a master plan with a vision. Cities are organised so that many people can reach one another, and important destinations, in a short amount of time, whether on foot, or by bike, bus, train, ferry, or car. The most accessible cities maximise the destinations people can reach in a reasonable amount of time, even at modest speeds. Outside cities, travel speed, particularly by automobile, tends to be higher, but people and places are also farther apart.

Planners and urban designers have given reorganisation recognise that private transport modes have several negative effects (wasting scarce space, causing pollution and crashes), and they encourage people to walk more and drive less. However, most major cities around the world continue to create and maintain traffic systems that give preference to people who use cars instead of those who prefer to travel by foot. The Greater Sydney Commission proposed a 40-year vision of a metropolitan region consisting of three “cities”: the Eastern “Harbour” City, the Central “River” City, and the Western “Parkland” City. This plan aims to create 30-minute cities, where each community would get access to services and jobs in three largely self-contained but connected region

Creating Greenfield precincts in particular brings in investments that come in the form of, offices, convention centres, community complexes, retail, food and beverage establishments, and hotels. This also helps to build and promote health, wellness, entertainment, leisure, and education facilities for the communities. An aerotropolis precinct creates an opportunity that can be appealing to investors and end-users of this diverse set of functions. Its overarching strategic planning along with real estate and business acumen can further assist in its sustainability.

Incorporating United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Most cities have adopted the United Nations sustainable development visions for 2035 and beyond. So has Sydney with its 10-minute city as well as the 3-city concept. When the western Sydney aerotropolis was planned and designed, in specific Bradfield city centre master plan was considered, Goal number 11, Sustainable city and communities in specific, Sustainable cities and Human Settlement is its main focus.

For creating a sustainable residential neighbourhood, the following principles apply

1. High densities: As a result of high population growth and large urbanization, there is an urgent need for the rational use of land to accommodate growth and urbanization with a minimum of 150 people/ha.

2. Social interaction: States can achieve social interaction by providing different types and sizes of housing units and prices within the capacity of the various groups of society, provided that the countries allocate 20-50% of the total area of housing and low-cost.

3. Mixed use of land: Mixed use provides many economic and environmental advantages,

providing jobs and various commercial activities, increasing pedestrian traffic, limiting the use of cars within residential areas, and allocating 40% of land for commercial use of each residential neighbourhood to strengthen the local economy.

4. Single-use function: promote mixed-use and reduce the use of single-function not to exceed 10% of any neighbourhood.

5. Efficiency of street networks: promoting the use of public transport, cycling and pedestrian development to encourage pedestrian traffic and street development.

Sustainable Transport Grids and Connectivity

Located 56 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD and adjacent to the Western Sydney Airport. The Bradfield master plan which is entirely a greenfield development does not give enough clarity on how the rail and bus networks would be connected to other commercial hubs such as Parramatta CBD and Sydney CBD. Without clear access to public transport would only make its residents more dependent on private cars which over time would add to traffic congestion and increase the overall carbon footprint for the area. This could also have a long-term negative impact on the lifestyle of the residents and the environment.

One of the challenges that the area would face is how would the residents of around 6,000 + new residents of Bradfield City be less reliant on cars and more on public transport which will be a safe mode of transportation that has a lower impact on the environment. A mode of transport that puts less stress on the transport grid and the road network at the same is practical for the residents to use. A good system of environmentally friendly forms of transport such as walkways and cycling lanes should also be considered. This could be done by building a high-quality active travel network by connectivity to the commercial precinct of Bradfield, the Western Sydney airport as well as M5 and M4. Road networks are designed to it encourage a reduction in carbon emissions through smart city design. Designing cycle lanes that not only connect Bradfield city but would be the major hubs in the area.

Sustainable Designs - Housing

The western Sydney aerotropolis region and surrounding growth centres get hotter in summer and cooler in winter in comparison to the Greater Sydney region. It is estimated that the West Sydney region, especially the Southwestern growth corridor would have a larger impact due to climate change. In the future, we will have more days where the temperature will range over 45 + degrees, with a higher impact from bushfires and flooding. Impacts of climate change would be felt more in this region which could lead to health issues for its residents, a strain on its resources and overall quality of life. Therefore, sustainable design of homes would become increasingly important in the long-term to provide a good quality of life for its residents and wider community that is sustainable in the long run. 

Part of the Western Sydney aerotropolis, Bradfield City would be the only precinct in the areas that would have dedicated zoning for residential dwellings. The ideal demographics of who would call the city home would most likely be young families seeking to live closer to employment or housing that is affordable along with a region that can provide the required lifestyle needed for a young family. The segment is not identified, and the risks of future climate change can cause

Sydney needs over 33,000 new homes a year according to the NSW Department of Planning but last year the housing completions were 5,000 below this target. Bradfield being a greenfield planning development and in the Southwest growth corridor, the type of house with future changes due to climate change along with dangers to over-development could have a larger impact on the local ecology as well as impacts on quality of life for the area. 

Housings and buildings that use extreme nature to their advantage could be a solution to building sustainable housing. Buildings that have a long axis, facing the north should be preferred as they can maximise on windows to allow sunlight in during the winter and large eaves to stop the summer sun from shining in. This is one way of using sun height to your advantage. Many times, rooms that are used during the day, living room, and common spaces should be placed on the northern side of the building as this is the side of the building that will benefit most from passive solar heat. Bedrooms and other rooms that are mostly used in the evening and night can be positioned on the southern side since the sun has no impact at that time.