Newsletter - December 2022

Consortium Appointed to Circular Quay Revitalisation

The NSW Government has announced the consortium that has been appointed for the next design phase in the revitalisation of Sydney’s Circular Quay.

Transport for NSW Director, Eastern Harbour City, Julie Sundqvist, stated CQC Partners, a consortium that includes Lendlease Construction, Capella Capital and BESIX Watpac, has been chosen as the Planning and Design Partner for this major Sydney renewal investment.

“This partnership is a major milestone for Circular Quay’s revitalisation and brings us one step closer to transforming the centrepiece of Sydney’s beautiful harbour,” Ms Sundqvist said.?

The plan for Circular Quay's revitalisation calls for the construction of new wharves, improvements to the train station, the addition of new eateries, bars, and shops, the development of more connections for active transportation, and the improvement of public green areas.

This project will elevate Circular Quay's status as a stunning and unique destination reverted globally and create a more dynamic precinct for tourists and locals to enjoy.

CQC wants to honour the original custodians of the land by working with First Nations advisors, as well as award-winning Australian and international designers, to ensure the designs have a strong cultural connection with Circular Quay’s rich history and heritage.

“We look forward to working with CQC to deliver new and improved public spaces, connections, infrastructure and buildings that will breathe fresh life into one of Australia’s most visited destinations and a critical transport interchange in the heart of Sydney,” Ms Sundqvist said.?

Detailed design, community consultation and statutory planning will commence in 2023.

Parramatta Light Rail Receives First Vehicle in New Fleet

With the delivery of the first vehicle in the new fleet and the completion of almost all the light rail stop construction, the Parramatta Light Rail has achieved a significant new milestone.

According to Premier Dominic Perrottet, the government is still providing world-class transport to support Western Sydney's expanding communities.

“Western Sydney is one of the fastest growing regions in our country, with the population of Greater Parramatta alone set to climb by 50 per cent by 2041."

"That is why we are investing billions of dollars in transport and infrastructure now, to support this projected growth and ensure the region and its residents continue to thrive,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Once complete, the new Parramatta Light Rail will provide frequent, reliable transport services between Westmead and Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD, supporting residents, local businesses and the nearly 14,000 students who attend the nearby university.”

The new light rail cars will have low floors, full accessibility, air conditioning, dual electric and battery power with rechargeable batteries located on the roof to operate in two "wire-free" zones, bike racks, and real-time passenger count data.

According to David Elliott, Minister for Transport, Veterans, and Western Sydney, most of the key infrastructure work has now been finished, with 100% of the track placed and the light rail stops near to completion.

“The Perrottet Government continues to deliver major transport infrastructure to our Western Sydney commuters with a transformation taking place in Greater Parramatta as the Light Rail rapidly takes shape,” Mr Elliott said.

“The new 45-metre-long vehicle will be able to hold up to 400 passengers – the equivalent of six standard buses – taking cars off local roads and reducing traffic, giving people more time back in their day for the things they enjoy."

“It’s great to see overhead canopies for weather protection installed at 14 of the stops, with canopies to be in place at all 16 stops by the end of the year."

“Importantly, this project is providing a major boost to the local economy, supporting 5,000 local jobs and using around 4,000 tonnes of Australian steel."

“Silverwater-based manufacturing company Icon Metal has also been engaged to manufacture and install the prefabricated light rail stop components.”

Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said delivery of the light rail project will connect areas and assist people and visitors travel about and enjoying what Greater Parramatta has to offer.

The Parramatta Light Rail will provide high-frequency ‘turn-up-and-go’ light rail services seven days a week, every 7.5 minutes during peak periods (7 am to 7 pm) on weekdays.

On-track testing of the vehicles is expected to commence in mid-2023, with passenger services expected to commence in 2024.

Sydney Build Expo Confirms Climate Resilience and Sustainability Stages at March 2023 Event

Sydney Build Expo?has confirmed that Climate Resilience and Sustainability will both be key themes for next year’s event set to take place at the ICC Darling Harbour on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th March 2023.

In addition to seven other event stages, there will be a stage dedicated to Climate Resilience & Safety and a separate stage focused solely on Sustainability.?

“The effects of climate change have never been more pronounced, with flash floods and fires being just a small part of the long-term issues facing Australia and the world,” said?James McKenzie, Director for Sydney Build Expo.?“There is a huge push within the real estate industry to adapt and focus on more sustainable ways of building and also to mitigate the increasing risk of adverse events,” he continued.?

“Where and how to build safe and sustainable communities with the right buildings and infrastructure are important questions for government and industry.?Our event will bring thousands of stakeholders together to learn, connect and be inspired to address these challenges,” Mr McKenzie said.

The Climate Resilience & Safety stage is free for all to attend and will address topics such as fire, flooding, earthquake and natural disasters safety, building resilience to extreme weather conditions, quality assurance and defects.

Alison Scotland, Executive Director, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), will speak on a panel on decarbonising concrete.?“ASBEC is committed to a vision of more sustainable, productive and resilient buildings, communities and cities,” she said.?“It’s important to come together at events like Sydney Build Expo to discover solutions that enhance the built environment.”

The Sustainability stage will address topics such as the circular economy, net zero, embodied carbon management, regenerative design, renewable energy, building life cycles and ESG sustainability.

Jorge Chapa, Head of Market Transformation at Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), will speak on a panel on ESG sustainability.?“GBCA wants to accelerate the transformation of Australia’s built environment into one that is healthy, liveable, productive, resilient and sustainable,” he said.?“I’m looking forward to discussing how we can all work together on the pathway to net zero.”

Sydney Build Expo is a two-day event, with associated networking and CPD activities, attended by 10,000+ contractors, architects, engineers, home builders, property developers, industry associations, government and construction professionals.?

Spanning four exhibition halls at the ICC Darling Harbour, there will be 500+ exhibitors and 400+ speakers, many with a strong focus on construction solutions, emerging technology and digital innovation.?

Additional stages will cover Architecture & Design, Infrastructure, The Future of Construction, Digital Construction, Skills & Wellbeing and Diversity & Inclusion.?There will also be a Main Stage.

Quay Quarter Tower Was Named the 2022 World Building of the Year at WAF 2022

The Quay Quarter Tower by 3XN was named the World Building of the Year during a special ceremony?on the final day of this year's World Architecture Festival in Lisbon.

The 46-story Sydney tower, which kept about 65% of the original 1976 building and reportedly 95% of its core during the construction process that was finished in April 2022, serves as an industry-leading example of adaptive reuse. Over 7,500 tonnes of CO2 have been saved by the project. Those savings are equal to the carbon dioxide created by running the building for 2.5 years.

Paul Finch, Program?Director of the World Architecture Festival commented: "The winner was commissioned to provide a building on a world-class site and to retain a huge proportion of an existing fifty-year-old commercial tower."

"The result was an excellent example of adaptive reuse. It has an excellent carbon story and it is an example of anticipatory workspace design produced pre-COVID which nevertheless has provided healthy and attractive space for post-pandemic users."

"The client was prepared to risk building out an idea on a speculative basis – it worked."

Billbergia Tops Out North Sydney’s Tallest Tower, 88 Walker Street

The family-owned Billbergia Group has completed construction on a 50-story project in North Sydney that is the city's tallest mixed-use tower at 180 metres.

Designed by architects Fitzpatrick and Partners, 88 Walker Street includes 24 storeys of commercial office space, which was acquired earlier this year by LaSalle Investment Management.

Singapore-based Ascott Limited will be in charge of running the 252-key, four-star hotel. Two floors of visitor amenities will contain restaurants, bars, residents’ lounge, gymnasium and reception.

The Salesforce tower built by Lendlease at Circular Quay is taller at 55 stories and 263 metres. That topped out in May this year.

It’s been more than four years since Billbergia presented an amended development proposal to the North Sydney Council, growing the hotel and office complex by 13 floors from 35 to 48 storeys.

The building's cantilever design by Fitzpatrick and Partners increases the floor space from roughly 4000 square metres to more than 22,800 square metres while allowing it to sit suspended above the historically significant former North Sydney Fire Station.

“It is a great privilege to contribute to North Sydney’s revitalisation with the addition of such an iconic design to the city’s skyline,” Billbergia’s development manager Saul Moran said after the topping-out ceremony.

At its busiest, the site reportedly employed more than 210 people each day, according to Billbergia. The project is expected to generate at least 1000 jobs when completed, including permanent opportunities within the hotel and retail components.

The developers said the “relatively-constrained area of just 650 square metres” had faced several development challenges.

“The concept of cantilevering the building unlocked the ability for us to develop the air space above the Firehouse Hotel and maximise the efficiency of the tower,” Moran said.

Billbergia’s 88 Walker Street is scheduled for completion by mid-2023.