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 its 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 of 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 roles of State agencies and local councils, government arrangement 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 20 Infrastructure and collaboration Greater Sydney Commission | North District Plan 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 N6).

In the North District, the following areas have been identified as places where the Greater Sydney Commission will chair the Collaboration processes to initiatives being led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment:

• St Leonards health and education precinct and Planned Precinct, which will bring together North Sydney Council, Lane Cove Council, Willoughby City Council, NSW Roads and Maritime Services, Transport for NSW, and NSW Health and other State agencies to grow jobs, housing and infrastructure within the precinct.
• Macquarie Park health and education precinct and Planned Precinct, which will bring together City of Ryde Council, NSW Health, Transport for NSW and NSW Roads and Maritime Services and other State agencies to grow jobs and infrastructure within the precinct.
• Frenchs Forest health and education precinct and Planned Precinct, which will bring together Northern Beaches Council, UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation, NSW Health, NSW Department of Education, Transport for NSW and NSW Roads and Maritime Services and other State agencies to grow jobs, housing and infrastructure within the precinct.

These processes also include consultation with major businesses, health and education institutions. Other collaborative processes in the District include:

• Cherrybrook Planned Precinct, led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, as part of the Sydney Metro Northwest Urban Renewal Corridor, which will bring together Hornsby Shire Council, The Hills Shire Council, Transport for NSW, NSW Roads and Maritime Services and other State agencies to maximise the land use benefits of Sydney Metro Northwest.
• Ingleside Growth Area, led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, which will bring together the Northern Beaches Council, UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation, Transport for NSW, NSW Roads and Maritime Services, and other State agencies to plan for new housing and infrastructure.
• Ivanhoe Estate Communities Plus program, led by Land and Housing Corporation, which will bring together State agencies to lead housing initiatives and provide an integrated community including social housing.

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 the Greater Sydney Green Grid through the administration and management of the Metropolitan Greenspace Program (refer to Planning Priority N19).