After the team explored some of the sites around the city, each individually worked up some concepts. On regrouping, each shared their ideas and preliminary designs for futher exploration.
The common themes related to the city centre, to be addressed by the team are city activity, connections and access.
The city is not currently the desination of choice for shopping, recreation and dining, as the suburban commercial centres have developed closer to the population. This has resulted in a high rate of vacant commercial spaces in the city.
The train line has been a divisive issue in the community with two polarised camps:
1. "Remove the train line to reactivate the city through improving the connection with the waterfront and the natural assets of the city." - where the train line is seen as a visual, padestrian and vehicle barrier to the Hunter River and the re-developed public, residential and commercial spaces.
2. "Public transport access is essential. Once the city is reactivated, there will be greater demand for rail access."
The underlying common issue is ACCESS: to the city (public transport) and within the city (connection/movement between the city spaces)
It became clear that the train debate and finding a way forward that considers these factors, is central to the life of the city centre and therefore required consideration in the teams design.
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