Major Projects Completed to Date

• Pirama Park and Kiosk (Water Police Site) - 2010
• Under the Freeway Art Installation – 2010
• Union Street cycleway - 2010
• Harris St, Pyrmont Upgrade – 2009
• Environmental Grant to the Pyrmont Ultimo Landcare Group in 2007/08 - Ongoing
• Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre – 2007
• Ada Place Park upgrade – 2006.

Projects Underway

• Ultimo Pedestrian Network (UPN) – currently in development with major precinct stakeholders UTS, SHFA, ABC, Tafe NSW, Darling Harbour Business Association and the Powerhouse Museum
• Wentworth Park upgrade – including removing old sports facilities from under the railway viaducts, removal of the fence on Wattle Street and new lighting and footpaths to improve sightlines and open up the park - currently underway.

About City West

Ultimo and Pyrmont began as a place of seafaring and industry, contributing much to the early prosperity of colonial Sydney. The peninsula, whose traditional custodians are the Gadigal people, was soon surrounded by wharves. The area developed as warehouses, factories, pubs and narrow laneways of row houses and cottages to accommodate the local workers.

Gradually declining in the post war decades, the residential population of Pyrmont and Ultimo dwindled to around 3,200 by 1992, with a working population of 14,000.

With the property boom of the late 1980s, the old area was connected with the Darling Harbour redevelopment and gained the Powerhouse Museum, Chinese Garden, Maritime Museum, Star City Casino, Monorail and walkway to the City - giving the villages of Pyrmont and Ultimo a new place in the global city of Sydney.

The City West Urban Renewal Program set out to transform the old maritime and industrial community into a lively inner City urban community. By 2001 there were 11,943 residents and a working population of 24,284 in Ultimo and Pyrmont.

Still characterised by warehouses and wool stores - reminders of a once active industrial waterfront - many are now offices for the knowledge and creative information industries that are clustered in Pyrmont and Ultimo. Others have been converted to waterside, warehouse and loft apartments or have inspired the design of new multi story apartments for young professionals, empty nesters and families with children wanting an inner City waterfront lifestyle at Pyrmont Point.

Ultimo, with its close connection to Chinatown and the universities, has attracted a large Chinese Australian population. Its proximity to the City, Broadway, the Universities, Central and Darling Harbour is highly prized.

Ultimo and Pyrmont have cachet as the right address for firms in graphic design, media, advertising, music and television.
Harris Street, with its heritage buildings around historic Union Square, is a focal point for residents, who love the village feel that has been retained amid high-rise and high density development.

The people of Pyrmont and Ultimo enjoy the Sydney Fish Market, the harbour foreshore walk to the City, nearby Wentworth Park and the mosaic of neighbourhood pocket parks stretching from UTS to the urban greens of Pyrmont Point.

The growing student population, both residents and those travelling from other areas, has added to the multi-layered character of the neighbourhoods.

Share Community Values

As a result of Council's review of the material gathered during the consultation process, shared community values have been developed as a framework for the long-term revitalisation of City West. Below is a snapshot of your values, aspirations and some suggested ideas reflecting them.

Celebrating industrial and harbour heritage

"We love the container ships, the working wharves and the old converted wharfs now transformedto modern offices."

• Heritage scheme for building owners on Harris Street
• Promoting heritage incentives
• Historic and heritage information plaques program.

People before cars

"A peaceful island like quality and yet so close to the City. "

• Pedestrian and cycleway programs
• Traffic calming
• Public transport improvements
• Local speed limits and streetscape upgrades.

A sustainable inner city village

"It is central and multi–cultural so one can share many different realities. "

• Progressive introduction of sustainable management of all aspects of Council's services.
• Pyrmont to become a model of an inner City green village.
• Increasing walking, cycling and public transport.

Safe, clean, friendly

"Views, heritage and tranquility – most days... seeing the water's edge. "

• Lighting and pavement improvements
• Education on responsible pet ownershipand the benefits of pets
• Village pride partnerships
• Police on the beat"good neighbour" strategy for Star City casino
• Youth engagement strategy – social development programs, drop-in centres and community spaces.

Community, creative, cultural and strategic partnerships to advance a range of community building and project strategies

"The proximity to the City as a wonderful venue for leisure, exercise, entertainment, dining, cultural events and all the different festivals and functions at Tumbalong Park and Darling Harbour. "

• Community arts and creative projects
• Community health and service projects
• Economic and brand strategies
• Community green space and infrastructure improvements

• Development as a creative media and design hub.