AusLeisure

The NSW Government has announced that landscape expert Fiona Morrison will be its first Open Space and Parks Design Coordinator, a newly created role to oversee a package of green projects.

Revealing the appointment, NSW Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts stated “Ms Morrison’s appointment to this important role demonstrates the status this Government places on the greening of Sydney and the rest of NSW by providing communities with open spaces and recreational facilities such as parks and playgrounds.

“This new role is dedicated to greening Sydney and the state, providing communities with parks and recreational open space.

“I want to make sure that trees and canopy are a vital part of the city’s growth areas and major projects. Green open space is a fundamental element of planning for future communities.

“A planned network of parks, rivers, bushland and street trees supports a good quality of life in an urban environment and is as crucial to cities as transport, road upgrades, schools and health facilities.

“Sydney’s population is booming and our communities need to have dynamic, healthy and vibrant places to live, work and play.”

Morrison brings many years of experience and award-winning expertise in landscape and open space including roles with the development industry, University of Western Sydney and numerous local councils including Campbelltown, Ryde, Botany Bay, Woollahra and Newcastle.

Welcoming her new role Morrison stated “as Sydney and all our centres grow, we strive to ensure our roads and transport meet our growing community needs and we must also focus in making sure our suburbs and towns are places that we want to live in and are proud of.

“We can do this by creating parks and open spaces that offer a range of recreation opportunities to enjoy and streets that encourage the community to step out of their homes to go for a walk or a bike ride.

“Sydney is a spectacular city with an abundance of open space, parks and natural beauty and we must ensure that this remains accessible to all in the future, especially as our suburbs change.

“We need to provide parks for people who want to play sport, playgrounds that teach and challenge our children and open spaces that are designed for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.”

Minister Roberts said the new role would complement a free tree giveaway he announced earlier this year for people building complying development homes in greenfield, or new development, areas and oversee a planned tree canopy policy.

He added “the free tree initiative will improve the appearance of local neighbourhoods, lower energy bills by providing shade and reduced heat load, and provide habitat for native birds.

Morrison concluded “great cities around the world have teams that work to create amazing parks and open spaces and we should commend Minister Roberts for making sure Sydney continues to live up to its standing as a world leading livable city.” 

Image: Trees in Sydney's Centennial Park.

19th October 2017 - NSW NATIONAL PARKS’ 50TH ANNIVERSARY OVERSHADOWED BY POTENTIAL STAFFING CUTS

17th July 2016 - $10 MILLION INITIATIVE TO CHANGE THE GREENING OF PUBLIC SPACES 

2nd May 2016 - NSW GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT PLANS SUGGESTS CULLING OF 90% OF SNOWY MOUNTAINS BRUMBIES OVER 20 YEARS

3rd April 2016 - ALL MOUNTAIN TRAIL TO BOOST THREDBO’S STATUS AS AUSTRALIA’S ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN BIKE DESTINATION

4th February 2016 - SHOOTERS RESTRICT ACCESS TO NEW SYDNEY COASTAL NATIONAL PARK

15th October 2015 - NEW URBAN SANCTUARY FOR SYDNEY’S GREEN SQUARE

8th October 2015 - MORE THAN 39 MILLION VISITS TO NSW NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES IN 2014 

3th August 2015 - TRANSFORMED GOODS LINE WALKWAY CONNECTS SYDNEY’S RAILWAY SQUARE TO DARLING HARBOUR

12th November 2014 - ONLY ONE IN FOUR PROTECTED AREAS IS WELL MANAGED

31st October 2014 - SYDNEY PREPARES FOR ONCE IN A DECADE WORLD PARKS CONGRESS 

12th June 2014 - NSW GOVERNMENT TO BACK RAIL TRAILS

29th November 2013 - NSW GOVERNMENT REPORT FINDS STATEWIDE LOSS OF PARKS AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE 

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