Urbis Think Tank
Sydney food trucks show Council innovation
Content provided by Tom Goode
The latest ‘urban vitality’ craze in New York, LA and London is hitting Sydney streets. The City of Sydney has appointed Urbis to manage the Development Approval process for the 13 Food Truck trading zones, including site identification and assessment, as well as development advisory and approvals services to the City’s “Late Night Economy Team”..
Working with the City of Sydney, we found that despite the inevitable hurdles, the planning approvals process can be streamlined considerably through a collaborative approach at all levels of Government – gaining approvals for some sites in two months.
Despite broader economic and social considerations and demonstration of public benefit, the general public played a significant part in the development process, with well-articulated and organised public objection critical in the assessment by authorities resulting in the refusal of applications for some sites.
The food trucks will be trialled for 12 months across 13 inner Sydney locations – helping to bring activity, excitement and a touch more ‘culture’ to the late night Sydney food offer..
The initiative aims to support the city’s vibrant nightlife, assisting in activating public spaces, increasing public safety, which will provide benefits to the existing residential and worker populations as well as visitors to the Sydney CBD and surrounds to help stimulate economic growth within the city..
So far, there are two food trucks up and running and doing a brisk trade – located at Customs House Square, Circular Quay – strategically located to help feed the crowds attending the Vivid Sydney events.
