This document discusses how a suburb's identity and character are defined by its people and culture, not just physical attributes. As Sydney grows, maintaining local character is challenging but important. Character comes from the interactions of land, public spaces, and how community members contribute stories, food, art, and street life. However, preserving character must not exclude new groups. The document advocates planning housing and spaces that allow diverse communities to remain and keep contributing their unique aspects, while avoiding homogenization that removes authentic culture.

1. “What a character”
The role of people in defining local character
Presented by Sarah Reilly, Director Cred Consulting

2. With another 1.74million
of us by 2036, Sydney’s
identity as a city is at a
crossroad between its
past and its future

3. We are growing and changing
…and that can be hard
60% of Sydneysiders think overdevelopment is
damaging the identity and character of their
suburb.
But what makes the identity and character of a
suburb?

4. “Character is what makes a neighbourhood distinctive. It is created by a
combination of the land, public and private spaces and how they interact to
make a distinctive character and identify of an area”
- NSW Department of Planning and Environment

5. But local character is more than
the physical appearance – it’s
about what’s special about the
people and what they contribute
to a place – stories, food, art,
connections, street life - social and
cultural capital – a vibe

6. Darlinghurst

7. Cabramatta

8. Lakemba

9. Image: Auburn GiantsAuburn

10. Redfern

11. Kings Cross- lock outs & noise
complaints = musicians, djs leave

12. London has a night mayor and Agents of
Change Principle
The Agent of Change principle places
the responsibility for mitigating impacts
from existing noise-generating activities
or uses on the proposed new noise-
sensitive development

13. Millers Point – living cultural landscape

14. Keeping it weird

15. Newtown – not everyone wants to go
out at night to a wine bar Image: Reclaim the streets

16. Portland – those attracted to the
creativity are pushing the artists outImage: PechaKucha.org

17. Austin – at a cross road between culture
and a growing city

18. Homogenisation of cities is a
big risk to authentic culture –
you can take it away but you
can’t curate it back in

19. People make places authentic

20. Not advertisers and PR teams

21. From this…authentic people, street
life, culture in Little Saigon

22. to this….which could be anywhere

23. Do we need a
Burra Charter
for people?
A set of principles to create an accepted standard for
human conservation practice in Australia?

24. CHANGE
MAINTAIN
PRESERVE
REVERSIBLE

25. We need to include what is unique and special about
the people of places in our character statements.Image: onthegrid.city

26. And plan for the places, housing, streets, music venues and
affordable rents to enable diverse communities to keep
living, cooking, creating and contributing – to retain history
and stories
Image: onthegrid.city

27. Image: Bridge Housing
But, we need to not use local character as an excuse to
exclude different groups.

28. “First life, then spaces, then
buildings – the other way
around never works ”
Jan Gehl