PLANNING FOR THE OLYMPICS 2012 – AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED » Communities » 24dash.com

Don’t miss out on the opportunities for wider renewal by focusing purely on the facilities’ is the key message for Government according to the chief planner behind the Sydney Olympic Games.  

Speaking on Thursday 29 June at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s national planning convention, Sue Holliday, former Director General of Planning for New South Wales, will reveal the lessons learnt from the Sydney 2000 Games. The convention runs from the 28-30 June at the QE2 Centre in Westminster, London.

Sue Holliday, a leading figure behind the 2000 Sydney Olympics and current President of the Planning Institute of Australia, will tell key figures within planning and regeneration that London is in danger of making the same mistake as Sydney by not focusing on a legacy for the wider region rather than the Olympic facilities. Holliday will outline ten key elements for good Olympic planning and identify six key lessons for London. These are:

•          London has done an excellent job on ‘facility’ legacy, but this is not enough

•          The site builds on infrastructure that has been planned for many years, a good use of the Olympic catalyst for action, this needs to be seen through to completion

•          Don’t make the Olympic decision making structure for planning too complex

•          London must be aware of a potential shortage of planning skills and experience

•          The planning risks are the same as in Sydney: too much focus on facility delivery/ too little focus on the longer term restructure of the region

•          The longer term regeneration opportunities for the region need focus now and political support for that goal must be protected

Holliday said: "The Olympics was fantastic for Sydney, acting as a catalyst to boost jobs and business, putting Sydney on the world map, and tackling urban regeneration of a previously vacant site.   However, delivery at all costs was the highest priority in the minds of the Government and the Olympic organisers. Sydney is now paying the price for not having focused more broadly on a legacy programme for the wider site and region. I would hate for London to make the same mistakes we did and not to take all the opportunities the Olympics offers.”

Good planning was at the heart of London’s successful bid for the Olympics. Niall McNevin, Head Planner for the Olympic Delivery Agency is spearheading the preparations for the upcoming Games and will also be speaking at the event.

Ends

Press release issued: June 26 2006