A PLACE FOR INNOVATION

Because the way we work and travel has changed, and with it the way we use the office, we also asked people to tell us about their perception now of Macquarie Park as a place.

A very significant majority of people – almost all – believe Macquarie Park is changing. 42% believe infrastructure is failing to keep up with growth, and more than a third believe Macquarie Park is not being treated as a priority for investment by the Government.

We asked people to choose what is most important when thinking about how they use the area, how they move around and what amenity they need:

Three most important uses and activities now: ӱ Amenity around stations (e.g. shops, cafes) ӱ A safe space for everyone ӱ A place for business

Three most important options to keep moving now: ӱ Ease of access to transport services ӱ Availability of parking ӱ High quality streets

Three most important options for space in Macquarie Park now: ӱ Places to shop and access products ӱ A pedestrian-friendly place ӱ Green spaces and trees

“A place for business, a place for innovation”

“The intense interaction that cities allow is immensely productive. I doubt that this (pandemic) is going to slow down the growth of cities. I think the underlying economic reality is that there is tremendous economic value in interacting with people and sharing ideas. There’s still a lot to be gained from interaction in close proximity because such physical interaction is a large part of how we build trust. So I think that, for the rest of my life, cities are going to continue to be where the action is.”

Paul Romer, 2018 Nobel prize winning economist.8