Guides

NSW Guide to Walkable Public Space

The NSW Guide to Walkable Public Space (PDF, 8.65 MB) identifies 10 characteristics of walkable open spaces, streets and public facilities. Walkable public spaces provide a free and accessible way to enjoy and travel through our neighbourhoods, town centres and cities. They connect people with each other and help us lead healthy lifestyles, physically and mentally. The guide is for everyone to support walkable public spaces that improve quality of life for our communities.

NSW Guide to Activation

The NSW Guide to Activation will help councils, place managers, communities and government agencies take a place-based approach to public space activation. It provides case studies, options for governance and management, and models of funding and enabling infrastructure.

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide

The NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide (PDF, 4.27 MB) introduces the role of technology in delivering better public space outcomes for communities. This guide forms part of the NSW Great Public Spaces Toolkit and can be used alongside other guides and resources.

The NSW Smart Places Playbook provides more information on the steps needed to harness the power of data and smart technologies to deliver more resilient places that respond to the community’s needs. The playbook also includes helpful links to technical guidelines, policies and standards.

Great Public Spaces Guide

The Great Public Spaces Guide (PDF, 4.64 MB) is an introduction to the meaning of place and the elements that contribute to creating a great public facility, open space or street. The beautifully illustrated guide outlines an approach for how spaces become places, to help communities, industry, local and state government create great public spaces that are full of life. The guide aims to inform future planning, design and investment, building a case for long-term change. It supports the Evaluation Tool and the NSW Public Spaces Charter.

Supporting documents

Great Public Facilities Guide

The Great Public Facilities Guide (PDF, 382.8 KB) provides ideas and opportunities to assist in the creation and management of great public facilities. The Guide contains key elements and features of great public facilities, and has been developed to inform future planning, design and investment in public facilities. The Guide visualises the four themes that help to evaluate public space quality – Am I able to get there? Am I able to play and participate? Am I able to stay? And Am I able to connect?

The Great Public Facilities Guide (PDF, 382.8 KB) sits alongside similar guides for Streets as Shared Spaces Guide (PDF, 506.92 KB) and Great Open Spaces Guide (PDF, 473.45 KB) to represent all public space typologies within the Great Places Toolkit. Together, the three guides support the Evaluation Tool for Public Space and Public Life (PDF, 863.16 KB) and the NSW Public Spaces Charter.

Streets as Shared Spaces Guide

The Streets as Shared Spaces Guide (PDF, 506.92 KB) provides ideas and opportunities to assist in the creation and management of great streets. The Guide contains key elements and features of great streets and was originally released to support the Streets as Shared Spaces Program. The Streets Guide has been developed to inform future planning, design and investment in streets. The Guide visualises the four themes that help to evaluate public space quality – Am I able to get there? Am I able to play and participate? Am I able to stay? And Am I able to connect?

The Streets as Shared Spaces Guide (PDF, 506.92 KB) sits alongside similar guides for Great Public Facilities Guide (PDF, 382.8 KB) and Great Open Spaces Guide (PDF, 473.45 KB) to represent all public space typologies within the Great Places Toolkit. Together, the three guides support the Evaluation Tool for Public Space and Public Life (PDF, 863.16 KB) and the NSW Public Spaces Charter.

Great Open Spaces Guide

The Great Open Spaces Guide (PDF, 473.45 KB) provides ideas and opportunities to assist in the creation and management of great open spaces. The Guide contains key elements and features of great open spaces, and has been developed to inform future planning, design and investment in open spaces. The Guide visualises the four themes that help to evaluate public space quality – Am I able to get there? Am I able to play and participate? Am I able to stay? And Am I able to connect?

The Great Open Spaces Guide (PDF, 473.45 KB) sits alongside similar guides for Streets as Shared Spaces Guide (PDF, 506.92 KB) and Great Public Facilities Guide (PDF, 382.8 KB) to represent all public space typologies within the Great Public Spaces Toolkit. Together, the three guides support the Evaluation Tool for Public Space and Public Life (PDF, 863.16 KB) and the NSW Public Spaces Charter.

By working together we can help keep our public spaces open and accessible.

The Great Public Spaces Guide - other languages

The Great Public Spaces Guide is also available in the following languages:

Past Guidance

Building on the COVID Safe Summer Plan (PDF, 8.82 MB) and lessons learned during the pandemic, the COVID Safe Public Space Guide COVID Safe Public Space Guide (PDF, 13.63 MB) supported public health orders and offered updated practical tools, advice, resources and ideas to help keep NSW’s public spaces COVID safe. It was created to help councils, public space managers, communities and small business owners stay active, connected, healthy and safe both during and beyond the pandemic.

The Guide is supported by the following: