- Sydney City budget to prioritise captial works projects and infrastructure renewal
- Encouraging active transport remains a high priority
- The budget reflects a renewed commitment to reconciliation
The City of Sydney will spend over $750 million in the next financial year as the city continues to adapt to the impacts of Covid.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, says the new city budget features expenditure on programs, services and capital works that will help maintain the momentum of Sydney’s recovery.
“We’ve allocated money for street upgrades, greening and grants to help ensure our residents, businesses and visitors get the support they need to ensure Sydney is the best place to live, work and visit,” she said.
Funding capital works projects and infrastructure renewal
Over $200 million has been allocated for capital works projects for the coming year, with the money split between new projects and revitalising existing amenities.
A few of the specifics include:
- $22.5 million for bike paths and cycling infrastructure, including the Oxford Street bike path,
- $17.8 million for community, cultural and recreational centres, including Huntley Street and Alexandria indoor courts,
- $34.4 million for public domain work, with $8 million for the final stages of the George Street pedestrianisation and $6.9 million for the Crown Street upgrade,
- $5.3 million for continued street tree and in-road planting programs, and
- $23.3 million for new parks and upgrades including stage two of Gunyama Park and George Julius Avenue north.
Moore says $16.1 million is also earmarked for infrastructure renewal, from road and footpath works to paver in-fills, kerbs, and drainage.
He adds encouraging active transport remains a priority, with $22.5 million going towards Sydney’s bicycle network, which is part of the Council’s long-term $122 million financial plan for cycleways over the next 10 years.
“We will continue to waive outdoor dining and venue hire fees, and invest in city precinct activations like our popular Sydney Streets road closures, which will provide much-needed support to local businesses and community during their own financial recovery,” she said.
Boosting community and cultural projects
The city’s budget also includes financing multi-year community and cultural projects, including:
- $7.7 million for the upgrade to Pyrmont Community Centre,
- $8.8 million for the fit-out of the George Street innovation hub, which sees three levels of floor space dedicated to tech and innovation, and
- $5.5 million for improvements to Dixon Street, which is part of broader upgrade plans for Chinatown.
Moore says the budget also reflects the City of Sydney’s commitment to reconciliation.
“$11.5 million will be pledged to the long-term plan for Yananurala, a project to celebrate the cultures and heritage of First Nations people along the harbour foreshore, and $400,000 for cultural programs at our new Aboriginal and cultural knowledge centre in Redfern,” she said.
