- $5M to be spent on improving Chinatown
- $10M to be spent on upgrading Belmore Park near Central Station
- Recommendations pending consultation include encouraging vehicles to use the Cross City Tunnel
The City of Sydney council has approved three public domain plans, covering the Town Hall, City South, and Chinatown precincts, along with a shortlist of projects ready to be delivered.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the projects follow in the footsteps of previous successful transformations in the city:
“The work the City has done on George Street is transformational. Long gone are the conga-lines of buses on the clogged city street, replaced instead by light rail and a beautiful tree-lined pedestrian boulevard right through the centre of our City,”
Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of City of Sydney
The Lord Mayor said the council will be prioritising walking, bike riding and public transport through the Town Hall, City South, and Chinatown precincts.
“As we accelerate our plans to create a more connected and walkable city, the importance of seizing every opportunity to create new public spaces is at the front of mind,” said the Lord Mayor.
Chinatown
The City of Sydney said it has now committed $5 million for improvements to Chinatown, including a ‘revival’ of Dixon Street Mall, and a refurbishment of the Dixon Street gates.
The City said there are plans to further widen the footpath on Quay Street, along with tree planting, lighting and furniture upgrades.
Other improvements include footpath widening and new seating on Sussex Street between Goulburn and Hay streets, a separated cycleway and footpath widening on Ultimo Road between Harris and Thomas streets, and footpath widening on Harbour Street eastern side.
City South
The city south public domain plan covers the area between Liverpool, George, and Elizabeth streets through to Central station.
This interim plan progresses design development for Belmore Park and provides the basis for further stakeholder consultation to develop a coordinated plan for Tech Central.
Planned improvements of the 2.1 hectare Belmore Park will create a safe, welcoming place, improve activation opportunities and provide a better connection to Central station.
Initial designs expand park edges to surrounding streets of Eddy Ave, Hay Street and Pitt Street, establish a central activity area, reposition the bandstand to the heart of the park and add new trees, park furniture, upgraded lighting and pathways, as well as new bus shelters and pedestrian crossings.
The City also has longer-term plans for new slow streets that prioritise walking and riding and laneways that will be developed along Campbell Street, St Laurence Lane, Parker Street and laneway, Randle Lane and Cunningham Street.
Town Hall
The recommended project priorities for stakeholder consultation, feasibility and design development for the area include improvements to Town Hall Square, Sydney Square, and Park and Druitt streets.
The new Town Hall Square will be located opposite Sydney Town Hall, on a site now predominantly occupied by the Woolworths building.
The City also noted with the new Metro Station on Pitt Street, the opportunity exists to create a new green avenue along Park and Druitt streets.
In a statement, the City said “By encouraging vehicles to use the Cross City Tunnel, the surface could be transformed into a traffic-calmed avenue with more space for trees, people, public and active transport. This would complete the northern edge to the future Town Hall Square.”
