We took a significant step to realise this important project, including money in this year’s budget to acquire the final property necessary and a commitment to work on the $300 million world-class plaza this term.
In huge wins for our community, the NSW Government released budgeted plans for the return of 20 hectares of the Moore Park Golf Course to community parkland, and made a firm commitment to return Wentworth Park to us when the lease on the greyhound racing track expires in 2027!
Wimbo Park won two prestigious landscaping awards and we opened: James Watkinson Reserve in Pyrmont; Wattle Lane Park Playground in Ultimo; Woolloomooloo Playground; Macquarie Place Park; McConville Reserve in Beaconsfield; and Arthur Reserve in Surry Hills; while making great progress on some major new parks like Gunyama Park Stage 2 in Green Square and a series of upgrades in Redfern.
We planted 850 new trees this year, taking our tally to over 18,000 planted since I was elected and continuing our work as the only city in the country to consistently increase our tree canopy cover over the past decade. This year we updated our Register of Significant Trees, which now includes 2,450 trees.
We adopted a new Environment Strategy and consulted on a new circular materials strategy – our road maps to hit net zero, electrify our buildings and cut down on waste.
We are installing 46 new EV charging stations – adding to the 33 we already have. Our priority remains active and public transport options but we're also working hard to lower the barriers to EV use in the inner city.
In a huge achievement this year we opened the Oxford Street Cycleway, which is already proving a hit. We also opened major connections between Surry Hills and Central, Glebe to Ultimo and King Street in the CBD.
This year we began trialling on-street parking bays for share-bikes and after years of advocacy, welcomed the State Government’s Bill to properly manage these fleets and spare us the street clutter.
We completed a major refurbishment of Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool, on time and on budget. During the process we converted the heating system from gas to electric, as we did earlier in the year at Victoria Park Pool – helping reduce emissions and saving money.
The State Government introduced many ad hoc changes to the planning system, and we spent much of the year working hard to deliver new housing while defending proper planning processes. In 2024-25 the City approved 2,740 applications – including DAs, modifications to DAs, outdoor dining and local heritage exemptions – with a combined value of $4.3 billion. Our new Pyrmont/Ultimo zoning changes will allow for 4800 new homes and we have begun the work to update our housing strategies to ensure we can deliver more homes while maintaining our liveable neighbourhoods.
We are transforming the CBD with beautiful, sustainable development. This year we celebrated the Topping Out of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the opening of the redeveloped 33 Alfred Street, Sydney’s first skyscraper, and the commencement of what will be two of the city’s tallest towers at the Chifley Precinct.
Our Affordable Housing policies have resulted in 3,466 affordable and diverse homes – either built, in the pipeline, or expected – more than any council in Australia. This year we entered a partnership with Uniting and Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care to turn a council car park in Redfern into a not-for-profit, 50-person aged care home for local Elders, and celebrated the opening of 74 social and affordable apartments in Waterloo, which our development levies helped to fund.
We permanently waived outdoor dining fees across the City of Sydney local area and began the process of making our temporary on-street dining opportunities permanent! It’s wonderful to see people out on the streets, connecting with each other and enjoying their neighbourhood while supporting local businesses and we’re proud to say it’s here to stay.
We continue to make more space for people, with significant work this year pedestrianising Loftus Street in the CBD, opening Ngamuru Avenue which connects the growing Ashmore neighbourhood with facilities in Green Square, and of course nearly completing our $38 million upgrade of Crown Street!
Two of the three hoardings are already down at Oxford and Foley – the major Toga/AsheMorgan redevelopment of multiple city blocks – and the whole retail, commercial, creative and hospitality development will be opened early next year. Oxford Street community markets at Taylor Square also launched this year. Along with significant new private development such as the Olympia Hotel, and our new bike lane, the stars are aligning for Oxford Street’s re-emergence!
We continued to fund free entry to QTOPIA, the home of queer history and culture, and made the entrance more inviting with a new Progress Pride intersection wrapping around Taylor Square!
We completed the restoration of the historic Dixon Street gates, the first major project of our $44 million Chinatown revitalisation project.
We began the process to introduce Special Entertainment Precinct status in our existing late night trading areas, which will make it easier and more cost effective for venues to trade later, and we are changing our planning controls to better balance the sound management needs of businesses and residents.
We completed major restoration works to lease out the historic Palmer Street venue, which reopened in September as the Off Broadway Hub for this year’s Sydney Fringe Festival. There’s a wonderful program of additional activations in store.
Our grants program continues to support businesses, creatives, and community groups. So far this financial year, the City of Sydney has provided more than $21.5 million in cash and value in kind support through our various grants programs, including $2.5m to more than 60 local businesses, creatives and cultural organisations in our latest round alone.
Seeing the school open was incredibly welcome, but it’s even more exciting – the innovative project allows the community to access facilities outside school hours.
We re-opened the Pyrmont Community Centre after a major upgrade, which won the NSW Architecture Award for Public Architecture.
This year we launched the City’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, which includes actions to increase our procurement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, increase the City’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and increase the cultural learning of all City staff.
Highlights of this year’s program include Meeras Pavilion, which showcased stories of one of the persecuted minorities in the world, the Rohingya people, and Erth’s Soft Forest, an enchanting children’s performance about our natural world performed sellout shows to more than 600 people at Paddington Reservoir Gardens.
We’re launching more fireworks than ever before, including launching fireworks from a barge and 80 new firing positions on the western side of the Harbour Bridge – meaning a better show for viewers on both sides of the landmark.
And we will illuminate the Bridge in a warm light and observe a minute's silence to provide moments of unity and reflection as the city comes together following the tragic terror attack in Bondi.
Of course, these 25 highlights don't tell the whole tale of 2025, and I promise we’ll be back, energised and ready to do it all again in 2026.
I hope you and your families have a very happy, safe and peaceful new year.
