A new square opposite Sydney Town Hall will be a victory for the visitor economy with benefits to flow far beyond the CBD, according to the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Australia.
TTF CEO Margy Osmond said new designs released today reveal a once in a generation opportunity to create a new Sydney landmark where locals and visitors come together.
“This is a big moment for the city. This new square will become somewhere locals love and visitors put straight on their Sydney itinerary, giving them another reason to come into the city, stay longer and spend more,” Ms Osmond said.
She said the precinct could transform the role of one of the busiest parts of the city.
“Thousands of people move through this area every day. The opportunity now is to turn that foot traffic into a destination, where people want to meet, eat, celebrate and experience Sydney,” she said.
“This will attract even more investment into the surrounding area, helping the CBD thrive.”
Ms Osmond said the economic benefits could extend well beyond the city.
“Sydney is the front door to Australia and what happens here matters to the entire national tourism industry,” she said.
“A better Sydney experience helps sell the whole country, giving international visitors more reason to come to Australia and discover the rest of our spectacular nation.”
Ms Osmond said the potential to host major events made the project particularly exciting for tourism.
“Markets, festivals, concerts, sporting live sites and cultural events can turn this into one of Sydney’s most exciting places,” she said.
“And given we’re facing a highly competitive global tourism market, it’s great to see Sydney invest in experiences that will compete for attention with the world’s leading visitor destinations.”
Ms Osmond said the City of Sydney’s commitment to giving the square a First Nations name and creating opportunities for First Nations culture to be reflected and practised would be central to its identity.
“The First Nations identity, design and programming will be critical to creating a place with genuine character and a strong sense of place,” she said.
TTF also welcomed the City of Sydney’s $150 million commitment to the project, saying it was an investment in Sydney’s future as a visitor destination.
ENDS