Overview
The City of Sydney has announced a plan to transform laneways and unused spaces throughout the city, with new pedestrian walkways and art installations to form part of the revitalisation proposal. The plan will form part of the inner city council's post-lockdown recovery measures which include increased al fresco dining and increased pedestrian access on George Street.
The council has identified ten priority projects that they'll work on over the next ten years, kicking off in 2022, which include: Barlow Street, St Laurence Lane, Curtin Place, Hamilton Street, Little Hunter Street, Randle Lane, York Lane, Wynyard Lane, Underwood Street and Dalley Street.
Barlow Street, which is currently home to artwork by local artist collective Dirt Witches, will be turned into a permanent landscape installation space in the western section of the street. The current installation incorporates a micro forest made from 30 plant species including critically endangered eastern suburbs banksia scrub, as well as sugarbag stingless native bees and their hives.
Dirt Witches' Barlow Street micro forest
Curtin Place, Hamilton Street and Little Hunter Street will all receive upgrades in order to create a network of laneways connecting George Street's new pedestrian-friendly public spaces and Pitt Street. Meanwhile, Randle Lane, York Lane and Wynyard Lane will all be revitalised to create better pedestrian access around Wynyard and Central Station.
26 laneways have been upgraded with bars, restaurants, retail outlets and art installations by the City of Sydney over the past 15 years. The program to transform laneways was first introduced back in 2007. Previous success stories of the council's push to upgrade these spaces include Angel Place, Ash Street and Tank Stream Way.
"We're giving a new lease of life to forgotten spaces in the centre of Sydney to welcome people back into the city when it's safe to do so, and support local businesses that have been devastated by the ongoing pandemic," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "The need to accommodate physical distancing while encouraging a return to the city centre makes the latest steps in our laneways revitalisation program an ideal investment in our city's future."
You can read more about the City of Sydney's laneway program at the council's website.