Overview
The NSW Government loves a high line — or it at least loves to propose one. For the second time in as many years, Premier Dominic Perrottet and his government have announced plans to convert a section of Sydney into sweeping public spaces reminiscent of the famous New York High Line — this time earmarking the North Shore for the development site.
The Lavender Bay high line would convert 3.3 kilometres of disused rail corridor along the Milsons Point foreshore to an elevated public park. The revamped area would connect landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge with existing parklands like Ball's Head Reserve and the Lavender Bay Parklands, and would boast panoramic views of Sydney Harbour and the city's skyline.
"Sydney is home to the world's most beautiful harbour, but for many years much of the foreshore has been left underutilised or inaccessible to the public," Perrottet said in a statement. "The Lavender Bay high line project will unlock another part of our city that has been hidden away for more than a century, transforming it into a beautiful public space and no doubt a tourism drawcard."
Also included in the proposal would be a 300-square-metre expansion of Wendy's Secret Garden (one of Concrete Playground's top Sydney date spots). The picturesque green space was saved by local campaigners in 2015 when the North Sydney Council and NSW Government agreed on a 30-year renewable lease. Now, the harbourside oasis will be given a revamp and expansion if the proposal goes ahead.
Wendy's Secret Garden
The announcement comes seven months after the government cited the Cahill Expressway as a future site for an NYC-style high line as part of the Circular Quay Renewal project. As part of the 2022–23 budget, the NSW Government committed $216 million to the planning process for harbourside renewal, which included a proposal to transform the elevated inner-city road into public space.
No date has been announced for commencement on the Lavander Bay high line, with Perrottet and the government providing the caveat that they will only commit to the project if re-elected later this year.
Head to the NSW Government website for more information on the proposed Lavender Bay high line project.