Media releases

Recovery and revitalisation key to the city budget

Published 23 May 2022

The City of Sydney will spend more than $530 million in the next financial year to support the city’s post-Covid recovery, with much of the 2022/23 operating budget used to help businesses and communities bounce back from the pandemic, as well as maintain facilities, parks and open spaces.

The draft budget was endorsed unanimously for public exhibition and feedback.

Just over $200 million has been earmarked for capital works projects including:

  • $3.5 million for the upgrade of Crown Street in Surry Hills.
  • $7.7 million for the Green Square to Ashmore street connection.
  • $8.7 million for the construction of Green Square school, in partnership with the NSW Government.
  • $13.6 million to extend the George Street pedestrianisation upgrade.
  • $9.3 million for stormwater drainage upgrades.
  • $4.2 million for a continued street and in-road tree planting program.
  • $18.4 million for new parks, including Wimbo Park in Surry Hills, North Rosebery Park and sport fields in Alexandria and Glebe, as well as and more than 120 new street gardens.

“Despite significant losses to our revenue through the pandemic, and new expenditure on programs to help our community survive this period, we have prepared a budget that will maintain our high level of service and continue our work to facilitate post-pandemic recovery,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“As tourists and visitors return to our harbour city, we need to ensure our facilities and infrastructure remain second to none so that inner Sydney retains its status as an exciting and sustainable place to live, work and visit. We are allocating money for additional street closure events, city greening, new grants programs and fabulous public works.”

With the slow return to normal a key focus for this year, around 10% of the City of Sydney’s non-salary operating expenditure, $24.7 million, will be earmarked for grants and sponsorship, with a further $4 million funding the ongoing high street revitalisation program.

Cultural and creative highlights include:

  • $4 million to see our successful “Summer Streets” program of street closure parties run across the city all year round.
  • $750,000 for actions to deliver the Oxford Street LGBTIQA+ Place Strategy including seed-funding for a new queer pride museum and an additional $600,000 support for WorldPride 2023.
  • $1.7 million for fit-out and programming at the brilliant new City of Sydney Creative studios – five floors of affordable rehearsal, production and performance space right in the heart of the City.
  • $1 million for two new grants programs supporting vulnerable communities and First National initiatives, as well as $11.5 million for the Eora Journey’s Yananurala project – our stunning Harbour walk to highlight Aboriginal history and culture along Sydney Harbour foreshore.
  • $1.25 million to increase resources, staff and programming in our community centres.

“The lockdowns cost the city’s economy an estimated $250 million a week and 40,000 jobs. Just four per cent of workers were in their offices at the end of last year,” the Lord Mayor said.

“But Sydney is now reopening with consumer confidence indices higher than average, suggesting a strong, pent-up demand, especially in services and hospitality. Our focus now is on supporting recovery and investing in events and activations.

“We have just approved $3 million worth of new Precinct Activation Grants, funding collaborations between neighbouring businesses and creatives to revitalise Sydney’s city centre and villages and activate new micro-precincts.

“We will soon unveil bara, our Monument to the Eora, and commence work on Yananurala, a project to celebrate the cultures and heritage of First Nations people along the Harbour foreshore.

“We’ll keep revitalising and maintaining our parks, leisure facilities and green spaces. We’ve earmarked just over $21.8 million to continue the installation of separated cycleways and connections to allow our residents and workers to get around the city safely.

“And this year we will really see the stars align on Oxford Street, with funding to deliver our new culture and place strategy, an LGBTIQA+ museum and WorldPride alongside new commercial investment and space for people.

“While our budget was impacted by the pandemic, I am incredibly proud of how our city has weathered this storm. We have worked hard to support our community and despite the challenges of recovery, we continue to provide the services and facilities residents, visitors and workers need.”

The 2022/23 budget is on public exhibition until 14 June, after which it will be considered by Council for final adoption. For more information or to comment, visit sydneyyoursay.com.au.

For media enquiries or images, contact Nicky Breen Phone 0436 599 861 or email nbreen@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore contact Paul Mackay Phone 0436 816 604 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au