Clover Moore pitches Cahill-less Circular Quay at Infrastructure Summit

By AMBER GRIFFIN

Lord Mayor Clover Moore brought her vision for the removal of the Cahill Expressway in Circular Quay to the Sydney Morning Herald Infrastructure Summit on June 1. The summit was held at the Hilton Sydney for a “landmark conversation” on topics such as “the project pipeline of infrastructure projects in NSW, policy and funding insights and the current and future opportunities that this sector presents”.

The infrastructure summit was attended by scores of the “major players” in infrastructure projects and policy makers, with speakers including NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Minster for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes, as well as City of Sydney Mayor Clover Moore.

During the Lord Mayor’s address, she brought forward her passionate campaign to the summit, pitching her vision for a Circular Quay without the Cahill Expressway.

In the Lord Mayor’s speech, she shared that she would like to “expand on the plans for three city squares – the large public open spaces – which are a key part of our long-term strategy for Sydney”.

“Circular Quay is what we call the Water Square. Our vision highlights our spectacular harbour setting” Mayor Moore said.

In a Facebook post outlining her pitch, the Lord Mayor stated that “Sydney deserves a city with seamless connection to our stunning harbour”.

Interim steps needed for Cahill-less Sydney

The City of Sydney recently released its long-term strategic plan (“Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050, Continuing the Vision”), which includes public squares at Circular Quay, Town Hall and Central.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore has since met with Treasurer Kean and Minister Stokes over the last couple of weeks. They share the long-term vision of a ‘Cahill-less Circular Quay’ but suggested an interim step would be needed – a staged plan to turn their vision into a reality.

The process will be to leave the trains in place at Circular Quay train station until they can be underground, but remove the Cahill Expressway as soon as the Western Harbour Tunnel is completed, eliminating the concrete divide at Circular Quay and creating an open ‘square’ setting.

The Cahill Expressway needs to go. We deserve a @cityofsydney that has a seamless connection to our stunning harbour. The NSW govt shares this vision but we know it won’t happen overnight – so we’ve designed a staged process: #nswpol

— Clover Moore (@CloverMoore) June 1, 2022

Lord Major Clover Moore said at the Sydney Morning Herald Infrastructure Summit that “it’s a massive improvement that connects people to Country and Sydney to the world”.

“It will be a world-class location for local, national, and international celebrations and boost Sydney’s reputation as a key global destination.”

Future Direction of Sydney’s Infrastructure

In his speech addressing the summit, the NSW Premier recognised the issues state government is facing in the infrastructure sector, including skills shortages and global supply chain issues, naming the current situation for Australia a “crossroads moment”.

The Premier stated that moving forward through difficult conditions doesn’t mean “throwing caution to the wind”.

“It means carefully navigating the complex challenges of this moment, and finding a way to keep building, and that necessarily means adapting to the circumstances to get the best results.”

The NSW Government recently announced funding for the $260 million ‘Advanced Manufacturing
Research Facility’ as part of the Bradfield City Centre which will provide an influx of skilled jobs for generations of Sydneysiders to come.

The Sydney Morning Herald Infrastructure Summit provided a snapshot overlook of the future of NSW’s infrastructure. Projects in the works for Sydney include:

• A new Metro that will connect the airport when it opens, and Metro West, that will double capacity between the Harbour and Parramatta.

• The M12 to connect the airport to the motorway network

• The New Powerhouse in Parramatta (largest cultural investment since the Opera House)

• The expansion of the Art Gallery of NSW

• More major roads, the final stage of the WestConnex

• Sydney Gateway (road interchange between WestConnex and Sydney Airport terminals)

• Great Western Highway upgrades

• The next stages of works at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Campbelltown hospital redevelopment

• A new stadium at Moore Park

• Building a new Sydney Fish Market