The survey of 3017 Sydneysiders was conducted in late 2021,before the Omicron COVID outbreak,but consultancy EY said its findings “remain relevant to the long-term future of the CBD”.
The central city rated highly for fine and special occasion dining,as well as high-end shopping and the arts. But it rated very poorly on “value for money” and accessibility at night.
Presented with a list of reasons that may deter them from visiting the CBD,59 per cent said having “no real need to go there” was a factor,while 65 per cent nominated limited parking and expense.
A lack of late-night trading was a major deterrent to young people visiting the CBD;37 per cent of people aged 25 to 34 said places “close too early”,compared to 9 per cent for 55 to 69-year-olds. Men were also more likely to say early closing was a problem.
More broadly,dissatisfaction with nightlife was a major reason younger Sydneysiders might avoid the city;44 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds and 41 per cent of 35 to 44-year-olds said the “limited variety of bars and nightlife” was a deterrent.
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People who live in the inner west and the city/inner south regions were the most likely to shun the limited nightlife options of the CBD,while people aged 25 to 34 were more likely to say the city had “too many tourists” (67 per cent,compared to 41 per cent among the over-70s).
Access was also rated as a problem. “While the CBD is acknowledged as Sydney’s central hub and an accessible meeting point,public transport is perceived as infrequent,unreliable and unsupportive of late-night visitation,” the report found.
Michael Rodrigues,the NSW government’s 24-Hour Economy Commissioner,said Sydney’s CBD “wasn’t firing on all cylinders before the pandemic[and] we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine our CBD as something better than it was”.
The EY report made 29 recommendations to the government,foremost among them increasing alfresco dining and green space,extending the Dine and Discover program,hosting more special events and exploring opportunities for more late-night licenses in some districts.
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It urged the government to encourage public transport through subsidised annual travel passes,a “CBD ticket” for unlimited travel within certain zones and later services at night. And it called on the government to trial e-scooters,which are available in other capital cities.
One unusual recommendation was for schools and community groups to host “city camps” for children from the suburbs,regional NSW and interstate,who would be given a taste of city life.
The consultants also suggested strengthening the “sub-brand” of parts of the CBD,such as YCK Laneways,a small bar precinct between York,Clarence and Kent streets. Only one in three people surveyed recalled visiting the precinct in the past few years.
“The CBD had core strengths prior to the pandemic,but it wasn’t meeting its full potential ... we know the CBD must change,” the report said.
It has been handed to Investment NSW and will be launched on Thursday.
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