New ideas for Oxford St coming?

New ideas for Oxford St coming?

The 2010 Business Partnership has cautiously welcomed an investigation by the City of Sydney into options to revive Sydney’s Golden Mile.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore tabled a minute calling for the city’s CEO to investigate options to re-invigorate Oxford St at a meeting on June 27. These included “utilising City-owned properties on Oxford St to help achieve the objectives of the Oxford St Cultural Quarter Plan, including provision of affordable creative spaces”.

“Utilising City-owned properties to achieve a greater diversity in Oxford St’s mix of commercial and retail businesses to support the daytime economy. Encouraging and engaging private property owners to work with the City to help achieve … a diverse and robust daytime economy. Mov[ing] traffic from the kerbside; introduction of bike lanes to connect to College Street; changes to bus operations to reduce noise impacts.”

2010 Business Partnership president Lawrence Gibbons told the Star Observer local businesses had been lobbying the city to “put its dormant properties on Oxford St to good use and to slow down the superhighway racing past our shops”.

“While the precinct thrives late at night, the daytime economy has faltered with a number of retail businesses having shut shop,” Gibbons said. “Council’s own property department has fuelled the problem by leasing vacant spaces to fast food outlets.”

Gibbons pointed the finger at the Roads & Traffic Authority, which had turned Oxford St into little more than a traffic corridor.

“Local businesses have lobbied both state and local governments to make changes to the traffic flow to bring back pedestrian activity to the boulevard,” he said.

“Local business recommendations for increased pedestrian crossings have been incorporated into the Lord Mayor’s minute and were also tabled in the Parliament by Clover Moore last month.”

Gibbons said local businesses supported Moore’s call for light rail to run on Oxford St.

“The Lord Mayor’s recommendation that Oxford St be modified to make way for light rail is encouraging,” Gibbons said. “Light rail along Oxford St would go a long way to bringing back daytime shoppers to Oxford St, ensuring the precinct’s economic vitality.”

However, Gibbons said it was vital that consultation with the local business community was ongoing.

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3 responses to “New ideas for Oxford St coming?”

  1. what oxford st needs is definately a light rail and more cafes as sydney doesnt have a cafe strip and like melbourne, open up some classy wine bars. Sorry but dreary bars and kebab shops are a boiling pot for crime.

  2. Does anyone know what the outcome was of the meeting held on the 27th June regarding re-invigorating the golden mile? Also as a buisness owner on Oxford st where can i put forward any i ideas that i have?