Major concourse opens as planned despite huge fire nearby

Last week’s building fire that shut down part of the precinct surrounding Sydney’s Central Station has not stopped the opening of a new concourse.

The opening of a huge new concourse near Sydney’s Central Station has gone ahead as planned despite its close proximity to the roaring blaze that shut down the area on Thursday.

Gates lifted on Monday at 4am to allow pedestrians through the new 140m tunnel that travels north-south beneath Central Station’s train lines.

The new link is part of an almost $1.3 billion project that will reconfigure and expand how people switch between lines and remove reliance on narrow paths.

Part of the $1.3 billion project open on Monday (picture during its construction phase).

A view of the Grand Concourse at Central Station, Sydney. (Photo by James Gourley/The Daily Telegraph)

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the improved connections would serve as a “jewel in our transport network”.

“Great global cities of the world have central stations that people visit not only when they are going on a journey. Sydney’s Central will become of them,” she said, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“People will love the light and space and also that there is a real Sydney feel to it – the sandstone and other historical references.”

The concourse, located underground between new metro train stations, is 27m wide and has a running track floor created by Melbourne artist Rose Nolan.

The whole project, according to tender documents, ended up costing $308 million more than initial estimates, which Sydney Metro largely pegged on the Covid pandemic.

Last week’s fire has delayed the opening of the new Chalmers Street entrance. Picture: Nathan Schmidt/NCA NewsWire

Meanwhile, the planned opening of an entrance from Chalmers St on Monday was delayed due to a building that housed its escalators and lifts being damaged in Thursday’s fire.

The building is part of an exclusion zone in place, preventing officials from gaining access to assess any damage.

It was confirmed that fire retardant and water entered the building as fire crews battled the blaze.

At least 50 people were evacuated from buildings on Thursday after the fire broke out at about 4pm, with police officials declaring it a “10th alarm” fire – the most severe category.

The building had been earmarked to be turned into a hotel, with a development application filed in 2019, according to The Daily Telegraph.

A new entrance was damaged by water used by fire crews on Thursday. Picture: John Grainger

It’s believed the building was vacant however it was known for sometimes housing homeless people.

On Thursday evening, two 13-year-olds handed themselves in to separate police stations in Sydney and have been assisting police with their inquiries.

NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said officers were aware of “three or four” other young people who were present at the building, and asked them to come forward with their parents to share “their side of the story”.