Revealed: The big dreams Sydney has to remain the greatest city in the world

Sydney's leaders and residents have revealed their vision for the Harbour City's future, from a Madison Square Garden-style arena to solving the Spit Bridge bottleneck. HEAR THEIR BIG IDEAS

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou believes Sydney needs more people. Picture: Richard Dobson

There is no doubt that Sydney is the greatest city in the world.

Iconic beaches, a sparkling harbour, stunning forests and a thriving cultural life beat everywhere else hands down.

But to maintain that title, and widen the gap, there is much Sydney can still do.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott, who delivered the first Bradfield Oration, said there’s one area we need to address immediately.

“The best single thing we could do is stop mucking up traffic flows and hurting business by turning normal streets into obstacle courses with little used and unnecessary bike lanes and trams, especially in the CBD,” he said.

Paul Nicolaou, boss of Business Sydney, says we need to increase the number of people that live in the CBD.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott reckons unnecessary bike lanes and trams in the CBD are “hurting business by turning normal streets into obstacle courses”. Picture: Oli SCARFF / AFP

“Like the Barbra Streisand song says, “people need people” and Sydney definitely needs people. It’s crazy that the Sydney CBD has fewer than 30,000 residents. It could accommodate 200,000,” he said.

More people would also help readjust the city’s struggling night-life. Battered by lockouts and lockdowns, Sydney’s night-time economy – once the envy of the nation – is a shadow of its former self.

Student Amy August says Sydney night life needs improving.

“Sydney night life could use improvement, stop charging massive covers for rooms that are filled with 80 per cent men and people who are 18,” student Amy August said.

While Jack Tobin also highlighted the lack of variety.

Jack Tobin said there should be a wider variety of activities for Sydneysiders to do.

“I think it (Sydney) could use a bit more of a variety regarding activities to do, I think new companies coming in and trying to add more would be great,” he said.

But that variety is going to require infrastructure and the options are wide and varied if the government can find the money to pay for them.

Rod McGeoch, the architect of the success of the Sydney Olympics, is among the many voices calling for a revamp to the Entertainment Quarter and Moore Park in general.

Rod McGeoch AO, the architect of the success of the Sydney Olympics, said Sydney needs another major indoor arena. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The city is still short of at least one major indoor arena, all of the industry knows it, the government has been lobbied,” he said.

Radio host Ben Fordham has even grander ambitions.

“If money was no concern, I’d love an indoor sport and concert centre to rival Madison Square Gardens. Maybe down in Darling Harbour near the old Entertainment Centre. It would add to the revitalisation of the area and bring some of the world’s biggest events to Sydney Harbour,” he said.

Ben Fordham dreams of a venue to rival Madison Square Gardens. Picture: Thomas Lisson

All these new people, new activities and new venues will mean people need somewhere to live, especially somewhere affordable to live.

“I can’t emphasise enough how much Sydney needs affordable housing and working studios for artists and creatives,“ Maud Page, director, Art Gallery of New South Wales said.

And they will need a way to get around, and Sydney’s beleaguered public transport network is in many people’s dreams for greatness.

Tiffany Nguyen wants better trains for Sydney.

“Definitely the transport, the trains need updating. No more delays would be great,” Tiffany Nguyen said.

But Sydney is more than the five-kilometre ring around the CBD and while Bondi Beach is iconic, have you seen Freshwater? Maybe not, because the schlep from anywhere else in Sydney is prohibitive and involves crossing the Spit Bridge, and while many in the insular peninsular might prefer it remain erect and guarded by trolls at all times, replacing it would have a symbiosis for both sides.

Former state Liberal MP Bruce Baird is advocating a new high-level bridge to replace the Spit Bridge. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Each morning and night there are large traffic cues which stretch back for kilometres. When the bridge goes up we sit for ages while a retired dentist sails past sipping his Chardonnay,” former MP and advocate of a high level bridge to replace the Spit Bridge Bruce Baird AM says. “It would open up the beautiful beaches from Manly to Palm Beach and increase our reputation as one of the best cities in the world.”

Originally published as Revealed: The big dreams Sydney has to remain the greatest city in the world