CBD revival: Summit brainstorms ways to get people back into bustling city centres

Free feeds for busy office workers and playgrounds to take the kids to after work could both be on the cards in a plan to reinvigorate stagnant CBDs in the post-Covid era.

Free lunches for office workers and kids playgrounds for families to congregate in after work are just some suggestions from a crisis summit aimed at putting the mojo back into Sydney’s business districts.

Industry experts held the meeting at Macquarie University last week to brainstorm ideas to revive the city’s CBDs.

“We need to incentivise people to utilise the CBD,” Western Sydney Women chief executive Amanda Rose said. “A great way to do this is to offer hospitality vouchers.”

She said free lunches for office workers and special events would create FOMO – a fear of missing out – that would bring people back to the city centres.

Cities expert Selina Short, managing partner at EY, said research showed city centres across the globe had been deserted in the pandemic.

Businesswoman Amanda Rose, 24-hour economy commissioner Michael Rodrigues and Property Council deputy director Lauren Conceicao at the Governor Hotel at Macquarie Park. Picture: Richard Dobson

She said local centres like Parramatta and Penrith were surging back to life with workers more comfortable going back to local CBDs.

“Sydney’s CBD is now in stiff competition with local areas” and “needs to regain its buzz”, she said.

David Borger

To do that David Borger, head of Business Western Sydney, argued for more activities for kids. “Imagine being able to meet your family after work in the city, get a bite to eat and let the kids play outside,” he said.

Lauren Conceicao, Property Council deputy director, called for unused office space to be repurposed to create arts and cultural events.

“The property industry has unique access to both space and dynamic commercial models that can be used to give a new life to Sydney,” she said.

Kim McKay, head of the Australia Museum, talked about her own experience of moving into the CBD last year and said: “My life has been transformed – everything I need is five minutes’ walk away.”

NSW’s 24-Hour Economy commissioner, Michael Rodrigues, said the NSW government was investing $50m to get the party started again, including festivals, pop-ups and parties in 14 CBDs across Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

“CBDs have been dormant for too long and these activations will send a message loud and clear that it’s time to get off the sofa and enjoy everything the city has to offer,” he said.

Originally published as CBD revival: Summit brainstorms ways to get people back into bustling city centres