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revitalising our laneways

Every vibrant city needs its beating heart and vital to that heart are its arteries. Our City laneways can play this role, making a significant contribution to the city’s creative vitality and liveability. Laneways play a critical part in the night time economy of successful, vibrant City centres, as places where you can wander and explore from gallery, to boutique, to café, to bar.

As City of Sydney advances its 2030 vision, our CBD laneways will be places to find the seeds of new ideas and creativity.

The City is taking practical steps to realise the potential of City of Sydney laneways, having already launched lane activitation programs, such as Live Lanes in 2007 and By George art installations happening this year. New actions include:

  • Improved information about approval processes for small bars
  • A Laneways Business Development Program which includes a matched funding grant of up to $30,000 for eligible businesses in laneways
  • Temporary and permanent art exhibitions and installations in our lanes
  • Program of capital works planned, with Bulletin Place, Albion Place, Central Street, Wilmot Street, York Lane, Angel Place, Hosking Place and Lees Court under investigation for improvements commencing later in 2009
  • Activities in the lanes such as street cinema
  • Working with building owners to improve street-edge activation of their buildings
Revitalised Laneways

Part of the revitalisation of the City is the new licence for small bars which City has been promoting. A number of small bars are successfully opening in the City, one of which also activated a Laneway and received $20,000 in matched funding.

See also

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Community comments

  • "...where people could come into city squares with their families ..."

  • "...reinvigorating the streets, the squares, making the parks dynamic parts of the city ..."

  • "...more cool little bars and pubs and more places to ride your bike... "

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