Oxford Street precinct

Oxford Street’s LGBTIQA+ identity will be prioritised and protected under our new strategy.

Oxford Street has long been recognised as the home of Sydney’s LGBTIQA+ communities and we want to keep it that way. We’ve consulted widely on ways to revitalise the precinct and have incorporated community feedback and aspirations into the strategy.

The strategy is the first of its kind in Australia and one of only a handful in the world. It sets out principles and priorities to recognise, preserve and promote the significant connection LGBTIQA+ communities have with Oxford Street.

A network of passionate local businesses, community organisations and individuals who are committed to celebrating and sharing in LGBTIQA+ identity and culture across the Oxford Street precinct.

Plans of management

Our LGBTIQA+ social and cultural place strategy has championed new planning controls to embed diversity and inclusion in everyday business. Plans of management for all new late-night trading premises in the Oxford Street precint must now outline a commitment to diversity and inclusion, including:

• A commitment to ongoing employee training about LGBTIQA+ diversity and inclusion: Demonstrate how hosts and employees will welcome, include and make safe spaces for the diversity of LGBTIQA+ people.
• A policy of gender-inclusive language use: Hosts and employees avoid speaking to guests and customers with gendered terms like ‘ladies and gentlemen’, to welcome everyone including gender-diverse people.
• Supply of non-gendered facilities where possible, allowing individuals to use facilities according to their affirmed gender: Gender-neutral or unisex bathroom options to ensure safety and comfort for trans and gender diverse customers and guests.
• A policy of zero tolerance of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia for employees and at events: Demonstrate how this policy is adopted in the business/team culture and how incidents will be addressed.

Local business owners are invited to join the Oxford Street pride business charter to become part of an active network supporting and sustaining LGBTIQA+ communities and culture across the precinct.

Oxford Street is one of Sydney’s busiest cycling routes.

The cycleway on Oxford and Liverpool streets will create an important link in the bike network, connecting the city centre to the east.

This project was open for consultation at the end of 2021. Contributions to the consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The project team reported the outcomes to Council which endorsed the concept design in February 2022. Construction of the cycleway is expected to begin in October 2023.