![\"Megan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a5d5dfb27e685af689da27aa5112355786807f90.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
August 11, 2026 \u2014 5:05am<\/p>\n
Save<\/p>\n
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n
Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The City of Sydney is forging ahead with plans to bulldoze seven buildings opposite Town Hall to create a $150 million civic square featuring native trees and water fountains, new designs reveal, despite a backlash over the project\u2019s cost and scale.<\/p>\n Lord Mayor Clover Moore\u2019s council in February voted to accelerate demolition of the buildings, including Woolworths supermarket, to make way for the long-promised public plaza at the corner of George, Park and Pitt streets in the heart of the central business district in about six years.<\/p>\n Moore said the designs for the square, prepared by Sydney design practice JPW and landscape architects ASPECT Studios and to be published today, would mitigate rising urban heat.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trees and the water element will create a cooling environment for people to meet and greet or come to celebrations we might hold there,\u201d Moore said. \u201cI\u2019m really thrilled that it\u2019s very Sydney.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIt\u2019s another change that will be fantastic for the city, and I think when people see it they will fall in love with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Moore said the 4200-square-metre plaza would feature eucalypts, moving water, seating and circular paving patterns to provide an outdoor venue for large events and celebrations including markets, festivals, concerts and sporting event live-sites. The square will have an Aboriginal name.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve reached a point where we\u2019ve acquired the buildings, we\u2019ve saved the money, we\u2019re ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n JPW director Matthew Morel said the \u201cuniquely Sydney\u201d square would \u201cprovide generous, flexible civic space found in the world\u2019s great cities\u201d. ASPECT Studios global design director Sacha Coles said night lighting would boost safety, and the square would be \u201ca stage for Sydney\u2019s civic life\u201d.<\/p>\n The City of Sydney has been planning for more than 40 years to demolish the Woolworths block and six other buildings to create a new public domain.<\/p>\n In February, Moore signalled her ambition<\/a> to start demolition work for the square \u2013 which had previously been delayed for another decade \u2013 before the council term ends in 2028.<\/p>\n Between 1985 and 2019, the council acquired six of the seven properties required for the project, starting with the Woolworths building on the corner of George and Park streets. Negotiations are under way for the council to compulsorily acquire the final building, home to a Foot Locker shoe store, on George Street.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Councillors endorsed the proposed scope of works for the project, allowing it to proceed to the next stage of concept design, planning approvals and construction. When the development application is submitted next month, there will be an opportunity for public comment on the draft designs.<\/p>\n The Central Sydney Planning Committee will decide the application. The square is due to be completed in 2031.<\/p>\n Labor councillor Yvonne Weldon has opposed the project due to its steep cost, telling a council meeting earlier this year the project was putting the organisation under \u201cserious financial stress\u201d, and the public plaza would \u201ccome at the cost of other projects and programs\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all about improving and expanding our public spaces, but to me, this just doesn\u2019t stack up.\u201d<\/p>\n Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou, a staunch critic, has also warned the project would weaken the city\u2019s economic core when it needed more investment and jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe proposal would require the demolition of an active commercial building at significant cost, followed by the further expense of constructing and maintaining a new civic plaza. At a time when governments and cities face competing infrastructure, transport, housing and safety priorities, it is difficult to justify such expenditure, particularly when the city already has substantial public open space,\u201d Nicolaou has said.<\/p>\n The council says it has allocated $150 million for design, demolition and construction. All costs for the square, including those associated with the termination of existing leases and funds to\u202facquire\u202fthe final property, have been factored into long-term financial plans.<\/p>\n Moore said the council would need to invest more than $200 million to upgrade the existing buildings to modern office standards so they could be rented \u2013 a spend she said would be \u201ccrazy\u201d.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIt was the same when we pedestrianised George Street \u2013 [critics said] it was too costly, it shouldn\u2019t happen,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cPrivate investment in George Street [since then] has been $8 billion; we anticipate this square will be an enhancement for people wanting to visit, work and invest.\u201d<\/p>\n Woolworths has said the Town Hall outlet is its most visited supermarket nationally, drawing 6.5 million customers a year.<\/p>\n Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said the council\u2019s \u201conce-in-a-generation\u201d project would create a landmark, attracting investment and visitors and potentially changing \u201cthe way people experience this part of the city\u201d.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/e4d27a439ddcbf3364bc4675eb2bc4619cf7f6ca.jpeg\")
An artist\u2019s impression of the proposed civic square opposite Town Hall in Sydney\u2019s CBD.Choi Render![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8700fde70fc8d7e933b2f3966d29ac00481f39d0.jpeg\")
The designs include a curved grove of native trees and water fountains to cool the square.Choi Render<\/p>\n![\"Clover](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/aabcefc7637acc4f5a4252f407080ea032f31158.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7cbf31773eb2436bfc8c96158ac86d78b59431ad.jpeg\")
The tree canopy would be lit up at night to improve safety.Choi Render![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6134a15f039d413b5f61840225bc9241d5246011.jpeg\")
The council hopes the square will provide a live-site for sporting matches.Choi Render<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/977b91c31c60a6321b2789042e597a4758f4574a.jpeg\")
The Woolworths building is among seven blocks that will be bulldozed for the square.Edwina Pickles<\/p>\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f09062b4ce5abdbd59568e88fbbe49e4e6f8d47fe70dc033000362d5f1c37d17.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n