Friday, 11th May

North Sydney, Mosman CBDs set for nightlife boom

Massive change is under way at Mosman and North Sydney's commercial centres – and it's all about the night vibe.

The Greater Sydney Commission has called for both councils to bring their sagging CBDs into the 21st century with a “more diverse night-time economic offering” to cater for tens of thousands of new residents and workers.

Its North District Plan sets bold new housing targets, with 3000 new dwellings in North Sydney and 300 in Mosman by 2021, and forecasts a 28 per cent population growth in the broader northern region to about 1.1 million.

North Sydney is heading for significant growth over the next 20 years.

North Sydney is expected to have nearly 20,000 more residents and a whopping 21,000 more jobs by 2036 as a raft of new developments and influx of businesses transform the CBD from an after-dark ghost town into a thriving night-time economy.

And while Mosman is not planning for such a radical overhaul, it is already rejuvenating a key business district.

Three weeks ago the council kicked off an $875,000 upgrade of Mosman Junction, with the four-stage works focusing on extra outdoor dining expected to be finished in August.

“This will open up the area to an additional night-time economy,” Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said.

Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan.

“It's actually one of our major projects this year. It's a starting point for us and we'll keep having conversations with our residents about what they want in the CBDs in the future.”

The first of two alfresco dining areas are being put in place. There will also be two new pedestrian crossings, at Middle Head and Bradleys Head roads and Prince Albert St, and the closure of a slip lane to complement the outdoor dining revamp.

“Our residents have been calling for this upgrade for some time. It keeps people in the area instead of them having to get in cars and go elsewhere,” Cr Corrigan said.

Over at North Sydney, the council is playing catch-up on outdated trading regulations as it embraces the Greater Sydney Commission's call for a “thriving commercial core … that meets the needs of a culturally rich and diverse resident population”.

Mayor Jilly Gibson said updating the opening hours for businesses was “critical” to the CBD flourishing in the future.

North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson.

“(Trading hours) haven't been reviewed for years and years. Our regulations for dining and trading precede the multicultural diversity that we have in our region today,” Cr Gibson said.

“We're also looking at Kirribilli and Milsons Point, where we'll go out for community consultation to see if residents would like extended trading hours for restaurants and bars.”

She said North Sydney's CBD would be “unrecognisable in four or five years' time”.

“It'll have a vibrant night-time economy, small bars in laneways and there'll be a range of restaurants, from fine-dining to street food,” Cr Gibson said.

And the mayor put the Harbour City's more trendy locations on notice.

“They better shape up because North Sydney is going to become the place to be at night,” she said.

Andrew Utiger is putting his money where his mouth is in backing a bright future for North Sydney's CBD.

The Treehouse restaurant and bar owner has worked around North Sydney for more than two decades and is “excited” by what's in store for the city centre.

“We've had a very strong last five or six years (at the Treehouse on Miller St) and in the next few years it'll be quite amazing to be part of the changes for the CBD,” Mr Utiger said.


Great expectations: Treehouse GM Lucy Christopher, co-owner Andrew Utiger and executive chef/co-owner Dave Maisey. Pic: AAP Image/Troy Snook

“It'll keep trending in a positive direction. And we're so confident about it that we're planning to open a new rooftop bar in the Northpoint building at the end of this year.”

He said growth in the CBD was much needed as it “dies down” after 9pm.

“I used to be at the Albert Tavern and I've been working at North Sydney for 25 years now so I know all the ups and downs here,” he said.

“But North Sydney is going through a huge building trend at the moment. In the next five years it is going to be very, very busy.

“There is going to be a lot more people living here, as well as new hotels and business people, so it will need more places to cater for the growth.”

He welcomed the council's promise to look at extending trading hours in the CBD by next year.

“Our current licence means we have to close at midnight,” Mr Utiger said. “We'll consider opening longer if there's a demand; we're reasonably up-market and attract a lot of business people. And with the Vibe (Hotel) opening across the street, with 187 rooms, we're getting lots of their guests coming here for dinner.

Cranes over North Sydney CBD as work starts on transforming it into a vibrant night-time centre.

“In the long term, if there are venues of good quality to open later, there'll definitely be a market for it.”

Mayor Jilly Gibson said that “creating more diverse, vibrant” CBDs in the LGA was her main goal as a councillor.

“It's not just North Sydney that we need to improve – and critical to anything we do is looking at trading hours in the next 12 months,” she said.

“In our villages like Kirribilli, most of the restaurants have to close at 10 o'clock on a Saturday night; it's ridiculous.

“There are high rents for business and we shouldn't be restricting how they can grow and make the area more vibrant.”

Mr Utiger praised Cr Gibson's “progressive” approach to CBD revitalisation.

“It's great to see things are heading in a positive direction; businesses need support,” he said.

Source: Matt Taylor, Mosman Daily


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