A six-block refurbishment of Macleay Street, Potts Point has been completed as part of the City of Sydney’s push to make city streets greener, safer and more accessible.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney was creating world-class streets that not only help people move around but are also destinations in their own right.
“The transformation of Macleay Street in Potts Point is a great example of how we are making our city greener and safer for riding and walking, while providing more opportunities for businesses to thrive,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’re committed to improving all our wonderful village high streets and following the successful upgrades of Glebe Point Road and Redfern Street it was Potts Point’s turn.
“By widening footpaths and raising crossings to prioritise pedestrian movement, installing new lights and seats, planting trees and installing new garden beds we have made Macleay Street a safer and more pleasant place for people to walk, calmed the traffic and softened the streetscape.
“Well-designed, attractive and activated streets are destinations, rather than simply a means of transiting from one place to another. They make getting around a more pleasant experience and also create new opportunities for local businesses, which is incredibly important as we look to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.”
The multi-million dollar street improvements followed consultation with residents and businesses to help develop the best design for the area and have been warmly welcomed by the local community. Construction was staged to limit disruption to local businesses.
Warren Fahey, a cultural historian and co-administrator of the Potts Pointers community group, said feedback around the upgrades was extremely positive, despite some inconvenience during the construction phase.
“The upgrade’s design puts people first. Expanded street seating, improved lighting and landscaping is vital to a community where most people live in apartments. The parks and the streets are our backyard. The intentional slowing down of traffic with a 40km/h zone, widened footpaths and continuous paving have all contributed to a safer and more relaxed street.
“Overall, the residents and traders appreciate that the project has also planned for the future. Most people are very appreciative of the beautification and although it was often a painful journey, the benefits are now being realised. We see a bright future for Macleay Street.”
The works cover 480m of roadway from Orwell to McDonald streets. The improvements include:
- wider footpaths to provide more space for people walking;
- raised continuous footpaths from Orwell Street to Rockwall Crescent;
- a raised intersection at Macleay Street and Greenknowe Avenue;
- new lighting and smart poles;
- new seating, bins and bike racks;
- new concrete paving;
- more street trees, landscaping and new garden beds; and
- 2 in-lane bus stops on the eastern and western sides of Macleay Street.
The City of Sydney has completed 27 footpath upgrades in the 2021/22 financial year.
Another 22 footpaths will be renewed in 2022/23 in Glebe, Beaconsfield, Newtown, Waterloo, Glebe, Alexandria, Surry Hills, Centennial Park, Pyrmont and along Elizabeth Street and Sussex Street in the city centre.
