Business Sydney says getting people back into their city workplaces early in the new year is key to driving the CBD’s economic recovery and will have a major flow-on to reactivating its nightlife.
“We have led the way in Covid recovery, welcoming back interstate and international visitors and students, but the CBD needs feet on its streets every day and night of the week to get its mojo back and build our nighttime economy,” said Paul Nicolaou, Executive Director of Business Sydney.
“Sydney’s CBD has a critical opportunity to significantly increase its economic activity and employment, by capitalising on the night time through supporting more flexible working hours that bring people into the city and encourage businesses and services to respond by staying open later.”
“The CBD economy was the centerpiece of the city’s and state’s economies before Covid and while foot traffic fell to less than 10% during lockdown it has now recovered to over 40% and building a vibrant 24-hour economy would generate much-needed economic activity and jobs growth.”
“City of Sydney council is working with the state government by curating a range of programs to entertain and entice visitors and workers into the CBD, together spending many millions of dollars on street activations and incentives like Dine & Discover and employers must encourage workers back into workplaces early in the new year to support the CBD’s recovery.”
“State government is the city’s biggest CBD employer and needs to lead by example through getting its workers back into city workplaces.”
“We really need to encourage a positive change in attitudes around working in visiting the CBD at night, something other global cities like London and New York, have been doing successfully for many years.”
