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Central Precinct project will offer riders the goods

Major active transport improvements to The Goods Line, including the repurposing of an ancient underground railway tunnel, are on the cards for Sydney’s Central Station.

‘Central Precinct’ is a project led by the NSW Government to transform up to 24 hectares of land in and around Sydney’s Central Station into a state-of-the-art business and community space.

The $11 billion plan has been in discussion since 2017. This week, NSW Government officially announced the Central Precinct Renewal Program, comprising major upgrades to Central Station, pedestrian bridges, and a giant deck over the regional and metro rail lines that will accommodate up to 15 buildings.

The project will also include three new parks and improved active transport connections around the Precinct. The Goods Line, a key pedestrian connection from Ultimo, will be extended from Railway Square to the historic Mortuary Station

The Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes has also nodded to a number of exciting innovations, including the use of a disused railway tunnel.

The sandstone railway tunnel lies underneath Central Station and was originally used to transport goods from Darling Harbour. The tunnel could become one of Sydney’s newest active transport links and a key tourist attraction.

Minister Stokes told 9News: “When you’ve got heritage gems like this that have been locked away for so long, we’d be mad not to take the opportunity to use this for active transport, to link it up and make it easier for people to get around this great city.”

Have your say

The community now has the opportunity to weigh in on this exciting plan.

The NSW Government have developed a masterplan to guide the design of Central Precinct. The Design Guide, which will inform planning and building, earmarks a number of potential bike connections and parking facilities to improve active transport access to the Precinct, which is promising.

The vision for Central Precinct could be significantly strengthened from further community input.

You can make a submission on the NSW Government’s planning portal here.

The Central Precinct plan is on exhibition for public comment until Monday 19 September 2022.

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