We have grown our tree canopy cover to 21.7%!
At the City we see trees as essential infrastructure – as important as roads or electricity.
We measure our canopy and green cover every two years, right down to street level, to gauge what's working and guide future planting. The latest results have just come in.
Since we began counting in 2008, we have added the equivalent of almost 94 Sydney Cricket Grounds of green cover!
We have more than halved the percentage of our LGA with less than 10% canopy cover, and more than doubled the percentage with more than 30%.
You can see there are still red dots we're working tirelessly to green. A lot of these areas are incredibly challenging to plant in because they lack deep soil beds. But we're working on it.
We are the only Australian city to consistently increase our canopy over the last decade are we're working towards 40% green cover and 27% canopy cover by 2050.
These latest results are another huge achievement. So thank you to our City Services team for their brilliant work delivering our award-winning Urban Forest Strategy!
This Federal Budget has been one of the most consequential budgets in over a decade.
The changes to Capital Gains Tax and Negative Gearing are fundamental to addressing the housing affordability crisis gripping this country. House prices and household incomes were decoupled when the Howard Government reformed these taxes in favour of investors, and this created a housing market which has locked out so many young people.
I welcome the long overdue tax reforms, which are a step in the right direction.
On 4-5 March, I travelled to Canberra with the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors to meet with Ministers and other Federal representatives about greater investment in infrastructure to support housing, and increased investment in active transport.
I am pleased that the Federal Government heard this message and included $2bn for infrastructure to support housing and half a billion dollars over ten years to support active transport infrastructure.
The funding for enabling infrastructure is needed to deliver housing in shovel-ready developments, and it is critical that this isn’t held up in negotiations with States and Territories. The Local Infrastructure Fund will help unlock the enabling infrastructure needed to finish housing projects that otherwise wouldn’t go ahead – infrastructure such as roads, water, power and sewerage.
While the investment in active transport is modest, at only $50m a year across the nation, it will be critical to expanding the network of cycleways in our cities.
Town Hall Square is another step closer!
This is a once in a lifetime project – one of the biggest the City has ever undertaken – so we’re making sure we have the very best on board to help us get it right.
After an open Expression of Interest and Tender process, we have appointed JPW as lead design consultant and architect for the project.
With a recent CV including Martin Place Metro Precinct, Sydney Opera House Strategic Building Plan, Barangaroo Reserve and the award winning Anzac Memorial, JPW will lead the development of the project into a full concept design and subsequent documentation phases.
They’ll work alongside ASPECT Studios as landscape architects, who are fresh off working on the Sydney Fish Markets, Quay Quarter Lanes, Darling Square and the terrific George St Light Rail.
I am really excited to see them take the City’s project scope forward to a Development Application you will be able to give us feedback about.
Unlike other major cities around the world, we don’t have a large, lively, welcoming civic space. For the growing number of people living in and visiting Sydney, that is about to change.
Described as a new living room for the city, this central, public square with ample trees and seating will be a place to sit on a weekday lunch break, a home to large scale events and gatherings like festivals, markets, celebrations and protests, and a meeting spot as iconic as the Town Hall steps.
Today’s announcement keeps us on track for construction starting 2028. We cannot wait.
Pictured left to right with me:
Matthew Morel, Director, JPW
Sacha Coles, Global Design Director, ASPECT Studios
Louise Pearson, Studio Director, ASPECT Studios
Matteo Salval, Director, JPW
Image: Nic Walker
This morning at Town Hall, we announced that international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson will receive the 2026 Sydney Peace Prize!
The Peace Prize jury selected Jen from a highly distinguished field of candidates for her unwavering commitment to international law and her dedication to upholding and promoting human rights, including free speech, press freedom, and gender and climate justice.
Jennifer's fearless defence of human rights and international law shows that even in the face of powerful opposition, justice can prevail.
At a time when democratic norms and international law are under increasing pressure, her work offers both clarity and hope that the rule of law remains one of our strongest tools for building a fairer world and that principled advocacy can change the course of history.
As Australia’s only international award for peace, the Sydney Peace Prize recognises those who make a profound contribution to justice and equality, and this year’s laureate exemplifies that mission in every sense.
Jen will be in Sydney to officially accept the Sydney Peace Prize Award on 12 November at Sydney Town Hall, and I'll include a link to get tickets in my bio.
This evening I asked the City’s CEO to withdraw the booking of an event in a City-owned venue advertised as: “Why it is right to globalise the Intifada”.
Please take the time to read my thoughts on the issue.
Congratulations to @alexgreenwich on his landmark result today in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
I know this case has taken a significant toll on Alex, and like many of you, I'm extremely grateful to him for taking this fight up for the benefit of all LGBTIQA+ people.
Behaviour like that of Mr Latham should never be tolerated in our City.
In 1993, my Private Members Bill, Anti-Discrimination (Homosexual Vilification) passed the NSW Parliament.
The Act made it unlawful "by public act, to incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of" people because of their homosexuality.
It was the heights of the AIDS crisis, and getting it through Parliament at the time was tough – but absolutely necessary.
I never imagined that it would still be needed over 30 years later, which goes to show that the fight for Equality continues.
But thanks to Alex and this court victory, we're one step closer.
A new crisis centre for our City’s most vulnerable!
This time last year, there was sadness and uncertainty as the doors closed on the Haymarket Foundation’s Regent Street building. But another door has just opened and the Haymarket Foundation is bigger and better than ever in a new inner city location.
Haymarket provides a unique and critical service – for people with complex health needs who are experiencing homelessness, as well as those escaping domestic and family violence.
Thanks to all three levels of Government collaborating with Bridge Housing, we have 35 self contained units that will be able to support up to 140 people each year.
And we hope that all three levels of Government continue to collaborate with not-for-profits like Haymarket Foundation to provide more housing and wrap around services to those in needs – including non residents.
It’s always rewarding when governments work together, and on behalf of the people of Sydney, thank you to Haymarket Foundation for all the valuable work you do for our communities.
The impact of the ongoing war in Iran is being felt right across our community.
Tonight at Council we had an important discussion on fuel security.
Our priority is to maintain service delivery where fuel is needed. However, we’ve also been building community resilience by reducing our reliance on petrol wherever possible.
Have a read about our planning, advocacy and action.
On Saturday, we gathered at the Martin Place Cenotaph to remember and reflect on the honour, courage and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women.
However, as my dear friend Pastor Ray Minniecon stood to deliver the Acknowledgement of Country, boos rang out.
I was stunned and deeply appalled. What occurred was organised and brazen racism, and a profound act of disrespect to the purpose of ANZAC Day itself.
As always, Ray met the interruption with trademark dignity, strength and grace.
Initially, I didn't want to draw further attention to such a hurtful act. But it's important that we acknowledge what occurred, name it for what it was, and understand the harm it causes.
Racism like this causes real and lasting damage. It retraumatises First Nations people, reinforces exclusion, and sends a message that some do not belong even in spaces intended for collective remembrance and respect.
Pastor Ray, a proud Kabi‑Kabi and Gurang‑Gurang man and a former member of the Infantry Corps, has given extraordinary service both to his country and to our community. He has been instrumental in many significant initiatives in our city, including the memorial to Indigenous service members in Hyde Park and the annual Coloured Diggers March in Redfern. His contribution to remembrance and reconciliation is immeasurable.
The spontaneous and overwhelming applause that followed his address spoke volumes. It affirmed that acts of racism do not represent the majority, and that respect, inclusion and decency remain our shared values.
Taking a moment to acknowledge Country will not, on its own, undo the devastating and far‑reaching impacts of colonisation. But it is an honest and necessary reminder that reconciliation requires truth‑telling, respect and courage.
What we witnessed on Saturday underscores an uncomfortable truth: progress has been made, but there is still a long road ahead.
Calling out racism, standing alongside those who are targeted by it, and reaffirming our shared values is essential. Especially on days when we gather to remember who we are, and who we aspire to be.
From our local dawn services to the Martin Place Cenotaph, the Coloured Diggers March through Redfern and quiet moments at home, each Anzac Day the City stops in a shared act of remembrance that spans generations.
We stop to remember and reflect on the honour, courage and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.
Lest we forget.
Happy 50th to Theatre Royal!
Theatre Royal Sydney has roots at its current site dating all the way back to 1875, but was demolished in 1971 to make way for the MLC Centre.
After protests, a Green Ban and various development incentives, Lend Lease included a new 1,180-seat theatre in the construction plans.
Designed by Harry Seidler in a modernist style, the current Theatre Royal opened on 23 January 1976 with A Night To Remember.
Ten years ago it went dark, during the extensive redevelopment of the MLC Centre. But a collaborative effort saved the Theatre Royal again and it re-opened, as we now know it, in 2021.
I was thrilled to see that Seidler’s iconic 1970s design was lovingly restored and it has welcomed over 1.1 million patrons through its doors since.
Its survival has meant that we have all reaped enormous cultural, social and economic rewards. It has boosted our local and visitor economy, and it has supported the careers of our artists, musicians, actors, production workers and other creatives.
Here’s to another 50 years of this significant landmark and cultural icon – which I hope will be battle free!
