SYDNEY’S OPEN FOR LUNCH A SUCCESS 

Sydney’s world-class and diverse dining scene was showcased today at Sydney’s Open for Lunch events across Sydney and Parramatta. More than 600 guests secured their dining seat at George Street Long Lunch, while another three long lunch events hosted diners across the city in Parramatta, South Eveleigh and the network of YCK Laneways. 

"Sydney’s Open for Lunch was developed to put on a culinary show and turbocharge the revitalisation of the city’s hospitality industry after a very challenging period. Well-known names from Sydney’s dining scene" Luke Mangan said.

Kylie Kwong, Palisa Anderson, Mike McEnearney and more – came together to collaborate on an exciting program which fused food, drink and entertainment.  

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the event delivered on its intention to entice Sydneysiders and visitors to get out and explore Sydney, showcasing the culinary scene that Sydney is famous for.  

“Sydney’s Open For Lunch benefited many businesses that were affected by COVID-19, as well as provided locals and visitors with new ways to reconnect and rediscover Sydney’s vibrant dining scene. This investment aligned with the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 and our ambition to provide world-leading food and wine experiences,” Mr Ayres said. 

Hero events of the program included:  

• The sold-out George Street Long Lunch which transformed Sydney’s iconic street for one day only into the ultimate summer lunch party for over 600 guests. Guests dined alfresco with a three-course lunch prepared by Palisa Anderson of Chat Thai, Mike McEnearney of Kitchen by Mike, Luke Mangan of Glass Brasserie and Michael Nicolian of Continental Delicatessen. Live musical performances by George Ellis Orchestra featuring Josh Pyke, plus the Hot Potato Band, and surprise performance by Hot Dub Time Machine contributed to the celebratory mood.      

• A lunchtime disco fever took over the piazza in Locomotive Street for the South Eveleigh Alfresco Disco where Kylie Kwong served a noodle feast from her Cantonese eatery Lucky Kwong, complemented with cocktails by neighbouring Re cocktail bar and kitchen. 
    
• The network of York, Clarence and Kent streets a.k.a. YCK Laneways became a sit-down soiree as several independent venues put on themed long lunches that will continue into the evening, for diners to settle in and experience the best of inner-city bar culture over delicious bites.     

• Parramatta Square turned into a lunchtime foodie fiesta with three of its neighbourhood restaurants teaming up to welcome and wow diners. CicciaBella, LILYMU and Ruse Bar & Brasserie each served a three-course plated meal. The musical talents of renowned indie, RnB collective Winston Surfshirt, RnB star Milan Ring and soulful RnB hip-hop artist Nardean entertained guests during the lunch.  
  
  A NSW Government initiative delivered by Destination NSW, Sydney’s Open for Lunch was developed to support the recovery of Sydney’s hospitality sector, encouraging Sydneysiders to reconnect with their city and rediscover the vibrancy and diversity of Sydney’s food and drink offerings and the joy of sharing a meal with friends, family or work colleagues.  

SYDNEY IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND ON THE CHARTS FOR NEW TOURISM CAMPAIGN

The NSW Government has unveiled an extension to its Feel New tourism marketing campaign, to drive domestic visitation to the Harbour City. 

The Feel New Sydney campaign delivers a fast-paced snapshot of the diverse array of experiences Sydney has to offer, including its vibrant culture, buzzing night-time economy, world-class dining, spectacular natural wonders and signature icons and beaches. 

To celebrate the campaign launch, Destination NSW has partnered with Australian singer-songwriter Azure Ryder to release the campaign soundtrack, an evocative cover of Nina Simone’s 1965 hit Feeling Good, via direct streaming platforms including Spotify and YouTube. 

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Industry and Trade Stuart Ayres said the new campaign for Sydney sent a strong signal that the city was open for business and ready to welcome back visitors. 

“Our Feel New Sydney campaign is inviting everyone back to our beloved city so they can experience it like never before,” Mr Ayres said. 

“Sydney is the beating heart of our state and promises our visitors an experience unlike any other with the power to inspire and reinvigorate. Whether it’s Sydney’s world-class restaurants or its glittering coastline, vibrant nightlife or abundant national parks – there is no shortage of ways to feel new in in our city. 

“The new Sydney-focused campaign will help us achieve our goals in the Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 by inspiring visitors to come and experience Australia’s only truly global city.” 

Azure Ryder said her recording of Feeling Good paid homage to the many vibrant sides of Sydney and the abundance of the city’s natural wonders and rich culture.     

“Sydney has a very special place in my heart - from my time growing up on the Northern Beaches to the city’s thriving arts and culture scene, I’m so excited to be able to release Feeling Good to celebrate everything this incredible state has to offer,” Azure said.  

“I’m thrilled to be working with Destination NSW on its new campaign. Sydney is a place I hold close to my heart and I am honoured to be involved to help bring attention to Sydney and NSW by releasing a track that will inspire people to visit and help to reinvigorate businesses across the state.”  

For more information on the Feel New tourism marketing campaigns visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/tourism/feel-new-visitor-brand 

TVC video:  https://youtu.be/C2MDFUolZnc

Fact sheet: Feel New Sydney Campaign Launch Fact Sheet (destinationnsw.com.au) 

CENTRAL SYDNEY SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS 

Sydney’s heart is shaping up for its comeback, with planning complete on the next steps to unlock a potential 2.4 million square metres of new commercial and employment floor space in Central Sydney and Pyrmont. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the finalisation of the Central Sydney Planning Strategy provided the perfect opportunity to revamp and improve our great city. “Sydney is the nation’s only global city and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity, as we come out the other side of the pandemic, to continue transforming it into one of the world’s greatest cities,” Mr Perrottet said. 

“Sydney is the world’s gateway to Australia and this strategy will help cement our positions as the epicentre of global investment and innovation as well enhance our natural assets to build a city that is the best place to work, rest and play in the nation.” 

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the long-awaited finalisation of the Strategy would enable more development in the city centre while protecting public space and solar access. 

“This is the culmination of years of hard work with the City of Sydney, the community and industry. Towers will be taller, planning processes will become simpler and more transparent, and strict rules will be introduced to protect important public spaces,” Mr Stokes said. 

“This Strategy balances Central Sydney’s global role as a hub for business and innovation with its attractiveness as a place to live and play. It brings certainty to the planning system, which will make Central Sydney an even more attractive place to invest.” 

Simplified new rules for infrastructure contributions will help fund a range of public services to accompany more development, including upgrades to Hyde Park, Belmore Park and George Street, and improvements to community facilities and pedestrian and cycling links. 

Coinciding with the finalisation of the Central Sydney Planning Strategy is the public exhibition of detailed plans for the Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy. 

Consultation is underway on master plans for the seven sub-precincts, including proposed plans for a new six-star hotel at The Star, UTS Indigenous Residential College, and the two sites for the new Sydney Metro station at Pyrmont. 

“We want the community to have its say on the next stage in the evolution of this significant part of Sydney which includes the Pyrmont Metro station development, a key piece of the Pyrmont puzzle planned to priortise pedestrians and enable a new level of connectivity to the Peninsula,” Mr Stokes said. 

Along with the seven sub-precinct master plans, amended planning controls and a proposed Special Infrastructure Contribution to help fund Sydney Metro West are also on exhibition. 

Submissions will be open until 4 February 2022. To read the finalised Central Sydney Planning Strategy visit www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/central-sydney-planningframework 

For more information about the Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy visit: Pyrmont Peninsula - (nsw.gov.au)

FINAL KOSCIUSZKO WILD HORSE PLAN RELEASED 

The NSW Government has released the final plan for the management of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park providing certainty for local communities and for all who value the Park’s unique environment. 

Environment Minister Matt Kean said the final plan struck the right balance between protecting the heritage value of the wild horses and maintaining the exceptional conservation values of our state’s largest national park. 

“Kosciusko National Park is a very special place that needs to be protected for future generations,” Mr Kean said. 

“We release a plan that will finally provide protection for the numerous threatened species and the suite of important alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems that call Kosciuszko National Park home. 

“Based on consultation with scientific and community representatives, Aboriginal stakeholders and over 4,000 public submissions, we can finally deliver a clear direction for one of the most special environments anywhere in the country.” 

The Plan provides for a staged reduction in the overall wild horse population from an estimated 14,380 horses in the 2020 survey to 3,000 horses by 30 June 2027. 

Across the Park, the plan provides for three broad management areas: 

·         Areas in which wild horses will continue to occupy –32 % of the Park 

·         Areas from which wild horses will be removed –21% of the Park 

·         Areas which are currently free of horses and which will be kept free–47 % of  the Park

The removal of wild horses will occur in accordance with best practice animal welfare requirements. 

Member for Monaro John Barilaro said the plan was the culmination of years of work from a number of passionate people who care deeply about the issue. 

“I am so proud that we have been able to deliver certainty within my local electorate on this important issue, it has been years in the making,” Mr Barilaro said. 

“This final plan gives the everybody certainty by delivering a way to manage a sustainable population of wild horses in only very select areas of the Park, but more importantly it recognises their important heritage value for future generations.” 

The areas in which horses may continue to occur are those areas with the strongest links to wild horse heritage values and are areas with connections to historic pastoralism, brumby running and include wild horses derived from historic pastoral populations (eg, the Kiandra greys). 

The removal and exclusion of wild horses from designated areas, and the reduction in the overall population, will provide effective protection from the impacts of wild horses for many threatened species. 

These include the northern and southern corroboree frogs, the smoky mouse and the broad-toothed rat as well as a suite of important alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems. 

Annual surveys of the wild horse population will help monitor progress toward the targets in the Plan. 

The implementation of the plan is expected to begin immediately with the reintroduction of passive trapping and re-homing. 

ONE GIANT STEP FOR CBD WITH PLANS AFOOT TO CREATE ICONIC SYDNEY GREAT WALK

The NSW Government is developing plans to create Australia’s greatest urban walking trail stretching along the Harbour foreshore from Lady Macquarie’s Chair, past the Opera House and Bridge, through Barangaroo and returning via the CBD.

Dubbed the Sydney Great Walk it will connect major tourism locations and attractions and feature at least two loops with the first designed to be completed in half a day and a longer full-day walk extending into Darling Harbour and back past the Chinese Garden of Friendship and Hyde Park.

The Government will conduct feasibility studies into the project, including developing routes, exploring physical wayfinding options such as signs, maps and information and undertaking consultation with key stakeholders such as the City of Sydney.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was imperative to find new and innovative ways to improve what was sometimes simply taken for granted.

“This route has the potential to become the greatest and most iconic urban walk in the country,” Mr Perrottet said.

“It will be something all Australians should do, and the one walk every visitor must do, when they are able to return safely to our shores.”

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, and Minister for Trade and Investment Stuart Ayres, said creating an iconic walk around the Harbour front and through the middle of the CBD would build on existing initiatives designed to encourage people to enjoy NSW.

“We recently launched our Renew advertising campaign to encourage people to reconnect with our great state and developing projects such as the Sydney Great Walk fit well alongside other initiatives such as Sydney’s Open for Lunch and the six-day ELEVATE Sydney celebration to be staged on the Cahill Expressway,” Mr Ayres said.

“We want people to get out and enjoy the best NSW has to offer and if this encourages more people to visit and enjoy the city in a healthy way it’s a win-win outcome.”

The Government will also investigate utilising digital platforms as wayfinders to allow people to plan their journey and access key information on the walk about key places, facilities.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the walk would provide the opportunity to not just showcase the Harbour and some of our most iconic locations, but to incorporate art installations, soundscapes and enhanced infrastructure.

“This walk will help draw people back into the CBD and at the same time connect what are individually some of the most beautiful and recognisable places in Australia,” Mr Stokes said.

“Our aim is to enhance the liveability of our city, promote more people actively exploring the city and develop a drawcard which is on everybody’s bucket-list.

“We will also look at developing special sections of the walk so that people may do a history component in The Rocks or a dining and eating component through the CBD. 

“It could also connect with the great work already underway on the existing Yananurala walk, a project led by the City of Sydney in collaboration with First Nation’s representatives that highlights Aboriginal history and culture at places along the Sydney harbour foreshore.”

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