Clover announces Oxford St drag makeover

City of Sydney will revitalise the West end of Oxford Street by opening spaces to creative industries and new businesses.

Last Monday’s Council meeting confirmed the long discussed project, which includes leasing Council land to artists, retailers and cafes; fostering more street-side plants and conducting day-time waste clean-ups.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said fostering a diverse mix of tenants would attract more people to live, shop and eat around Oxford Street and ultimately boost the local economy.

“We agree with business owners and the local community that it could be better, and to make the most of Oxford Street, we need to think creatively and work together.”

By strategically using our vacant properties on the south end of Oxford Street, we can kick-start a creative rebirth of the area.”

Council will begin taking expressions of interest next month and aims to have creative tenants in by Christmas.

Greens Councillor Irene Doutney praised the project for finally answering loud calls from the lower Oxford Street community.

“This is fantastic. It has been long sought for . . . I just hope the base of the community is happy for this to go ahead.”

Sue Ritchie, Vice President of 2010 Darlinghurst Surry Hills Business Partnership, said the news was evidence of the start of a working relationship between Council and the community.

“It’s been a long time coming, nevertheless it’s great news.”

Ms Ritchie said although she was thrilled with the news, she thought the project could be expanded to the rest of Oxford street.

“We are looking for council to be more responsive to the community from Park to Park. That is from Hyde Park to Centennial Park,” she said.

“Oxford Street is the spine that has driven creative industry around . . . It has been neglected and it has seen many cuts . . . Rather than let it deteriorate, while the focus is on the other areas like Barangaroo, we want to keep Oxford Street strong.”

Ms Moore responded by stating the City has delivered a $45 million package, which featured more than 50 individual projects to improve the shopping strip and over $236,000 for community groups running local creative projects.