The Ignored Advice
In May 2023, the Council’s own expert staff handed down a definitive verdict. They analysed the numbers, the heritage, and the city’s future. Their recommendation was clear:
Do not start the Town Hall Square until at least 2035.
The experts were blunt:
The cost was horrendous
Estimated at well over $200 million, more than any project the Council had ever led.The risk was high
Proceeding too early would threaten the City's financial sustainability.The tenants were vital
The revenue from businesses like Park House was deemed essential to the City’s operating income.
Based on this expert advice, the Council unanimously resolved to extend commercial leases until 2035. For a moment, common sense prevailed. A STOP sign was raised.
Businesses were told we had a future. Sydney was protected from this massive debt. Other tenancies invested in expensive fit outs. Businesses told their loyal teams and customers that they were safe, had a future. Shoppers relaxed – their shops were safe.
But that was 2023.
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The construction of a future Town Hall Square will require a large financial commitment of well over $200 million. The capital costs would be greater than any recent undertaking of the City and will reduce our future operating income from the site.
The City is yet to acquire all the properties required for the future square. A project of this size will require funding contributions from the State and/or Federal Government to ensure that the City remains financially sustainable. Funding for the project also requires significant pre-planning, and the City will need to continue to optimise its commercial property portfolio in order to set aside funds towards the cost of construction, while ensuring our long-term financial sustainability.
For these reasons it is recommended that construction of the future Town Hall Square not commence any earlier than 2035 and that the period available for commercial and retail leases in these properties be extended to coincide with the earliest date that these sites are to be required for construction to commence.
The 2025 Pivot by Lord Mayor Clover Moore is a poor decision, ignoring expert advice.
In February 2025, expert advice was ignored and discarded. Suddenly, the STOP sign was removed without justification.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore moved a motion to accelerate the delivery of the square, pushing for demolition to start within her current term. This means works to start by 2027, not 2035.
To justify this 180-degree turn, the Lord Mayor claimed the buildings were "ageing assets" that were too expensive to keep.
But Information obtained through the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA) process forced the Council to show their work. And there is a lack of data.
Let’s look at some of the facts »
The Mayor Says:
Maintenance of the buildings is "prohibitive."
Council Facts:
Her own staff admit the data doesn't exist.
Tenants say these buildings have been deliberately under-maintained to justify demolition.
The Mayor Says:
"The cost of maintenance, compliance and upgrades is likely to exceed income."
Council Facts:
When we asked for the itemised maintenance schedule used to support that claim, the Council’s official legal response was:
"Not Held. There is no itemised Projected Maintenance Schedule."
The Mayor Says:
It is "not prudent" to keep these assets.
Council Facts:
When we asked for the valuation reports of the buildings they intend to bulldoze, the Council admitted:
"There are no internal or external valuation reports held."
The Mayor Says:
This is a transparent public project.
Council Facts:
When we asked for a breakdown of demolition and construction costs, the Council Refused Access.
The verdict:
The Council are flying blind. They are making a $200 million decision based on information they admit they don’t hold.
How can the Lord Mayor call a building "unviable" when her own department doesn't even have a maintenance record for it?
They are preparing to destroy nearly 80 years of social and built heritage without even knowing what the land or the buildings are worth today.
There is no known demand for this project which will be expensive to properly maintain into perpetuity.