By ANNA USHER

After years of debate, design revisions and local frustration, work is finally about to begin on the long-awaited upgrade of Young Street Plaza in Neutral Bay.

North Sydney Council has confirmed construction will start in October, with contractors appointed to deliver the $2.7 million project over a 20-week period. The plan will see cars return to Young Street for the first time since 2020, alongside a revamped pedestrian plaza designed to be greener, safer and more welcoming.

The project includes new stormwater drainage, paving, lighting, street furniture and native landscaping, as well as shaded seating areas, a weatherproof pergola and small entertainment spaces for community use. Traffic will move one-way towards Military Road, while vehicles exiting Grosvenor Lane will be restricted to a left-turn only, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists around the village.

It marks the latest chapter in a saga that has divided the community for almost five years. A temporary, traffic-free plaza installed in 2020 – at a reported cost of nearly $500,000 – was meant to create much-needed open space. Instead, it sparked one of the area’s fiercest debates.

Some residents say the upgrade will finally fix what’s been a planning headache.

“Neutral Bay is in dire need of more open space,” local Kathy Fitzgerald told Mosman Collective. “If done tastefully, Young Street could become a family-friendly oasis — it’s just a shame the money can’t be used for the completion of North Sydney Pool.”

Others aren’t convinced.

“I think the existing design is a dirty eyesore and nobody uses the damn thing,” said Cremorne local Marilyn Fisher. “It looks appalling.”

The $2.749 million revamp is funded by Transport for NSW under a grant compensating the community for disruption caused by the B-Line bus corridor. Council formally awarded the tender at its 8 September meeting, with completion expected by March 2026.

Council says pedestrian access to shops will be maintained during construction, though there may be short closures during concrete works.
For more information, contact EzyPave Project Manager Ali Makouk on 0450 090 759 or Council Project Manager Diana Mejia on (02)
9936 8100.