The NSW Premier’s third Sydney Summit, which is focused on ideas to revitalise the Sydney CBD has been welcomed by AHA NSW CEO John Whelan, who attended the Summit on Friday.
The previous summits have brought us the Sydney’s Open for Lunch initiative and the Dine and Discover program and Premier Dominic Perrottet described the series of summits as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the city of the future”.
Minister for Cities Rob Stokes added: “We need to get the settings right to draw people back to our city centres as we prepare for city life without lockdowns.”
Whelan gave credit to the Premier and Treasurer for holding the summit, held to workshop ideas to revitalise the CBD in the wake of COVID.
“I’d like to thank the Premier and Treasurer for bringing together such a high level group of people for the third time to discuss ways to bring the CBD back to life,” he said.
Whelan also welcomed moves by Government to cut red tape and allow members’ to utilise more space including private carparks for al fresco dining but said more should be done to immediately ease pressure.
“Our CBD venues are still subject to COVID restrictions, mandatory QR scan-ins and are suffering because Sydney is yet to see the return of office workers, international tourists and cruise ships,” he said.
“There is clearly lots to be done to support all NSW hotels and it is pleasing to see Premier Perrottet so focused on the revitalisation of the hospitality industry.”