What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
The City of Sydney's direction is set out in Sustainable Sydney 2030–2050: Continuing the Vision (its long-term community strategic plan), delivered through a Delivery Program 2025–2029 and an annual Operational Plan & Budget — the 2026/27 Operational Plan sets out $671.1M in operating expenditure and a $265.2M capital works program.
As the council for Australia's premier CBD, the City of Sydney delivers waste, parks, libraries, footpaths, planning and major public-domain projects across the Sydney CBD and inner-city suburbs, alongside significant investment in cycling infrastructure, public space renewal and cultural/nighttime-economy programs. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The 2026/27 budget includes a $265.2M capital works program (400+ projects) alongside $671.1M in operating expenditure, funding projects such as the Town Hall Square renewal (part of a $185M precinct upgrade), the Mandible Street sports precinct in Alexandria, and continued George Street pedestrianisation.
Underway now
Town Hall Square & Sydney Square renewal ($185M)
Multi-year, from 2025A major renewal of the public space around Sydney Town Hall and St Andrew's Cathedral, part of the council's broader 10-year, $2.7 billion public-realm and infrastructure investment plan.
Source: City of Sydney — $2.7b plan to transform city spaces and services
All-electric buildings planning rules
Phase 1 from 1 Jan 2026; phase 2 from 1 Jan 2027New planning rules require new residential buildings, hotels and serviced apartments to be all-electric (no gas cooktops/heaters) from 1 January 2026, with large commercial buildings (over 1,000m²), bigger hotels and serviced apartments added from 1 January 2027.
Source: City of Sydney — All electric buildings get the green light
Planned / committed
Waste Reduction and Circular Materials Strategy 2026–2035
2026–2035A 10-year strategy targeting 90% diversion of waste from landfill by June 2035, including a staged rollout of household food-scraps recycling to all residents by 2030 and expanded recycling for hard-to-recycle items like soft plastics and textiles.
Source: City of Sydney — Waste reduction and circular materials strategy