PADDINGTON | @TransportforNSW is requesting feedback on its Oxford Street Revitalisation Project Public Domain & Activation Strategy. These renders highlight the mooted changes - road space reallocation and public space improvements. Read more here: https://t.co/A4WZdfJJUC

Happy Melbourne Metro Tunnel opening day to our friends south of the border

WATERLOO | 2 DAs have been lodged for the Waterloo Collective. Together, these 3 new towers will provide 814 new apartments, 4,500m2 commercial space, a childcare centre & ground level retail above the Waterloo metro station. Read more here: https://t.co/EEm0HLqLiG

KINGS CROSS | After a hectic work week, I went for a stroll around a lively Kings Cross on a Friday night. Plenty of people enjoying alfresco wining and dining. Safe to say Nahji Chu is a key contributor and it would be great to see support from @cityofsydney @CloverMoore

Read more here: https://t.co/ZLiMGcyr1x 4/4

October 2025 also saw the 5th highest average weekend day ridership (123,243). This equated to approx 50% of average weekday ridership despite some weekend trackwork disruption and reduced frequencies. 3/4

October 2025 saw the 3rd highest average weekday ridership (246,595), in a period which included the spring school holidays. 2/4

SYDNEY | October 2025 saw another record month for ridership on Sydney Metro. 6,534,281 trips were taken on the M1 Metro North West & Bankstown Line. It was the 2nd busiest rail line in Sydney, 44,000 trips behind the T1 Line (with 35 more stations). 1/4

OXFORD STREET EAST | @TransportforNSW has released renders for a new bi-directional cycleway and supporting public domain works for the section of Oxford Street between Taylor Square and Centennial Park. Read more here: https://t.co/A4WZdfJJUC

The economic appraisal results make for an interesting read. Wide variability in BCR due to range of unknowns. Reduced rental stress & benefits for first home buyers account for almost 10% of all benefits, almost double that of traditional travel time benefits (6%)

Stage 1 comprises three sub-stages (Stage 1A: Newcastle-Central Coast (completion possible 2037), Stage 1B: Central Coast-Sydney Central (completion possible 2039), Stage 1C: Sydney Central-Western Sydney International (completion possible 2042)

The High Speed Rail Business Case Evaluation Report has been released by Infrastructure Australia (IA). IA supports the full scope of the Development Phase for Newcastle to Sydney (Stage 1). Construction could commence as early as 2027. Read more here:

So who in government thought it was a good idea to shut the whole metro, the City Circle and the T1/T9 connection between Central and Wynyard this weekend @ChrisMinnsMP @JohnGrahamALP @TransportforNSW ? The T4 Line is struggling to cope with the entire core load through the city

SYDNEY | It is disappointing to read that @CloverMoore @cityofsydney have unnecessarily restricted locations where buskers can bring the city to life with music. This move will reduce the vibrancy of the city centre. Council should reconsider this.

MOORE PARK | The NSW Government has released an open tender for proposals to revitalise the Entertainment Quarter. This redevelopment would be anchored by a new 15-20,000 seat indoor arena for concerts and sporting events. Read more here:

So concludes today’s walking tour. I think it’s safe to say Oxford Street is on the way back. The completion of construction projects will see foot traffic and spending return. The reallocation of a traffic lane for a cycleway also improves the street’s aesthetics. Bring on 2026!

And up at the Paddington end of the strip, the long delayed 25Hours Hotel has finally opened in the old Olympia Theatre. The hotel comes with a rooftop bar, ground level bar, restaurant, and cafe. Great to see this glow up help to stitch the street back together again

Up at Taylor Square, Scarr’s Pizza has popped up in the old Cafe Freda’s shopfront. Safe to say the queues were queueing.

The long delayed Oxford and Foley development is slowly taking shape, and I suspect it won’t be in full form until at least Mardi Gras 2026. However, it is exciting to read late night icon, Big Poppas, is set to reopen in this location in December 2025.

I then stumbled across the buzzing Surplus 2025 street fair on the corner with Burton Street. This could be a nice preview of the positive impact the imminent Friday night and Saturday morning markets could have on the street up at Taylor Square when they kick off in a few weeks