September 4 local government polls coverage * $1m reward for Ghost Train fire info * Olympics puzzle page
July 2021/Issue 5
News and views for North Sydney’s residential and business communities
www.northsydneysun.com.au
Lockdown slashes local mobility by up to 76% Commuter use of North Sydney transport hubs is down 76% and workplace attendance down 73%, as local residents and workers respond to the city-wide COVID-19 restrictions. Data obtained from Google based on the location tracking of its users shows the marked decline in the mobility of residents and workers since restrictions were introduced in late June. As we went to press, Sydney was still weeks away from returning to normal. The 76% decline in public transport use from a baseline based on early 2020 reflects pedestrian traffic at bus stops and the four train stations in the municipality. The 73% decline in workplace activity covers places of work such as the North Sydney and St Leonards CBDs. And contrary to the view that the workplace restrictions didn’t do enough to dissuade people from shopping at retail centres or engaging in other forms of recreation, that form of behaviour eased by 63%. Attendance at parks is off 47% and even supermarkets and pharmacies, off 24%. The trend line is similar in adjoining areas. Public transport use in Mosman
Source; Google
is down 70%, Lane Cove 64% and Willoughby 69%. Across the Harbour Bridge the trend is even stronger with public transport use off by 80% and supermarkets and pharmacies down by
60% as people steer clear of the Sydney CBD. There were just two COVID-19 positive cases in the North Sydney LGA in the first fortnight of July, both with known local sources, and just 69 in to-
tal since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to data compiled by www.covid19data.com.au. 42 of the North Sydney cases were from overseas.
North Sydney office rentals boosted by COVID, as area competes for status as regional tech hub North Sydney has emerged as one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading technology hubs according to new research. And, paradoxically, the suburb appears to be a net beneficiary of the COVID-19 pandemic with relocating companies escaping other districts and seeking refuge in the area. A new report from Colliers Research called Growth Engines of Innovation identifies three key tech hubs in Sydney: Macquarie Park, North Sydney and Sydney CBD South. Sydney ranks as one of 12 key Asia Pacific locations for technology companies, in the company of cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tokyo and Taipei. According to Colliers, North Sydney “includes around 922,800 square metres of office stock of which only 40% is Prime grade (Premium and A-grade). Recent new developments have attracted major technology tenants such as Microsoft and Datacom and these tenants are expected to be a magnet for further technology company occupation.” A more recent development is an
100 Arthur St attracted four new tenants last month increasing attraction for tenants from other parts of Sydney. Direct of Office Leasing Dan Walker says “Since businesses began returning to the office in mid-2020, we began to receive enquiries from tenants in other locations. In previous cycles this was not an occurrence for North Sydney,
however given the new product available in the market and the rapidly improving amenity the area now offers, there has been a large increase in activity leading to commitment from tenants looking to take advantage of softer market conditions which allows them to improve their office location and access
for staff, and typically also improve the building quality they reside in.” Walker gives the examples of Luxottica from Macquarie Park, Datacom from North Ryde, and also groups such as SAIC Motor who moved from the CBD Fringe, and Novo Nordisk from 20km away in Bella Vista.” Walker says there are currently several further large negotiations underway with additional groups which will lead to this ratio increasing. Colliers head, national research Joanne Henderson says: “Infrastructure upgrades are an important part of the regeneration of North Sydney, linking the North Sydney CBD to other major office precincts in Sydney such as Barangaroo and Martin Place in the CBD and from the North, Norwest and Macquarie Park. Macquarie Park is offers more campus style, large floor plate style office accommodation and suited to occupiers where car parking is essential. South CBD precinct will provide Continued Page 2