Young Street Plaza delays frustrate locals as council commits to partial reopening

11 April 2025

The long-running temporary closure of Young Street in Neutral Bay has continued to spark community frustration, with North Sydney Council now planning a partial reopening of the street nearly five years after it was first closed to vehicles.

Initially launched as a three-month pedestrian plaza trial in November 2020, the closure of Young Street between Grosvenor Lane and Pacific Highway has remained in place well beyond its expected March 2021 review date. As of April 2025, the site remains in temporary condition, with some local residents describing the installation as “deteriorating” and an “eyesore.”

In response to the prolonged limbo, North Sydney Council resolved at its October 2024 meeting to allocate $2.75 million for works that would reopen one lane of Young Street to traffic while retaining a revised public plaza. Construction is scheduled to commence in mid-2025, with completion targeted for December. Funding is reportedly provided by the state government.

Under the plan, the reopened section will allow one-way vehicle traffic turning left onto Military Road. The remaining lane will be converted into a permanent plaza, featuring new trees, seating, a children’s play area and pedestrian paths. Modifications to the shared zone on adjacent Grosvenor Lane are also under consideration.

Despite the commitment, frustration continues to be aired on local forums. One resident, Evelyn, wrote on Facebook that Young Street “continues to disappoint,” adding that there had been “so many promises to remove this temporary, dilapidated, and unused structure and return some much-needed parking spaces.” Other commenters echoed her concerns, criticising the delay and calling for a more coherent urban design approach.

Some have pointed to other local government areas, such as Lane Cove, as examples of more successful pedestrianisation projects. While the updated plan seeks to retain elements of public space while restoring limited traffic flow, community opinion remains divided on whether the final design will meet expectations.