Why is one of Sydney’s best harbourside parks a perpetual construction site?

Since construction of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel began in the late 1980s, prime North Sydney parkland under the harbour bridge has been occupied by fences, diggers and trucks. 

Thirty-four years after the tunnel opened, some North Sydney residents are wondering if  they will ever see what was once the south end of Bradfield Park return to public use. 

What happened: North Sydney Council came into possession of Bradfield Park in the 1930s, following the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Between that project and the construction of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, the land served as a park. Kirribili resident Michael Bracka told the Lorikeet many locals still remember this period.

“Some of our community members have photos of the park as it originally was. It was a fully grassed area, a fantastic park”.

The area surrounding the fences and work equipment has now become a sandy wasteland. 

Tunnelling begins: When work on the tunnel began, land was entrusted with the state government. 

Council describes the situation as “a complex arrangement”. According to Transport for New South Wales, the land under the bridge it uses “remain[s] in the ownership of TfNSW in order to fulfil its obligations under the Roads Act”. 

This includes “delivering improvements and maintenance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge”. 

Bracka claims that while this occupation has gone on, the community has been left in the dark about the future of their park. “They’re not tearing up any parks on the southern side of the bridge,” he said. 

What now: North Sydney Council is seeking a clear timeline from the Minister for Transport, John Graham, detailing when TfNSW might pull down its fences, leave the park and rehabilitate the land.

TfNSW would not confirm to the Lorikeet whether it had a working timeline to leave the site. 

A spokesperson told us: “Transport remains committed to balancing the essential maintenance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with the community's enjoyment of Bradfield Park and will update the community once plans have been confirmed.”