North Sydney has thrown down the gauntlet to its big sister over the bridge. It’s pitching to be part of
the annual Vivid LIVE festival in May and early June. It wants better nightlife and it’s already renamed
a plaza after one of its favourite sons: artist Brett Whiteley.

According to newly elected Mayor Jilly Gibson, North Sydney may soon also have a spate of upgraded and more valuable commercial buildings, thanks to the city’s embrace of the Environmental Upgrade Agreement finance schemes.  It wants to have EUA exemplar projects up and running by the end of
this year.

The schemes, which finance environmental upgrades to buildings through energy savings, with repayments managed through charges on local council rates, are spreading rapidly through New South Wales’ local government councils. The City of Sydney launched its first EUA recently with a $26.5 million commitment at the Frasers Property-Sekisui House development at Central Park, Broadway. Parramatta City Council is on board; so is Lake Macquarie and now, North Sydney. Soon joining the program will be Newcastle, Penrith and Wollongong councils. Continue reading →