A proposed $150 million redevelopment plan in Sydney’s Town Hall area has drawn sharp criticism from union representatives and local business owners concerned about potential job losses and the demolition of key commercial properties. The project, championed by Lord Mayor Clover Moore, involves demolishing seven buildings, including Australia’s busiest Woolworths supermarket, to create a new Town Hall Square. The development aims to be completed before Moore’s current term ends in 2028.

The plan has sparked opposition from the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) NSW Secretary Bernie Smith, who warned that the proposal could eliminate up to 1,000 jobs across the affected buildings on the block. This figure includes more than 300 retail positions, with many workers employed at longstanding businesses such as the nearly century-old Hotel Coronation and a third-generation jeweller nearby.

“The New South Wales government has an opportunity to stand up for working people and protect these jobs before it’s too late,” Smith said. He urged the state government to intervene and halt the project, which he described as prioritizing a “pretty paved patio” over employment and economic stability.

Smith also revealed that the union intends to introduce a motion at the upcoming NSW Labor conference, urging City of Sydney Labor councillors to publicly oppose the Town Hall Square development. The union, alongside the Australian Retail Council, Business Sydney and affected local business owners, formed the Save Our City Shops Alliance to lobby for government support against the plan.

In contrast, the City of Sydney maintains the project is part of the Lord Mayor’s vision to revitalize the precinct, though no further official comment was provided. Planning Minister Paul Scully expressed skepticism, stating that he does not consider the project “a priority for Sydney,” indicating potential reluctance from the state government to endorse the redevelopment.

Local business operators impacted by the plan have appealed directly to the Minns government to intervene, highlighting concerns over the loss of heritage sites and the impact on retail activity in the area. The controversy underscores mounting tensions between urban development ambitions and the preservation of established commercial communities in Sydney’s central business district.