The Investment
The New Sydney Waterfront CID is a five-year, $18.9 million program of specific initiatives — funded by a small levy on business landowners across the precinct — that collectively deliver what no individual business, council or government agency could achieve alone, a collective power of businesses across the precinct. Here's what it does, what it costs, and why it's worth it.
$18.9M
Five-year Program Spend
$3.25M
Annual Levy Income
100%
Spent In The Precinct
What It Delivers
Seven things the CID makes possible
These are the tangible, specific initiatives the CID will deliver — things that businesses across the precinct have consistently identified as their highest priorities, and that the research confirms will drive the biggest improvements in visitation, spend and precinct performance.
1.
Free Hopper Ferry
A CID-funded electric ferry connecting the precincts—Walsh Bay to the Fish Markets. Free to use. Running from Year 2
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87% of surveyed businesses say this would enhance connectivity.
3.
International Recognition
A new unified precinct identity and international earned media program in partnership with Tourism Australia and Destination NSW — placing the Sydney Waterfront in global tourism campaigns.
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Tourism Australia matched funding amplifies every dollar
5.
More Visitors, Longer Stays, More Spend
A coordinated, data-driven marketing and events program targeting domestic and international visitors — designed to grow visitation and double international tourism expenditure.
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Target: 94.3M → 110M visits/year · Tourism spend $884M → $2B/year
2.
Signature Events
— Fireworks & Drone Shows
Regular, high-impact activations at Darling Harbuor that drive cross-precinct visitation and give people a reason to return again and again.
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65% of community respondents name events as most desired program
4.
World-Leading Data Platform
Real-time precinct intelligence — footfall, spend by category, visitor profiles and event impact analysis — available to every member business through a dashboard and dedicated bureau service.
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Rated the most sought-after ID service globally · NPS 90+ at London's New West End Company
6.
Wayfinding & Connections
A professional wayfinding strategy in Year 1 — identifying the highest-priority corridor improvements across all eight precincts — followed by funded physical and digital implementation.
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Poor connectivity rated the #1 challenge across all sub-precincts
7.
One Voice for 1,000 Businesses
The CID gives every business in the precinct a formally constituted, legislatively-backed advocacy platform — with real, credible influence over government decisions on transport, planning, investment and policy. This is not a lobby group. It is a body established under an Act of Parliament, with a dedicated External Affairs lead and the collective weight of every business on the waterfront behind it. No individual business — however large — can replicate this.
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Legislated under the Community Improvement Districts Act 2025 (NSW)
The full program budget and expenditure rationale is set out in the CID Proposal, available to download once approved by Transport for NSW.
The Economic Case
The Opportunity Is Real — And Significant
The western waterfront already generates enormous economic activity. The CID unlocks the substantial additional value the precinct is currently leaving on the table — by coordinating investment, marketing and management at a scale no individual business or agency can achieve alone.
$6.2bn
Potential annual economic uplift from a fully transformed western harbour precinct. Independent analysis commissioned by the New Sydney Waterfront Company.
94.3M Visits Today
110M
Annual Visits By 2030
$884M Tourism Spend
$2B+
International Spend Per Year
$15bn Renewal Underway
Amplified
CID Maximises Every Dollar
What the global evidence shows
London — New West End Company
£6bn → £10bn
Economic output grew from £6 billion to £10 billion under BID management. 220 million visitors annually pre-COVID.
London — Victoria BID
+15% property values
Property values rose 15% and floorspace per sqm increased 35%, directly attributed to BID strategic influence.
New York — Times Square Alliance
27M → 50M visitors
Annual visitors grew from 27 million to over 50 million by 2019, driven by BID-led brand campaigns.
London — Oxford Street
£150M unlocked
A shared precinct vision unlocked £150 million in new public sector placemaking investment in 2022.
Sydney — PwC 2019
$2bn/year
Alignment around a shared precinct vision assessed as worth $2 billion per year to the local economy.
London — Heart of London Business Alliance
£42M invested · renewed 2025
Operating since 2001 across Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and St James's — representing 500 businesses.
The Levy
What Does It Cost?
The CID levy is a small annual charge on business landowners within the precinct boundary. Here is exactly how it is calculated, what rights you have, and how the money flows — based directly on the Community Improvement Districts Act 2025 (NSW).
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Rate 0.095% of unimproved land value
Valuation NSW Valuer-General assessment
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Applies to Rateable business land within the CID boundary.
Rate
Rate 0.095% of unimproved land value
Valuation
Valuation NSW Valuer-General assessment
Applies To
Applies to Rateable business land within the CID boundary
Cap
Cap $150,000 per property
Term
Term Annual · 5 years (2026–2031)
Indexation
Indexation 2.5% CPI per annum
Charged To
Charged to Business landowners
Tenant Sharing
Tenant sharing Owner's discretion · recoverable outgoing under Retail Leases Act 1994
Collected By
Collected by Transport for NSW (CID Authority)
Held In
Held in CID Levies Fund · NSW Special Deposits Account · s.28
Paid To
Paid to CID entity for approved expenditure · Minister's direction · s.30
Worked Examples
A commercial property with an unimproved land value of: $5,000,000
Year one levy: $4,750
If the owner agrees with four tenants to share the levy 50/50
Property owner
$2,375
$594
Tenant 1
Tenant 2
$594
Tenant 3
$594
Tenant 4
$594
Each tenant's share = less than $12 per week · for a share of an $18.9M precinct program
The split between owner and tenants is a matter for commercial agreement — no arrangement is mandated. The levy is a recoverable outgoing under the Retail Leases Act 1994.
Your Rights Under The Act
Hardship-Waiver Or Reduction
If payment of the levy would result in serious hardship, you may apply to Transport for NSW for a waiver or reduction. TFNSW must notify the CID entity or its decision.
s.27 CID Act 2025
Government Land
The Act does not apply to government land as defined in ss.33_34. If your land is owned by a government agency, contact our team for guidance and seek independent legal advice.
ss.33_34 CID Act 2025
Levy As A Charge On Land
The levy is a charge on the land itself — not on business turnover, rent or revenue. Calculated on unimproved land value as assessed by the Valuer-General.
s.24 CID Act 2025
Withholding Of Funds
Transport for NSW may withhold payment to the CID entity if the entity fails to comply with the Act regulations, or the Associations Incorporation Act 2009-protecting levy payers
s.30(4) CID Act 2025
How Your Money Is Protected
The CID operates under strict financial accountability requirements built into the Act. Here is what that means in practice.
Held in the NSW Special Deposits Account
The CID Levies Fund is established within the NSW Special Deposits Account. Transport for NSW is the administrator. Its stated purpose is to hold money received on behalf of CID entities before distributing it to them for approved CID proposal purposes. (s.28)
Paid for approved expenditure only
Money in the fund must be paid to the CID entity to meet expenditure in connection with the approved CID proposal. Payments are made in accordance with the directions of the Minister. (s.30)
Withholding powers
Transport for NSW may withhold payment if it suspects the CID entity has failed to comply with the Act, the regulations, or the Associations Incorporation Act 2009. (s.30(4))
Independently audited every year
Annual financial statements are prepared and audited in accordance with the Associations Incorporation Act 2009.
Annual reporting to Transport for NSW
The CID entity reports to the Authority each year on expenditure and program outcomes.
Five-year renewal ballot
The CID Proposal expires after five years. Renewal requires a fresh community ballot. The CID must always earn its mandate. (s.20)
Termination for non-compliance
Transport for NSW may terminate an approved CID Proposal if the CID entity fails to comply with the Act or regulations. (s.21)
All legislative references are to the Community Improvement Districts Act 2025 (NSW) · Act 25 of 2025. This page does not constitute legal advice. Seek independent advice for questions specific to your situation.