George Street Redevelopment Proposal It's the City of Sydney's vision of George Street transformed: a tree-lined boulevard accessible only to pedestrians and trams from Bridge to Liverpool streets. But the extent to which the car-choked artery could be remade as "one of the world's great plazas" has already been rejected as wishful thinking by the state government, which is adamant the pedestrian zone detailed in a new council exhibition is not what it will build. Just how much of George Street should be shut off to cars is the subject of ongoing lobbying by council as the state plans its $1.6 billion light rail project. George Street transformed ... the City of Sydney has grand plans. Council, which is contributing $220 million to its city component, on Thursday opened an exhibition called Next Stop: 21st Century George Street, which depicts the CBD street being closed off to traffic for 400 metres beyond the area announced by the government last year. "We have always felt very strongly that [pedestrianising] Liverpool to Bridge would be a better outcome for the city," design director Bridget Smythe said. So I guess [council is] putting it back out to the public, just to say: 'This is what we think is the right length of pedestrianisation, what do you think?' But Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the government had "no intention" of changing its plans, "which includes predestrianisation only between Bathurst Street and Hunter Street." "When we announced the light rail project in December it was following more than a year of detailed investigations which showed that the best project for Sydney was one where 40 per cent of George Street would be pedestrianised - between Bathurst Street and Hunter Street - meaning 60 per cent of George Street will still be accessible to private vehicles," Ms Berejiklian said. That's how we intend to build it. The conflicting plans for the pedestrianisation of George Street. On the left, the state government's prefered option, and on the right, the City of Sydney's. The Customs House exhibition, modelled to resemble a stage set, seeks community feedback on key design issues before 25,000 square metres of road is ripped up for light rail from 2015. Another detail in the city's plan - running the wire for city trams underground - was already being explored by the government to determine its technical feasibility, Ms Berejiklian said. The city's traffic-free ambition is set out in its draft memorandum of understanding with Transport for NSW, which states it would like the government "to consider a possible extension of pedestrianisation to Liverpool Street in the south and Bridge Street in the north." Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the document did not commit the government to this, "but by slightly extending the pedestrian area to the north and south we believe there are significant additional benefits for pedestrians and traffic management." An development agreement "defining how much of George Street will be reclaimed for pedestrians" would be finalised this year, the council said. Renowned Danish urban designer Jan Gehl, who called for cars to be removed from George Street seven years ago, said he would have wanted George Street's pedestrian zone "to be as long as possible." Video: Danish designer Jan Gehl talks about the plans The original plan was for making this arrangement, light rail and people and pedestrians and maybe bicycles for the full length, from Circular Quay to the station. And I'm sure that will come," he said. The exhibition runs until May 3. Poll: How much of George Street should be closed to vehicles? From Bathurst to Hunter Street - the state government's preferred option From Liverpool to Bridge Street - the City of Sydney's preferred option All the way from Liverpool Street to Circular Quay None of it. It shouldn't be closed to cars at all Total votes: 3167.