The first phase of Sydney’s new linear park, inspired by New York’s High Line, has opened to the public for the first time.

The AU$15m (US$10.5m, €9.3m, £6.9m) first phase of the Goods Line in central Sydney, designed by Aspect Studios and Choi Ropiha Fighera (CHROFI), opens up a new pedestrian and cycle network from the Australian city’s railway square and ultimo neighbourhood to the iconic Darling Harbour.

The eco-friendly green corridor, which follows the path of a former train line, was commissioned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and comprises a series of integrated platforms which cater to leisure, offering scope for gigs, pop-up events, green spaces and recreation. Once complete, the Goods Line will stretch 500m (1,640ft) and will be split into two sections – the Goods Line North and the Goods Line South.

The opening of the northern section of the Goods Line will be followed by development of the southern section, with plans to go out to tender later this year and construction due to start in early 2016.

“The revitalisation is expressed via a singular move”, said a representative of CHROFI. “The laying of a new datum, a precast concrete ‘figure’ onto the existing railway corridor, articulating the site’s history and concurrently telling the story of today. These precast concrete panels form the paving, edges, steps, benches and seating as an integrated prefabricated piece. They are a retooling of an industrial element to a social purpose using digital fabrication process.”

“This urban corridor will connect more than 80,000 tertiary students and visitors to Darling Harbour’s major harbourside attractions, world-class bars, cafés, restaurants and attractions, bolstering the precinct’s annual AU$800m (US$561m, €497.4m, £367m) contribution to the visitor economy,” added planning minister, Rob Stokes. “The Goods Line is one of many strategic urban renewal and infrastructure projects that the Liberal National government is delivering, ensuring that Sydney remains one of the world’s most desirable places to live and visit”.