An eye on the horizon: Sydney plans for next 20 years
The state government has unveiled a 20-year plan for Sydney it says will bring 800,00 new homes, 950,000 jobs that will keep pace with its budging population.
The Minns government has unveiled the Sydney Plan, a 20-year framework it says will deliver more homes, more jobs and better-coordinated infrastructure.
It has been prompted by projections that population in the state’s capital will grow from 5.3 million people today to 6.6 million by 2046.
“For too long, housing supply and jobs growth have not kept pace with Sydney’s population,” state Planning Minister Paul Scully said on Thursday.
“It has left communities without homes, transport, and services they need.
“The Sydney Plan brings these decisions together for the first time, so that growth, housing, and infrastructure are planned as one, not left to chance or dealt with in silos,” Mr Scully said.
The long-term strategic direction maps Sydney’s growth pattern and includes planning for new housing, jobs, transport, infrastructure, and open space together as the city expands.
The government suggests Sydney will need at least 800,000 more homes and 950,000 more jobs during the next 20 years.
Its plan includes a commitment to work with councils on updated five-year housing targets following the conclusion of the National Housing Accord in 2029, and the requirement for councils to maintain at least 30 years of feasible housing capacity through their Local Environmental Plans.
The Plan supports increased housing supply in the east, close to jobs, transport, and services, while accelerating economic growth across Western Sydney, underpinned by Western Sydney International Airport, the Aerotropolis, advanced industries, logistics and innovation precincts.
More than 2000 submissions shaped the final Sydney Plan, the government said.
It also vowed to match investment in the places that make Sydney liveable. The Plan identifies priority Blue-Green Grid corridors to improve access to parks, waterways, and open space, with the first three delivered over the next three years.
“This Sydney Plan provides a clear roadmap for where homes, jobs and infrastructure should go over the next 20 years, so communities have the services and opportunities they need as they grow,” Mr Scully said.
“It also locks in a requirement for an ongoing pipeline of feasible housing supply, so we do not find ourselves back in the position we are in today.
“This is about planning ahead, not catching up, so Sydney has the homes it needs for the next 30 years and beyond, the Minster said.
“It recognises that different parts of Sydney have different strengths, supporting more housing in well-serviced areas while driving the next wave of economic growth in Western Sydney.”
