Sydney Backs More Housing as Residents Demand Better Infrastructure
By Harry Taruva — City of Sydney is advancing housing plans after 65% of consultation respondents backed more homes, while calling for better infrastructure, affordable housing and heritage protection.
Harry Taruva 
Sydney — The City of Sydney is advancing plans to increase housing supply and diversity after public consultation found broad support for more homes, alongside calls for better transport, essential services and protection of neighbourhood character.
The council received more than 1,680 submissions from individuals and organisations on its Housing for All discussion paper, with about 65% of respondents supporting additional housing to accommodate population growth and expand housing choice.
Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said residents wanted housing growth to be matched by investment in infrastructure, quality design and social and affordable housing, while preserving heritage and involving communities in planning decisions.
“Our community knows how important it is that we build additional housing, and they have provided feedback about where and how it should be built,” Moore said.
The council has released an interim implementation plan setting out its immediate and medium-term priorities as it prepares for further strategic planning following direction from the New South Wales Government.
The proposed work includes detailed investigations into locations that received strong public support for additional housing, opportunities along selected high streets and laneways, and sites near parks.
The council will also continue pressing the state government to consider housing on underused government-owned land.
Areas identified for further investigation include Ultimo and Pyrmont, the North Green Square precinct, land east of Prince Alfred Park, Broadway and Parramatta Road at Forest Lodge.
The council has also proposed a second stage of planning controls for Ultimo and Pyrmont.
The plans come as the City of Sydney works towards a state-imposed target of 18,900 new homes in its local government area by 2029.
The five-year target, set under the NSW Government’s Sydney Plan, is among the highest in the region.
Lord Mayor Moore said planning changes alone would not resolve the housing affordability crisis, arguing that government and the development industry needed to share responsibility for delivering homes, particularly social and affordable housing.
“Our communities told us clearly that housing growth must be matched by investment in transport, schools, health services, parks and other essential infrastructure,” she said.
The interim plan also prioritises advocacy for improved public transport, including light rail and metro connections, and housing options for renters, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and people requiring additional support.
