The NSW Government has prepared a new Greater Sydney Region Plan which will see the urban area evolve into three connected cities over the next 40 years, linked by new public transport.
The three cities are: a Harbour CBD in the east; a Central River City with Greater Parramatta at its centre; and a new city west of the M7, where the new Western Sydney Airport and the surrounding area will support tens of thousands of jobs.
The draft Plan was prepared by the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) and launched for public comment together with Transport for NSW’s Future Transport 2056.
Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull said the plans were the first long-term land use and transport strategies to be developed both collaboratively and concurrently.
“The three cities vision is also at the heart of Future Transport 2056 and I’m delighted to see the close collaboration between our agencies bring this vision to life,” she said.
“Reshaping Greater Sydney as a metropolis of three cities – the Western Parkland City, Central River City and Eastern Harbour City will rebalance it, fostering jobs, improving housing choice and affordability, easing congestion and enhancing our enviable natural environment across the entire region."
Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts said Greater Sydney’s continued growth and success, as a 21st century global city required a transformative approach to its planning.
“Greater Sydney is destined to become one of the world’s top 10 cities and as its population grows to an estimated eight million people over the next 40 years, we need these plans to ensure we deliver the housing, jobs, transport services, schools and medical facilities Sydneysiders will need,” Minister Roberts said.
“I congratulate the Chief Commissioner and her team on developing a compelling vision for the future of Greater Sydney and collaborating across government to align land use planning with future transport services and infrastructure.”
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said it was important for planning and transport to work closely together to deliver the best outcomes for Sydneysiders.
“While we’re building the transport solutions of tomorrow right now, we can’t ignore the future. That’s why we’re not only focussing on the next few years, but the next 40,” Minister Constance said.
“The release of our Future Transport 2056 strategy together with the blueprint developed by the Greater Sydney Commission means new communities can be connected within 30 minutes at a time when more people want to call Sydney home. The plans will ultimately work together, so as Sydney grows, so too does the transport network.“
The draft Greater Sydney Region Plan is on exhibition until 15 December while the Future Transport 2056 strategy is open for feedback until 3 December.
[GSC Chief Commissioner Lucy Turnbull (centre) with Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts (left) and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance at the launch of the draft report. Photo: NSW Government]