Sydney’s full? History repeats

Well overdue discussions on Sydney’s growth and how we sustainably grow our city must be centred on questions about what we want from our future, not what we don’t according to the Property Council of Australia.

New reports that Sydney is “full” echo former Premier Bob Carr’s famous line that resulted in a housing shortfall in NSW from which we are still trying to recover.

“Our children and their children deserve to have jobs and homes near us, their parents, in the decades to come so sustainable growth that meets the demands of a growing population is critical,” Property Council NSW Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald said today.

“Sydney is growing whether we like it or not and we need to make sure this growth is delivers as many benefits as possible. Burying our heads in the sand and simply saying ‘we’re full’ didn’t work in the past, and it won’t work now.

“It’s simply not fair to tell our kids they can’t raise their families where they were raised.”

Ms Fitzgerald said a growing Sydney doesn’t just mean more houses or unchecked development.

“Growth means not only more homes – at more affordable prices – it also means more schools, hospitals, new roads and transport options, and green spaces.  The property industry and the community agree on this.”

Sydney is currently about half as densely populated as London and notably less dense than cities like Vancouver and Montreal.

“A more densely populated city is a reality that we as Sydneysiders must manage together, just as other global cities such as London, New York or Barcelona have done in the past. Strong political leadership on this issue is critical.

“We must start with a question of what we want from our city, our built environment and our shared future rather than a Mexican standoff that will result in poor outcomes.

“We must also work with facts and data on measuring and analysing our city’s development, as the Greater Sydney Commission and Department of Planning are doing, so that we make decisions on what is actually happening, not what we believe is happening in our city.

“This is a conversation that will continue in the years to come, but it must be centred on equity, opportunity and solutions.”

Media contact:  William Power| M 0429 210 982 |   E [email protected]