Sydney’s persistent housing squeeze and a disconnected transport network remain at the forefront of public discourse, despite significant infrastructure investment and policy shifts. Proposals for extending the metro system to key growth areas, aiming to alleviate both congestion and housing pressures, are circulating, while existing housing development schemes appear to be stalling.
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, a research and advocacy group, is pushing for expanded metro lines, specifically suggesting the conversion of the Bankstown to Sydenham line to Liverpool, and a new line from Liverpool to Bradfield, connecting to the Western Sydney Airport metro. This push comes as areas like Oran Park, Austral, and Marsden Park are identified as “transport deserts,” lacking adequate public transit options for their growing populations.
Stalled Housing Initiatives
Meanwhile, a central NSW government policy designed to encourage six-storey developments near 37 railway stations has seen little traction. This 'tier two' Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program has yielded just one development application in the Ku-ring-gai Council area over the past year. Critics suggest the policy doesn't truly address affordability, masquerading as a solution for market housing.
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Mayor Darcy Byrne of Inner West Council noted that the permitted scale of development under these TOD zones is insufficient to attract significant investment. While a 'tier one' program focusing on existing stations and the Bays West precinct has seen more success, with a recent approval on the North Shore, the broader rollout of TOD zones has been slow, with some areas, like the Inner West, only having their zones gazetted recently after council deliberations.
Infrastructure Investment and Its Impact
Despite considerable spending on transport infrastructure, including the Sydney Metro West project, concerns persist about its actual effectiveness in easing congestion. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Sydney Metro West, intended to link the CBD and Parramatta, might not ultimately relieve pressure on the western rail corridor.
Broader Housing Challenges
Australia, and Sydney in particular, faces a long-standing housing crisis, characterized by insufficient construction and a decline in housing stock per capita over two decades. Reports highlight stringent planning controls as a significant barrier to building needed homes, a sentiment echoed by the Grattan Institute. Government initiatives like Housing Australia's efforts to fund affordable housing construction, including a target of 30,000 new dwellings, and NSW's policy encouraging medium-density housing near transport hubs, represent ongoing attempts to address the issue.
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The debate over urban development also includes proposals like redeveloping the Rosehill racecourse site for housing, a plan that faced rejection, prompting the NSW government to consider alternative housing solutions closer to Sydney's CBD.
