GREATER SYDNEY REGION PLAN A Metropolis of Three Cities – connecting people March 2018 Aboriginal people know if you care for Country, it will care for you Since time immemorial Aboriginal people have suburbs will draw from the richness Aboriginal managed, cultivated and cared for the landscape culture and custodianship of the land can offer for where Sydney was established and continues to the whole community and environment. Meeting grow. Aboriginal people hold profound knowledge, ancient Aboriginal knowledge and relationship understanding, obligation and custodianship of with the Greater Sydney landscape, together with the landscape, often expressed as Connection to the contemporary land use and planning aims of Country. Country is multi-dimensional, consisting A Metropolis of Three Cities will ignite a positive of people, animals and plants, reaching into the shared future for all of Greater Sydney’s people and sky, covering all the land and sea, and extending its stunning environment. underground. Connection to Country is deeply Greater Sydney has the largest gathering of personal and familial, connecting Aboriginal people Aboriginal people in Australia with many families to everything, and to each other in unity. Expressed originating from homelands in wider NSW and through stories, song, dance, hunting, fishing and throughout the nation. The Australian Bureau of gathering, as well as traditional Aboriginal Welcome Statistics 2016 estimates that 57,000 Aboriginal to Country protocols, Connection to Country is people live in Greater Sydney, representing embedded and alive in the many layers and history approximately nine per cent of the national of the Greater Sydney landscape. Aboriginal population. Aboriginal understanding and respect of the Aboriginal Land Councils, constituted under landscape is akin to the aims and objectives of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, are major A Metropolis of Three Cities to ensure planning and landowners in most local government areas, land use of the Greater Sydney Region is respectful, empowered and resourced to achieve the social, equitable and sustainable. The three cities – the cultural and economic aspirations of Aboriginal Eastern Harbour City, the Central River City and people through those landholdings. As corporate the Western Parkland City – reflect the Aboriginal citizens and unique players within the Greater relationship with these lands, years beyond recorded Sydney economy they should be afforded the time as ‘saltwater country’, ‘muddy river country’ same opportunity to develop their sites as other and ‘running water country’ respectively. landholders. Furthermore, when approved by Greater Sydney holds a special place in Australia’s consent authorities, Aboriginal Land Councils use history because it is where the first major point of their lands to great benefit for housing, community contact occurred between European and Aboriginal and cultural purposes, commerce and enterprise, people. However, during the making of the city increasing prosperity and social inclusion for post 1788, the multi-dimensional nature of Country Greater Sydney’s Aboriginal communities. has never been deeply considered, reconciled or It has taken 230 years for a shared understanding of remembered. For example, many contemporary Greater Sydney’s landscape to emerge. This shared roads and public parks rest upon ancient traditional vision will draw on both spirit and nature to guide Aboriginal tracks and camping grounds. The respect, reconciliation and recognition, bringing the future design and development of Greater Sydney depth of Aboriginal culture and custodianship to the including the naming of streets, roads, parks and fore in the future planning of Greater Sydney. Chief Commissioner Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO 3 Premier New South Wales The Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP Greater Sydney is Australia’s economic collaboration. This approach is evident in powerhouse. Its continued success is vital partnerships like the Western Sydney City to drive the NSW and national economies, Deal, where the Australian, the NSW and secure a good quality of life for all our local governments have come together to citizens, and hand down even greater create our third city – the Western City opportunities to the next generation. – with the Western Sydney aerotropolis A Metropolis of Three Cities is a bold at its heart. Collaboration is also at the vision for three, integrated and connected heart of the Greater Sydney Commission’s cities that will rebalance Greater Sydney Growth Infrastructure Compacts, which – placing housing, jobs, infrastructure assess growth scenarios in line with and services within easier reach of more infrastructure delivery. residents, no matter where they live. As my government delivers record It is a plan for delivery that will see the investments in infrastructure to shape the benefits of growth shared across all parts future of NSW for generations to come, the of Greater Sydney and ensure that Greater time is right to transform Greater Sydney. Sydney is one of the best places in the A Metropolis of Three Cities provides world to live, work and raise a family. communities, councils, governments, It will boost productivity by bringing and industry with certainty and guides the together good jobs and skilled workers; much-needed investments in transport, make our suburbs more liveable by infrastructure, services and affordable preserving heritage and local character as housing required as Greater Sydney grows. part of the growth process; and make our I am proud to present the community cities more sustainable by protecting our with A Metropolis of Three Cities – and natural environment and open spaces. look forward to working with you to make The Greater Sydney Region Plan will be it a reality. delivered through strong and effective Chief Commissioner Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO A Metropolis of Three Cities, the first be promoted and the plan values Greater regional plan developed by the Greater Sydney’s unique landscape, natural Sydney Commission, presents a vision and resources and green infrastructure. innovative actions for managing Greater The implementation of A Metropolis of Sydney’s growth and enhancing its status Three Cities will share equitably the benefits as one of the most liveable global cities. of growth across the Greater Sydney Region. It also is the first to be prepared concurrently I have been inspired by the thousands with Future Transport 2056 and the State of individuals, community and interest Infrastructure Strategy, aligning land use, groups, government agencies and councils, transport and infrastructure planning to academics, businesses and industry groups reshape Greater Sydney as three unique who have collaborated with the Greater but connected cities. Sydney Commission on A Metropolis of With the people of Greater Sydney at its Three Cities. On behalf of the Commission, heart, A Metropolis of Three Cities, this thank you for your time and expertise. plan aspires to a 30-minute city, where I would also like to extend my thanks to jobs, services, and quality public spaces are my fellow Commissioners, in particular in easy reach of people’s homes. the Deputy Chief Commissioner Geoff It sets targets for new housing, with a Roberts, and the executive team and staff range of types, tenures and price points of the Greater Sydney Commission, led by to improve affordability. New jobs will our Chief Executive, Sarah Hill. Greater Sydney Commission | Greater Sydney Region Plan 2018 4 Contents Vision of A Metropolis of Three Cities 6 4 Liveability 46 Why the metropolis of three cities 8 A city for people 50 Spatial elements of the metropolis of three cities 10 Objective 6. Services and infrastructure meet Structure plan for the metropolis of three cities 12 communities’ changing needs 50 Western Parkland City vision 16 Objective 7. Communities are healthy, resilient and socially connected 55 Central River City vision 18 Objective 8. Greater Sydney’s communities are culturally Eastern Harbour City vision 20 rich with diverse neighbourhoods 56 Ten Directions for the metropolis of three cities 22 Objective 9. Greater Sydney celebrates the arts and supports creative industries and innovation 57 1 About the Plan 24 Housing the city 58 Objective 10. Greater housing supply 58 Objective 11. Housing is more diverse and affordable 68 2 Past, present A city of great places 73 Objective 12. Great places that bring people together 73 and future 27 Objective 13. Environmental heritage is identified, conserved and enhanced 77 3 Infrastructure 5 Productivity 78 and collaboration 32 A well-connected city 84 A city supported by infrastructure 35 Objective 14. A Metropolis of Three Cities – Objective 1. Infrastructure supports the three cities 35 integrated land use and transport creates walkable and 30-minute cities 84 Objective 2. Infrastructure aligns with forecast growth – growth infrastructure compact 36 Objective 15. The Eastern, GPOP and Western Economic Corridors are better Objective 3. Infrastructure adapts to meet future needs 40 connected and more competitive 90 Objective 4. Infrastructure use is optimised 41 Objective 16. Freight and logistics network is A collaborative city 42 competitive and efficient 95 Objective 5. Benefits of growth realised by collaboration Objective 17. Regional connectivity is enhanced 98 of governments, community and business 42 Greater Sydney Commission | Greater Sydney Region Plan 2018 5 Jobs and skills for the city 100 An efficient city 170 Objective