O’Farrell government backtracks on 50% of Sydney’s future housing growth in urban fringe

The O’Farrell government has backtracked on plans to push much of Sydney’s future population housing growth out to the urban fringe

Its Metropolitan Strategy discussion paper suggest 70% of new homes built in Sydney over the next four years will be in existing areas, and 30% in the urban fringe.

This differs from comments last year by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, who indicated a 50-50 balance.

The paper calls for submissions to shape the city’s projected 5.6 million ­residents by 2031. This is 700,000 more than the previous 2005 strategy anticipated.

NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard says the ratios are a moot point when the state was ­falling far short of its house building targets.

“These are just the figures provided by the various agencies and certainly don’t change the view of the government that we want ­housing anywhere we can get it,” he told Fairfax Media.

“The figures that floated around last year should be treated in the context that they were 70/30 and 50/50 of effectively nothing.”

Urban Taskforce chief Chris Johnson says it is “good to see that a realistic forecast for around 70% of new dwellings to be in infill sites was included rather than earlier statements of a 50/50 split".

“The discussion paper on Sydney’s Metropolitan Strategy is a good move by the government as it will align planning with transport and infrastructure strategies,” Johnson says.

Hazzard says the final strategy paper, which is due by the end of 2012, could have legislative backing to ensure the necessary infrastructure and housing were built.

It's anticipated to integrate with the Long-Term Transport Master Plan and Infrastructure NSW’s 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy in an attempt to avoid a repeat of Infrastructure Australia refusing to back proposals by the former NSW Labor government.

The paper says 80% of new homes built in Sydney in recent years have been apartments, but there was still an unmet demand for semi-detached homes in middle and outer areas.

Sydneysiders are being invited to have their say on the future plans for growth, homes and jobs in the metropolitan area over the next 20 years at https://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/metrostrategy.