Committee for Sydney releases wishlist for Greater Cities Commission
The Committee for Sydney has released a 10-point wishlist for the newly-minted Greater Cities Commission.
NSW
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Fast rail linking Newcastle to Wollongong through Sydney and building thousands of new homes within walking distance of a train station are among the 10 key points needed to supercharge a new Greater Sydney ‘mega region’.
That’s according to urban think-tank Committee for Sydney in a new 10-point wishlist for the newly-minted Greater Cities Commission, announced by Premier Dominic Perrottet to better planning collaboration between Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
In their plan, to be officially unveiled on Thursday, the committee calls on the new commission to centre the majority of population growth — and visions for thousands of new homes and businesses — within two kilometres of a train station.
“By focusing growth and new housing developments around train and Metro stations, we can reduce traffic congestion and accommodate a significant proportion of Sydney’s population growth over the next 20 years,” Committee for Sydney CEO Gabriel Metcalf said.
The body also implores the government to “plan at the scale of the megaregion”, pushing fast rail which would connect Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Cost and Wollongong, enabling a one-hour train trip between Sydney and Newcastle.
“We think the starting place is a fast, one-hour rail connection between Sydney and Newcastle, ultimately followed by rail upgrades to Wollongong and Canberra,” Mr Metcalf said.
“This will give more people the chance to live in places like the Central Coast or Wollongong, where temperatures are lower in summer, while still having easy access to jobs.”
He cited the revitalised Parramatta Square — the $2.8 billion business hub surrounding Parramatta Station — as a “really special” example of a precinct “putting the pieces together” with housing, jobs, educational facilities on a train line.
The think tank also calls on the NSW Government to increase the total amount of social and affordable housing in Sydney to 10 per cent – up from four per cent currently, while also undertaking reform to free up more developable land both in greenfield and urban ‘brownfield’ sites.
The call for a new plan comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed earlier this month Premier Dominic Perrottet would announce a newly-created Minister Cities to preside over a six-city megaregion.
The new remit would add Wollongong, Newcastle and the Central Coast to the current three-city vision of Greater Sydney which includes the Western Parkland City, the Central River City, the Eastern Harbour City.
The Committee for Sydney will unveil their list of ideas to members on Thursday.
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