Skyline of cranes: Sydney’s multi-billion construction boom

Sydney is in the midst of a massive multibillion-dollar building boom, with hundreds of cranes dotting the skies and huge infrastructure projects spread across the entire metropolitan area.

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Sydney is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar building boom, with hundreds of cranes dotting the skies and huge infrastructure projects spread across the entire metropolitan area.

The development rush comes as the city struggles to keep up with rising demand for housing and vital transport and other infrastructure while meeting planning and safety guidelines.

Cranes stretch up from building projects across the CBD seen from the Sydney Tower Eye. Picture: Nicholas Eagar

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It also comes as questions about building regulation and the pace of construction come under fresh scrutiny after serious cracking was found in the Opal Tower high-rise at Sydney Olympic Park.

Official figures show more than 57,000 houses and apartments were approved for construction in NSW last year, and a further $65 billion worth of new projects were applied for.

A forest of 321 cranes extends into the sky above Sydney, according to the latest Rider Levett Bucknall crane index, with roughly two-thirds of them dedicated to apartments and the rest to mixed use and commercial developments. The Sydney CBD alone has 24 cranes — more than the 20 rising above New York City — building everything from office blocks to luxury hotels, a casino and penthouse apartments. Further afield, cranes tower over massive projects including the $16.8 billion WestConnex, $300 million Western Sydney Stadium and $1 billion Westmead Hospital redevelopment.

Sydney’s construction boom.

“We are in the middle of a once-in-a-century construction boom, with a further $90 billion to be invested in rail, roads, schools and hospitals over the next four years,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian told The Daily Telegraph.

“Work is underway on projects like Sydney Metro, WestConnex and North-Connex. There are more ­opportunities on the horizon with the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.”

Sydney’s beautiful harbour is seen through cranes from the Sydney Tower Eye. Picture: Nicholas Eagar

The rush to build has some critics concerned. Former chairman of developer Lendlease said the rapid pace of construction could contribute to mistakes such as those made at Opal Tower.

And City of Sydney councillor and architect Philip Thalis said the race to build up was leading to compromises on liveability.

“When you build (large floor plans) at 20 and 30 storeys it’s terrible for the city and I think it’s terrible as a place to live — amenity is very poor,” he said.

December figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that 27,359 apartments and 29,930 houses were approved for construction in NSW in the year to October 2018.

Exclusive data from CoreLogic shows that 5401 new projects were applied for in NSW in the year to November 2018, with their $65.12 billion value 50 per cent more than the prior-year figure.

The rush to build has some critics concerned. Picture: Nicholas Eagar

Sydney Business Chamber boss Patricia Forsythe said the redevelopment of Barangaroo marked a turning point in Sydney that has seen new building work spread to nearly every city block, thanks to huge investments from both the private and public sector.

Alamir Ayoubi, whose Buildlife Projects concentrates on residential projects in the Georges River Council area, said there was still strong demand for high-rise apartments there.

Labour argues that more needs to be done to managed growth and ensure it occurs fairly. Picture: Nicholas Eagar

Labor’s shadow planning spokeswoman Tania Mihailuk said that the government needed to put aside more land for future growth in order to allow for the construction of new roads, schools and hospitals.

“Growth is a reality for Sydney but we need to ensure that Sydney can grow in a more sustainable way instead of ad hoc, unplanned development popping up in suburban streets,” she said.

“Sydney is a growing global city, but under this government’s watch there has been absolutely no effort put into managing this growth or ensuring it is done fairly.”