Clover Moore hits back at Chris Minns’ claims City of Sydney ‘not interested’ in high-rise housing

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has defended the city’s record on housing after NSW Premier Chris Minns claimed she was “not interested” in more apartment towers in the city.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Photo: Sam Ruttyn

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has defended the city’s record on housing after NSW Premier Chris Minns claimed she was “not interested” in more apartment towers in the city.

Minns told this publication he was prepared to take on Ms Moore on the issue and said the Lord Mayor was not “interested in residential in the heart of the city”.

When asked about Minns’ comments, Ms Moore said she was “surprised and disappointed to read the Premier’s public remarks about the city’s contribution to housing”.

Ms Moore said she had “recently” met with Minns and discussed various issues, including housing. The topic of residential developments in the CBD, however, was not discussed.

Following the meeting, Ms Moore said she took the NSW Planning Minister on a tour of the Green Square Urban Renewal area “to discuss our approach to density done well”.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns took aim at Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Photo by: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

With Green Square only 4km from the CBD, Ms Moore said it was “one of [Australia’s] largest urban renewal projects” and will be home to 60,000 people by 2030 and said the City of Sydney was one of the only councils meeting its housing targets.

“It is incumbent on the city and state to work collaboratively in the interests of our communities and I remain happy and eager to do that,” she said.

Sydney CBD skyline. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

When asked if she had an appetite or interest in converting office spaces, Ms Moore said there was “no impediment to residential developments in the city centre” under the current “flexible” planning controls.

However, given 30,000 people already live in the CBD and residential buildings being expensive she said converting office towers for residential living wasn’t going to be the “silver bullet” in addressing the housing crisis.

She also highlighted how there were “significant challenges” in making this a reality.

On Friday, Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said “more and more people” wanted to live in the city under Ms Moore’s leadership due to its “vibrant night-life, active transport options, parks and public spaces”.

He said it was “better to work with people, than against people” and he knew Ms Moore was reaching out to Minns’ office.