Majority of voters back Minns’ housing density push

Only one-quarter of voters oppose Premier Chris Minns’ signature housing policy to boost housing density across the suburbs, but about 30 per cent remain undecided despite the ongoing accommodation crisis.

The Minns government’s most significant policy, which includes imposing new planning controls within 400 metres of 31 train stations across NSW, as well as increased density in other areas of Sydney, has won the support of 43 per cent of voters.

Labor voters most strongly back the plans “to build up not out”, with 53 per cent in favour and 25 per cent against. More than a third of Coalition voters (35 per cent) back the changes, with 38 per cent against.

The policy also has support from 47 per cent of “other voters”, which captures the Greens and independents. Overall, there were 31 per cent who were “undecided/neutral”.

The findings from the Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for the Herald by research firm Resolve Strategic, are the first public test of NSW Labor’s most expansive policy, which was announced just before Christmas.

In a series of major housing announcements meant to cap off Labor’s first year in power, the Minns government confirmed it would create eight major density precincts surrounding transport hubs, while there would also be the snap rezoning of 400 metres of land surrounding 31 train stations across Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra.

Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen at Rosehill Racecourse.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

A major part of its housing plan was a proposal from the Australian Turf Club (ATC) for Rosehill Racecourse to be relocated to make way for a new “mini-city” with 25,000 homes and an extra Metro West station.

However, that plan is looking less concrete after some high-profile ATC members, including Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse and Rosehill-based Chris Waller, trainer of the legendary Winx, opposed the plan.

A heated meeting of members last month at the Rosehill grandstand revealed deep opposition to the plan to sell the 60-hectare site to developers, a move likely worth more than $5 billion for racing.

The premier has since conceded the ambitious plan may never get off the ground, telling budget estimates last month that it was “not a done deal” and “irreconcilable differences” could stop the Rosehill development.

Minns said the government “had to be comfortable with the proposal”.

“There may well be, as part of the negotiations between ATC and the government, irreconcilable differences particularly in relation to the disposal of property, the size of the rezoning or the density of housing, how much open space is available, what the links are and contact with the metro line,” Minns said.

Resolve director Jim Reed said the housing results were “wishy-washy” for the government.

“Support for denser housing, particularly if it’s forced on councils, gets a lukewarm reception,” Reed said. “There’s a general acceptance that we need more supply, but communities want to retain some measure of control over what this looks like and where it goes.”

The Resolve findings also show that NSW Labor’s primary vote has slipped to 34 per cent – down from 37 per cent when it won the election – while the Coalition’s primary has climbed to 38 per cent, up from 35.4 per cent when it lost power last year.

Minns on Tuesday said the poll results were a “good wake-up call for the government”.

NSW voters were also asked their position on school closures during COVID-19 as the federal government reviews the pandemic response. School closures are not included in the terms of reference of the review.

The majority of voters (59 per cent) agreed it was the right response to close schools while 17 per cent disagreed.