Most Sydneysiders now support redeveloping existing suburbs for higher density housing, new research shows, suggesting the state government is convincing voters of its plans to boost supply in established and well-connected areas.
The Ipsos poll– to be presented at Monday’s Sydney Summit, hosted by the Committee for Sydney think tank and supported by the Herald – also detected alarming levels of concern about the cost of living and a small uptick in people considering leaving the city.
The poll found 34 per cent of Sydneysiders somewhat supported developing existing suburbs for higher density, and 18 per cent strongly supported the idea.Credit: Oscar Colman
Support (either strong or somewhat) for redeveloping existing suburbs to accommodate higher density rose to 52 per cent from 44 per cent this time last year. Support for new construction in undeveloped areas such as the outskirts of Sydney was also up, to 66 per cent from 60 per cent.
There was still significant angst about redeveloping existing suburbs, with 8 per cent of respondents strongly opposed, 15 per cent somewhat opposed and one in five uncertain about the idea.
The proportion of people who “strongly” support building more housing near and above train stations – another explicit government priority – increased from 18 per cent to 24 per cent, and opposition fell.
The Committee for Sydney’s Matt Levinson said that, with local government elections later this year, people opposed to more housing would be prominent in the public debate, and it was “important that we recognise and track the much larger body of support for increased density”.
Despite the growing support for density, pessimism about raising children in apartments persists – 48 per cent of respondents said it was inappropriate to raise a family in an apartment, while 36 per cent said it was fine and 16 per cent were unsure. Generation Z, people living in the east and culturally and linguistically diverse Sydneysiders were more likely to say it was appropriate.
The Committee for Sydney’s director of policy Jeremy Gill said, “There’s a growing awareness and acceptance that if you’re going to live in a cosmopolitan global city, apartment living is a long-term and viable option.”
Overall, satisfaction with life in Sydney has dipped since last year, and pessimism about the future has risen – as has the number of people considering leaving. Cost of living is the clear culprit.
The survey of 1035 Sydneysiders, conducted in January, found 50 per cent were “very concerned” about living costs, compared with 40 per cent last year. Another 39 per cent were “fairly concerned”.
The proportion who said they were somewhat likely or very likely to leave Sydney in the next few years increased to 21 per cent from 18 per cent, with expense the dominant reason. Compared with a year ago, more people think their rent or mortgage, utilities, healthcare and household shopping will cost more in six months’ time.
The cost of living has become a severe concern for 50 per cent of Sydneysiders.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Those who were younger, renting or from diverse backgrounds were also more likely to bear the brunt of cost-of-living increases, compared with older Sydneysiders and/or those who own a home.
“People who used to occasionally go without are now more likely to be frequently going without,” Levinson said. “That really hits home. These are real people within our city who can’t pay to go to work or go to school, who can’t afford the groceries.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns has repeatedly warned younger people are leaving the state, predominantly due to the cost of housing, and the poll results bear that out.
“Historically, the people leaving cities are often retirees,” Gill said. “Increasingly, the stats we’re seeing in 2024, [it’s] people working or people renting – so still in the labour force. There’s an economic and a social cost to losing that. The city can’t function if our labour is moving [out].”
Levinson noted there had always been a level of migration out of Sydney. “We don’t want to over-egg this, but we need to be aware of the challenges.”
Rising concern about the cost of living did not mean people stopped caring about other issues such as climate change. A steady 62 per cent of Sydneysiders said it was important or very important for the city to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, matching NSW and federal government goals.
Monday’s Sydney Summit at the International Convention Centre will explore the state of life, work, innovation and culture in the city, and the kind of city we are creating for future generations.
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