Inner West Council’s high-rise rezoning plan sparks resident backlash in Lilyfield

The Inner West Council is moving ahead with stage two of its “Fairer Future” rezoning, which would allow buildings up to 20 storeys in Lilyfield and other suburbs, aiming to add thousands of homes to address Sydney’s affordability crisis. Residents, organized through the No High Rises in Lilyfield group, voiced shock at the scale of the plan, raising concerns about transport capacity and heritage preservation, and have funded one outlet's report.

Mayor Darcy Byrne described the 20-storey proposals as “over-the-top” and pledged to revise them, but a council vote rejected a Greens-backed motion to lengthen the exhibition period beyond October 28. Pro-housing advocates such as Sydney YIMBY support the scheme, arguing the area has seen little growth. The dispute reflects broader tension between state-level housing targets and local community preferences.