NSW unveils 20-year plan to shift housing east and boost jobs west
The New South Wales government’s new Sydney Plan directs most new homes to the city’s eastern suburbs while earmarking Western Sydney for a 59 percent rise in jobs by 2046.
New South Wales has launched a 20-year “Sydney Plan” to accommodate an additional 1.3 million residents by 2046, concentrating most new housing in the eastern suburbs with a mix of apartments, townhouses and other types. Western Sydney is slated to deliver the majority of job growth, a 59 percent rise from 475,000 to 755,000, supported by the Western Sydney International Airport, the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct and extensive industrial land.
Planning Minister Paul Scully emphasized vertical development on existing infrastructure and introduced a mandate for councils to have land zoned for a 30-year housing target. Opposition leader Kellie Sloane argued the plan omits specifics on schools and metro lines, questioning its practicality. Local Government NSW and Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne praised the long-term approach as essential to easing the deep housing shortage. The plan also highlights emerging activity centres such as Rouse Hill, Kogarah and others to foster mixed-use growth.
Why it matters
It sets the framework for how Sydney will house a growing population and create jobs, impacting affordability and regional development.
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