“As the Minns government confronts the housing crisis,we will continue to look at opportunities to marry public transport and housing to create more well-located,well-designed and well-built homes,” he said.
The government has made a series of landmark housing announcements recently that could add hundreds of thousands of new homes while dramatically transforming Sydney.
Loading
The eight density precincts,combined with plans to snap-rezone land within 400 metres of 31 train stations across the state,and an overhaul of zoning rules to allow duplexes and terrace houses,could result in about 322,800 new homes being added over coming decades,according to government estimates.
“For the first time,the city is actually marrying public transport infrastructure with new housing,” Minns said on Thursday.
“We cannot have a situation like we’ve had for the last decade where we’ve had brand-new housing and no infrastructure or major new infrastructure and virtually no new housing.”
However,the premier also indicated there would be more to come. The government has repeatedly said the city’s affluent eastern suburbs and lower north shore need to take on more housing density,and development lobby groups such as the Urban Taskforce have questioned why Edgecliff,Chatswood and Bondi Junction were not included in the 31 stations to receive a snap rezoning.
“We’re not done yet,” Minns said when asked about the decision.
The government announced on Thursday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian Turf Club which would see the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse redeveloped into 25,000 new homes,along with a new Metro West station.
The government said the ATC had approached it about a possible deal about a month ago. Despite the ATC previously saying it would not support a deal which would disrupt racing at the venue,president Peter McGauran said what ultimately tipped the scales was the potential $5 billion sale it could net from selling the land if a Metro West station was built.
“It wouldn’t be worth our while to develop Rose Hill Gardens for housing without a Metro West station,” he said.
Loading
“It’s the installation of that station that has catapulted the value of the land to such high level.”
The Coalition criticised the government for a lack of detail over the agreement,with NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman also saying most of the new housing announced by the Minns government would not be delivered in the current term of parliament.
He insisted the government should pressure the Commonwealth to limit migration numbers to dampen housing demand.
“If you want to do something straight away about tackling the unaffordability of housing in Sydney for renters and buyers,you’ve got to tackle immigration,” he said.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.