- Housing shortage and rental affordability are barriers for young people living in Sydney
- NSW Premier proposes locating available public land to rezone for new homes
- Property Council of Australia responds to this proposal
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has directed his ministers to locate available public land to rezone for new homes, as part of a solution to deal with NSW’s housing shortage.
Minns further detailed his policy vision at The Sydney Morning Herald’s 2050 Summit, an event at which a multitude of experts outlined Sydney’s major infrastructure and transport projects over the coming decades.
The Premier emphasised the economic and cultural importance of attracting and retaining young people in Sydney, of which housing affordability and an alarming rental crisis are proving to be twin barriers.
“Forget about owning a home, it’s now become impossible to even rent a home,” he said.
“The implications for the economy are devastating, not to mention the cultural impacts for an entire generation of young people who are saying ‘this city is not for me'”.
Minns pointed to the build-to-rent arrangements near Westmead Hospital as a good example of affordable and inclusive housing.
“It’s beautifully designed, well-built dense housing that actually provides a place for young nurses and paramedics and health care workers to live near where they work,” he said.
Property Council of Australia responds
Property Council of Australia Acting NSW Executive Director Anita Hugo welcomed the focus on upscaling supply.
“The NSW Government has significant swathes of public land that can be put to productive use in tackling our housing shortage in NSW,” Hugo said.
“If we are going to build 314,000 new homes over the next five years under the National Housing Accord, we need to look at all the tools in the kit – including new planning policies, rezoning and major land releases to hit our targets.”
Hugo says with the identification and repurposing of vacant land, much-needed housing options can be provided for a growing population and a new wave of migration into the country.
Developing vacant land around transport hubs needs to be the first area of focus in the rezoning push, according to Hugo.
“By focusing on urban areas, especially around transport hubs, we can leverage the proximity to essential services, networks, and community amenities, minimising the need for costly and sprawling infrastructure expansion,” she said.
She added that this approach promotes growth and maximises the value of existing resources while addressing the housing supply shortage.
