18 March 2008
Todays announcement of the North West metro line makes 13 new compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use neighbourhoods possible across Sydney, according to the Urban Taskforce.
Sydney has not been coping with the demands placed on its creaking infrastructure by both population growth and demographic change, Mr Gadiel said.
Sydneys population is anticipated to grow by 1.1 million people by 2031.
This means Sydney needs 640,000 new homes.
Even if we have zero population growth over that time we would still require 190,000 new homes in Sydney to respond to demographic changes where fewer people are living in each home.
The new metro line creates an opportunity for more of Sydneys new housing to be accommodated around high quality public transport.
It also means that the State Government can deliver on its promise to allow more people to live within 30 minutes by public transport of a city or major centre.
Thirteen suburbs will, for the first time, have their own local train station.
The governments urban planning policies should be urgently reviewed to encourage new pedestrian-friendly communities around the new train stations.
New compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use neighbourhoods should bring together housing, workplaces, shopping, and recreation areas within walking distance of a new metro rail station.
The thirteen new train stations will be located in Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Norwest, the Hills Centre, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Denistone East, Top Ryde, Gladesville, Henley, Drummoyne and Rozelle, Pyrmont. All of the stations are expected to be operational by 2017.
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australias most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
The NSW development industrys annual turnover is $35 billion and employs 180,000 people, accounting for six percent of the States total employment. It is the fifth largest contributor to the State economy.
