A Yes in My Back Yard (YIMBY) attitude is needed in Sydney to support the city’s growth, says the Urban Taskforce.
“Clearly the Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) attitude has taken over in Sydney with community rejection of even the low density of town houses and terrace houses in suburban areas,” says Urban Taskforce CEO, Chris Johnson. “Every day now there are media articles about over development, concrete jungles and of medium rise buildings being called skyscrapers. The recent rejection by 27 Sydney councils of a code that helped the planning of new two storey medium density homes demonstrates that these councils prefer that development will occur somewhere other than in their area.”
“With a state election eight months away it seems the anti-development mood is building up as politicians attempt to harness votes with populist anti-development policies.”
“Many countries around the world have been through the transition Sydney is undergoing and action groups have formed to support the swing to more urban lifestyles and to support a continuing supply of affordable homes. The cities of San Francisco, Seattle, London and New York have established YES groups that support development in their own backyard.”
“In Australia YIMBY Queensland is leading the way in supporting quality development and encouraging leadership in the provision of sustainable housing for future generations. Co-founder of YIMBY Queensland, Natalie Rayment will be addressing the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards on the evening of Thursday 26 July to encourage the development of a YIMBY SYDNEY.”
Natalie Rayment said “I continue to be surprised that Sydney does not already have a YIMBY group as so many cities around the world do. It is so important to balance the conversation so often dominated by the negative NIMBY Not in My Back Yard narrative. We notice the growing negative concerns from some in the community against change and believe it is important to provide positive support for new housing that suits today’s younger people and helps people to age in place. We expect the silent majority will say YES they do want new homes built for their children and grandchildren and more housing choices.”
Chris Johnson said “Sydney now has over 30 percent of homes in apartments so the city is at a critical stage of its evolution and leadership is required to support a diversity of affordable housing types. The baby boomer generation have benefited from massive rises in the value of their detached houses but their children and grand-children are finding it very difficult to find affordable homes. The answer is to provide more homes near-by and this could include town houses or apartments near transport nodes.”
“As Sydney grows, infrastructure will be important and the NSW Government has funded significant metro rail and light rail networks and is funding education and health facilities. The scale of these infrastructure commitments means that they must be constructed in parallel with the new homes for the growing population.”
