Greater Sydney Commission - Draft District Plans 2016

Earlier today, the Greater Sydney Commission revealed its 40-year vision for Sydney, Towards our Greater Sydney 2056. It also released draft District Plans, which identify strategic centres and give an indication of proposed future land use.

With significant growth predicted for Sydney in the coming decades, Towards our Greater Sydney 2056 sets ambitious targets for the creation of new housing and jobs, and provides details around how Sydney will evolve in order to accommodate that growth. The plan is based around the concept of Sydney comprising of three interconnected cities, supported by six neighbouring districts.

It is proposed that, by 2036, Parramatta will become Sydney's 'Central City', specialising in the delivery of business and administration services. Sydney CBD will become Sydney's 'Eastern City', continuing to function as the State's economic powerhouse, while the planned Western Sydney Airport will form the basis of a future 'Western City' driven by trade, logistics and advanced manufacturing industries.


These cities will be further divided into six districts (see left), including the:

Each district will be guided by its own District Plan. These plans will form part of the hierarchy of documents that guide land use in Sydney, sitting below A Plan for Growing Sydney. Although the District Plans will not directly affect existing local environment plans, once finalised, they will be a central point of reference in the determination of planning proposals, and will guide the evolution of LEPs going forward.

The Greater Sydney Commission was established in 2015, and was tasked with undertaking strategic metropolitan planning for Sydney, and ensure that land use is planned in conjunction with the development of new infrastructure, such as transport, roads, hospitals and schools. The release of Towards our Greater Sydney 2056 and the draft District Plans is the first major policy milestone for the Greater Sydney Commission.

The draft District Plans are now on display for public consultation, ahead of their scheduled finalisation in March 2017. Given the significance of the Plans, it is important for significant land holders to engage with the Commission and provide feedback on the drafts. Any organisation wishing to make a submission can contact PremierState for further advice.

Further Information
For further information or analysis, clients can contact PremierState on (02) 9223 0311 or via email

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