Sydenham To Bankstown To Be Revitalised

Planning Minister Rob Stokes has revealed a new vision for the town centres around the 11 stations on the Sydenham to Bankstown rail line.

The vision looks at opportunities to revitalise areas around these stations with new homes, community facilities, shops and businesses and capitalise on the future Sydney Metro Southwest rail line project.

The precincts include Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl and Bankstown.

Mr Stokes said funding for road upgrades and new schools and parks will be coordinated to support the growth and infrastructure needs at the same pace as development over the next 20 years.

"The enhanced public transport network is the catalyst for new growth and development along the corridor," Mr Stokes said.

"These 11 local communities will now have an opportunity to have their say about what they want when it comes to jobs, shops, public amenities and the character of these areas.

"We want to create places where people want to live, and where they can work and play closer to home."The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW welcomes the State Government's announcement with the plan to create up to 35,000 new homes and thousands of jobs.

UDIA NSW Chief Executive Stephen Albin said the new corridor will link with the ‘golden arc’ – the chain of major economic centres from Macquarie Park through to Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney and the CBD to Sydney Airport and Port Botany – helping create a more liveable, affordable and connected city.

“Currently, greater Sydney is almost balkanised with people in connected areas enjoying the benefit of easier access to jobs, and those living in areas that are devoid of transport bearing the cost,” he said.

“With 11 train stops, this corridor will go a long way toward addressing this issue in a part of Sydney that so desperately needs this urban renewal.”

Mr Albin said the capacity to deliver 35,000 homes within the corridor is positive and will help address pent-up housing demand in Sydney, and ultimately make it more affordable.

He said the key to the successful delivery of the urban renewal strategy will be the unified co-operation of the three councils that will be impacted by the works.

“For the community to see the benefits of this urban renewal strategy sooner rather than later, each of the three councils involved will need to adopt a co-operative approach to the associated project delivery,” he said.

“This goes beyond party politics. It will create prosperity for constituents in the area, residents will have more access to affordable housing, they will be more connected and enjoy more liveable neighbourhoods.”

Mr Albin said the announcement is consistent with the Institute’s CityLife Project, an initiative that aims to make NSW cities more liveable, affordable and connected.