A Metropolis of Three Cities

Greater Sydney Region Plan—A Metropolis of Three Cities (Environmental Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 No 203) will rebalance growth and deliver its benefits more equally and equitably to residents across Greater Sydney.

A Metropolis of Three Cities – the Greater Sydney Region Plan (PDF, 12.7 MB) is the first to be prepared concurrently with Future Transport 2056 and the State Infrastructure Strategy, aligning land use, transport and infrastructure planning to reshape Greater Sydney as three unique but connected cities.

Highlights

A Metropolis of Three Cities will transform land use and transport patterns, boosting Greater Sydney’s liveability, productivity and sustainability by spreading the benefits of growth to all its residents. A Metropolis of Three Cities was informed by significant community feedback and technical input on a range of topics.

A city for supported by infrastructure

Infrastructure supporting new developments

Objective 1. Infrastructure supports the three cities
Objective 2. Infrastructure aligns with forecast growth – growth infrastructure compact
Objective 3. Infrastructure adapts to meet future needs
Objective 4. Infrastructure use is optimised

A collaborative city

Working together to grow a Greater Sydney

Objective 5. Benefits of growth realised by collaboration of governments, community and business

A city for people

Celebrating diversity and putting people at the heart of planning

Objective 6. Services and infrastructure meet communities’ changing needs
Objective 7. Communities are healthy, resilient and socially connected
Objective 8. Greater Sydney’s communities are culturally rich with diverse neighbourhoods
Objective 9. Greater Sydney celebrates the arts and supports creative industries and innovation

Housing the city

Giving people housing choices

Objective 10. Greater housing supply
Objective 11. Housing is more diverse and affordable

A city of great places

Designing places for people

Objective 12. Great places that bring people together
Objective 13. Environmental heritage is conserved and enhanced

A well connected city

Developing a more accessible and walkable city

Objective 14. A Metropolis of Three Cities – integrated land use and transport creates walkable and 30-minute cities
Objective 15. The Eastern, GPOP and Western Economic Corridors are better connected and more competitive
Objective 16. Freight and logistics network is competitive and efficient
Objective 17. Regional transport is integrated with land use

Jobs and skills for the city

Creating the conditions for a stronger economy

Objective 18. Harbour CBD is stronger and more competitive
Objective 19. Greater Parramatta is stronger and better connected
Objective 20. Western Sydney Airport and Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis are economic catalysts for Western Parkland City
Objective 21. Internationally competitive health, education, research and innovation precincts
Objective 22. Investment and business activity in centres
Objective 23. Industrial and urban services land is planned, protected and managed
Objective 24. Economic sectors are targeted for success

A city in its landscape

Valuing green spaces and landscape

Objective 25. The coast and waterways are protected and healthier
Objective 26. A cool and green parkland city in the South Creek corridor
Objective 27. Biodiversity is protected, urban bushland and remnant vegetation is enhanced
Objective 28. Scenic and cultural landscapes are protected
Objective 29. Environmental, social and economic values in rural areas are maintained and protected
Objective 30. Urban tree canopy cover is increased
Objective 31. Public open space is accessible, protected and enhanced
Objective 32. The Green Grid links parks, open spaces, bushland and walking and cycling paths

An efficient city

Using resources wisely

Objective 33. A low-carbon city contributes to net-zero emissions by 2050 and mitigates climate change
Objective 34. Energy and water flows are captured, used and re-used
Objective 35. More waste is re-used and recycled to support the development of a circular economy

A resilient city

Adapting to a changing world

Objective 36. People and places adapt to climate change and future shocks and stresses
Objective 37. Exposure to natural and urban hazards is reduced
Objective 38. Heatwaves and extreme heat are managed

Implementation

Objective 39. A collaborative approach to city planning
Objective 40. Plans refined by monitoring and reporting

Delivering the plan

The delivery of A Metropolis of Three Cities – The Greater Sydney Region Plan will bring together a range of important stakeholders including; the NSW Government, local councils, industry and the community.

Greater Sydney District Planning

Greater Sydney District Planning will guide the implementation of the plan across the five districts that form the metropolitan area. They inform local environmental plans, community strategic plans and the assessment of planning proposals.

District plans help councils plan and deliver for growth, change and align local planning strategies to place-based outcomes.

Greater Sydney Commission

The former Greater Sydney Commission was an independent organisation funded by the state government and responsible for metropolitan planning in a partnership between State and local government. The Commission led metropolitan planning to make Greater Sydney more liveable, productive and sustainable. Its role was to coordinate and align the planning that will shape the future of Greater Sydney and make it more liveable, productive and sustainable.

Greater Sydney Districts

The district plans are a guide for implementing the draft Greater Sydney Region Plan at a district level and are a bridge between regional and local planning.

District boundaries: local government areas

Western City	Central City	Eastern City	North District	South District
Blue Mountains	Blacktown	Bayside	Hornsby	Georges River
Hawkesbury	Cumberland	Burwood	Hunters Hill	Canterbury–Bankstown
Penrith	Parramatta	Canada Bay	Ku–ring–gai	Sutherland
Camden	The Hills	Inner West	Lane Cove
Campbelltown		Randwick	Northern Beaches
Fairfield		Strathfield	Mosman
Liverpool		Woollahra	Willoughby
Wollondilly		Waverley	Ryde
		City of Sydney	North Sydney

Local Strategic Planning Statement

During 2019 and 2020, the former Greater Cities Commission worked with Greater Sydney councils to support them in reviewing their Local Environmental Plans and developing their first Local Strategic Planning Statements (LSPS). The Commission brought together council and government agencies to collaborate in the process.

The Commission completed its assurance of the 33 Greater Sydney council LSPS in 2020. View the Commission's letters of support:

Council letters of support

For more information: