Sydney Residents Oppose Further Development

A recent poll has revealed that around 66% of Sydney residents believe the city is ‘full’ and has no room for further residential development, reports new.com.au.

 

According to the poll, which was conducted by ReachTEL for Fairfax Media, these residents think that any further development should be confined to the edges of the city.

 

The poll’s findings have brought into focus existing tensions over how development in Sydney can be managed in a sustainable way to accommodate a continually growing population.

 

Property development body Urban Taskforce has commented on the poll, describing it as ‘alarmist.’

 

“The Fairfax-ReachTel poll that indicates two thirds of Sydney residents say the city is full reflects concerns about change but avoids the reality of Sydney moving from a suburban to an urban model,” said Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson. “The average size of the Australian detached house is the highest in the world and it not hard to see how this also leads to Sydney house prices being one of the least affordable in the world.”

 

“The two thirds of Sydneysiders who oppose more development in Sydney are likely to be those that own suburban houses while those who support the development of inner metropolitan Sydney are likely to be those looking for affordable homes,” he added.

 

The Property Council for Australia has also been critical of the poll, highlighting that Sydney is currently still only around half as densely populated as London and considerably less dense than cities like Vancouver and Montreal.

 

“Our children and their children deserve to have jobs and homes near us, their parents, in the decades to come so sustainable growth that meets the demands of a growing population is critical,” commented Property Council NSW Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald.

 

“Sydney is growing whether we like it or not and we need to make sure this growth is delivers as many benefits as possible,” she said. “Burying our heads in the sand and simply saying ‘we’re full’ didn’t work in the past, and it won’t work now.”

 

“A more densely populated city is a reality that we as Sydneysiders must manage together, just as other global cities such as London, New York or Barcelona have done in the past,” she added. “Strong political leadership on this issue is critical.” 

 

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