Northern Sydney housing and liveability forum

The Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) hosted a forum on 10 November to consider the housing crisis and opportunities for collaboration.

The event brought together Mayors and Councillors from across the region along with The Hon. Paul Scully, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Local MPs, and industry leaders. Attendees engaged with a panel of experts who provided insights on the planning system from the practitioner, property industry and social housing perspective.

NSROC continued to call for development that preserves heritage, is sustainable, considers traffic impacts and maintains tree canopy. A well-planned built environment allows communities to grow while maintaining their unique character.

NSROC also called for the NSW Government to implement a clear vision for housing through a strategic plan, avoiding ad-hoc, reactive proposals. It asked that increased density be accompanied by affordable housing in perpetuity.

Attendees considered how well-designed density can contribute to the liveability and well-being of communities and discussed the need to ensure that increased density is accompanied by essential infrastructure including schools, green space and waste facilities.