Mayor labels Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy ‘lazy and ill-informed’

Published on 21 February 2025

The Mayor of Woollahra, Councillor Sarah Swan, has requested an urgent meeting with the NSW Premier and Minister for Planning & Public Spaces following the release of what is a “lazy blanket policy for ill-informed development” in Sydney, that ignores existing housing density, overrides heritage conservation areas and has no regard for community consultation or future impact on infrastructure.

“Woollahra Council has consistently met the NSW Government’s housing targets, is on track to meet new targets and is well placed to plan for appropriate future development,” the Mayor said.

“It is difficult to understand the NSW Government’s decision to force through these reforms with less than a week’s notice when it is already aware of the work Woollahra Council is doing to support housing growth in a way that considers place-based planning. Council is already delivering a steady increase in housing, with over 100 new dwellings being added annually since 2016.

“We exceeded the 2016-2026 housing targets set by the NSW Government, and we are comfortably on track to meet the new targets.

“Council has endorsed strategies for areas such as Double Bay and Edgecliff that aim to deliver hundreds of new dwellings within already dense environments, while maintaining high standards for planning.

"Woollahra Council is committed to supporting housing growth, but it must be done in a way that respects the existing character of our communities and takes into account the unique challenges faced by each area. The precincts identified in the Low and Mid-rise housing reforms are simply not suitable for this scale of development.

“We will continue to advocate for responsible, place-based planning that meets the housing needs of the community while respecting its infrastructure and environmental constraints,” the Mayor said.