Image: Wikimedia Commons
by GRACE JOHNSON
The Minns government has revealed their plan to build 3000 new homes between two metro stations in northern Sydney.
The government will rezone the 68-hectare precinct surrounding the Metro North West line at Macquarie Park, converting excess commercial land into much-needed residential housing.
The goal is to transform Macquarie Park into a lively community with increased residential areas and ground level retail for entertainment, dining, and recreation. Macquarie Park is the fourth largest office market in NSW, behind Parramatta, North Sydney and Sydney CBD.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said, “Proposals like this are important to change the trajectory of the housing supply crisis.”
“The construction of homes in NSW has simply not kept pace with our population growth.”
“This area is already a good place to work, and we will make it a great place to live and work.”
Empty office spaces
Converting unused commercial space into housing is crucial as the housing crisis continues.
More office spaces have been left vacant as companies downsize and employees increasingly want to work from home.
The latest research from real estate firm JLL shows that 14.4 per cent of offices in Sydney’s CBD are vacant, a 10.2 point increase from numbers in 2019.
Many large banks have reportedly been looking to move out of their office spaces as well. The Financial Review predicts that by the end of the year, over 30,000 square metres will be available at Darling Park Tower 1, where Commonwealth Bank currently is.
Yet the Labor Government is still proposing to rezone 24 hectares on public land near Central to deliver “a technology and innovation precinct,” of which only 30 per cent will go towards affordable housing.
Furthermore, there have been no plans of building more public housing, despite public housing residents facing evictions and demolitions of their homes.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said,“We need more housing in established areas to improve affordability, reduce infrastructure costs, and limit the burden on taxpayers.”
“This rezoning is an opportunity to deliver more homes on the doorstep of the CBD and near well-connected public transport including the new Macquarie Park metro station.”
Jenny Leong MP took to Instagram, writing:
“If we actually want to tackle the housing affordability crisis crushing our communities, we need to be building desperately-needed public housing wherever we can – whether that’s on rezoned commercial space or on public land.”
The proposal for Macquarie Park will be open for consultation until mid-2024. Feedback from the community and stakeholders will be taken into consideration.
However government and the market approaches the issues of housing availability, the primary concern needs to be about housing systems that are sustainable and ecologically green is design. The existing research and proven examples have existed for many decades both in Australia and overseas. Leadership must institute higher design principles. We must take a step back from immediate action. Consider the planning and meaning of creation of new housing stock and position in terms of urbanism. This current subject offers the nation a massive opportunity. We must not waste with superficial and inefficient solutions.