Committee for Sydney

Want to be in the room as the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC and the Hon. Bob Carr discuss bold governance and how it can enable the big ideas that will shape Sydney’s next era of ambition, vision and leadership? If the answer is yes (which it should be), make sure to get your tickets now for the 2026 Sydney Summit >> https://lnkd.in/g5Xyjny7   The theme for next year’s Summit is 'The Bold City' where we’ll be exploring how to turn ambition into action. It’s about leadership that balances vision with pragmatism, and a willingness to make the decisions that shape the next generation of Sydney’s growth.   We’ll dive into everything from housing growth to the energy transition and how strong leadership can open Sydney up to a future with endless opportunities. Tickets are selling fast so get in quickly to make sure you have a seat at the table with the people shaping Sydney.   More speakers are yet be announced so keep a close eye on the Summit site for all the latest information >> https://lnkd.in/g5T2EwTU   If you want to be involved with the Summit yourself make sure to submit your Big Idea for Sydney here >> https://lnkd.in/gePf7DWU The top 30 ideas will be published in The Sydney Morning Herald across January in the lead up to the Summit, and the best three will present on stage to a room full of Sydney’s leaders and change makers. We’ve extended the deadline for submissions until Monday 8 December so get your thinking caps on!   Thank you to our event partners The Sydney Morning Herald and BDO for your support. We can’t wait to kick off 2026 with bold moves and ambitious thinking. Make sure you join us. Eamon Waterford, Jeremy Gill, Estelle Grech, Michael Rose, Matt Levinson, Cassie Newman, Roslyn Poulos, Jessica Bartle, David Borger, James Griffin MP, Kerry Robinson OAM, Adira Wiryoatmojo, Sue Weatherley, Bevan Shields, Megan Gorrey, Tom Gellibrand, Miriam Wassef, Alex Greenwich MP, Robin Khuda, Nicole Yade, Alexander Wendler, Karen Bevan, Anthony Segaert, Matt Crocker, Ebony Wightman, Bay Warburton, Hunter Karam, Shaun Christie-David, Jason L'Ecuyer, Jess Miller, Caroline Butler-Bowdon

Summer swimming is about to kick off again in Western Sydney with Penrith Beach set to open for the season from this Sunday >> https://lnkd.in/gpTwjsaW   Ahead of opening, the beach has been upgraded with new shaded seating areas and outdoor showers, and opening hours have been extended from 7am to 7pm, so that locals can enjoy a full day by the water without the long drive to the coast.   Free water-safety programs, learn to swim and junior lifesavers workshops, water confidence education and on-site wellbeing activations like skin checks will also be on offer at the beach this season. We love to see the prioritisation of water safety and upskilling as more people head to the beach.   Since opening back in 2023, Penrith Beach has attracted more than 330,000 visitors and become a key summer hotspot for the region - and we’re not surprised, especially given how hot Western Sydney can get.   The west deserves safe and quality swimming spots - just like the east - and Penrith Beach proves that the demand is there. We’d love to see more spots open up to save the community time and money that would otherwise be spent travelling to the east.   Paul Scully, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Courtney Houssos, Surf Life Saving Australia, Adam Weir, Surf Life Saving NSW, Royal Life Saving NSW | ACT | TAS, Royal Life Saving – Australia, WaterNSW, Sydney Water, Prue Car, Karen McKeown, Penrith City Council, Todd Carney (GAICD), Jenny Archdall, Naomi Chilcott, Business Western Sydney, David Borger, Alan Mascarenhas, NSW Government, Chris Minns, The Daily Telegraph, Mick Ilinsky, RJ Houston, Waterco Limited

Our final walking tour of the year was one of Sydney’s most ambitious urban renewal projects - unpacking the stories and lessons behind Barangaroo's evolution, from the metro station and living seawall to One Sydney Harbour and the Cutaway.   We kicked off with Lendlease for a conversation about the vision that brought Barangaroo to life, and the ongoing strategic decisions that have shaped this key precinct. Some of the key takeaways included: - The Hon Kristina Keneally spoke about forming a single body to take control of Barangaroo to ensure its success. As the former Premier of NSW, Barangaroo didn’t have a natural home when Kristina inherited the project. Looking at Docklands in Melbourne for inspiration, she found success came from giving control of the site to one level of government to allow them to drive outcomes.  - Kimberley Jackson highlighted the challenges of balancing good placemaking with factors like climate and cost. She spoke to the ongoing effort in curating the precinct, like hand picking the best retailers to draw people in and get them to stay.  - Anita Mitchell spoke about how visitors shape the reputation of a place. 18 million people visit Barangaroo each year, so assessing who these people are and identifying what they want from the precinct is key. Serious consequences can happen when you don’t get retail right - “that’s why you have an Ugg boot store facing the opera house.” Thank you to our fantastic panel - The Hon Kristina Keneally, Anita Mitchell, Kimberley Jackson - and all of our wonderful speakers for your insights Annie Tennant, Chris Tidswell, Dario Spralja, Muir Livingstone, Aria Lee, Michael Yip, Professor Katherine Dafforn, Jessica Spresser, Peter Besley, Jason Hammond, Eamon Waterford. Thank you also to our event partner Lendlease for your support and for hosting us at your office. That wraps up our walking tours for the year. These events let us explore different pockets of our city and deep dive into all the fantastic projects that are transforming Sydney right before our eyes. Thank you to all of our collaborators who make these events possible, and so enjoyable. See you again next year! Pip Meachin, Arcadia Landscape Architecture, Architectus, Foster + Partners, PTW, Macquarie University, BESLEY & SPRESSER, NSW Government, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Sydney Metro, Feature Building & Landscape Supplies, Yuesong Wang

A brilliant new riverside path is around the corner with the final stage of Parramatta's Duck River Trail about to get underway >> https://lnkd.in/gBmRAAgS   Once completed, the landmark project will stretch along 4km of outdoor sanctuary, snaking its way through canopy and wildlife, and improving access to Camellia, Silverwater, the Parramatta River and the path that runs alongside the M4. In this next stage, more paths and boardwalks will be added along the route, with new bridges across Duck Creek and the Derby Street stormwater channel, and native trees, shrubs and mangroves.   More than 2,000 people already use the Parramatta River foreshore paths on a daily basis, showing the growing demand for more and better connected pedestrian walkways and cycle paths in the west. This project will do more than enable active transport, it will also help to retain the natural beauty of the area and create better connections to areas like Ryde so people can move across Sydney faster and easier than ever before.   We can’t wait to see this come to life. Located in the heart of the community, this trail is truly a slice of paradise in the midst of a bustling city.   Feedback on this final stage of the project is open until Tuesday 9 December >> https://lnkd.in/gBmRAAgS   City of Parramatta, Transport for NSW, Business Western Sydney, Martin Zaiter, Mark Crispin, David Borger, Alan Mascarenhas, Estelle Grech, Josh Murray, John Graham, Angud Chawla, NSW Government, Chris Minns, Bicycle NSW, Bicycle Network, Cumberland City Council, Michael Jollon, Luke Wolstencroft, Sharon Chungpattana, Donna Davis, Carla Theunissen, George Bounassif, McGregor Coxall, Adrian McGregor, Parramatta River Catchment Group, WSYD Moving, Glascott

About 40% of Australia’s ageing public pools will be obsolete by 2030, and it’s going to cost $8 billion to replace them ($2.7 billion in NSW alone), which doesn’t include the cost of building entirely new pools as the population grows >> https://lnkd.in/gyJ4txqK   The looming crisis has been compounded by climate change, increased demand and a rising drowning rate, and has resulted in Royal Life Saving NSW | ACT | TAS and Cox Architecture teaming up to offer a faster and more cost-effective solution so that everyone - no matter which LGA they live in - can have access to safe and modern swimming pools.   Modular prefabricated pools, inspired by the NSW Government’s low to medium density housing pattern book, are being offered as a solution that will speed up delivery and cut the cost of a new pool by around half.   Currently, the average 25-metre pool with change sheds costs about $10 million, and a report from Royal Life Saving – Australia found that price was beyond the reach of a third of local governments - particularly those in less affluent areas where facilities are needed most.   In comparison, modular pools can be developed offsite and in large numbers - and delivered based on a set of predetermined attributes (length, depth, number of lanes, on-site amenities) - in around 8 months for roughly $5.5 million. They’re also flexible for future additions, meaning councils can add elements later depending on future needs and budgets.   Just like the housing pattern book, modular pool designs show that we can deliver safe and beautiful aquatic infrastructure across Sydney - and we can do it faster, smarter and more affordable than ever before.   This is absolutely fantastic to see and something we should be thinking about especially as we come into the warmer months. Access to pools is not evenly distributed across Sydney and so often it’s the communities who live out west (usually the hottest part of Sydney) that suffer as a result.   Royal Life Saving NSW is pushing for state support to trial a roll out of modular pool plans, and eventually construction for the councils that need it most, and we couldn’t be more on board.   Julie Power, The Sydney Morning Herald, Mick Ilinsky, Alastair Richardson, Russell Lee, John Ferendinos, David Holm, Lachlan Abercrombie, John Richardson, Roy Butler, RJ Houston, Waterco Limited, Craig Roberts, Suellen Goyne, Penrith City Council, City of Parramatta, Campbelltown City Council, City of Canterbury Bankstown, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Paul Scully, Chris Minns, Bayside Council (NSW), City of Sydney, Georges River Council, The Hills Shire Council, Inner West Council, Ku-ring-gai Council, Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) Inc., Sydney Water, Waverley Council, Willoughby City Council, Randwick City Council, Lindy Deitz, Todd Carney (GAICD)

12,000 new homes could sprout up on top of supermarkets and shopping centres thanks to the recent changes to NSW’s planning laws >> https://lnkd.in/eszQjhjH   Bankstown Central, Eastlakes Shopping Centre and several Coles Group and Woolworths Supermarkets outlets are on a growing list of sites in line for a high-rise overhaul that’s designed to boost housing around town centres and transport hubs. The plans include:   - 1,500 units across four buildings on top of Bankstown Central - 2,100 units above Westfield Hornsby - 1,500 units in a redevelopment of Warringah Mall - 1,000 unit mixed-use development of Eastlakes Shopping Centre - 300 units at the Mandarin Centre in Chatswood, part of a 46-storey rebuild   Solving the housing crisis doesn’t just mean building more homes. It means being strategic about where these homes are built - close to transport lines and retail hubs so that people can move around the city with ease and have greater access to amenities and essential services.   This idea just makes sense. Think about it - how much easier would it be if you forgot ingredients for dinner and only had to take an elevator down a few storeys to grab them, instead of commuting across town in peak hour?   Sydney is growing and we need to accommodate that. People value living in close proximity to the things they need, so we have to prioritise increasing density and doing it well.   Woolworths Group, The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW Government, Paul Scully, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Chris Minns, Scentre Group (Owner of Westfield destinations in Aus and NZ), Westfield, Chris Pettit, UNSW, Catherine Gilbert, University of Sydney, Amanda Bardwell, Leah Weckert, Hannah Jamieson, City of Canterbury Bankstown, i2C Architects, ADP Consulting, Bilal El-Hayek, Matthew Stewart, Hornsby Shire Council, Warren Waddell, Glen Magus, Northern Beaches Council, Sue Heins, Scott Phillips, HDR, Willoughby City Council, Tanya Taylor, Campbelltown City Council, Lindy Deitz

Nine new mid-rise home designs have been released as part of the world-leading NSW pattern book program, showing how density can be done beautifully and with the community in mind.   The architect designed apartments - which are light-filled with plenty of airflow - range from 3 to 6 storeys.   Adding to the 8 low-rise patterns already released, these patterns have been created to make construction easier and housing more affordable, while ensuring high quality contemporary design.   While the mid-rise patterns currently require a DA to be submitted to local councils for approval, new planning laws coming into effect next year will mean a faster and simpler planning pathway so more people can get into their new homes quicker - it shows how the pattern book can work alongside the low and mid-rise planning policy, creating opportunity and ensuring quality. Great to see! Andrew Burges Architects, Andrew Burges, Bennett and Trimble, Collins and Turner Architects, MHNDU, Neeson Murcutt Neille, Nguluway DesignInc, Government Architect NSW, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Chris Minns, Paul Scully, Kiersten Fishburn, Paul Levins, Eamon Waterford, Zack Solomon, Jenny Archdall, Estelle Grech

The unrelenting pace of technological change, from data centres and Apple Pay to face ID and AI, is constantly challenging efforts to keep our information safe - that's why it's fantastic that Professor Nalini Joshi AO has been recognised as this year’s NSW Scientist of the Year for her work to make sure our data stays secure >> https://lnkd.in/gC_z4p47   Professor Joshi, who specialises in quantum cryptography - an emerging field protecting private information from being stolen by future hackers - is the first mathematician to receive the award. Her work at University of Sydney also dives into the climate space and her mathematical approaches have been applied to reveal real-world phenomena, including the formation of large and unpredictable rogue waves in deep water.   Having grown up in Burma, Professor Joshi immigrated to Australia at the age of 12 - a shining example of the vital role migrants play in pushing forward our innovation sector and making Sydney, and Australia, a global leader.   Nine other category winners were announced as part of the 2025 Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering, including:  - Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Physics Anita Ho-Baillie, University of Sydney - Excellence in Biological Sciences (Ecological, environmental, agricultural and organismal) Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh, FAA, Western Sydney University - Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences (Cell and molecular, medical, veterinary and genetics) Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey, UNSW Sydney - Excellence in Engineering or Information and Communications Technology Distinguished Professor Vivian WY Tam FTSE, Western Sydney University - NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Biological Sciences) Dr Jennifer Matthews, University of Technology Sydney - NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Physical Sciences) Dr Felix Rizzuto, UNSW Sydney - Leadership in Innovation in NSW Professor Paul Keall, University of Sydney - Innovation in NSW Public Sector Science and Engineering Dr Brad Law, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development - Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematic Teaching in NSW Mr Ryland O’Connell, Hastings Secondary School, Port Macquarie   A strong science sector is crucial to our city's future. Vital work carried out each day across Sydney and the state by scientists, mathematicians and researchers whose aim is to solve our most pressing challenges. Ensuring these sectors are supported, funded and prioritised is key.   Congratulations to Professor Joshi and all the winners who were recognised for their work.   Chris Minns, The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Robin Khuda, CSIRO, Mark Scott, David Thodey, Kirsten Andrews, Attila Brungs, Robin Schuck, Jennifer Westacott AC, Professor Geoff Lee, George Williams, Michael Rose, Andrew Parfitt, Danielle Woolley, Matthew Proft

The communities around Mount Druitt, including Bidwill, Lethbridge Park, Tregear and Willmot, are some of the most disadvantaged in Greater Sydney and the lack of public transport accessibility makes life so much harder >> https://lnkd.in/gtC-6xK8   This excellent new report from University of Sydney, Sydney Alliance and Together in 2770 Collective focuses in on the dire state of public transport across the area, and the impact it's having on the community.   The report shows: 🚍 Two-thirds of daytime buses take 30 minutes or longer to arrive – just one third come at least once every 15 minutes 🚍 Bus routes frequently take 5-7 times longer than driving to reach key destinations - for example, getting from Willmot to Mt Druitt Hospital for a 10am weekday appointment takes 14 minutes by car but 67 minutes by public transport, including transfers and 18 minutes of walking 🚍 There is no shelter at 69% of bus stops in Bidwill, Lethbridge Park, Tregear and Willmot – a huge issue given the infrequency of services and the extreme heat faced in Western Sydney. These issues force people to choose between spending hours on infrequent and unreliable buses, spending money on taxis or other services, or staying home and missing out on essential services. It means kids miss school, sick people miss appointments and others miss work or job interviews – all in communities that are made up of 40% social housing, 15% First Nations and 40% lower incomes than the rest of Sydney.   It’s clearly unfair, but transport inequity is a problem we can solve, starting now - and if we get it done, the positive impacts on community safety, wellbeing and quality of life will be huge.   Congratulations to Kurt Iveson, Brigid Burke, Tingsen Xian and students from the University of Sydney on this fantastic and eye-opening report. Credit also to BaptistCare, Uniting, Blacktown City Council, Jesuit Social Services, Mission Australia, United Way, The Salvation Army Australia and Sweltering Cities.   Enya Hua, John Graham, Transport for NSW, Daniel Mookhey, NSW Treasury, NSW Government, Chris Minns, Kerry Robinson OAM, Matt Crocker, Charles Moore, Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis, Raúl Sugunananthan, Adam Leto, David Borger, Christopher Brown AM, Dr Marjorie O'Neill MP, Josh Murray, Rubie Ireson, Eamon Waterford, Greater Western Sydney, Azadeh (Az) Dastyari, Steve Pederson, Joanne Zahorodnyj, School of Geosciences University of Sydney

The skyline of Sydney's leafy north shore is set to be transformed with a plan for 24,000 new homes around existing rail stations in the Ku-ring-gai area >> https://lnkd.in/gzTnfvMm   As part of the updated scheme, Ku-ring-gai Council will focus new development within 400m of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville train stations.   Some of the key aspects include: - Focusing new housing in Gordon and Lindfield with more high-density mixed-use development in the centres ranging from 6-24 storeys (and up to 28 storeys on a key site at Gordon) - A more moderate housing uplift in Killara and Roseville, with buildings up to 8 storeys transitioning between high-density and low-density and heritage areas. - Rezoning some residential areas within 800m of train stations for apartment buildings. - Transitioning building heights near low-density areas to reduce the impact of new development on neighbouring properties.   Alongside the new housing to be delivered, the plans include new outdoor areas - parks and plazas - as well as community spaces, libraries and childcare centres, all designed to ensure protection of heritage areas across the four suburbs.   Delivering more homes across our city makes sense, but we need to be delivering this increased density well. Building homes near transport lines, with access to open space and the kinds of essential services needed for growing communities is key - it’s great to see this being taken into consideration across Ku-ring-gai.   We know Ku-ring-gai's in a moment of significant change - a fast growing population with significant cultural change, and a transformation in density reimagining its suburbs and the people who live there. Just last week, a Herald deep dive into the number of food trucks and vendors operating across Sydney showed Ku-ring-gai is home to a huge 177 - painting a picture of a rich and diverse cultural makeup as more people flock to the area.   Great to see density being done well.   Ku-ring-gai Council, Christine Kay, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, NSW Government, Chris Minns, Paul Scully, Transport for NSW, John Graham, The Daily Telegraph, Jim O'Rourke, Jenny Archdall, Kiersten Fishburn, Indu Balachandran, Virginia Leafe, Geoffrey Douglas, Sally Williams