Sydney consistently rates as one of the best cities in the world with its unique natural beauty and enviable lifestyle. Sydney is Australia's economic powerhouse and only global city. As a result, it is not surprising that our population is growing.�The population in Sydney and the Central Coast is tipped to grow from the current level of 4.1 million to 5 million by 2022. The Illawarra and the Lower Hunter are home to another 750,000 people - and growing strongly too.

Our population is changing.�We are getting older and have fewer people living in each home. The type of work we do and the way we do it is also changing.

The NSW Government understands that we need to plan for growth and change. This is a challenge for all of us.�Growth and change can be difficult but they can also be good things - I see them as a way to build new opportunities and offer new services. That's why the Government has decided to prepare a Metropolitan Strategy for the Greater Metropolitan Region.

We began in May 2004 at the Sydney Futures Forum, talking wtih 360 leaders from the State and Local Government, businesses and the community.�The discussions focused on how to manage growth, housing, the economy, the environment, transport, and infrastructure funding and financing.

The Sydney Futures Forum was followed in June by a Local Government Forum to understand the impacts of these issues in different areas in the Greater Metropolitan Region.

In October and November 2004 a series of Community Forums were held at locations around the Greater Metropolitan Region.� Over 700 residents were chosen at random to participate in the forums.

A second Sydney Futures Forum brought together paricipants from earlier forums and was held at the end of 2004.

Our objective is a simple one, reinforcing the message that was conveyed at the Community Forums: They like where they live, they love this place, they expect us to maintain it, keep it that way and continue to enhance it for future generations.