SYDNEY: THE CITY OF CITIES

From its earliest days, Sydney started as a city centred on a harbour, with outlying centres around the transport network. As the city's population grew and demand for jobs and houses increased, Sydney became a city stretching 70 kilometres from east to west, and 60 kilometres from north to south.

To ensure equitable access to Sydney's infrastructure and services, City of Cities - a Plan for Sydney's Future concentrates growth in centres, to meet the target of ensuring Sydney's residents do not have to travel more than one hour a day for jobs, services, higher order medical and legal services, major cultural and entertainment venues, or regional open space or recreational opportunities.

Sydney's structure and form cannot be rapidly changed. Growth has been concentrated around the harbour cities of Sydney and North Sydney, while Parramatta has provided a riverside setting for a second CBD. To meet the challenge of equitable access, the roles of Penrith and Liverpool as Regional River Cities will be elevated over the next 25 years as jobs and housing growth is concentrated in Western Sydney.

In determining the planning roles across the State Government and local government, City of Cities - a Plan for Sydney's Future recognises the Global City, Regional Cities, Specialised Centres, Major Centres, Employment Lands and Renewal Corridors will be of particular State significance. These areas will account for 50 per cent of new homes and 50 per cent of new jobs over the next 25 years. While State-led, this planning will be undertaken in consultation with local government and their communities through subregional planning. Planning for Neighbourhoods, Town Centres and Villages will be undertaken at a local level, based on the principles of the Metropolitan Strategy, and in consultation with the community.

To access City of Cities - A Plan for Sydney's Future in its entirety, please click here. This will take you to a new webpage.

GLOBAL SYDNEY

Sydney City and North Sydney will continue to be the harbour cities at the heart of Global Sydney. They will be the focus for world class business, tourism, cultural, health, education and entertainment activities.

REGIONAL CITIES

The river cities of Parramatta, Liverpool and Penrith will provide a focus for innovative business environments, jobs and more lifestyle and work opportunities closer to growing parts of Sydney. These centres will attract new shopping, health, education, business and cultural facilities.

MAJOR CENTRES

Major Centres evolved along Sydney's heavy rail network and are main shopping and business centres. At a minimum, 8,000 jobs are located in Major Centres, and by 2031 they will generally contain a minimum of 10,000 jobs. Major Centres can be divided into established, planned and potential centres.

SPECIALISED CENTRES AND EMPLOYMENT LANDS

Sydney's Specialised Centres are substantial assets across the city and each interacts with the rest of the city in a complex way. These Centres contain major infrastructure - such as airports or ports, hospitals, universities, research or business activities. Employment lands contain factories and warehouses, with some becoming sophisticated centres of high-tech manufacturing, transport logistics and major storage operations.

NEIGHBOURHOODS, VILLAGES AND TOWN CENTRES

There are over 400 towns, villages and neighbourhood centres in Sydney, with good public transport services. They are just as important to the people who live and work in them as other centres, and the NSW Government can assist with improved urban design or infrastructure or to initiate the process of renewal.

TYPES OF STRATEGIC CENTRES

Global Sydney	The main focus for national and international business, professional services, specialised health and education precincts, specialised shops and tourism, it is also a recreation and entertainment destination for the Sydney region and has national and international significance.	Sydney City*, North Sydney
Regional Cities**	With a full range of business, Government, retail, cultural, entertainment and recreational activities. They are a focal point for regional transport and jobs.	Parramatta, Liverpool, Penrith
Specialised Centres	Areas containing major airports, ports, hospitals, universities, research and business activities that perform vital economic and employment roles across the metropolitan area. The way they interact with the rest of the city is complex and growth and change in and around them must be planned very carefully.	Macquarie Park, St Leonards, Olympic Park-Rhodes, Port Botany, Sydney Airport, Randwick Education and Health, Westmead, Bankstown Airport-Milperra, Norwest
Major Centres	The major shopping and business centre for the surrounding area with a full scale shopping mall, council offices, taller office and residential buildings, central community facilities and a minimum of 8,000 jobs.	Bankstown, Blacktown, Bondi Junction, Brookvale-Dee Why, Burwood, Campbelltown, Castle Hill, Chatswood, Hornsby, Hurstville, Kogarah

* Sydney City includes the CBD, Sydney Education and Health Precinct, Pyrmont-Ultimo, Kings Cross, the NSW State cultural institutions, the Walsh Bay cultural precinct and the St Vincent's-Darlinghurst Health Precinct.

** Outside the Sydney Metropolitan Area, Wollongong is the Regional City for the Illawarra and Newcastle is the Regional City for the Lower Hunter. Gosford is the regional city for the Central Coast and Tuggerah-Wyong is a Major Centre on the Central Coast. Separate but related strategies will guide growth and change in these three regions within the Greater Metropolitan Region; however, Gosford and Tuggerah-Wyong's employment capacity targets and housing capacity targets are incorporated into the Metropolitan Strategy.

TYPES OF STRATEGIC CENTRES

Planned Major Centres	Locations for shopping and services in identified residential growth areas.	Rouse Hill, Leppington, Green Square
Potential Major Centres	These have assets, including transport or open space connections, and potential as shopping and service hubs, in existing areas of the city which may have increased residential development.	Sutherland, Cabramatta, Mt Druitt, Fairfield, Prairiewood

To access City of Cities - A Plan for Sydney's Future in its entirety, please click here. This will take you to a new webpage.