Late last year the Government invited us to have our say on the draft Sydney Plan. The Sydney Plan is a 20-year strategic land use plan to direct future growth in the Sydney region. The plan guides:
- state and local strategic planning and assessments
- infrastructure planning and prioritisation
- public and private investment decisions.
Councils will need to align their local planning documents, like Local Strategic Planning Statements and Local Environmental Plans, with the finalised Sydney Plan to deliver the priorities for their local areas.
Comparison of the 2018 Greater Sydney Region Plan and the Draft Sydney Plan (2025)
When comparing the 2018 'Greater Sydney Region Plan – A Metropolis of Three Cities' with the Draft Sydney Plan (2025) you will note that there are a number of key objectives from the 2018 plan that are missing or significantly reduced in the new draft plan.
- Aboriginal Custodianship & Connection to Country – Explicit in 2018, absent in 2025.
- Collaborative Governance – Emphasis on multi-level collaboration removed in the draft.
- Cultural Diversity & Inclusion – Not addressed in the draft plan.
- Environmental Sustainability – Reduced emphasis on biodiversity, green infrastructure, and climate resilience.
Aspect | 2018 Plan | Draft 2025 Plan |
| Vision | 40-year vision for three integrated cities | 20-year growth plan focused on housing and jobs |
| Framework | Ten Directions: liveability, productivity, sustainability | Housing, jobs, industrial land |
| Cities Concept | Three Cities model with 30-minute access | Metropolitan-wide growth focus |
| Environment | Strong focus on sustainability and biodiversity | Secondary to housing/jobs |
| Governance | Collaborative model with community and business | Centralized state-led planning |
| Culture & Inclusion | Emphasis on diversity and inclusion | Not explicitly addressed |
Stormwater NSW will be making a submission on behalf of the industry, submissions close on 27 Feburary 2026.
