Flawed Vision? Sydney’s Three Cities Metropolitan Strategy

Abstract

The paper critically assesses the 2018 Greater Sydney Region Plan which proposes a polycentric metropolis of three cities, one a new city around the second airport. In implementing the polycentric form as a metropolitan structure, transport priority given to promoting the new western city's self-containment has reduced the emerging potential of the existing second centre. In responding to climate change, the strategy's new rail lines and transit-oriented development are compromised by a major inner/middle suburb motorway program and extensive greenfield expansion into the hottest part of the Sydney basin. Weak housing affordability measures conflict with high income knowledge job proposals.