The detailed draft rezoning proposal being revealed today will help tackle the state's housing challenge by opening up more housing close to the CBD, jobs and a new station, while rebalancing growth across Sydney after years in which too much of the burden was pushed onto Western Sydney.
On public exhibition from today the draft proposal sets a vision for how the 168-hectares of prime land in Sydney's east will evolve over the next 20 year to support more homes, jobs and open space, and make the most of nearby transport, infrastructure and services.
The NSW Productivity Commission found that Woollahra is the most feasible Local Government Area in New South Wales to build new housing and despite this, housing approvals in Woollahra consistently lag well behind other LGAs.
The proposal will concentrate new development around the existing Edgecliff station and the new station at Woollahra, with up to 40 percent of new dwellings to be located within 200 metres of a train station.
Once operational in 2029, the new Woollahra station will connect people on the T4 Eastern Suburbs Line to the Sydney CBD in just eight minutes.
Key features of the proposal include:
- Varied buildings heights of up to 34 storeys around Edgecliff Station and 32 storeys around Woollahra Station.
- Plans for 7 new parks and up to 9 kilometres of new walking and cycling connections.
- A requirement for diversity of new homes - including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
- 3 percent affordable housing contribution, with up to 15 percent applied to certain sites in perpetuity.
- An expanded mixed-use Edgecliff Centre and a new Woollahra local centre, delivering around 1,000 new local jobs, services and amenities
The proposal strikes the right balance of greater density without sacrificing liveability, with approximately 3.5 hectares of new and upgraded open space planned across 13 parks, a new Edgecliff plaza, and a commitment to make sure there is no net loss of overall tree canopy within the precinct.
Ninety-five per cent of the new homes will be within 400 metres of open space of 3000 square metres or larger.
Importantly new development will be supported by upgrades to local infrastructure, including roads, water and electricity networks, while local public schools will provide capacity for additional students.
The proposal also recognises the importance of protecting the area's heritage, with heritage items retained and carefully integrated into the design of the surrounding area.
As part of the proposal, value capture will be used to ensure windfall gains from the rezoning help pay for the cost of delivering the new station. Development within 800 metres of Woollahra Station will be subject to a Transport Project Component contribution of $15,000 per dwelling or $200 per square metres of new commercial gross floor area.
This is another example of the Minns Labor Government unlocking new housing opportunities in the communities young people, families and key workers want to live.
It is the latest of 67 state-led rezonings across NSW that will deliver approximately 240,000 new homes and 170,000 jobs.
Of these, 24 rezonings have already been completed, unlocking more than 79,000 homes and 56,000 jobs, with a further 43 rezonings currently progressing.
The proposal is on public exhibition from 8 September to 5pm 7 October 2026. Members of the community can submit their feedback via the NSW Planning Portal.
