Home to the globally competitive Sydney City and liveable neighbourhoods, the Central District comprises natural attractions and iconic built places including Sydney Harbour, the east coast beaches, parks and rivers. Its cosmopolitan and vibrant urban communities range from the highest density suburbs in Australia to some quintessential historic neighbourhoods.

By 2036, our vision is for the Central District to be a global sustainability leader, managing growth while maintaining and enhancing the District’s liveability, productivity and attractiveness for residents and visitors. It will remain an attractive place to live, with an increased diversity of housing choices that cater for all groups including people who live on their own, older residents, group households and families. Growth and development will allow improvements to public areas and better walking, cycling and public transport connections across the District. Cultural and environmental heritage will be celebrated. Better east to west connections will come with the integration of major transport projects. The District’s many centres and key places will be enlivened, with facilities and services that support vibrant day and night activities.

Our planning will celebrate the District’s Aboriginal heritage and support the goal of growing the first economy of aboriginal economic prosperity, including visitor experience. We will foster diversity and build on the District’s natural and cultural features.

By 2036, the Central District will be a model of sustainable planning and development. Transport networks will support the efficient movement of goods and services into and across the District, building on the Sydney Metro Northwest, Sydney Metro City & Southwest and the CBD and South East Light Rail. Our open space and centres will be better connected.

The quality of the District’s waterways will be improved, and green connections will extend to the coast, along the Harbour and to rivers — adding spaces to enhance movement, sports and biodiversity. The District will develop better ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on our key infrastructure and assets. Improvements across the District will strengthen global competitiveness, increase productivity and continue to provide a high quality of life for residents.

We will support and grow knowledge and enterprise precincts within the District, particularly in Randwick, and from the Australian Technology Park through to The Bays Precinct, encompassing North Eveleigh, Chippendale, Camperdown, Ultimo and Pyrmont. These knowledge precincts and the potential links of four universities — University of NSW, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney and the University of Notre Dame Australia — will solidify Australia’s position as a leader in innovation. Investment and planning for employment and industrial lands will support local urban services, national and global offerings, and the needs of start-ups, the new creative economy and smart logistics