This draft District Plan sets out aspirations and proposals for Greater Sydney’s North District, which includes the local government areas of Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Northern Beaches, Mosman, North Sydney, Ryde and Willoughby. It has been developed by the Greater Sydney Commission.

This draft District Plan is on formal public exhibition until the end of March 2017, and will be finalised towards the end of 2017 to allow as many people as possible to provide input.

The North District comprises geographically diverse, economically strong and environmentally aware communities who value and embrace progress, the local landscape and a great quality of life. The North District is a unique place in Greater Sydney, where bush meets beach meets city. Strong, sustainable planning will guide and create a 20-year model to deliver a thriving modern economy co-existing within beautiful natural landscapes. The North District’s expansive national parks, natural waterways and beaches, and its vibrant, connected and productive centres, will interact to create opportunity and amenity.

This is particularly important for a district that is changing. The North District’s population will grow significantly and its make-up will change as the overall population becomes older. To meet these challenges, the District will need to offer more housing choices from freestanding homes to more compact housing choices. It will also need to offer residential aged care and housing for people with a disability as well as supporting health and social infrastructure. The North District will enjoy improved physical and economic links to major centres across Greater Sydney, including a new Sydney Metro service to Sydney CBD, and better internal connections to link residents with jobs and services. Centres and urban precincts will grow around major infrastructure and essential urban services.

These new developments will attract new businesses and services that will deliver more jobs and diversity across a range of industries, including a thriving tourism sector. Better connections will reduce the commute time to work, and allow people living in the District’s communities to live closer to great places for shopping, lively main streets, sporting facilities and some of the best that nature has to offer. Community facilities, open space and cultural facilities will be available to all, linked by more public transport options and safe walking and cycling routes, while the District’s many memorable heritage places and streets and expansive Aborigional history will be carefully protected and enhanced. To make living in the District more affordable, new housing will offer a diversity of type, tenure and price points. Collaborative planning across government will make sure that as the population grows, all residents have access to parks, schools and public transport. The diverse character and identity of the North District’s local areas will be respected and enhanced.