Up to 8,000 new homes could be built along a busy stretch of road in Sydney's inner west as part of a rezoning proposal.
The NSW government has struck a deal with Inner West Council to move forward with the plan, which covers a portion of Parramatta Road.
The major thoroughfare — dotted with dilapidated blocks and plagued by traffic congestion — had been the subject of several revitalisation attempts over past decades.
But NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said, despite that, little had changed.
"We all know that Parramatta Road is an important thoroughfare, but it's a bit tired," Mr Scully said.
"It's time we stopped talking and start getting on with building."
The section earmarked for rezoning is within 10 kilometres of the CBD, stretching from Foster Street in Leichhardt to Booth Street in Camperdown.
Currently, the area was primarily zoned for lower-level residential buildings.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said a "block-by-block" analysis would be conducted along the road and several streets behind it, to identify where density could be increased.
"It's a great location for desperately needed new homes, because of the existing access to public transport, services, and jobs," Mr Byrne said.
The plan allows for 8,000 potential new dwellings, but the maximum number of storeys of any new complexes was yet to be determined.
"What we will do through this rezoning process is develop the planning controls, including new height controls," Mr Scully said.
'Not-for-profit housing' on the agenda
The potential for more affordable housing, active transport connections, new open space, and commercial opportunities will also be looked at under the proposal, along with "improvements to the public domain."
No compulsory acquisitions are being considered.
"We're not claiming this will turn it into a tree-lined boulevard," Mr Byrne said.
"But by bringing in more new homes … we can both address the housing crisis but also improve the amenity of the whole corridor."
A 30-year strategy to build 27,000 new homes along the entire corridor was endorsed by the former state Coalition government in 2016.
Earlier this year, the Minns government unveiled plans to build 500 new homes on a former WestConnex site in Camperdown, with at least 200 to be offered at a discounted rate for essential workers.
Mr Byrne said there are opportunities for the same to be done at other sites along the corridor.
"We also want a significant proportion of not-for-profit housing, so that we can address the social justice need as well," he said.
The rezoning was expected to be completed in the next 12 to 18 months, Mr Scully said.
"This is a process of setting planning controls that will involve a period of public exhibition seeking community feedback," he said.
Mr Byrne said once finished, the area would deliver crucial housing in a highly sought-after area.
"We want young people and renters, and essential workers to still have homes in the inner west, and the best location for that is in the Parramatta Road corridor.
"That's the feedback that we've been getting from the community."
'Boulevard of broken dreams'
Committee for Sydney chief executive Eamon Waterford welcomed the proposal, describing the arterial road up until now as a "boulevard of broken dreams".
"We need to do so much open-heart surgery to transform this corridor," Mr Waterford said.
"The reality is far too many shops are vacant on Parramatta Road and nobody wants to spend time on it because it's unpleasant to spend as a pedestrian."
Mr Waterford said he was not concerned about road traffic increasing on Parramatta Road if the plan for high-density housing was realised and instead pointed to alternate transport options.
"Getting east [to] west is going to be increasingly on different modes of transport, enabling Parramatta Road to take on a different life, as a place for people rather than a place for transport," he said.
David Borger, chair of the alliance Housing Now!, also expressed support for the initiative, calling it a "bold opportunity for the city".
He said it was the kind of reform his organisation had been campaigning for.
"We cannot keep pushing density west and pretending that Sydney’s housing crisis is someone else’s problem,” Mr Borger said.
"This plan means the Inner West is stepping up and doing its bit — and that’s something the whole city should applaud."
