Sydney is an ever-changing canvas, especially when it comes to the development plans that reshape the fabric of the city. And the future holds even more grand plans for a bigger, greener, more prosperous, and more connected Sydney. In 2024 alone, we’re expected to welcome a new artificial surf park, a massive water recreation space for southwest Sydney, and the final stages of Western Sydney’s own beach to town. Beyond that, the future looks… busy. Here are all the future development plans in the pipeline for Sydney, affecting everything from retail to transport to new city centres.
Three cities in one
The state government’s Greater Sydney Area Plan calls for ‘A Metropolis of Three Cities’ that would zone the wider Sydney area into three separate cities. The classic Harbour City would cover the eastern area, the central River City would be centred on the ever-growing second CBD in Parramatta, and finally there’s the development of Bradfield City Centre, which would be the Western Parkland City, as well as the first city to be built in Australia for 100 years.
In each case, the intention is for the three districts to be 30-minute cities, in which most residents live within 30 minutes of all the amenities they need. Bradfield, for instance, is being designed with car-free streets, green initiatives to reduce heat, and environmentally friendly design. At five times the size of Barangaroo, it’s one of the biggest urban development projects ever planned for Australia, and is now open for community feedback. Given the scale, this one will be running way beyond our 10-year look ahead.
A brand-new international airport
Already several years into construction (the first spades went into the ground back in 2018), Sydney’s new airport will serve the growing population of Western Sydney, as well as easing the burden on Kingsford Smith. With the existing airport being one of the world’s oldest, at capacity, and hemmed in on all sides by suburbs and Botany Bay, there’s no room to expand services here.
In addition, Greater Western Sydney is one of the fastest-growing communities in Australia, so all things considered, the arrival of Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird-Walton) Airport is pretty timely. When it opens – which is expected to happen in stages, with the first one slated for December 2026 – the aim is to serve 10 million passengers a day, and offer better connections to Western Sydney and inland NSW. WSI is planned as a ‘smart airport’ with digital capabilities that better ensure flights run on time, and will also feature design and artwork that honours the stories and culture of Dharug Country upon which it sits.
A redeveloped Cockatoo Island
Small but mighty, Cockatoo Island will be upgraded with a new harbour pool, cultural attractions, and an island park. Having solicited feedback from the public in December 2023, the project committee is currently reviewing public opinion before announcing the next steps.
A new (and a mostly new) Powerhouse
2024 has already seen the closure of Powerhouse Ultimo for renovations, which will take around three years. When completed, we’ll be able to explore a new and improved exhibition space, new entrances, and a public outdoor square, sometime in 2026/2027. But by then, it won’t be the only Powerhouse in town…
To get your Powerhouse fix before then, you’ll want to head west to Powerhouse Parramatta, which is slated to open in 2025 and join the Powerhouse family. If you’re in any doubt as to the importance of this space, consider this: the Parramatta branch is the largest cultural infrastructure project undertaken in Sydney since the Opera House was built.
More Sydney Metro routes
There’s lots of moving parts to the Sydney Metro project – after all, it’s Australia’s largest public transport project – so it’s worth summarising where they’re headed and what the status is.
Following the already open Metro Northwest line, the next batter in the lineup is the Metro City & Southwest line, which will build on the existing Northwest stretch. That’ll extend the Metro from Chatswood, under Sydney Harbour, through the CBD, and on to Bankstown. Adding five new stations to the system, upgrading 11 more, and adding underground platforms at Central and Martin Place stations has been a huge undertaking, but 2024 is the year it’ll open – at least from Chatswood to Sydenham.
Rigorous testing has continued into 2024 to prepare this section for opening, and whilst an exact date isn’t confirmed yet, it’s widely expected to be later this year, once the final tests and tweaks have been made. Only once that section has opened will work on the Bankstown section begin (requiring a 12-month closure of the T3 Bankstown line), with works here planned to finish in late 2025. A future Metro extension would take this section on towards Liverpool.
After the City & Southwest stretch, it’s on to Metro West, which will link the CBD to Parramatta and Westmead, via Pyrmont and Sydney Olympic Park. Currently, a pair of AI-powered tunnel boring machines are working their way east from Clyde, and they’re expected to reach Olympic Park by the end of 2024. Don’t expect this anytime soon (the current completion date is 2032), but it’s a much-needed additional transport link from the CBD to Parramatta.
Finally, the Metro will link up with all the aforementioned happenings in Western Sydney on the Metro Western Sydney Airport project – six new stations between St Marys and Western Sydney Aerotropolis will serve the 23-km route. Works started in 2020, and the aim is to have this section operational by 2026 to connect the airport to the suburban rail network at St Marys.
Future Metro improvements would link the new airport to the CBD via Metro West (by extending from Westmead) or via Metro Northwest (by extending from Tallawong to St Marys), as well as extending the line to Macarthur.
A $400 million Winter Sports World
Sports fans will be thrilled to hit the slopes at Winter Sports World, which will house a 300-m indoor ski slope, as well as world-class facilities for activities including ice hockey, ice climbing, speed skating, and more, while a winter wonderland snow play area will entertain the kids. You’ll have a little while to wait, though, because construction has not yet begun.
A refreshed Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour has already seen hints of development to come, with the opening of the skyline-dominating W Hotel and the fully renovated IMAX cinema in 2023. Those are just the first steps of ‘Darling Harbour 2050‘, which will see the NSW government inject over $700 million in funding to bring the area from the 80s to the present. Expected developments include the demolition of the original Harbourside building to make way for a 50-storey building that will house commercial and residential properties, along with affordable housing for the Pyrmont area, works on Pyrmont Bridge, and upgrading the waterfront promenade.
A transformed ‘Blacktown Quarter’
The development arms race in the city’s west continues with a $2 billion transformation of Blacktown’s CBD, dubbed ‘Blacktown Quarter‘ under the plans from developer Walker Corporation. They’re aiming to rival Parramatta Square with their own “world-class city centre”, which will feature a new private hospital, medical research institute, a retail and hospitality precinct, and – of course – office space. All in all, it’s expected to add 4500 jobs to Blacktown, although the project is still in early stages – and if you take their feedback survey here, you could win some nifty gift vouchers to spend.
Upgrades to Circular Quay
The Circular Quay Renewal has gone through a couple of iterations since first being announced, and plans have been scaled back from their original vision since the arrival of the Labor government last year. The splashy transformation of Cahill Expressway into an NYC-style High Line championed by former Premier Dominic Perrottet appears to have been dumped, but the new ferry wharves are still part of the gameplan, as is an upgrade to Circular Quay station and the surrounding green spaces. In early 2024, site inspections are underway to lay the groundwork for future planning and development.
A snazzy new Central Precinct
In a bid to turn the area around Central Station into more than than just a transport hub, Transport for NSW is aiming to revitalise up to 24 hectares of land around the station. That’ll include three new parks, showcases of Aboriginal heritage and culture, better pedestrian connections, more shopping and dining options, and residential housing in high-rise buildings around the station.
Public feedback was sought in 2022, and having prepared a ‘Response to Submissions Report’, the updated 2023 plans are available to view on the NSW government website. It’s one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months, especially given the proximity to Sydney’s CBD.
An extremely long waterfront path
The Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link will span a whopping 91km when completed, and some early preparation works began in 2023. Presently, you can walk or bike parts of it, but the Link plan aims to connect all these bits together into one mega-route. It’ll better-connect Sydney residents to the river, and provide an ambitious cycle or walking challenge for the keen athletes amongst us.
The world’s tallest hybrid timber skyscraper
Atlassian Tower is one of the most ambitious construction projects happening in the city, and it’s under construction right now. When finished, it’ll stretch 39 storeys into the heavens, and be instantly recognisable as a mass-timber construction wrapped in a steel exoskeleton. Built to house the Australian headquarters of tech company Atlassian, the building will boast a number of open garden spaces, so employees can munch lunch amongst the greenery whilst looking over the city.
It’s just one of several new skyscrapers reaching towards the heavens: art deco-inspired 338 Pitt Street will have a sky bridge between its two towers, nearby 55 Pitt Street is planned as a ‘workplace precinct’ at a height of 232 metres, and 80-storey 505 George Street will add residential apartments and a hotel to the mix. With the maximum height for Sydney buildings having been raised from 235 metres to 330 metres in recent years, the future is looking up, literally.
All these development plans, and we’re barely scratching the surface of what’s to come for Sydney, which may also include new plans for Bondi, even more going-out districts to bolster the city’s fast-growing nightlife, a long-term use for the historic White Bay Power Station, and much more. As always, we’ll keep you in the loop!