Politics · Australia · 6 hrs ago
NSW urged to plan infrastructure alongside new housing
The NSW government is promoting higher-density housing in Sydney, including homes near train stations through its transport-oriented development program.
Peter Achterstraat, who is leaving his role as NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner after eight years, says infrastructure must come with new housing.
In Sydney’s north-west, housing growth in areas such as Box Hill has outpaced public school construction, contributing to overcrowding and delayed school openings.
More residents can also add pressure to roads, schools, water and power services.
Woollahra Council opposes a plan for 9,400 homes linked to opening a disused station on the T4 line, saying infrastructure would not support residents’ needs.
The debate matters because communities want services to keep pace with higher-density development.
The government should explain how it will provide infrastructure and support existing services as it pursues its housing plans.
NSW should plan and deliver infrastructure alongside new housing, rather than letting services fall behind, the editorial argues.
NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner Peter Achterstraat says the extra infrastructure costs of new homes must be included in planning decisions.
Rapid housing growth in Sydney’s north-west has outpaced public school infrastructure, contributing to overcrowding, demountable classrooms and delayed school openings.
Woollahra Council opposes plans for 9,400 homes around the suburb’s T4 train station, saying the proposal lacks infrastructure to support liveability.
The Minns government’s housing agenda encourages homes around train stations through its transport-oriented development program.
- Who
- NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner Peter Achterstraat is calling for housing and infrastructure to be planned together. Woollahra Council opposes the government’s plans for the suburb.
- What
- The editorial urges the NSW government to make infrastructure planning part of its housing agenda.
- When
- The articles were published on November 1, 2026. Achterstraat’s comments were made in an interview before he leaves his role.
- Where
- New housing and infrastructure planning in NSW, including Sydney’s north-west and Woollahra.
- Why
- Housing growth can put pressure on roads, schools, water, power and other services if infrastructure does not keep pace.
NSW government
Woollahra Council
Housing development
NSW government
The government is pursuing homes around train stations through its transport-oriented development program.
Woollahra Council
The council opposes the government’s plan to open Woollahra’s T4 station and build 9,400 homes.
Infrastructure and liveability
NSW government
The editorial says the government should explain how it will deliver infrastructure and support existing services as housing increases.
Woollahra Council
Mayor Sarah Dixson says the plan lacks the infrastructure needed to support basic liveability.
Chris Minns was elected NSW premier and made his first public commentary on housing, saying Sydney needed to grow upwards rather than outwards.
Achterstraat said the “only time housing should come before infrastructure is in the dictionary”.
The articles reported Achterstraat’s renewed warning about the consequences of housing growth and called for infrastructure planning alongside new homes.
- Proposed homes in Woollahra
- 9,400
- Train line
- T4
- Commissioner
- Peter Achterstraat
- Sydney growth area
- Box Hill and The Hills Shire
- Housing program
- Transport-oriented development program
3 sources
What people are saying
It may not necessarily be built overnight,
But it’s in everyone’s interests if the infrastructure is built simultaneously with the housing.
only time housing should come before infrastructure is in the dictionary
the infrastructure needed to support basic liveability