Committee for Sydney

🎨 Sydney's lack of affordable creative spaces is pushing away the artists who make our city vibrant. To address this, we're exploring the feasibility of a Creative Land Trust: an independent, not-for-profit entity to secure and manage creative spaces. We're seeking expressions of interest from philanthropic, property, legal, business or cultural leaders to join a Creative Land Trust Advisory Reference Group, chaired by Lisa Chung AM, to guide the feasibility study for this city-shaping project. This is an exciting opportunity to support Sydney's creative culture by helping to increase the supply of rehearsal, recording and artist studios. Group members will help assess the viability of a Creative Land Trust and shape its potential structure, sustainability, and impact. They will contribute to the strategic foundation of this initiative, provide expert advice and advocate for creative culture in Sydney. If you know someone who could be the right fit, let them know – share this post or tag them in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you! 📄 Read more in the position description >> https://lnkd.in/gKg94zQX 🗓 Applications close: Sunday, 26 January, 2025 📩 Submit your EOI and CV: [email protected] ---- We're still taking applications for an organisation or individual to deliver the actual Creative Land Trust feasibility study. RFT closes 19 January. More info here >> https://sydney.org.au/clt Lisa Chung AM, Michael Rose, Corinne Kemp, Alex Schuman, Rachael Hammond, Matt Crocker, Matt Levinson, Lisa Colley, Bridget Smyth, Hannah Reid, Kirsten Morrin, Roslyn Mayled, Ash Nicholson, Nikki Robinson, Michael Dagostino, Mark Crees, Emilya Colliver, John O'Callaghan, Nina Macken, Liza Noonan, Elizabeth Mildwater, Clover Moore AO, John Graham, Clara K., Angud Chawla, Anita Mitchell, Caroline Butler-Bowdon, Kerri Glasscock, Sophia Kouyoumdjian, Alicia Talbot, Hahna Busch, Sasha Baroni, Ebony W.

How's this for an early Christmas present 🚈 Parramatta's light rail is now open! The new L4 Westmead & Carlingford line provides connections to key destinations, including Westmead Health Precinct, CommBank Stadium, Riverside Theatres, over 60 cafes and restaurants on and around Church Street, Parramatta Square, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, and three Western Sydney University campuses. It's the first light rail to deliver a 'green track' design, which uses 81% less concrete in its construction, reduces noise and urban heat and delivers environmental and health benefits. By 2026, the light rail is set to serve 22,000 passengers daily. With Greater Parramatta’s population projected to exceed 277,000 by 2041, this rail line will be a game-changer—connecting residents to jobs, entertainment, and vital services for years to come. Ford Civil Contracting, Ventia, Downer, GREAT RIVER CITY LIGHT RAIL PTY LTD, Transdev Australia & New Zealand, Harri Bancroft, Jo Haylen, Jack Begbie, David Borger, David Gray, Dr Robert Lang, Gail Connolly PSM, Duncan Edghill, Sebastian Smyth, Josh Murray, Penny Graham, Leni Karceva, Howard Collins, OBE, Camilla Drover B Eng MAICD, Donna Davis, Transport for NSW, City of Parramatta,Belinda Gadd, Helen Machalias, Michael Jollon, Parramatta Light Rail, Anna Bradley, Lisa Havilah, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, McConnell Dowell, Fulton Hogan, SRG Global, John Holland, Arup, WSP in Australia

Today's Housing Delivery Authority announcement marks a massive step to delivering more homes, faster, across Sydney and the state 👏   By offering a new approval pathway for major residential projects, it aims to cut red tape and speed up the planning process for developments over $60 million in Greater Sydney and $30 million in regional areas. That means fewer delays, allowing homes to be built sooner where they’re needed most: close to transport, jobs and community amenities >> https://lnkd.in/gqfE2gh2   Key elements include:   🔑 Clear, rigorous criteria The EOI and Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements ensure that only projects meeting high standards for location, affordability and timely delivery are prioritised.   ⏱️ Concurrent assessment and rezoning By offering a parallel approval process, it bypasses traditional council-led assessments, speeding up delivery while reducing the burden on local authorities.   💵 A focus on affordability and accountability We're glad to see incentives such as affordable housing contributions and requirements for construction to start within 12 months – critical to prevent land banking and boost housing supply for lower-income households.    Addressing outdated rules and a 'computer says no' mindset that often hinders our ability to build the homes we need, the Housing Delivery Authority is the emergency circuit breaker that could unlock more market and affordable housing.  We hope this move helps shift the culture of planning to work more like London or New York — clear social goals, open conversations with developers, for real delivery. This is the kind of action that turns housing ambition into real, tangible homes for people who need it most. Estelle Grech, Megan Gorrey, Jeremy Gill, Paul Scully, Chris Minns, Kiersten Fishburn, Zack Solomon, Zoe Baker, Katie Stevenson, Andrew Whitson, Ben Hendriks, Mehra Jafari, Tom Loomes, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Housing Now!, Nicola Lemon, Emma Nicholson, Dr Tim Moonen, Mike Zorbas, Alex O'Mara, David Tickle, Lendlease, Tom Mackellar, Michelle Mason, The Sydney Morning Herald

Take a look at this new primary school on the way for Macquarie Park! It’s exactly the kind of social infrastructure that ensures fast-growing TOD precincts like Macquarie Park will deliver for the people who live there >> https://lnkd.in/g4kCa_N3 Set to open in 2026, it will cater for up to 750 students, with rooftop play areas, out-of-hours school care and community use of its facilities – all within walking distance to public transport, shops, and jobs. Being able to walk to school is a game changer for children and families: it means healthier, happier mornings and a stronger sense of community, reducing traffic and creating a well-connected neighbourhood. We’re keen to see more of this – schools, parks, and essential spaces delivered alongside new homes and transport access. This is how we can make density work for Sydney. Prue Car, Paul Scully, NSW Department of Education, City of Ryde, Wayne Rylands, Liz Bennett, Estelle Grech, Jenny Noyes, Alexie Hamilton, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Kiersten Fishburn, Tom Loomes

👬📉 Yikes. That's what Eamon Waterford said when he shared this chart to our team chat, showing young people's declining borrowing capacity alongside rising house and land prices. It's hard to argue with his reaction. It's just not fair that as house and land packages have risen about 37%, the borrowing capacity of a typical young couple has fallen about 24% (as reported in the AFR) >> https://lnkd.in/gi3ZYJQQ This is the reality we're grappling with in Sydney, a city where young people are increasingly priced out: ➡️ In Greater Sydney, student sharehouses (comprised of people aged 18-35) spend over 40% of their income on rent – surpassing similar households in all states, finds SGS Economics and Planning. ➡️ Without bold changes to the way we support young people, less than half of children born today will never own a home in Sydney >> https://lnkd.in/g9vSRjWd ➡️ Young people, with their fresh ideas, innovation, community and energy, help drive a city forward. Losing them means losing a significant chunk of our workforce and talent, our culture and vibrancy, and hinders our progress towards becoming more sustainable and inclusive. Unaffordable housing already costs Sydney more than $10bn a year in lost productivity, talent and innovation – we can't afford to lose our young people on top of this >> https://lnkd.in/gSpz8MN2 Addressing our housing crisis and prioritising the needs of young people is a topic we'll explore in our upcoming Sydney Summit, our agenda-setting leadership conference on Tuesday 4 February 2025. Find out more about the program and tickets >> sydney.org.au/sydneysummit Estelle Grech, Jeremy Gill, Jacob Ellis, Kiersten Fishburn, Leonie King, Rebecca Pinkstone, Housing Now!, Rosie Oldfield, Daniel Mookhey, Paul Scully, Janice Lee, The Business Of Cities, John Engeler, Helen O'Loughlin. , John Brockhoff, Nicola Lemon, Emma Nicholson, Alison Holloway, Chris Minns, Dr Rhonda Itaoui, PhD, Trina Jones, Jo Noesgaard, Shelter NSW, Homes NSW, Jessica Gardner, The Australian Financial Review, James Thomson, Tony Boyd, Anthony Macdonald

🏗️ Construction has begun for the new Tallawong Public School in Sydney's northwest, the top area for student enrolment growth in NSW >> https://lnkd.in/gpm9wzrH Set to open in 2026, it caters for up to 600 students and features 24 classrooms with additional multipurpose rooms, three support learning classrooms, a multipurpose hall, indoor and outdoor learning areas, a modern library, canteen, a new sports court and designated play spaces. Joining Melonba Public School and Melonba High School, this new addition to Sydney's northwest will deliver essential education services for local communities and future generations in the Blacktown area. Together, these three schools will create new school places for up to 3,600 students in this rapidly growing region. Prue Car, Chris Minns, Warren Kirby, Kerry Robinson OAM, Blacktown City Council, Bill Tsakalos, EPM Projects, School Infrastructure, Alex Cauchi, Michael Northey, The Hills Shire Council, Estelle Grech, Julie Grennard, NSW Department of Education, Leon Weatherstone, Ella Adams, Alejandra Rojas

Today's announcement of a committed strategy to Tech Central will unlock the innovation district's potential and put Sydney on the path towards becoming a globally competitive innovation city >> https://lnkd.in/gKwSMWJV   Tech Central, a precinct spanning Haymarket, Camperdown, Surry Hills and South Eveleigh, is home to the highest concentration of tech businesses in the country – including Atlassian and Canva – as well as 150 research institutes and two universities.   A key part of Greater Sydney's innovation district network, Tech Central brings a wealth of opportunities in medical research and bio-technology, digital technologies and emerging sectors such as quantum computing. We strongly support the NSW Government's decision to pursue three key actions that will secure Tech Central's success as a key player in NSW's economic future:   📈 The development of a Tech Central Strategy to outline how the precinct will empower the innovation ecosystem, and play a greater role in supporting housing and the creative and tourism industries.   🔀 The transition of the Sydney Startup Hub, currently in York Street, to Tech Central. This ensures founders, entrepreneurs and investors can collaborate with nearby universities and research institutes.   🤝🏽 Specialist support within Investment NSW to drive investment and activity at Tech Central. This facilitates better coordination amongst key players in the innovation ecosystem.   Adopting a clear strategy for innovation districts is vital, and something the Committee has championed in our Transforming Sydney's Economy and Role of Government in Innovation Districts reports. We welcome the development of this new Tech Central strategy, as it provides the certainty needed to keep the economic engines firing in Sydney’s universities, research institutes, startups, and business communities.   Read Transforming Sydney's Economy >> https://lnkd.in/gZFdG_Hg Read The Role of Government in Innovation Districts >> https://lnkd.in/gXG-g62u The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP , University of Sydney , University of Technology Sydney , Block , Liza Noonan , David Thodey , Matthew Proft , Dexus , Louise Murray , BVN Architecture , SHoP Architects , SafetyCulture , Rokt , Business NSW , Katie Stevenson , Sydney Local Health District , Inner West Council , SGS Economics and Planning , Urbis Arup , GHD , Arcadia Landscape Architecture , Kathy Jones , Jeremy Gill

💥 Big move. NSW Arts Minister John Graham has announced a tax summit to explore reforms for creative workers – particularly artists, literary award recipients and the live performance sector. This is a promising step towards creating a fairer, more supportive system for our cultural industries >> https://lnkd.in/gXrBaxcu The Cultural Tax Reform Summit will address tax rules that treat awards, fellowships and grants as income, adding financial strain to artists who are already being priced out of our city – a key finding of our Making it in Sydney report >> https://lnkd.in/e4qMeM-Z The summit will also review a proposal from APRA AMCOS for a tax rebate for live music. This could see a live music venue receive a rebate of anywhere between 5-20% of their eligible live music spending, helping them stay afloat and host more gigs, putting more money in the pockets of our incredible musicians. Our Gig Economy report advocates for tax reforms to support venues and music makers as a key recommendation >> https://lnkd.in/gAXDvMsS Reforms for theatre performers may also be considered. Live Performance Australia is pushing for tax incentives similar to the UK’s Theatre Tax Relief program. Since it was introduced in 2014, the increased investment in theatre is four times greater than the foregone tax revenue. Creative workers are the lifeblood of our city’s culture and shouldn’t be taxed for their talent. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of these discussions – starting with today's event where Minister Graham will reveal more about the summit and the future of Sydney's creative communities. Alana Piper, Roslyn Mayled, Lisa Colley, Kerri Glasscock, Emily Collins, Rachael Hammond, Alicia Talbot, Rachael Kiang, Anita Mitchell, Emilya Colliver, Michael Rodrigues, Cassie Newman, Lizzie Butterworth, Emily Crocker, Aileen Robalino, Annette Pitman, Heath Aston, Maud Page, National Art School, Sydney Writers' Festival, Linda Morris, Matt Levinson

👏🏽 A huge congratulations to Michael Rose on his appointment as the new President of Art Gallery NSW! As the Chair of the Committee for Sydney, Michael has been a guiding force in championing Sydney as a global city of culture, creativity, and connection.   With his deep commitment to the arts and his unparalleled leadership in shaping Sydney's cultural, civic and urban landscape, we’re excited to see the bold vision and impact Michael will bring to the Art Gallery of NSW in this exciting new chapter.    Read the full article in the The Sydney Morning Herald >> https://lnkd.in/g-pUFRYK Rachael Hammond, Sally Webster, John Richardson, Linda Morris, Megan Gorrey, Eamon Waterford, David Borger, Rob Stokes, Mary Darwell, John Lehmann, Gabrielle Trainor AO, Larry McGrath, Kate Russell, Lyn Lewis-Smith, Brian Tyson, Matt Crocker, David Thodey, George Williams, James Rosenwax, Doug Ferguson, Leonie King, Lisa Chung AM, Tom Mackellar, Seckin Ungur, Christine Covington, Maud Page, Jonathan Wilson

Sydney's creative workspace is in serious decline, and artists and other creatives are leaving in growing numbers. A Creative Land Trust bringing more affordable creative spaces to our city could be the solution. For global cities facing similar challenges, such as San Francisco and London, one of the most effective solutions has been to establish a Creative Land Trust: an asset-holding property entity, independent of government and dedicated to owning and managing affordable creative space in perpetuity. We are seeking an individual or organisation to deliver a rigorous study that examines the feasibility of establishing a 'Creative Land Trust' for Greater Sydney. The findings will guide Create NSW, City of Sydney and Committee for Sydney in determining the potential for such an initiative in our city. The study will identify a preferred model for its long-term operational sustainability, underpinned by robust analysis and modelling. This will include: • A feasible financial model • An appropriate operational structure to ensure long-term operational sustainability • A legally sound organisation.  Ultimately, the idea of establishing a creative land trust is to boost the delivery of more affordable creative workspace across Sydney, and build the foundation for a thriving creative culture. This is your chance to work on a major city-shaping project that could have an invaluable impact on Sydney's culture and economy! 📝 Read the full tender brief here >> https://lnkd.in/gpmHwPAu 🗓️ Key dates • Tender opens: Friday, 6 December, 2024 • Information session: 2pm, Thursday, 12 December, 2024 (for registered parties) • Tender submissions close: Sunday, 20 January, 2025 (no extensions will be granted) • Email to register your interest: [email protected]    • Lodgement: [email protected] Matt Levinson, Lisa Colley, Bridget Smyth, Hannah Reid, Kirsten Morrin, Roslyn Mayled, Ash Nicholson, Nikki Robinson, Michael Dagostino, Mark Crees, Helen Hamilton-James, Andrew Pellow, Pavneet Girn, Sue Horlin, Adam Lai, Liz Austin, Doug Ferguson, Emilya Colliver, John O'Callaghan, Ruth Carnac, Stephanie Newey, Nina Macken, Reema Dubey, Lisa Chung AM, Liza Noonan, Elizabeth Mildwater, Clover Moore AO, John Graham, Clara Klemski, Angud Chawla, Anita Mitchell, Caroline Butler-Bowdon, Kerri Glasscock, Michael Rose, Sophia Kouyoumdjian, Alicia Talbot