The Southern Aerotropolis

The Southern Aerotropolis The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

In recognition of the Biddegal people Georges River Council acknowledges that the Biddegal people of the Eora Nation are the traditional inhabitants and custodians of all land and water in which the Georges River region is situated. The Georges River, with its rich resources, natural setting and connections to country, is a place that attracted people, and a place where people traditionally gathered.

Council recognises Aboriginal people as an integral part of the Georges River community and highly values their past and future social and cultural contributions.

Georges River Council acknowledges that our future will always be informed by our past. We are committed to respecting Aboriginal people as Australia’s First Peoples. We have adopted the practice of acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of Country at events, ceremonies, meetings and functions. The Georges River Indigenous Reference Group provides a link between Georges River Council and the local Aboriginal community, respecting their right to self-determination and community empowerment.

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Contents 2.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

4.

Foreword

6.

Executive Summary

8.

Introduction

12.

A Metropolis of Three Cities – The Strategy for Greater Sydney

14.

The Jobs Challenge of the South

18.

The Western Parkland City and Aerotropolis

20.

Global Sydney

22.

The Case for the Southern Aerotropolis

32.

Connecting Greater Sydney with 'River Rail'

36.

A Post COVID-19 View of the Future of Sydney

38.

Building the Southern Aerotropolis

40.

Conclusion

Un[contained] Arts Festival 2021

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Foreword ty.

A specific reflection does indeed involve the activity of the council itself. Councils are one of the often underappreciated city-shapers in Australian cities. The City of Sydney and Parramatta Councils have played key roles both in terms of advocating for new transport infrastructure such as the light rail projects now transforming the Sydney CBD on the one hand and about to do the same for our city’s ‘second CBD’. Furthermore, we know the formative role played by councils in Western Sydney in creating the country’s biggest and most important City Deal and indeed attracting a new international airport and rail link connected to it. Beyond this, we know the daily and irreplaceable role played by councils in representing their communities in ensuring that other tiers of government and their key agencies enable the right quality of development through timely and appropriate infrastructure that delivers both liveability and economic opportunity.

To shape a city is the work of many hands and many generations. Greater Sydney’s evolution in both the preand post-colonial era is testament to this and of course, the work of co-creation goes on now and into the future.

The best cities are never the creation of one group or force and reflect in their changing character over time at least one fixed truth: cities collaborate to compete.

That is, they work best for local communities and in the international competition for talent and investment, when city-making is understood to be a shared enterprise between the public, private and not for profit sectors but also fundamentally, the community itself. This was true before COVID-19 and of even greater importance in the recovery of our cities after it.

I was driven to these reflections through engagement with Georges River Council as they produced this excellent report and the even more important dialogue between the various public, private and community city-shapers which the council has actively catalysed on the role a potential Southern Aerotropolis could play for Sydney and the State and the relationship to Wollongong, Central Coast and Newcastle. I believe they are to be commended for both the report and the dialogue. Both have been timely and have influenced decision makers priorites with the announcement of a new focus on six cities rather than only three. That is a big shift in policy towards the policy direction set out in this report by Council.

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

In catalysing this report and the associated advocacy and civic dialogue, I think Georges River Council is exemplifying the best of local government leadership of this type in our city at this moment. It knows its role, whilst delivering local services to ensure that through the right strategy and relationship building, it also shapes the future of the economy and environment in its area – and not just for local communities but in the wider interest of Sydney. Especially in this era when new thinking and new leadership will be required to galvanise our city and maximise its assets and opportunities after COVID-19.

It’s this council-led ‘city-shaping’ which has resulted in the research and thinking in this report and the dialogue with other councils and State Government now under way to progress its fertile ideas. Among those ideas are important ones about reconceptualising the existing Sydney Airport and its surrounding areas as an existing ‘Southern Aerotropolis’, well served by extant infrastructure but in need of the kind of coordinated action seen in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis to really maximise its potential for Sydney. Again, the Council has for some time sought to persuade others of the benefits of speeding up the delivery of planned rail links from Kogarah through Bankstown to Parramatta and perhaps points north to exploit an underdeveloped ‘Central City’ corridor that also would, by delivering more jobs locally, take some pressure off the radial routes back into the Sydney CBD. It is a project that supports sustainable growth and better connections between strategic centres, collaboration and innovation areas across Sydney. Whilst promoted by Georges River Council it will benefit the whole of Greater

Sydney, particularly centres and communities on the route and the rail lines it interchanges with.

Most recently, the Council has, working with councils such as Wollongong and those in the Hunter and particularly Newcastle, sought to remind key decision-makers of the benefits of exploiting the great potential of the NewcastleSydney-Georges River-Wollongong ‘Sandstone Megaregion’ or as it has also been called, the ‘Metropolis of 5 Cities’ not just 3. At the time of writing, the Council’s vision and advocacy seem to be paying off somewhat radically with the adoption by the NSW Government of a shared ‘city region’ vision which includes Wollongong, Central Coast and Newcastle in its planning under the changed remit of the Greater Sydney Commission to become the Greater Cities Commission.

While this is extremely welcome and a real tribute to the groundwork by councils such as Georges River, the campaign will need to continue to ensure that new government rhetoric is consistent with Council’s strategic and spatial objectives for the north-south corridor of which they are a part of. In addition, for acknowledgment of the Southern Aerotropolis which exists on the doorstep of our CBD and for that better and faster rail connections, both

to Parramatta but also from Newcastle on to the Illawarra, actually delivers real change on the ground in due course.

I am sure that Georges River Council will be as vigilant in that function as they have been catalytic in resetting the NSW Government’s thinking about the strategic importance of what their area, with the right strategy, investment and coordination, can offer Sydney.

This is the right initiative, in the right place at the right time. It builds greater resilience into our places, economy and communities. It responds to the current context where we need to focus on getting better value from existing investment and spreading the benefits. Let’s get behind Council and partners with the right strategy to deliver.

Dr Tim Williams Director of Publicani Strategic Advisor on Cities to governments

Image: Kogarah

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Executive Summary _ Airports are economic powerhouses, driving jobs and economic prosperity.

Sydney Airport drives the economy of New South Wales and Greater Sydney, including the CBD and the northern global economic arc. Drawing on the inspiration of the Western Aerotropolis, there is an opportunity to drive untapped economic opportunity south of Sydney Airport.

Doing so would leverage existing assets, housing and connectivity, as well as growing jobs in an area of significant jobs deficit. It is time to build the Southern Aerotropolis.

Image: Beverly Hills

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

The existence of strategic centres, innovation and health precincts, including ANSTO and Kogarah, major transport links, ample available industrial land and unparalleled liveability would underpin the Southern Aerotropolis. Like the future Western Aerotropolis, the Southern Aerotropolis would significantly increase the prosperity for Greater Sydney and New South Wales by growing jobs, especially knowledge jobs in existing and new centres.

It is hard to ignore the value proposition of Sydney Airport as it contributes $30 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the opportunity of expanding its economic influence south would not only grow GDP but would also increase local jobs and prosperity south to Wollongong, including the potential for a second container port at Port Kembla.

The NSW Government’s current infrastructure plans propose new infrastructure that improves connectivity to support and facilitate this growth, particularly ‘River Rail’, the rail link from Kogarah to Parramatta, shaping the future of the Southern Aerotropolis and connects the south to the Central River City.

The regional plan for Greater Sydney, 'A Metropolis of Three Cities', envisages a city where everyone is 30 minutes by public transport to work and the facilities they need. This vision of a '30-minute city' is not currently achieved in the South District. Growing jobs south of the airport and connecting to the Central City, with 'River Rail', will transform the South District to a true '30-minute city'.

NSW has the largest economy in Australia and ongoing growth is of national importance. The local importance of growing prosperity in areas of significant social disadvantage, such as in the Canterbury Bankstown Local Government Area, will have major social and economic benefits and will transform lives.

Now is the time to invest in the Southern Aerotropolis, as NSW rebuilds itself from the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. NSW can leverage the untapped opportunities and potential of driving jobs south of Sydney Airport by utilising existing infrastructure and assets for immediate impact, essential for a swift recovery.

This report calls for the following actions to realise the Southern Aerotropolis: 1. NSW Government-led strategic vision and plan for the Southern Aerotropolis in collaboration with local councils and key stakeholders; 2. A whole-of-government focus on business attraction and investment; 3. Identification and protection of infrastructure corridors, and advancement of the program for the construction of 'River Rail'; 4. Development of an integrated economic strategy; 5. Development of a university precinct in the South District; 6. Investment in the liveability and urban quality of the strategic centres across the Southern Aerotropolis; 7. Future availability and retention of industrial zoned land in the Southern Aerotropolis (e.g., Sydney Airport and Port Botany precinct) to support nationally significant trade gateways and employment growth; and 8. Improvement of the operation of A3 and A6 transport corridors.

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Introduction _ Now is the time to rediscover the future of Sydney with a global economic arc that stretches south of Port Botany and Sydney Airport, with a focus on the Southern Aerotropolis; with 'River Rail' as its defining city-shaping infrastructure.

'River Rail' - the right project at the right time 'River Rail' is a project that supports sustainable growth and better connections between strategic collaboration/ innovation areas across Sydney.

It is a project that is being promoted by Georges River Council but will benefit the whole of Greater Sydney, particularly centres and communities on the route and the rail lines it interchanges with.

It is a project that will:

− Connect strategic centres and collaboration areas

providing radial connections, relieving pressure on the CBDs;

− Relieve congestion Freeing up roads for essential users, build in resilience now and into the future;

− Reinforce and spread the benefits of a range of existing investment including SouthWest Metro, investment in centres, education and health projects;

− Support collaboration and open-up education and employment opportunities to a wider catchment;

− This project can and should be brought forward as

there is significant momentum along the route already and latent demand;

− We call for a rethink and refresh of infrastructure

investment priorities in the Southern Aerotropolis including the prioritisation of the 'River Rail' project connecting Kogarah to Parramatta via Bankstown.

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

This rail link would connect the important strategic opportunities and the centres of Kogarah, Hurstville, Miranda, Sutherland and Bankstown to the Eastern Harbour City and Parramatta and the Central River City, and drive high value job growth both in the south and along the route of the new rail. This would enhance Sydney as a global '30-minute city' and deliver prosperity to the south, Greater Sydney and the entire NSW, as we move to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Metropolitan strategies over the past 20 years envisioned the growth of Greater Sydney with a northerly and east-west focus. These strategies identified a northern economic arc from Sydney Airport, through the Sydney CBD, North Sydney, Chatswood, St Leonards, Macquarie Park and to Norwest Business Park. These locations have developed as major employment and activity centres, and have been the focus of significant investment in infrastructure.

Parramatta CBD is now firmly established as Sydney’s second CBD at the centre of the metropolis, with further growth planned throughout the Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsula (GPOP). With the movement of NSW Government jobs to Parramatta, it could match the government’s job footprint in the Harbour CBD in 2022. It is increasingly attracting journeys from across Sydney for work, study, health, recreation, arts and culture. The vision and long-term plans for the Western Aerotropolis around the future airport at Badgerys Creek has ensured future job growth and economic prosperity in Western Sydney.

The NSW Government has recently increased focus on the area south of Sydney Airport, through the Collaboration Areas including Randwick, Kogarah and ANSTO and investment in health infrastructure, such as the $700 million master plan for the St George Hospital. Yet, there remains more opportunity for job growth, south of Sydney Airport. This area of Greater Sydney, which includes the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bayside, Canterbury Bankstown, Georges River and Sutherland, contains seven established strategic centres, including Green Square/Mascot, Hurstville, Kogarah, Miranda, Sutherland, Campsie and Bankstown. It is also home to the ANSTO innovation precinct, health and education precincts and the Bankstown Airport-Milperra industrial area. This creates an unparalleled, yet relatively untapped, opportunity to grow prosperity for Greater Sydney and NSW, leveraging the potential of these centres; the available employment lands; the proximity to Sydney Airport, Bankstown Airport and Port Botany; the transport connections (both for the movement of workers and goods); and the unrivalled liveability of the south.

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The Western Aerotropolis is a long-term aspiration for the future of Greater Sydney and will require $100 billion of investment to become a reality.¹ Better utilisation of investment in the existing infrastructure south of Sydney Airport and Port Botany can generate economic growth and jobs now and into the future. This opportunity would be further enhanced by investment in city-shaping infrastructure such as 'River Rail' (Kogarah to Paramatta rail link) to connect the south to the Central River City, including Parramatta, and at a much lower investment cost per job than the estimated $400,000 for the first phase of the Western Aerotropolis.² It is estimated that the investment in the 'River Rail' alone, at a cost of $10.5 billion, could generate up to 100,000 additional jobs within 45 minutes of the new stations.³ This report highlights the unique opportunity that the south represents, as the Southern Aerotropolis, to overhaul the future of Greater Sydney with a specific focus on the Georges River Local Government Area. This not only about jobs, it is also about great places and liveability where the inherent amenity will make the Southern Aerotropolis a place where people will choose to live and work.

Georges River sits at the centre of this untapped, and almost undiscovered, region of Greater Sydney with significant opportunities to drive economic growth and prosperity, close to existing public transport, homes, employment, schools, services and health facilities.

There are two strategic centres within the Georges River area; the vibrant and energetic Hurstville and the growing and smart health and education precinct of Kogarah. In addition, there are a number of larger scale employment/urban services precincts, in particular, Kingsgrove and Peakhurst, that have the ability to evolve over time into critical, advanced manufacturing centres, centres of creative excellence and business parks serving the population and industries south of Sydney Airport. There are locations such as Riverwood that, with the right investment, can become the benchmark for ‘Living Precincts’, lively mixed-use suburbs that are residential hubs of sustainable development, culture and opportunities with existing infrastructure and connections less than 20 minutes from the Sydney CBD.

_

As we seek to build a better, stronger and more resilient community, economy and environment post COVID-19, the Southern Aerotropolis provides the opportunity to grow jobs now, improve liveability and enhance sustainability by leveraging the existing infrastructure and assets of the south.

Image: One Hurstville Plaza – A-grade opportunity in the heat of Hurstville ¹ Greater Sydney Commission, Making the Western Parkland City: Initial Place-based Infrastructure Compact (PIC) Area Draft PIC Report, p.13 ² Making the Western Parkland City, p.14 ³ 'River Rail' Kogarah to Parramatta Rail Link p. 26

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

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A Metropolis of Three Cities The Strategy for Greater Sydney

_

The future of Greater Sydney is conceptualised as a metropolis of three integrated and connected cities:

− Eastern Harbour City; − Central River City; and − Western Parkland City (including the Western Aerotropolis).

Sydney is growing rapidly with 725,000 additional homes and 817,000 additional jobs required by 2036. To accommodate this growth and support a sustainable, productive and liveable city, the Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC’s) 'A Metropolis of Three Cities', the Greater Sydney Region Plan, establishes a vision for Sydney where most residents will live within 30 minutes by public transport of their jobs, education and health services as well as being within reach of great places; a '30-minute city'.

These three cities are in different stages of maturity: the established Eastern Harbour City, the emerging Central River City and the developing Western Parkland City.

The Greater Sydney Region Plan outlines a path to rebalance development across the three cities, placing housing, jobs, infrastructure and services within easier reach of more residents, no matter where they live.

Much of this rebalance is about the need to grow more jobs in the west.

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Within the three cities, the GSC identifies five districts. Three of these districts - the North District, Eastern City District and South District – make up the Eastern Harbour City, while the Central City District makes up the Central River City and the Western City District makes up the Western Parkland City. Western Parkland City (WPC) also includes the Western Aerotropolis and WPC governance includes the 2018 City Deal signed between all levels of government and the recently created Western Parkland City Authority (WPCA).

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The Jobs Challenge of the South _ The underlying premise of 'A Metropolis of Three Cities' is that Greater Sydney has evolved into a metropolis with uneven access to jobs, facilities and services.

Simply put, existing and new jobs are located in the east and most of the city’s population growth is in the west. Without intervention, residents in the west will be faced with ever increasing commute times to access higher value jobs in the east.

A Metropolis of Three Cities proposes intervention to grow 200,000 additional jobs in the WPCA. There is a significant agglomeration of jobs around the Harbour CBD located on the eastern edge of Greater Sydney. This agglomeration of 500,000 jobs is supported by the existing radial rail network, finer grain bus network and light rail routes that serves this CBD well.

This concentration of economic activity, including office precincts, universities and biotech clusters, has spread over the past 30 years along the Eastern and Northern Economic Corridors, but not south.

A Metropolis of Three Cities does not recognise or address the job opportunity, south of Sydney Airport, including the South District LGAs. In 2019 the GSC released its report card on the implementation of 'A Metropolis of Three Cities', The Pulse of Greater Sydney 2018-2019 (The Pulse). The Pulse acknowledges that job growth in Sydney has been uneven and patchy and that this is creating an unbalanced and inequitable city: Between 2006 and 2016, Greater Sydney’s total workforce increased from 1.6 million to 2.1 million. A further increase of 817,000 jobs is projected by 2036. However, this jobs growth has been uneven across the Region.⁴

Greater Sydney and district job distribution and type 2016⁵ 14

The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Job containment by district 2016 ((percentage of people who live and work within the same district; the arrows show intensity of movement between districts)⁶

The Pulse data highlights that southern Sydney, including the South District has a job problem and suffers from a ‘brain drain’, with highly educated and highly skilled workers leaving the south for work primarily in the job-rich Harbour CBD.

lowest percentage of knowledge jobs of all districts in the metropolitan area. The low number of knowledge jobs has an impact on job containment rates with more residents of the South District leaving the district every day to attend work.

The South District has the lowest number of jobs (only 10% of Greater Sydney’s total), and the lowest level of jobs containment (the percentage of people who live and work in the same districts) at only 43%. Most of the 480,000 strong local workforce leave the south for work each day, even though there are 350,000 local jobs.

In addition to the importance of knowledge jobs for the South District to match the worker profile and increase job containment, knowledge jobs as higher value jobs will also increase local prosperity.

While the number of jobs in the South District is lower than all the other districts, this is not just quantitative, but also a qualitative deficit, with the South District having the

⁴ Greater Sydney Commission, The Pulse of Greater Sydney, p.11 ⁵ The Pulse of Greater Sydney, p.12 ⁶ The Pulse of Greater Sydney, p.11

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This lack of opportunity south of the airport means the population must commute long distances to seek high quality job opportunities. A mere 24% of dwellings in the South District are within 30 minutes by public transport to a metropolitan centre where high value knowledge jobs are located. This is the lowest level of all the districts by a significant margin, as demonstrated by this graph.

Percentage of dwellings located within 30 minutes of a metropolitan centre or cluster⁷

Access to jobs appears to improve when access to a strategic centre is included. 98% of dwellings are located within 30 minutes by public transport to a strategic centre.

Thus, it is critical to focus on improving public transport accessibility to, and through, the corridor and growing knowledge jobs in strategic centres.

Percentage of dwellings located within 30 minutes of a metropolitan centre or strategic centre ⁸

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

The obvious and strong conclusion is that there are not enough high value knowledge jobs in strategic centres to provide the opportunities for the population when compared with other residents of Greater Sydney.

While 78 per cent of residents of the Eastern City District live and work within their district (referred to as job containment), this compares with 60 per cent in North District, 57 per cent in Western City District, 52 per cent in Central City District and only 43 per cent in South District...

Part of this need to travel is because 38 per cent of the 2.1 million jobs in Greater Sydney in 2016 were in the Eastern City District. As shown in Figure 4, the North District contained 19 per cent of the Region’s jobs; Central City District 18 per cent; Western City District 15 per cent and the South District 10 per cent.⁹ Work undertaken by the Committee for Sydney has demonstrated that the density of higher value knowledge jobs decreases south of Sydney Airport, as agglomerations of knowledge jobs have begun to form in, and around, key centres in Western Sydney.

Access to knowledge jobs ¹⁰ ⁷ The Pulse of Greater Sydney, p.16 ⁸ The Pulse of Greater Sydney, p.18 ⁹ The Pulse of Greater Sydney, p.12 ¹⁰ Adding to the Dividend, Ending the Divide, Committee for Sydney, p. 13

Image: TJ's Coffee House, Penshurst

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The Western Parkland City and Aerotropolis _ Since 2016, focus on the rebalancing of Greater Sydney and future economic prosperity of the metropolis has been around the economic opportunities of the future Western Sydney International Airport.

The proposed airport is Australia’s most transformational infrastructure project. It drives the vision of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis which is planned to become a thriving economic hub delivering new jobs, homes, infrastructure and services at the edge of Western Sydney.

Image: Artists impression of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Station

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport has the potential to be a game-changer for Western Sydney. Strategic planning for the greenfield land around the airport will unlock opportunities to deliver new jobs and homes supported by key infrastructure in the heart of Western Sydney. This is a key project in the GSC’s plans for the '30-minute city'.

The Western Aerotropolis has the potential to make a significant contribution to 200,000 new jobs for Western Sydney, by establishing a new high-skill jobs hub across aerospace, defence, manufacturing, healthcare, freight and logistics, agribusiness, education and research industries. Residents and workers in Western Sydney will benefit from easy access to strong local and international connections and a 24-hour economy.

Construction of the airport has now commenced but the first flights are not anticipated until 2026. A new north-south metro link will be the spine of future development in Western Sydney around the new airport and Western Sydney Aerotropolis, due to open in time for the first passenger flights to land at the airport.

Infrastructure Australia (IA) has advised the cost of this $11 billion rail line will outweigh its benefits by $1.8 billion. A report released in March 2021 found the government’s business case for the project “may be overestimated”, based on several flawed assumptions including funding forecasts for the number of people who will move to live near the airport rather than the Central Coast or Wollongong. IA found only 18% of the rail line’s benefits will be for public transport users. Instead, majority of the benefits “are from the value of land increasing”.¹¹ It is also fair to say that there are limited mechanisms to capture this value as the plans have come too late, with landowners already realising the increased value of their land.

Over the next 20 years, the vision for Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis is to position Western Sydney as a major focus of future economic growth in Sydney. The Western Aerotropolis represents a model of how prosperity, high standards of environmental sustainability, economic growth and social change can be driven by vision and whole-of-government action.

¹¹ Sydney Metro: Western Sydney Airport rail link slammed by Infrastructure Australia (smh.com.au)

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Global Sydney _ Infrastructure NSW has defined the area to the north and west of Sydney Airport as “Global Sydney”. Global Sydney extends north to Macquarie Park and south to Sydney Airport, and comprises the inner urban communities of the City of Sydney, the Eastern Suburbs, the Inner West and the Lower North Shore. Global Sydney contains Australia’s most valuable and concentrated economic and cultural corridor, along with some of the country’s highest density residential suburbs.

Image: Artist impression of the transformation of the Palm Court car park into public open space.

¹² Infrastructure NSW State Infrastructure Strategy p. 44 ¹³ Infrastructure NSW State Infrastructure Strategy p. 49

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Infrastructure NSW has identified three infrastructure priorities that can make Sydney number one for global business:

− Improving connectivity through better public transport and more housing close to the CBD;

− Creating an attractive urban environment that supports

knowledge-based businesses and the visitor economy; and

− Providing efficient transport links to our international gateways – Sydney Airport and Port Botany.¹²

Infrastructure NSW’s expectation is that the employment centres of Global Sydney will remain the state’s principal centre of economic agglomeration over the next 20 years. The analysis prepared for Infrastructure NSW by Deloitte Access Economics forecasts that around 200,000 additional jobs will be created in Global Sydney by 2031, leaving the region’s share of Sydney’s total job market unchanged from today.¹³ Infrastructure NSW sees success of Global Sydney, as the flag carrier for the state’s economy, supported and sustained in the interests of all. Investing in Global Sydney’s economic infrastructure is therefore a priority for the whole of NSW. Infrastructure NSW’s strong support for Global Sydney presents opportunities for Sydney’s recovery post COVID-19 and these opportunities may lie south of the airport, into the Bayside LGA and the South District. The following parts of this report examines these opportunities and considers actions required to realise them.

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The Case for the Southern Aerotropolis _ With established centres and skilled communities in place to be further utilised, the undeclared Southern Aerotropolis presents tremendous opportunity for sustainable growth.

Image: Georges River proximity to Sydney Airport and Sydney CBD

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The work of the Greater Sydney Commission and, more recently, the Western Parkland City Authority, has demonstrated the city-shaping qualities of the proposed Western Sydney Airport. This work provides a model on how NSW can leverage the economic benefits of Global Sydney and the airport and port to grow jobs, especially knowledge jobs, south of the airport in Bayside LGA and the South District to create a Southern Aerotropolis.

The Southern Aerotropolis has the established infrastructure, assets and features that are being planned for the future Western Aerotropolis and arguably much more. There are also three existing airports connected to the port and industrial precinct. The area is served by freight lines and existing passenger heavy rail line. There is potential to grow a radial bus network to fill in the gaps in public transport services.

The case for the Southern Aerotropolis can be summed up as:

− − − − −

Position and proximity; Strategic centres of activity, education, research and innovation; Infrastructure; Untapped large local skilled workforce; and Unrivalled liveability.

Future prosperity south of Sydney Airport, in the Southern Aerotropolis, has not been fully explored in successive metropolitan strategies, despite the obvious opportunities for job growth; its proximity to the Harbour CBD, the network of centres; the existing infrastructure that connects to our key national and international gateways, Sydney Airport and Port Botany; an untapped large skilled local workforce; and unrivalled liveability.

Position and Proximity Proximity to Sydney Airport and Port Botany means proximity to the world (international and national gateways). Sydney Airport, and its relationship with the CBD, the port, strategic transport links and access to workers and existing business activity, will continue to attract businesses and industries that prize such proximity, established transport links and economic opportunity, even as the Western Aerotropolis evolves. The opportunity around Sydney Airport is also important for those industries that seek proximity to areas south of Sydney including Wollongong, which is only 72km to the south.

The strategic centres of Hurstville and Kogarah are very well connected to the airport for passengers and workers via a short 14 min rail journey. COVID-19 has changed opportunities and realities, with individuals now looking for liveable, green, walkable and amenity-rich environments, within reach of the Sydney CBD, where they commute to 2-3 days a week. New market forces and preferences for hybrid working will lead to more decentralised economic activity, giving rise to locations such as Hurstville and Kogarah.

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Strategic Centres of Activity, Education, Research and Innovation In a physical area similar to the Western Aerotropolis, the area south of Sydney Airport, covering the Local Government Areas of Bayside, Georges River, Canterbury Bankstown and Sutherland, has a gross regional product of $51 billion and includes:

7 strategic centres 945,000 residents

Recent research from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has shown that Kogarah has all the hallmarks of an emerging innovation precinct in the medical sector.¹⁴ As identified in the Kogarah Investment Attraction Strategy, the Kogarah Strategic Centre also has a local workforce comprised of the 'dream demographic' :

480,000 workers

− Kogarah enjoys a large segment of the ‘dream

350,000 jobs

− Recent reports have highlighted the importance of

2,223

hectares of employment, urban services and industrial land

3

airports (Sydney Domestic Airport, Sydney International Airport and the Bankstown Airport);

1 port (Port Botany)

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While the growth of large industrial operations is anticipated to continue migrating westwards, employment lands in the Eastern and Central Cities (including Bayside) will continue to play a vital role in supporting Sydney’s economic growth. This includes Kogarah, a designated strategic centre and health and education precinct with St George Hospital (South Eastern Sydney Local Health District’s largest hospital), an accredited teaching hospital of the University of NSW. Kogarah is also home to a major private hospital, TAFE NSW- St George, and an Australian-first Microbiome Research Centre attached to the clinical campus at St George Hospital.

The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

demographic’ of talented workers-residents aged 20-40 who hold tertiary qualifications. Over 54% of Kogarah’s population has attained a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in comparison to 40% for Greater Sydney. soft skills such as empathy and caring for others as necessary in the long-term for the healthcare sector given that automation, robotics and artificial intelligence will perform most manual and cognitive tasks. Deloitte’s Building the Lucky Country Report 2019 notes that human skills such as customer service, sales, and resolving conflicts are the most indemand skills in 2019.¹⁵

People and governments have never been more focused on ‘place’, with an emphasis on liveability, walkability and access to open spaces. The vibrant, energetic and diverse Hurstville Strategic Centre sits at the heart of the Southern Aerotropolis. As an established cultural precinct, it has the capacity to be the home for universities, government offices, creative industries and commercial activities looking for a more liveable location close to the airport, the Harbour CBD or the port.

Image: Staff from Calvary Health Care, Kogarah ¹⁴ University of Technology Sydney, Pilot study to investigate the dynamics of the Kogarah Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, 14 May 2021 ¹⁵ Georges River Council, Kogarah Investment Attraction Strategy, p. 12

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Georges River Council is also investing millions of dollars in major public domain upgrades including the Palm Court car park conversion and the Civic Precinct transformation.

The Civic Precinct will provide a new civic and cultural heart for the Hurstville City Centre which will include a range of public benefits including new public plazas, library, gallery, auditorium and theatre space and Council chambers.

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

On the edge of the Southern Aerotropolis is ANSTO, the most significant innovation precinct in Australia, (one of four GSC-led Collaboration Areas in the Southern Aerotropolis) and its importance is recognised in the Greater Sydney Commission’s Place Strategy for ANSTO: ANSTO’s Innovation Precinct will become a globally connected, vibrant and inclusive community with researchers, start-ups and industries creating inspired solutions in partnership for a sustainable world. The Innovation Precinct will be a campus that will be connected through walking and cycling links.

It will be surrounded by the existing natural landscape and have centres of activity with a mix of lifestyle, cultural, commercial, business and mixed used spaces.¹⁶ The Place Strategy highlights the unique contribution that ANSTO can make as Australia’s centre of innovation. The concept of ANSTO’s Innovation Precinct is informed by international examples, including the Grenoble Innovation for Advanced New Technologies (GIANT) Innovation Campus in Grenoble, France. GIANT demonstrates that a concentration of nuclear research infrastructure can be developed into an innovation ecosystem where people live, work and spend leisure time. Organisations such as the Brookings Institute highlight the role of quality public transport and walkable place to key centres for them to grow.

Image: Artists impression of proposed Georges River Civic Centre* *The image shown does not comply with existing planning controls. property and planning decisions should not be informed by this image.

¹⁶ ANSTO Place Strategy, p.12

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Infrastructure There are three airports in the Southern Aerotropolis: the Domestic, International and Bankstown Airport.

Port Botany is located just north of Sydney Airport and combined, this precinct is a major contributor to the economic wellbeing of Australia. Infrastructure NSW’s State Infrastructure Strategy explains the importance of these international gateways: Global Sydney is home to two of Australia’s most economically important air and sea gateways. Sydney Airport is Australia’s largest airport with more than 45 percent of international passenger traffic.¹⁷ Port Botany is Australia’s second busiest container port and handles more than $60 billion of trade.¹⁸ This focus of activity is unusual for a major city.

Infrastructure NSW has been unable to identify comparable cities that co-locate their international gateways in such proximity and so near to their primary commercial area.

Some vital statistics: Sydney Airport handles more than 100,000 airline passengers each day, or 40 million passengers a year, supported by some 16,000 airport workers and tens of thousands of ‘meeters and greeters’.

Port Botany moves around 5,000 containers on average every day, or around 2.5 million per annum. The vast majority arrive and depart by road. These infrastructure facilities are extremely important to NSW, connecting primary producers and businesses (both small and large) across the State’s regions with global markets. Australia is a long way from its global trading partners. Efficient international gateways are essential to support the competitiveness of NSW’s goods and services exports, to attract international investment and highly skilled knowledge workers and to get imports to consumers cost effectively.¹⁹

Image: Sydney Airport and Port Botany ¹⁷ Sydney Airport Corporation 2009, Sydney Airport Master Plan ¹⁸ NSW Treasury, 2012-13 Budget Paper 4. ¹⁹ Infrastructure NSW State Infrastructure Strategy p. 48 ²⁰ Future of freight for Sydney Trade Gateways – L.E.K Consulting p. 5

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

There are over 100,000 trains each year that move through the Airport Line (Green Square, Mascot, Airport Domestic and Airport International Train Stations).

Port Botany is one of Australia’s largest container ports and a vital asset for the state and national economy.

Around 1,600 ships carrying over 2.5 million containers pass through Port Botany each year. These ships provide the essential and everyday goods needed by the people and businesses of NSW and take the state’s valuable exports overseas. The Port handles 99.6% of NSW’s container volume. The Port also handles 100% of NSW’s bitumen, 98% of LPG, 90% of bulk chemicals, and 30% of refined fuels.

In addition to serving as “The Gateway to Australia”, Sydney Airport processes 45% of Australia’s air freight imports and exports through its facilities each day, with high priority goods ranging from overseas retail items to high-value fresh produce, including seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables.

Although the Greater Sydney Area population is forecast to continue growing strongly, freight volume through the trade gateways is forecast to grow even faster to meet strong consumer demand for imported manufactured goods.²⁰ The airport and port precinct and the Southern Aerotropolis is supported by important existing infrastructure, including the vital strategic transport infrastructure, to move both goods and people, including the T8 and the T4 rail lines, and key arterial roads A3, A6, A1, M5 and WestConnex M4-M5 link with the M8. There are also plans to extend the M6 south to Wollongong and for future mass transit infrastructure to Miranda.

The NSW Government has outlined a vision to evolve Greater Sydney from a city of three interlocked cities to six interlocked cities, encompassing Wollongong, Newcastle and the Central Coast. This will link every port - integrating the Southern Aerotropolis like never before.

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Untapped Large, Local Skilled Workforce The large, local skilled workforce in the Southern Aerotropolis of 480,000 workers creates the opportunity for new businesses to thrive and grow.

The Kogarah Strategic Centre is the focus of the 'dream demographic' - a young, skilled and welleducated demographic. This demographic also extends along the higher density suburbs of the T4 line, including Carlton, Allawah, Hurstville and Penshurst. These communities also represent the aspiration of the people of the south and can be the driving force of the Southern Aerotropolis.

The four larger LGAs that comprise the Western Parkland City (Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Fairfield) have a combined of population of 823,000, a local workforce of 390,000 and 330,000 local jobs.

The four LGAs of the Southern Aerotropolis have a population of 945,000, a workforce of 480,000 and 350,000 local jobs. However, the WPC LGAs have a much better job to worker ratio. For every local job in the WPC, there is 1.18 resident workers. In the Southern Aerotropolis, there is one local job per 1.37 resident worker ratio, highlighting the job deficit south of the airport and the need to grow jobs in the Southern Aerotropolis. More importantly, growing jobs in the Southern Aerotropolis can take advantage of this very large, skilled local workforce.

As Sydney grows to a future population of 8 million by 2056, it should focus on a greater and fairer distribution of economic opportunity and access to services including health, education, cultural and open space. Realising the benefits of the Southern Aerotropolis will help to rebalance Greater Sydney.

Image: Hurstville Night Markets

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Unrivalled Liveability The quality and liveability of Greater Sydney will depend on the creation of many great places; a key objective of 'A Metropolis of Three Cities'. The quality of future Sydney will also depend on not only a '30-minute city', but also 20-minute neighbourhoods. The 20-minute neighbourhood is about ‘living locally’ - giving people the ability to meet most of their daily needs within a 20-minute walk from home, with access to safe cycling and local transport options. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us about the importance of the quality of neighbourhoods, for community and economic wellbeing.

Throughout the South District, there are many smaller town centres and villages. For example, within Georges River there is Penshurst, Peakhurst, Lugarno, Mortdale, Riverwood, Oatley and Oatley West. With appropriate investment in local infrastructure, such as walking, cycling, local public transport, cultural and community facilities, open space and the public realm, there would be a network of 20-minute neighbourhoods in the Southern Aerotropolis, making it a place of many great places.

Much of the south is set within a green natural environment, with significant urban tree cover, large bush parks and beach and river foreshore access. In Georges River, its green natural environment is also complemented by a harmonious diverse community, which is reflected

in the events and the dining experiences of the area. It has been acknowledged that long-term planning needs to confront the climate emergency and that ‘green’ is now the guiding principle. Regardless of mitigation efforts, some places are, and will be, hotter; the people of Western Sydney will endure more hot days than the people in other parts of Sydney. The South District presents amenity advantages, with its liveability, walkability and access to green spaces.

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Our experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the importance of local centres and creating, supporting and investing in 20-minute neighbourhoods.

Such investment would further enhance the liveability of the Southern Aerotropolis which would, in turn, attract additional private investment and build on the opportunity for job growth.

Image: Oatley Park adventure inclusive playground

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7. Connecting Greater Sydney with the River Rail At face value, the LGAs within the Southern Aerotropolis are well connected to the jobs

Greater Sydney. However, there is poor connection to the areas of future jobs growth in th

Western Aerotropolis and the Central River City. The current mass transport connections fro

the south to the Central River City and the WPC might be best described as torturous. A goo

Connecting Greater Sydney The real distance is the number of kilometres between centres and the effective distance with the 'River Rail' the travel time in minutes during the morning peak by public transport. The following grap _ compares the real and effective distance from the centre of the LGA to Parramatta for th The real distance is the number of kilometres between

way to illustrate this is to compare real and effective travel distances public centres and the effective distance is theby travel time in transport. minutes during the morning peak by public transport.

The graph below compares the real and effective distance from the centre of the LGA to Parramatta for the larger LGAs of WPC and the LGAs of the Southern Aerotropolis.

Sutherland, for example,is only 33 kilometres (real distance) from Parramatta, but it takes 60 minutes (effective distance) by public transport to travel there, At face value, the LGAs within the Southern compared toAerotropolis.

Penrith, which is a similar real distance (37 larger LGAs of and the to LGAs Aerotropolis areWPC well connected the of the Southern kilometres) with an effective distance of only 35 minutes. jobs of Greater Sydney. However, there is Canterbury Bankstown has a real distance of only 16 kilometres, but it will take nearly twice as long to travel to poor connection to the areas of future jobs Sutherland, for example, is only 33 kilometres from Parramatta, but it takes 60 Parramatta than from Liverpool, which is 17 kilometres growth in the Western Aerotropolis and from Parramatta.

minut

(effective distance) public transport to travel there, compared to Penrith, which is a simil the Central River City.by The current mass transport connections from the south to the

The NSW Government’s Future Transport 2056 Strategy

real distance (37 kilometres) with an effective distance ofCities' onlyidentifies 35 minutes.

Canterbu and 'A Metropolis of Three several Central River City and the WPC might be transport improvements for the south, including the

best described A good of way to 16 kilometres, but it will take nearly twice as long Bankstown hasasatorturous. real distance only extension of the M6 south, ultimately to Waterfall, illustrate this is to compare real and effective

the new metro line from Randwick to Miranda (via

travel Parramatta thantransport. from Liverpool, which is 17 traveltodistances by public Kogarah) and kilometres 'River Rail', a newfrom rail linkParramatta. from Kogarah to Parramatta (via Bankstown). 'River Rail' will be the first

Distance

Real and effective distance to Parramatta Real and Effective 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

60

50 50 37 35 17

24

Western Parkland City LGAs Real

Distance to Parramatta 47

10 13

23

40

33

16

44 27

Southern Aerotropolis LGAs

Effective

Add legend – series 1 is real and series 2 is effective

The NSW Government’s Future Transport 2056 Strategy and A Metropolis of Three Citi

32 The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered identifies several transport improvements for the south, including the extension of the M

south ultimately to Waterfall, the new metro line from Randwick to Miranda (via Kogarah) an

KOGARAH

Figure 24

Total difference in access to jobs within 30 minutes on public transport, as a result of River Rail (in 2046)

KOGARAH

Figure 25 difference Total difference to knowledge jobs within 30 transport minutes on as (in a result of River Total in access in to access knowledge industry jobsindustry within 30mins on public as apublic result transport, of 'River Rail' 2046²²) Rail (in 2046)

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rail line to connect the south to the central city, increasing access to existing jobs and contributing $7.5 billion to Gross Regional Product within the first 15 years following construction. It is expected to attract an estimated 30,000 additional trips by rail each day in 2036, relieving congestion and saving 5,000 hours of travel time.²¹ Georges River Council, the City of Parramatta and the City of Canterbury Bankstown are calling for immediate investment in 'River Rail'. The connection from Kogarah to Parramatta via Bankstown will transform centres and communities’ access to opportunities, a corridor from the south through to the Central City by increasing economic welfare, including increases in employment levels and real

WHY A NEW RAIL LINE FROM KOGARAH TO PARRAM wages, due to the realisation of agglomeration benefits.

As the Kogarah to Parramatta corridor has higher than average levels of social disadvantage, investment in rail in this corridor will provide a particularly important opportunity to enhance social mobility through increasing real wages as well as providing greater access to more skilled jobs, schools, universities, hospitals and other facilities.

The rail link will support the urban intensification required to catalyse increased productivity, jobs growth and economic and social welfare.

²¹ 'River Rail' ‘Kogarah to Paramatta Rail Link’ Report, p.22 ²² 'River Rail', p.29

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of knowledge jobs in the Eastern Harbour CBD is unsurprisingly associated with residents of other parts of the Eastern Sydney holding more knowledge jobs and earning more money than those in the South District.

Inadequate access to transportation poses significant barriers to those trying to enter the labour market.

Modelling indicates that a key impact of River Rail would be a projected increase in economic welfare, including increases in employment levels and real wages, due to the realisation of agglomeration benefits. Because the Kogarah to Parramatta corridor has higher than average levels of social disadvantage, investment in rail in this corridor will provide a particularly important opportunity to enhance social mobility through increasing real wages as well as providing greater access to more skilled jobs, schools, universities, hospitals and other facilities.

The Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (deciles) 1 Most Disadvantaged

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Most Advantaged

Figure 29 would River Rail would contribute to social inclusion by improving connectivity forinpeople areas currently facingdisadvantage social disadvantage 'River Rail' contribute to social inclusion by improving connectivity for people areasincurrently facing social ²³

Building out the transport network connecting Parramatta,

WHY A NEWMetro RAIL LINE FROM KOGARAH PARRAMATTA including connection, south toTOKogarah and north to

Epping, was one of a number of recommendations listed by the Committee for Sydney in February 2020 as the next set of priority infrastructure projects for Sydney.²⁴

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'River Rail' also provides a solution to connectivity for Southern Aerotropolis to the Central River City. 'River Rail' will substantially improve the effective travel distance from the South to the Central City.

The effective distance from Georges River to Parramatta reduces from 47 minutes to just 25 minutes and will help to deliver on the '30-minute city' for the people of the South District and the Central River City.

Image: Sydney Trains ²³ 'River Rail', p.31 ²⁴ sydney.org.au/news-events/media-release/the-next-infrastructure-boom/

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

New housing and jobs will be focused around existing and new transport hubs and employment centres, increasing the density of people and activity in these areas. This will enhance accessibility to jobs via transit, supporting job growth in Georges River and the South District, as well as the Central City. This will address the current job deficit, which sees 142,000 people invest their time in long and frustrating trips to work outside of the South District each weekday.

'River Rail' is similar in length to the Western Sydney Airport metro line (24km vs 23km), and cost to build ($10.5billion vs $11billion), yet is expected to grow Gross Regional Product by an additional $7.5billion between 2030-2045. The cost of the new airport metro line outweighs its benefits by $1.8billion.

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A Post COVID-19 View of the Future of Sydney _ 'River Rail', and the development of the economic and residential corridor it enables, will be more important for Greater Sydney in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is clear from the international trends being observed in cities across the globe that the ways cities operate, the journeys that people will make, the relationship between work and home, and the interrelationship between CBDs/city centres and suburbs are changing.

Much of this may be temporary until the population is vaccinated and we return to 'normal', but certain trends are being viewed as longer term and are likely to stick.

These include the reinvention of CBDs and suburban centres to become more mixed-use in different ways – for example, more jobs in suburban centres, closer to where people live, and more residential in CBDs – and the more hybrid working life enabled by working from home, so that part of the working week will be spent at home and part in the office.

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

Overall, the consensus is that the radial commuting journeys from distant suburbs to CBDs will decline, but there will be an increase in demand to access more decentralised job centres closer to home. Local town centres across Sydney will change to be less retail-focused in a shift towards having more jobs. We shall also see a related phenomenon of stations, and networks of stations, away from the CBD but accessible to local communities, becoming foci of mixed-use development including many more jobs. This ‘hub and spoke’ model amounts to cities being less focused on the single centre of employment for many kinds of jobs (the Sydney CBD hub for example) to a more decentered job market at nodes accessible by efficient and safe mass transit.

Focus should now be on coordinated planning, sustainable growth and investment including the 'River Rail'. 'River Rail' fits well into this scenario and helps deliver the more balanced city; the more decentred city of short journeys between home and work. It fits the emerging model of the '30-minute city', combined with the city of 15-minute and, indeed, 5-minute journeys, where one might walk, cycle or use micro mobility to get from home to one of the stations/ mixed-use centres along the route of 'River Rail' - for which there is now an international appetite.

This more decentred hub and spoke model is likely to benefit Parramatta, as an alternative jobs centre, and the stations and centres connected to it. Indeed, Parramatta and the ‘'River Rail' Corridor’ will need to ‘step up’ faster and further in order to attract workers in this new era: public policy will need to ensure that the mass transit network enables this shift away from long radial journeys to the Sydney CBD. Our proposal fits well with the emerging preferences of employees and enterprises in this new era and with the need to enhance the job potential of centres apart from the CBD of Sydney, while ensuring that the employment journeys that are required between the suburbs and the Sydney CBD remain efficient and speedy. We believe without such a proposal, the potential for Greater Sydney to be a successful ‘post-COVID City’, with its more dispersed economy, is hindered. In the wake of COVID-19, it seems to us that this proposal is no longer in the ‘nice to have’ category, but the ‘must have’.

Image: Hurstville Train Station during COVID in 2020

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Building the Southern Aerotropolis _ The Western Aerotropolis has demonstrated how a successful Southern Aerotropolis can be built. It will require a whole-of-government focus with support from business, industry and the community. This must start with the aspirational vision for the Southern Aerotropolis, supported by a strategy that will lay out the critical actions required to deliver on the potential, as well as opportunities and investment in the right transport and lifestyle infrastructure.

Image: One Hurstville Plaza

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

The key actions required to realise the Southern Aerotropolis are: 1. NSW Government-led strategic vision and plan for the Southern Aerotropolis, to provide clarity about the future role of the Southern Aerotropolis in the recovery of NSW and to provide certainty for investors, businesses and the community; 2. A whole-of-government focus on business attraction and investment with the potential establishment of an Invest NSW office in Kogarah or Hurstville; 3. Identification and protection of infrastructure corridors, and advancement of the program for the construction of 'River Rail', to enable this city-shaping infrastructure to commence construction in 2030; 4. Development, by the NSW Government, of an integrated economic strategy which increases opportunities for business activity and investment; 5. Development of a university precinct, to further grow the education, research and innovation credentials of the Southern Aerotropolis; 6. Investment in the liveability and urban quality of the strategic centres across the Southern Aerotropolis to provide an enhanced green grid and improved public domain; 7. Future availability and retention of industrial zoned land in the Southern Aerotropolis (e.g., Sydney Airport and Port Botany precinct) to support nationally significant trade gateways and employment growth; and 8. Improvement in the operation of A3 and A6 transport corridors which is identified by Infrastructure Australia as a project of national significance. Capacity constraints on the A3 and A6 corridors could be addressed through a range of initiatives, such as intersection upgrades and road widening.

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Conclusion _ There has been much focus on Sydney’s development and job growth in recent years, such as the Aerotropolis in Western Sydney and Parramatta, while the opportunities south of the airport have been overlooked.

It is now time to acknowledge the role of Sydney’s South District in our future city, by investing in the Southern Aerotropolis.

There is latent opportunity to grow the number and diversity of jobs in the Southern Aerotropolis, especially jobs that can leverage the existing high-quality access to the Sydney CBD, the airport and port, the research and innovation opportunities, the skilled workforce and the unrivalled liveability of the south. Building 'River Rail' will help deliver on the promise and opportunity of the south and grow prosperity for Greater Sydney and NSW .

COVID-19 is a transformational moment, raising questions about new possibilities for the planning of cities everywhere. It has invited a redefinition of Greater Sydney. The Southern Aerotropolis has ambition, with diverse economic locations that support wellbeing and resilience. Governance for city-region thinking is as important as investment, as demonstrated by the shared vision and city deal in place for Western Sydney. This type of NSW Government- led coordinated governance and collaboration is required to realise the understated opportunity of the Southern Aerotropolis.

Image: Sydney Trains

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The Southern Aerotropolis – The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

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The Southern Aerotropolis The Future of Sydney Rediscovered

GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL georgesriver.nsw.gov.au