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People – centred city

An equitable city with climate resilient neighbourhoods

Direction 2

As the impacts of climate change increase, many more communities in Sydney face risk from natural hazards including floods, bushfires, coastal inundation and heat. More areas of Sydney will become unsafe for new housing. Existing housing will need to be modified to become climate-resilient, and water and energy efficient. Understanding these risks helps us take proactive action to minimise many adverse impacts of climate change. It means we can reduce our exposure to hazards and protect communities and assets.

Housing affordability was identified as a top stress throughout consultation. Over 35% of renter households in Greater Sydney experience housing stress (paying over 30% of monthly income on housing cost. ) Unaffordable housing cost the Sydney economy $10 billion a year.

Community engagement and the resilience risk assessment identified that communities across Greater Sydney have inequitable access to services and opportunities. This inequity undermines the resilience of people to withstand shock events. Inequitable access to transport, particularly in Western Sydney was a high concern raised in consultation.

Prepared for Emergencies

Heat

Heat is the most significant climate risk to health and wellbeing in Sydney. Heatwaves already cause more deaths than any other natural hazard. Heatwaves are expected to double in frequency and duration over the next 50 years, and extreme heat has a big impact on the environment, the economy and social connections. Globally pioneering initiatives like the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce, Heat Plan, endorsement in late 2024 of a revised Heatwave Subplan, and increasing uptake of the Cool Suburbs rating tool represent good strides forward but more investment is needed to embed progress to date in government processes and forward budget planning.

Affordable and Quality Housing

Local government makes an important contribution to increasing affordable housing through affordable housing schemes and levies. Community and private sectors, including institutional investors such as super funds, are also critical to solving Sydney’s housing crisis.

Active Transport and a City of Greenways

Transport options that are not good enough or hard to access are impacting people’s work and education opportunities, access to services, social connections and wellbeing. This is happening particularly in western Sydney. A City of Greenways would see investment in a network of multifunctional corridors for walking, cycling, biodiversity havens and linkages between increasingly urbanised neighbourhoods.

Heat is the most significant climate risk to health and wellbeing in Greater Sydney.

Action 9

Plan and design places to withstand increased natural hazards

Shocks & stresses

  • Heatwaves
  • Bushfires
  • Flooding
  • Coastal hazards
  • Shelter
  • Housing stress

Resilience challenge

Climate change is exposing more communities in Greater Sydney to extreme impacts from natural hazards including flooding, bushfires, coastal inundation and heat.

State disaster mitigation plan alignment

  • Managed relocations
  • Strategic planning controls
  • Building standards and codes
  • Home modifications

Resilience goals

  • Homes are designed, built and retrofitted to withstand increasing impacts from extreme weather and keep people safe.
  • Planning policies and plans avoid increasing the number of people and homes in areas that are or will be vulnerable to natural hazards.
  • Plans are in place to support communities in areas that will become too risky for people to live in.