NSW Government to build 8,500 homes: New suburb on Sydney's harbour edge

The Minns Government has established the Bays West Delivery Authority to lead one of Sydney's most significant urban developments in a generation - up to 8,500 new homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent allocated to affordable and essential worker housing.

The combination of new housing with public open spaces, opens the public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority, an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

The Minns Labor Government has today also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name.

This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. 

Served by a new Metro station just 5 minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

The Authority is making great strides with the development of an early works program which includes the first stages of an international design competition.

The aim of the Bays West International Design Competition is to ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. 

The competition will deliver an urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of this former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery  Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner. The successful team will play an ongoing role in the development of the precinct.  

“The establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line," said Premier of NSW, Chris Minns.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”

“The new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb," said Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

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