
We developed this plan with, and on behalf of our communities, which guides all our other strategies and plans.
This plan identifies the community’s main priorities and aspirations and includes the strategies we can take to achieve these. It takes a long-term view, identifying issues and opportunities to be addressed in the city over the next 3 decades.
The plan is updated every 4 years in line with NSW Government requirements and when it needs to adapt to changing circumstances and community aspirations.
Community strategic planPDF · 22.06 MB · Last modified
Easy Read versionPDF · 1.28 MB · Last modified
What our communities value
- An environmentally responsive city
- A city of people
- A city that moves
- A city with a future-focused economy
- A lively, cultural and creative city
Ten targets to measure progress
- By 2035 we will achieve net zero emissions in the City of Sydney local area.
- By 2050 there will be a minimum overall green cover of 40%, including 27% tree canopy cover in our local area.
- By 2030 residential potable water use will be reduced to 204 litres a person a day in the City of Sydney local area. Non-residential potable water use will be reduced by 10% from 2018/19 levels.
- By 2035 there will be a 15% reduction in waste generated by each person in the local area based on 2023 levels. And by 2035 there will be 90% recycling and recovery of residential waste, commercial and industrial waste, and construction and demolition waste, which will be maintained at that level to 2050.
- By 2036 there will be approximately 700,000 jobs in the City of Sydney local area including 200,000 new jobs compared to 2017. An increased proportion of all jobs will be secure jobs.
- By 2036 there will be at least 156,000 private dwellings and 17,500 non-private dwellings in the local area that include boarding houses and student accommodation. Of the private dwellings, 7.5% will be social housing and 7.5% will be affordable rental and diverse housing with these proportions maintained into the future.
- By 2036 new cultural production floor space in the City of Sydney local area will have increased at least 40,000m² from 1,212,900m² in 2017.
- By 2050 people will use public transport, walk or cycle to travel to and from work. This includes 9 out of 10 people working in the city centre and 2 out of 3 people working in the rest of the local area.
- By 2030 every resident in the local area will be around a 10-minute walk to what they need for daily life.
- By 2050 community cohesion and social interaction will have increased in the local area. This is based on at least 75% of the local resident population feeling part of the community, 65% agreeing most people can be trusted and 90% saying they can get help from their neighbours.
Ten strategic directions
Each strategic direction covers:
- community priorities and aspirations
- the current situation and why we need to act
- objectives and outcomes by 2050 and how progress will be measured over time
- role of the City of Sydney and key partners
- strategies with detailed actions to support these outcomes.

Sustainable Sydney 2030–2050 Continuing the Vision
For a city that is green, global and connected.