State-led rezoning around Edgecliff and proposed Woollahra Stations

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Woollahra Council released a news update on 13 August 2026 announcing a response to the NSW Government rezoning for 10,000 new apartments in Woollahra and Edgecliff. Woollahra Council has released a realistic alternative approach concept based on liveability and good urban design, while still accommodating substantial population growth. The alternative approach concept would succeed where the NSW Government proposal fails to deliver on housing affordability and gifts developers the change to build more luxury high rise apartments in an already high density location.

Woollahra Council’s alternate approach concept for the area accommodates up to 3,650 dwellings and is based on transport, economic feasibility, social infrastructure and urban design studies and comprehensive technical investigations which address the precinct's environmental, transport and infrastructure constraints while maintaining the qualities that define Woollahra and Edgecliff, Woollahra Mayor, Sarah Dixson said.

Mayor Sarah Dixson responds to state-led rezoning with alternate approach concept (13 August 2026)

Read the full media statement.

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Background

On 24 August 2025, the NSW Premier announced the NSW Government would rezone areas around the existing Edgecliff and the proposed Woollahra train stations to enable up to 10,000 new homes. Read further information about the announcement.

Rezoning is when the permitted land use and development controls are changed or increased to allow taller buildings and more housing density. For example, changing an area that is an R2 low density residential zone to an R4 high density residential zone and changing the development controls from allowing a three-storey building to allowing a ten-storey building.

The NSW Government is investigating rezoning significant areas around the existing Edgecliff and the proposed Woollahra stations, which encompasses 18.85% of our LGA. 

Since the announcement, Council has actively sought clarity on the implications for the Woollahra LGA.

In addition to extensive advocacy, Council staff are supporting the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in relation to the work that they will now undertake. While Council does not have a decision-making role in the proposed train station or rezoning, our staff will provide specialised information, as required, to help ensure that the local impacts of any rezoning are considered.

The NSW Government plans to place up to 10,000 dwellings within 400m of Edgecliff station and 800m of the proposed Woollahra station, 50% of which is located in Heritage Conservation Areas.

What’s happened

Following the NSW Government’s announcement in 2025, Council staff have attended multiple meetings with senior officials at the DPHI.

Woollahra Mayor Cr Sarah Dixson met with the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces on 11 September 2025 to discuss Council’s concerns with the proposal.

Read a detailed summary from the Mayor on consultation to date.

The DPHI has confirmed Council’s role is as a key stakeholder, and has advised that staff can expect collaboration with the DPHI and other relevant government agencies in the planning of this precinct.

On 24 September 2025, Council approved additional resourcing for staff to undertake our own, independent studies into potential impacts of the project. These will initially include, but are not limited to, a traffic study and an audit of social infrastructure and recreational facilities. View the Council resolution.  

The DPHI will commission a range of technical studies to inform a master plan and rezoning proposal for the precinct, which we expect will go on public exhibition before the end of this year. These studies may include:

• Urban Design (including master planning plus specialist studies for biodiversity, heritage, social infrastructure needs assessment, sustainability, wind assessment, view assessment, noise & vibration)
• Connecting with Country
• Flooding, stormwater & utilities
• Engineering: contamination, geotechnical, structural buildability and infrastructure delivery plan
• Market feasibility and economics, including affordable housing
• Transport (to be led by Transport for NSW)

Council has undertaken its own, independent studies on key matters. The findings will assist in advocacy work, infrastructure planning and inform the preparation of development contributions plans.

In response to NSW Government rezoning for 10,000 new apartments in Woollahra and Edgecliff, which will fail to deliver on housing affordability and gifts developers the chance to build more luxury high-rise apartments in an already high-density location, Woollahra Council has released a realistic alternate approach concept based on liveability and good urban design, while still accommodating substantial population growth. This approach concept has been shared with the DPHI.

NSW Government’s rezoning proposal for Woollahra and Edgecliff

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Here’s an illustration of what the government’s public target of 10,000 new dwellings could look like within the rezoning site. Concept image.

Woollahra Council’s alternate approach concept

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Here’s an illustration of what the Council's alternative approach concept of 3,650 new dwellings could look like within the rezoning site.Concept image.