Message from the Mayor - 16 September 2026
Published on 16 September 2026
Have your say on the NSW Government’s plan for thousands of luxury high rise apartments in Woollahra and Edgecliff
Last week, the NSW Government released its draft rezoning plans for Woollahra and Edgecliff, which will force 9,400 apartments across multiple towers up to 34 storeys high, into an area of just 2.3km2. Now that the plan is on public exhibition, it’s time to have your say.
The Edgecliff-Woollahra Precinct State-led Rezoning Proposal will see 21,000 additional residents in what is already one of Sydney’s most densely populated areas, and aside from an unfunded walk-up train station, does not include the infrastructure like schools, new traffic lanes, or services needed to support basic liveability.
As there is no funding for this vital infrastructure included in the rezoning announcement, I have no confidence the government will commit the billions of dollars needed to accommodate such a huge influx of new residents. This massive population increase will lead to constant traffic gridlock, a shocking reduction of tree cover and devastating loss of local heritage buildings.
Under the government’s plan, there will be a significant loss of existing affordable apartments, meaning the few homes available to everyday families will no longer be an option, pricing many out of Sydney – the opposite of what the government claims its plan will achieve.
We have already seen existing homes replaced by luxury apartments in nearby areas of Rose Bay and Double Bay as a result of the government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy. The government’s own economic assessment reveals that the price of new homes in the precinct will be high – it will sacrifice affordability for housing only available at a premium.
Current sales figures indicate average prices for units in the area are already between $3–5 million, with significant increases expected in the next 10 years. Woollahra Council released a comprehensive alternative plan for 3,600 new homes for the precinct, backed by expert evidence and technical studies, in August. We want to contribute housing, but it must be at a level that makes sense and with infrastructure to match. Our alternative is a realistic housing solution, not a future failure.
I urge everyone who cares about the future of Woollahra and Edgecliff to have their say before the public exhibition on the Rezoning Proposal closes on 7 October. You can provide feedback on the NSW Planning Portal at Edgecliff Woollahra Precinct.