A Metropolis of Three Cities outlines Strategies and Actions to rebalance opportunities for all residents to have greater access to jobs, shops and services. International experience shows that sustained actions are required to achieve the benefits of a polycentric region.
By rebalancing as three cities, Greater Sydney will broaden its global economic footprint to support net jobs growth of 817,000 to 2036. This will occur not only in the east, but west of Parramatta largely arising from the Western Sydney Airport and Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis. Currently 49 per cent of Western Parkland City workers commute to other parts of Greater Sydney compared to only nine per cent of Eastern Harbour City workers (refer to Figure 26).
Greater Sydney’s major centres, defined as metropolitan and strategic centres in this Plan, account for 50 per cent (2011) of all Greater Sydney’s jobs and therefore play a significant role in providing jobs close to home. When larger local centres are considered, this increases to 68 per cent. Facilitating the growth of new metropolitan, strategic and local centres will be important in growing jobs, particularly in the Western Parkland City.
A Metropolis of Three Cities requires a well-connected Greater Sydney with new jobs, shops and services in well-located centres connected by efficient transport and safe and convenient walking and cycling routes. This creates a 30-minute city.
A 30-minute city is where most people can travel to their nearest metropolitan centre or cluster by public transport within 30 minutes; and where everyone can travel to their nearest strategic centre by public transport seven days a week to access jobs, shops and services. This is integral for economic competitiveness and will make Greater Sydney a more attractive place for investment, businesses and skilled workers. The percentage of jobs accessible by different modes in Greater Sydney’s districts are shown in Figure 25.
A 30-minute city requires a structure within the three cities that builds on the network of strategic centres, particularly those with health, education and large commercial assets, which provide opportunities for strong economic growth.