Sydney Councils Approve Hundreds of New Housing Units as Metro West Progresses

Parramatta City Council signed off on 850 new apartments along Church Street on July 8, moving the projects from design review to construction tender.

The approvals arrive as NSW faces a shortfall of 75,000 homes by 2028, with Sydney absorbing the largest share of new arrivals through its ports and airports. Delays in approvals have kept rents in inner suburbs above $650 a week for one-bedroom units, pushing families toward Western Sydney growth corridors.

Housing push reaches Auburn and Bankstown

Two sites in Auburn received fast-track status under the state’s accelerated approvals program, while a separate rezoning in Bankstown added capacity for 420 units near the rail interchange. Both areas sit on the planned Metro West corridor, where planners expect new stations to lift land values within three years. Local builders told council staff they could start piling work by November if tenders close on schedule.

State data released this week showed 2,140 dwelling approvals across Greater Sydney in the month to June 30, up 18 per cent from the same period last year. The figure includes 630 units in the City of Sydney local government area alone, mostly along George Street and near Circular Quay.

Metro West crews extend tunnelling under Olympic Park

Tunnelling machines passed the 4.2-kilometre mark beneath Sydney Olympic Park this week, with spoil removal trucks using the M4 corridor between 10 pm and 5 am to limit daytime disruption. Transport for NSW confirmed the line from Westmead to the Sydney CBD remains on track for passenger service in 2032, though power and signalling contracts are still under negotiation.

Residents near the future Five Dock station can view updated construction timelines on the project website or attend a drop-in session at the Concord Library on July 15. The next round of traffic changes along Parramatta Road is scheduled for late August.