The Sydney metropolitan area is set to expand even further according to a new government report.
Funded by the NSW Department of Industry and Investment and Horticulture Australia, the report shows that 603 hectares of vegetable growing land on the Sydney fringe will be replaced with residential developments in the next 20 years, if the government goes ahead with its plans. This would account for 52 percent of Sydney’s farms and raises questions about Sydney’s ability to be self sufficient.
Brian Zulaikha, director of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and the president of the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects suggests the government considers an alternative method of increasing Sydney’s housing, without sacrificing the vegetable and agricultural industry.
“We should be consolidating in the centre of Sydney- we haven’t exhausted that potential yet,” he said. “We should be developing a sister Sydney somewhere near by which can take an increased population - where we can move some industry to it. We need to have market gardens and we need to have them close to the city; we should not be getting rid of those facilities.”
The report's authors, Peter Malcolm and Riad Fahd, have recommended a review of the Sydney vegetable industry to consider whether it should be encouraged to expand so that the metropolis becomes more self sufficient in produce.
??However, the Urban Taskforce, a property development industry group, claims any restrictions on Sydney’s growth would “punish” first home buyers and renters in Sydney.
Chief executive of the taskforce, Aaron Gadiel, said there is no need to prohibit further development in the name of agricultural sufficiency.
“The struggle to secure a house has been tough for many- the undersupply has pushed suburban rents to new highs.”
