Vision of the Six Cities Region
A globally competitive city region providing better jobs, housing, education, health and lifestyle opportunities.
The Six Cities vision
We envision a connected region of six cities where we can move people and goods across the region in 90 minutes, and everyone in the region is digitally and globally connected in a nanosecond. In each city, great jobs are 30 minutes by public transport from great homes. We enjoy a greater range of lifestyle choices connected to economic opportunity and most people live in vibrant local centres and neighbourhoods where all our daily needs are met within a 15 minute walk.
More than 65,000 years of continuous culture is central to our shared identity and sets us apart from anywhere else in the world. The wisdom and aspirations of First Nations peoples are recognised and embedded in planning for our future, and we care for Country.
Housing is more affordable and accessible, leveraging our transport and social infrastructure investments, with the government playing a material role in enabling supply. People live in homes that are sustainable, efficient and adaptable, and that meet their changing needs over time.
Local infrastructure and growth are strategically coordinated to leverage diverse centres that support their communities.
Our economic assets are coordinated and leveraged in an integrated way, capturing our potential as an Indo-Pacific economic powerhouse.
An interconnected ecosystem of innovation districts linked to places of learning supercharges knowledge jobs across the region while supporting the broader jobs economy.
All six cities have greater resilience because of the economic diversification of their wider and connected city economies.
Our economic opportunities are matched by spectacular lifestyles offered across the region. We enjoy unparalleled accessibility to beaches, national parks, rivers and waterways, ancient geological formations and natural beauty.
Our region is recognised for its global climate leadership. Net zero is embedded in our housing, transport and infrastructure and is a major part of our global economic future.
Our assets and strengths
Between them, the six cities already have a great many individual strengths and infrastructure assets. Each city will maintain and develop its own distinct character, industry and sense of place. Together, through increased collaboration, communities and economic activities can be linked across a wider geographic area.
Planning the Six Cities Region
Over the past few years, substantial work has been undertaken by the Commission, the Department of Planning and Environment, Infrastructure NSW, Transport for NSW, local government and industry in planning these six cities.
Now, recent Federal and State Government commitments are providing essential foundations to enable the Six Cities vision. These include the recognition of First Nations peoples in decision making; the Fast Rail Strategy including early works funding for the initial staging; additional financial support for infrastructure supporting housing; significant resources to transition our economy to net zero; and increased measures around mitigating climate vulnerability.
By building upon this foundation in a coordinated and integrated way, we can work together to realise the vision of the Six Cities Region.
Learn more about the Six Cities Region boundaries.
A new framework for improving quality of life
To meet the needs of a growing population, we need to be bold and ambitious in building the right economic, social and environmental framework to maximise opportunities that will improve peoples’ quality of life. Sustainable and managed growth in population, housing and infrastructure will deliver better outcomes in terms of jobs, skills, knowledge, belonging and choice.
A mosaic of vibrant metropolitan, strategic and local centres contribute to the unique attributes of each of the six cities. As part of a larger world class city region, each city can build on its own signature strengths and character while leveraging the enhanced ability to attract new business and investment, and enhanced physical and social infrastructure and amenities.
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The Six Cities Region will be connected through Country, transport and economic links, a hierarchy of centres and environmental assets.
Goals of our Six Cities Region
Recognition of First Nations peoples
Our region is home to the oldest living continuous cultures on earth, and with this comes the wisdom and knowledge gleaned from more than 65,000 years of continued custodianship of the lands, waters and seas. Caring for Country and First Nations perspectives in planning and decision-making processes are a foundation principle.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Discussion Paper’s ambitions have also been framed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure our six cities can achieve a better and more sustainable future for all our communities.
Six Region Shapers
To realise the vision and capture the benefits of the Six Cities Region, we are proposing six Region Shapers – a set of priorities that will frame the 2023 Region Plan and guide conversations with government, business, community, the not-for-profit sector and universities and research institutions.
These Region Shapers reflect the priority outcomes that the region must deliver to create economic, environmental and lifestyle benefits for millions of people.