The government wants to build 10,000 homes around a ghost train station. This Sydney council has a different number in mind

The New South Wales government aims to construct up to 10,000 residential units near a long-abandoned train station in Sydney's eastern suburbs, but Woollahra Council, a local authority dominated by the Liberal Party, proposes a significantly smaller figure. According to a recent council report, the proposed development could involve building approximately 3,600 homes instead of the government’s estimated 10,000. The conflict centers on the rezoning of land around the dormant Woollahra and Edgecliff train stations, which the state government seeks to reactivate to address the growing demand for housing in the region. Woollahra Council argues that the government's plan represents a "dramatic shift in density" and lacks sufficient justification for both the station's reopening and the potential effects on housing diversity, heritage sites, and existing tree cover. In their report, released earlier this week, the council emphasized that while they support increasing housing supply in well-located areas, the specific precinct faces notable challenges to expansion. These include the scarcity of developable land, difficult terrain, transportation and traffic limitations, and insufficient open spaces. The controversy surrounding the state-led rezoning has intensified the ongoing debate over housing supply and affordability in Sydney. With the NSW government struggling to meet its goal of constructing 377,000 new homes by mid-2029, the Woollahra Local Government Area has experienced a population decline of 1,717 people since 2019, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Under the government's proposal, up to 10,000 residences, enough to accommodate 21,000 residents, would be constructed within 400 meters of Edgecliff Station and 800 meters of the planned Woollahra Station. Approximately 10 percent of these homes would be designated as affordable housing for lower-income individuals. Councillors voted in September to continue collaborating with the government on the rezoning initiative while allocating $700,000 for research into infrastructure, open space, transport, and feasibility. Their findings indicated that the area could potentially support between 2,240 and 3,650 additional homes if the Woollahra train station were to be activated. A council meeting scheduled for August 24 will further discuss the issue. The report acknowledged that such a scale of growth would have substantial implications for an already densely populated neighborhood but concluded that it was achievable with appropriate infrastructure investments and careful consideration of local constraints. The council highlighted that the area currently contains 18 high-rise buildings ranging from nine to 20 floors, yet achieving the government's target of 10,000 apartments would require constructing 80 towers of 26 floors each. While state and federal Liberal representatives expressed openness to the proposal, Sydney YIMBY, a group advocating for more housing development, praised the initial plan, calling it a positive step toward integrating housing and infrastructure in a suburb that has consistently shown declining housing stock since 1996. Planning Minister Paul Scully stated that he had not reviewed the council's alternative proposal but confirmed that his department had been engaged in discussions with the council regarding the state-led rezoning efforts. He urged maintaining a unified approach rather than pursuing separate processes. The government's comprehensive masterplan is anticipated to undergo public review in the coming months, with the completion of the Woollahra train station slated for 2029.