Sydney will get its first new heavy rail station in more than a decade, as the abandoned Woollahra station is set to be resurrected.
Crews started to build the station in the 1970s, but construction was never completed.
The new station will be located on the Eastern Suburbs train line, an eight-minute trip from Sydney CBD.
The New South Wales Government announced that land around Woollahra and Edgecliff stations will also be rezoned, enabling up to 10,000 new homes to be built.
Affordable housing will make up a proportion of the development, with the amount of affordable housing required to be decided as part of the rezoning process.
The New South Wales Government said these areas are suitable for housing as the area is within walking distance of green spaces including Cooper, Trumper, Rushcutters Bay and Centennial Parks.
They added that there is also existing capacity for “hundreds” of additional students at public and high schools, and Sydney Water and Infrastructure NSW have confirmed the water and wastewater systems will be able to accommodate the proposed 10,000 dwellings without any major upgrades.
The Eastern Suburbs train line between Bondi Junction and Sydney CBD currently has the lowest passenger usage rates during the AM peak of any line on the Sydney network, with only 43 per cent of operating capacity during the AM peak currently being utilised by passengers.
The rezoning process is expected to take about two years, with construction on the station to start in 2027, due to be completed in 2029.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the government is committed to delivering new homes in areas with existing infrastructure, in a bid to keep young people in Sydney.
“For too long, young people and families in NSW have been forced to choose between moving away from the Sydney CBD or not being able to afford a home at all,” he said.
“This new train station will allow us to deliver up to ten thousand new homes right here in the heart of Sydney, close to jobs, public transport, green space and essential services.”
