Orchard Hills Aerotropolis metro section goes public

Sydney’s next metro city is on the runway, with the proposed planning and rezoning of the Orchard Hills station site now open for comment.

The station is the second to last stop on the Northern line to and from Western Sydney International Airport.

Both are due to open in 2026 and are included in the NSW Government’s station rezoning programme.

Although the so-called “landmark buildings” are smaller in size than the plans for the larger city of Bradfield, in Orchard Hills they can be up to 22 storeys.

Proposed planning controls include a mixed-use town center around the station, two neighborhood centers and employment zones along the M4 motorway.

Also within 800 m from the station and 400 m from the regional centers it is planned to build a residential complex R4 with a high density of buildings.

Higher density homes are planned throughout the area, a big change from the current rural pastures, some of which have already been snapped up by developers.

Although courtyards are a thing of the past in the central part, there are parks and recreation areas occupying about 50 hectares.

Planning for the site has been in the works since 2022, with a final zoning change expected next year.

Orchard Hills has been identified as an area suitable for government rezoning under the existing Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek (GPEC) strategic planning framework and $73.5 million Rezone and Build initiative.

NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully said the proposal was about meeting the National Housing Agreement target of 377,000 homes by 2029.

“We are poised to capitalize on the development opportunities that the new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport Line, Western Sydney International Airport and Western Sydney Aerotropolis will bring to communities like Orchard Hills,” Scully said.

“We are also committed to providing current landowners with certainty about the future intentions of the other phases of the Orchard Hills site.

“We are now committed to creating affordable and well-located housing in Orchard Hills. These future homes will be located close to transport, schools and public spaces, as well as opportunities for new cycle paths and pedestrian paths to improve transport links.”

There have been proposals to rezone Sydney Metro stations across the city, with Canterbury-Bankstown expected to be the first to move forward.

His transport-led development master plan increased the localized 12,500 homes by 3,200 homes as the population is expected to triple by 2036.