TheGreater Cities Commission (formerly theGreater Sydney Commission) was an independent agency of theNew South Wales Government responsible forland use planning across theSix Cities Region inNew South Wales, Australia. The agency was brought into effect through theGreater Cities Commission Act 2022[1] which stipulated the composition of the agency and its responsibilities. The Greater Cities Commission was created forGreater Sydney,Central Coast,Newcastle andWollongong. The objectives of the commission were to act onhousing supply issues (including a diversity ofhousing types), to promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly development, to support housing that fosters productivity liveability and environmental quality, to provideFirst Nations people with opportunities in their local area, to promote economic activity, and to act on other issues surrounding land use.
Underminister for planning,Pru Goward, the Greater Sydney Commission was announced in parallel withA Plan for Growing Sydney in December 2014[2] and formally empowered with the passing of theGreater Sydney Commission Act 2015[3] under minister for planningRob Stokes. The commission was established to unify and improve strategic spatial planning for the metropolitan area ofSydney,Australia.[4] The commission was led byLucy Turnbull as chief commissioner from 2015[5] until her resignation in March 2020. The role of chief commissioner was subsequently held by Geoff Roberts, previously the deputy chief commissioner.[6]
In December 2021,NSW PremierDominic Perrottet announced intentions for a newCities ministry to oversee a region of 'Six Cities' encompassing Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, and Wollongong. Subsequently, theGreater Cities Commission Act 2022[1] came into force, creating a new regional agency known as the Greater Cities Commission, and repealing theGreater Sydney Commission Act 2015.[7] The reformed Commission oversaw a broadened remit encompassing theSix Cities Region: incorporating the Eastern Harbour City, the Central River City, and Western Parkland City districts introduced under the Metropolis of Three Cities Plan as well as the Central Coast City, the Lower Hunter and Newcastle City, and the Illawarra-Shoalhaven City.[citation needed]
In June 2023, thenewly electedMinns government announced that the staff of the Greater Cities Commission would be folded back into theDepartment of Planning and Environment.[8] Despite this, the commission remained functional and operational as legislated. The Greater Cities Commission was legally dissolved on 1 January 2024 with its strategic planning functions absorbed by the newDepartment of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and select other functions reverting to Investment NSW and the Office of Health and Medical Research.[9]
