sydney-city-centre-review-of-environmental-factors

6.4.2 Existing environment
Population and growth
In 2011, approximately 23,000 people lived within the ‘city centre’. This compares to
169,500 that lived in the Sydney LGA and the 4.4 million that lived in the greater
Sydney metropolitan area (Greater Sydney). The study area’s relatively small
population reflects its primary non-residential function. However, over the next
15 years this is expected to change significantly due to the planned efforts to
introduce a number of residential hubs in the city such as the Barangaroo and the
Alfred, Pitt, Dalley and George Street (APDG) developments. Consequently,
the study area’s population is anticipated to grow in line with the LGA, which would
be more than the projected average growth across Greater Sydney such that by
2031, approximately 290,500 people are expected to live within the Sydney LGA
(Department of Planning and Environment, 2013).
Daily population
The resident population of the city centre is surpassed each day by the 600,000 plus
people that travel into the city centre to work, study, and visit city centre destinations.
By 2031 this number is anticipated to increase to 775,000 in line with Sydney’s
projected growth and expansion (Transport for NSW, 2013).
Public transport
The Access Strategy is the NSW Government’s response to handling the traffic
demands of these extra people, focusing on a shift to public transport use
(particularly light rail), walking and cycling managed through and an integrated
transport system. Section 2.2.3 describes the existing public transport provisions in
the study area.
Demography
The local demographic assists in defining the study area’s community cohesion and
values. It also assists in profiling how adaptable the community is likely to be to
change. The study area demographic is characterised as young, single, affluent,
culturally diverse and mobile. As of 2011:
There was a broad 50/50 split between males and females
The average age of people living in the city centre was 29 with fewer older
people (over 65 years) compared to Greater Sydney
There was a higher proportion of group (shared) households and lone-person
households compared to Greater Sydney, which was supported by the fact that
there are fewer children (0–14 years) living in the city centre
The was cultural diversity with a high proportion of people born overseas, which
was further demonstrated by the fact that approximately 28 per cent of people
speak English at home compared to 62 per cent in Greater Sydney
Employment, income and living conditions were generally good-to-excellent as
measured against the socioeconomic indices adopted in the Census.
Sydney City Centre Capacity Improvement 274
Review of Environmental Factors