Waterloo South Transformation Unlocks Hope, Homes and Community

In an ambitious and uplifting move for Sydney’s housing future, the NSW Government has officially signed off on a landmark redevelopment project that promises to reshape one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods. The transformation of Waterloo South—part of the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program—is now set in motion, with Stockland, Link Wentworth, City West Housing and Brirribee Housing leading the charge.

Over the next 10 to 15 years, this inner-south Sydney precinct will undergo Australia’s largest social housing renewal. But this isn’t just about buildings. It’s about building a better future—creating an inclusive, thriving, and sustainable community where housing diversity meets opportunity.

The project will deliver over 3,000 brand-new homes. Of these, more than 1,000 will be dedicated social housing units, 600 will be classed as affordable housing, and around 1,400 will be made available to the private market. This blend ensures a socially diverse community, where people from all walks of life can live, work, and grow together.

Notably, 20% of the new social homes and 15% of the affordable housing will be allocated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents—a meaningful commitment to acknowledging and supporting the area’s cultural roots and long-standing Indigenous community.

Beyond bricks and mortar, Waterloo South will become a place of connection. Plans include a new two-hectare park—the largest green space delivered in inner Sydney in recent memory—offering residents room to breathe, play, and gather. Retail precincts and community spaces will reinvigorate George Street, while initiatives are being embedded to strengthen community wellbeing, encourage local employment, and open new pathways for skills development.

This carefully balanced design will not only reinvigorate an ageing housing estate but breathe new life into an entire neighbourhood.

Of course, a development of this scale comes with disruption. Approximately 3,000 existing social housing tenants will be relocated in carefully staged phases. Importantly, the government has committed to keeping the community intact, ensuring that tenants are offered alternative accommodation within the local area. Already, the first 150 tenants have begun their transition, and over 200 new homes will soon be available in developments nearby—including 70 units above Waterloo Metro Station and 150+ more through City West Housing.

This community-first approach to relocation, supported by dedicated officers, underscores a key principle of the redevelopment: people come first. The NSW Government’s clear focus on providing continuity, dignity and choice for current residents is central to the success of the project.

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, summed up the sentiment:
“We are not just replacing old homes, we’re creating a thriving, inclusive, and well-connected community that honours the rich history of the area.”

As site investigations and planning approvals commence, the Waterloo South redevelopment becomes a beacon for what’s possible in social infrastructure. For those in the construction, infrastructure, and recruitment industries, it represents more than a project—it’s a long-term pipeline of opportunity, investment, and impact.

At its heart, this is a project about people—about transforming not just housing, but the way we think about community. From building careers to building cities, initiatives like this are exactly the kind of progress that inspires the work we do every day.