Sydney's population has doubled in the last 60 years, as has recently passed 5 million. The city is in the middle of an infrastructure revolution to help us cope with a rapidly expanding population, and to improve access between distant parts of the sprawling city.

Projects such as Sydney Metro Northwest, Sydney Light Rail and WestConnex have been the focus of much debate and controversy, but they are critical to the city's future. 

Mark McCrindle, futurist, demographer and social commentator, believes that while local communities may be inconvenienced during the development currently taking place across Sydney, the projects are essential for future generations.

“There’s no doubt that Sydney is rapidly expanding. In fact, an estimated 1.2 million homes will need to be built in order to sustain this level of growth,” said McCrindle. 

“It’s important that Sydney, as a community, thinks long-term about how these major infrastructure projects are needed to create an interconnected and sustainable city to support generations to come," he said.

McCrindle believes that communities must be included in the communication surrounding such major projects, and aerial photographs, such as those taken by Nearmap, can help to facilitate good communication. 

Nearmap regularly takes high resolution aerial photographs of urban areas all over Australia.

The latest images from Nearmap show how major infrastructure projects have evolved over the last 18 months.

The Sydney Light Rail

The Sydney Light Rail extension has progressed down George Street and onto the Anzac Parade where six lanes of traffic are currently being diverted to allow for the construction of a tunnel for the tram line. Several large, old trees were cut down for the construction phase (see images above and below), which drew strong opposition from the local community. Construction will begin shortly on connecting the two developments through Surry Hills, with the project set for completion by mid-October.

Sydney Light Rail, before.

Sydney Metro

Construction has begun on the stations for Australia’s largest public transport infrastructure project, Sydney Metro, which will make up the Northwest line. The final project will only open to the public in 2019.

Sydney Metro, May 2015.

Sydney Metro, September 2016.

WestConnex

Stage 1 of the WestConnex project is underway, with the M5 being widened and the King George’s intersection nearly complete. This stage is set to be finished in 2019, but the final two phases will not be complete until 2023.

WestConnex, Beveley Hills, May 2015.

WestConnex, Beveley Hills, September 2016.

See also:

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