Pictured above: Cambelltown Arts Centre

Inadequate road and transport facilities in Sydney's outer “growth” suburbs are forcing residents to pack their bags and move to the big-smoke.

Figures in the latest comparative data on councils published by the Department of Local Government for 2007-2008 shows that in the past five years, areas such as Liverpool, Campbelltown, Penrith, Sutherland and the Hawkesbury have registered population declines.

On the other hand, Mosman, Canada Bay, North Sydney, Willoughby and other areas closer to the city are enjoying an increase in population, with 90 per cent of new homes now being built within Sydney's existing urban footprint.

Michael Suttor, principal at Michael Suttor Architects, is adamant that inferior transport and road services are to blame for the population declines endured by these “growth” areas.

“I can’t understand how people that need to commute between Campbelltown and Sydney tolerate being two hours in their car either way. It’s just the pits,” he said.

There are a number of tradespeople living in Sydney’s outer suburbs, Suttor explained, and “inadequate” roads and facilities in these areas makes it impossible for them to commute.

“There’s no point in telling people to live in remote areas if you don’t make it convenient for them to service the urban centres which actually provide their employment,” he said.

Traffic around these suburbs, which in Suttor’s view consists mostly of tradespeople who require their cars or vans throughout the day, is the real problem, not housing affordability.

“I think developers can build the houses and the government can sell the land at a competitive price. What’s the saying? You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. If it’s going to take the horse two hours to get to the trough, why would you bother? You'd go somewhere else.”

Danielle Bowling

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