A reminder of how we got here.
Last year, the Labor-controlled Inner West Council voted in favour of its self-named Our Fairer Future plan, involving extensive rezoning, increased building heights and density, and changes to heritage protections across the Inner West.
That was Stage 1.
On 15 September 2026, the same Labor councillors voted to put Stage 2 on public exhibition.
At that meeting, attended by only around 10 community members, requests from non-Labor councillors for a longer consultation period and public town hall meetings were rejected.
Instead, Labor councillors promised that residents would be promptly notified by mail, in multiple languages, to avoid a repeat of Stage 1, when so many residents were unaware of what was being proposed.
SO WHAT HAPPENED?
The Stage 2 consultation period began on Wednesday 16 September and closes on Wednesday 28 October.
That’s just six weeks for residents to understand and respond to almost 1,000 pages of planning documents covering major changes to their streets, neighbourhoods and suburbs.
And once again, Council’s communication has fallen well short.
- Many residents received their notification letters weeks late.
- Many residents have received nothing at all.
- There have been no public town hall meetings organised by Council.
- Residents are expected to navigate nearly 1,000 pages of documents themselves.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED A LETTER? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR YOUR STREET?
And does everyone in the Inner West receive notification? Who knows?
WHAT ABOUT PUBLIC CONSULTATION?
Instead of public town hall meetings where residents can discuss the wider implications of these plans, Council has offered individual 15-minute planning appointments.
Fifteen minutes.
But these plans aren’t just about individual properties. They affect entire communities.
What about increased density, green space, schools, parking, traffic, tree canopy, heritage and public transport?
Where is the opportunity for residents to come together, ask questions and debate the future of their neighbourhoods? The councillors are meant to represent the interests of their residents. After all, we vote for them.
AND WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING PROPOSED?
Some suburbs, including Leichhardt, are facing a third wave of planning changes: Stage 1, Stage 2 and the NSW Government’s Parramatta Road “corridor” (it’s not a corridor it’s a huge square) proposals. All these suburbs are affected by Stage 2: Annandale, Ashfield, Balmain, Croydon, Dulwich Hill, Enmore, Leichhardt, Lewisham, Lilyfield, Marrickville, Newtown, Petersham, Rozelle, Stanmore and St Peters.
You can read Council’s Stage 2 plans here:
https://yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/our-fairer-future-plan-2
There are also two excellent critiques worth reading:
A Fairer or More Dangerous Future for the Inner West?
Both raise serious concerns about the scale and consequences of the proposals.
MEANWHILE, COUNCIL SEEMS TO HAVE NO TROUBLE COMMUNICATING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
Music festivals? Halloween? New mural? No problem.
We checked Mayor Darcy Byrne’s Instagram account and counted 17 posts since the consultation began.
NOT ONE ABOUT STAGE 2 OF THE BIGGEST REZONING PROPOSALS IN LIVING MEMORY.
Whatever your opinion of the proposed changes, residents deserve to know what is happening to their streets and suburbs, and to have a genuine opportunity to respond.
Even if these were excellent plans, failing to notify residents promptly and provide meaningful opportunities for public discussion would still be unacceptable.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY RALLY OUTSIDE INNER WEST COUNCIL TO OBJECT TO THIS DELIBERATELY POOR COMMUNICATION.
Community groups across the Inner West are coming together to demand better consultation, proper notification and a genuine say in the future of our neighbourhoods.
The rally was called by the newly formed No Highrise Lilyfield group, and we’re pleased to help spread the word.
New community groups are emerging across the Inner West as more residents discover the extent of the proposed changes.
Join us outside the Council meeting and make your voice heard.
Submissions close Wednesday 28 October 2026.