Big ideas to bring Sydney’s neighbourhoods to life – making them livelier, greener and more community-focused – have been shortlisted for Sydney Big Ideas, presented at the 2026 Sydney Summit. 

Now in its sixth year, the agenda-setting Sydney Summit is presented by the Committee for Sydney at ICC Sydney on February 6, in partnership with BDO, Built, Hassell, ALTRAC Light Rail, Maddocks, Ipsos and Lendlease.  

Following a public call-out for submissions, 16 bold ideas have been shortlisted with a final three set to pitch their ideas to the Sydney Summit’s audience of experts, decision makers and city leaders.  

The four ideas shortlisted to make Sydney a better place to live, work and play are:  

• Free rent for GP clinics  

• Apartments without carparks 

• Living laneways  

• Playful cities  

Eamon Waterford, CEO of the Committee for Sydney, said: “What’s exciting is seeing some of Sydney’s most creative thinkers step up and challenge us to think differently. 

“These big bold ideas give us the opportunity to turn our biggest challenges into real opportunities for living healthy, connected and great lives here in Sydney.”  

‘Free rent for GP clinics’ to ensure people are cared for, when and where they need it – Alison Huynh 

Sydneysiders deserve reliable, accessible and affordable healthcare close to where they live and when they need it, but the GP system is under pressure due to:  

• Rising demand as the population gets older, with more chronic and complex conditions 

• Healthcare rebates not keeping pace with the cost of running general practices, leading to higher out-of-pocket fees 

• Fewer GPs choosing to establish their own practices due to high commercial rents, fit-out costs and comparatively lower remuneration than specialist pathways – limiting the number and distribution of small local clinics. 

Many communities now find it harder to get affordable, timely appointments – and with less access, emergency departments see more preventable conditions and delayed presentations – increasing strain on the system and leading to more intensive, costly care.  

Alison Huynh, Associate Director at Bates Smart and Member of the Australian Health Design Council, said: “The idea is simple: create a planning incentive that encourages developers to include small, well-designed GP clinics in new apartment or mixed-use developments.”  

“Developers would provide these spaces at low or no rent by offering the space to GPs who commit to bulk-billed or low-fee services, or for public health outreach services like community nursing, Aboriginal health and chronic-disease programs.

“Every Sydneysider deserves access to reliable and affordable healthcare services. While these clinics can be modest in scale, they will be highly impactful when located where people already live, work and travel.” 

No parking, no problem: Building high rises without residential parking – Alex Wendler   

Sydney faces a crisis – chronically unaffordable housing costs the city $10 billion every year.  

But despite pulling out all the stops to deliver more housing, we still mandate car parking in new housing developments, a significant tax on the price of a unit. 

With major investments in public transport infrastructure and active transport, we have a big opportunity to rethink the way we design new homes and urban neighbourhoods.   

Alex Wendler, CEO of Landcom, said: “Removing parking reduces construction costs whilst improving the speed to market of critical housing, creating a blueprint for future developments.” 

“Instead of allocating basement levels and podium space for parking, the development would prioritise housing, green spaces and shared amenities.  

“Residents would be encouraged to use public transport, cycling and walking, with car-share services integrated into the building and the surrounding areas.  

“This concept would spark a virtuous circle of better mobility and sustainability, with more effective investment in public and active transport that decreases car dependence in dense urban areas.

“The core of the idea is not new, but finally realising it will support density done well, offer more options in the housing market and support vibrant, sustainable communities to happen and thrive.” 

Living Laneways: Turning hidden spaces into climate-positive housing solutions – Melissa Cate Christ

Sydney is in the middle of a housing crisis – that’s no secret – and the city is in desperate need of affordable housing options close to urban centres.  

On top of this, Sydney also must address impacts of climate change like increased stormwater runoff and urban heat, while providing a liveable urban environment that supports the health and wellbeing of residents. 

This idea considers all of this, revitalising disused laneways with greenery, permeable paving and new housing.  

Melissa Cate Christ, Lecturer at UNSW School of Built Environment and Director of transverse studio, said: “Greater Sydney has thousands of laneways that are currently underutilised. Fronted primarily by garages or service entries, and often with paving or drainage in need of an upgrade, there’s so much that can be done to create thriving ecosystems hidden in the smallest of spaces.” 

“The idea of ‘living lanes’ rethinks back lanes as living places that can provide housing, green infrastructure and social and cultural engagement. 

“There are some great examples locally and overseas. Toronto and Vancouver have incorporated laneway housing as a solution to increasing density in the city centre, and Chicago has a long-standing laneway program that improves stormwater drainage and reduces heat through permeable paving, recycled materials and planting.  

“Sydney can do these things too, and it will create a greener, cooler and more resilient and liveable city if we get it right.” 

A city that plays together, stays together: Transforming urban life for all ages – Natalia Krysiak

Play – through playgrounds or other activities – is one of the most powerful, yet undervalued, tools we have for building a healthier, more connected and resilient city, because it:  

• Supports physical and mental wellbeing, and helps combat obesity and stress and encourage active lifestyles – no matter if you’re three or 73  

• Strengthens social bonds by creating natural moments of interaction that can help reduce isolation and loneliness, especially for elderly people 

• Invites people to linger, meet and participate in community life, building trust and a sense of belonging; and when woven into urban design, becomes a city-wide driver of joy, social cohesion and economic innovation – fostering creative industries, entrepreneurial opportunities and a vibrant urban culture. 

A Sydney Play Strategy is proposed to create playgrounds, and spaces for play in every neighbourhood in Sydney. 

Natalia Krysiak, architect and founder of Cities for Play, said: “We have an opportunity to transform Sydney into the world’s most playful city, where play is part of everyday life and shared across all ages.”  

“This is not just about fun – this is a strategic investment into Sydney’s wellbeing, prosperity and future resilience. 

“Rather than isolated playgrounds intended exclusively for children, Sydney would become a connected ecosystem of intergenerational play opportunities.

“This means designing spaces where children, teens, adults and older people can play together, providing a diverse range of play opportunities that suit different ages, abilities, and interests. 

“A Sydney Play Strategy would coordinate interventions, ensuring they are scalable, equitable and culturally grounded. By embedding play into public spaces, planning and transport, Sydney can strengthen community bonds, reduce loneliness, spark innovation and create a joyful, socially connected city where play becomes a shared civic identity.” 

About the Sydney Summit 

The Sydney Summit is the Committee for Sydney’s annual half-day leadership conference, bringing together bold leaders, thinkers, politicians and researchers to discuss the critical questions facing our city. Running every year since 2021, the theme of the 2026 Sydney Summit is ‘The Bold City’: Turning bold ideas and ambitious vision into practical action for Sydney’s future. More information at: https://sydney.org.au/sydneysummit  
 
About the Committee for Sydney 

The Committee for Sydney is an independent urban policy think tank working to make Sydney the best city in the world, for all. We are advocates for the whole of Greater Sydney, and its broader national impact, researching and developing solutions to the most important problems we face. More information at: https://sydney.org.au