Comment on Centre for International Economics report on alternative growth paths for Sydney

Abstract

A report by the Centre for International Economics titled The Benefits and Costs of Alternative Growth Paths for Sydney: Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts that was commissioned by the New South Wales Government has been released. It examines alternative ways in which additional people could be housed in Sydney. The findings of this report are marred by the fact that some of the costs that it uses on which to base conclusions are questionable and the fact that not all significant factors are covered. The findings also make the current New South Wales Metropolitan Strategy planning policy difficult to justify as it portrays minimal cost differences between the scenarios examined when the time period examined and the cost of a dwelling are taken into account.