The launch at The Concourse on 21 October began the public conversation about how Chatswood should develop through to 2060 and beyond. The project will consider how additional housing and jobs can be supported by transport, parks and community facilities.
Chatswood 2060: what we know about Council’s new master plan
Willoughby City Council has launched Chatswood 2060, a long-term plan for the centre’s growth, infrastructure and public spaces. Community input is open, with a draft master plan expected for consultation in early 2027.
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What could change in Chatswood?
Council has identified several areas for the master plan to explore:
- Homes and employment: greater housing choice, new jobs and business investment.
- Streets and public spaces: more trees and open space, alongside improvements to walking, cycling and public transport connections.
- Community facilities: future education, recreation and cultural facilities.
- Arts and evening activity: strengthening cultural experiences and the night-time economy.
These priorities extend the discussion beyond individual development sites to the services and spaces that a growing centre needs.
How does it relate to the existing Chatswood CBD strategy?
Chatswood already has a CBD Planning and Urban Design Strategy 2036. It promotes office and retail employment in the commercial centre, with a surrounding mix of homes and businesses, and guides the design of buildings and public spaces.
That strategy received NSW Government endorsement in 2020, subject to recommendations. It was intended to inform changes to local planning rules and proposals for individual sites.
Chatswood 2060 looks further ahead. However, Council’s launch material does not yet explain which parts of the existing strategy it would retain or revise. How the two fit together will be an important question when the draft is released.
What is still to be decided?
The launch material sets out priorities rather than detailed proposals. It does not specify new building heights, a total number of additional homes or a costed programme of construction.
Funding is also an unresolved part of the picture. Mayor Tanya Taylor has called for Commonwealth and NSW Government partnerships so that schools, open space, community facilities and transport are delivered alongside housing growth. That is a request for coordinated investment, rather than confirmation that those projects are funded.
For residents and businesses, the useful detail will be where changes are proposed, which improvements take priority, who would deliver them and how they would be paid for.
How to contribute before the draft is released
Council’s Chatswood 2060 engagement page invites people to add comments to a map, complete a survey or email Chatswood2060@willoughby.nsw.gov.au.
This first stage asks what people value about Chatswood and what they want for its future. The draft master plan will provide a further opportunity to comment before Council adopts the final vision and actions.
