Waterloo Metro Quarter Prioritises Community Outcomes

The plans, integrated with the new Sydney Metro Station in Waterloo, include an innovative 30,000 sqm workplace building, a 24-storey apartment building (including rooftop plant) and a 25-storey student accommodation building (including rooftop plant), as well as 70 social housing apartments. More than five per cent of the residential floorspace will be dedicated to affordable housing.

The mixed-use precinct is being delivered in collaboration with the NSW Government, with the potential to generate up to 600 jobs in construction and an estimated 3,500 when completed in 2024.

The proposed Waterloo Metro Quarter (WMQ) will support a range of uses to activate the precinct throughout the day and evening, supporting the continued evolution of this part of Sydney into a vibrant, green, active place to live, work and relax.

A distinctly local ground plane, consisting of over 2,200 sqm of public open plazas, retail laneways and a range of community uses, is proposed. This will complement the accommodation and workplace buildings, with landscaping to provide welcoming open spaces for the community and integrate the precinct with the future Waterloo Estate. 

Mirvac’s Chief Investment Officer, Brett Draffen said, “With more people choosing to work closer to home in lower density, green environments, Waterloo Metro Quarter is designed to unlock the value of the metro. It will deliver a significant workplace offering just minutes from the CBD, Barangaroo and North Sydney via the Sydney Metro. Supported by childcare and health services on the site, alongside retail, dining and open space, this precinct is set to become a vibrant new destination and workplace hub for Sydney. 

“We have a proud history of reimagining urban life and the creation of an inclusive, connected and sustainable new urban village will enable us to continue this legacy by generating better social outcomes for the whole community. By creating outdoor spaces that bring people together, as well as providing more options for people to work closer to home, our design gives careful consideration to supporting post-COVID-19 lifestyles and the needs of future generations.”

John Holland CEO Joe Barr said the next stage of Sydney Metro would create much-needed jobs at a critical time for the economy.

“We are excited to build on the success of Sydney Metro to create a revitalised Waterloo, with improved community facilities and new social and affordable housing,” Mr Barr said.

“This is a truly integrated development, with complex mass transit being delivered alongside community-oriented development and design.”

The WMQ development applications are for four buildings and a basement, while a modification application reduces the height of the commercial building to limit overshadowing and accommodate the enhanced office premises.

The State Significant Development applications for the detailed design of the WMQ will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days between 5 November and 2 December 2020.

The community can make a formal submission on the modification or detailed design applications during this period by lodging comments directly with DPIE. The development applications are available for review here.

Find out more about Waterloo Metro Quarter