Sydneysiders now have their first look at 18 housing accelerator zones but the future for other station-centred precincts will be in limbo for many months.
A key plank of NSW's solution to the housing crisis, the transport-oriented development zones are due to bust through local council controls and deliver more than 170,000 new homes in mid-rise dwellings around train stations.
Maps showing the new planning controls for 18 of the 37 zones were released on Monday.
It opens the door to developers lodging plans from May 14.
When announced in November, the Minns Labor government had hoped the zones would be in place from April but faced fierce pushback from some councils, including Liberal-held Ku-ring-gai Council in Sydney's north.
Under the new rules, councils cannot prevent developments for height reasons but retain all other assessment powers.
"The extensive consultation has been an important part of developing the settings to help deliver more housing in well located areas, around transport hubs, close to services, jobs and amenities," Planning Minister Paul Scully said.
The other 19 zones will progressively come online between now and June 2025, with most in place by December.
Several tier-one zones dot the path of the new Sydney West Metro, where tunnel boring machines are closing in on their final destination at Sydney Olympic Park.
Named Beatrice and Daphne, the machines have carved their way through 1.2 million tonnes or about 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools of dirt as they cut from Rozelle to Burwood North.
After breaking through at the cavernous Burwood North station box last week, the machines will take two weeks to reach the other side and start a 1.8km journey to North Strathfield.
"Australia's biggest public transport project is making fast progress," Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
"These breakthroughs mean we are a step closer to delivering this once-in-a-century infrastructure investment in our city that will be a catalyse for housing growth across Sydney."
The $25 billion Sydney Metro project will double rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, making it easier and faster to travel around western Sydney.
