A redevelopment project in inner-Sydney providing affordable housing at a major transport hub has been hailed as emblematic of state government plans to transform the city.
Construction of a metro station at Waterloo, about three kilometres south of the city centre is complete and ready to welcome passengers within months when the line opens.
A nine-storey residential project next to the station includes 70 social homes in addition to extra affordable dwellings for front-line workers and privately-owned accommodation.
Premier Chris Minns says more social and affordable housing integrated into existing public transport networks will bring Sydney into line with other major global cities.
"That's how great cities around the world have grown sustainably - not just building infrastructure, not just building homes, but building wonderful communities," he said on Monday.
"You have to do the two things at the same time, build public transport infrastructure and put new housing on top of it."
One of the government's signature housing policies includes the blanket rezoning of land around eight metro stations and 37 existing transport hubs and town centres, although one council is fighting the plan in court.
A major part of the state's accommodation strategy would be investing in social housing, including in well-located inner-city areas, Mr Minns said.
More than 57,000 applicants were on the NSW waitlist for social housing in March, a figure that's changed little since Labor took power a year earlier.
"For those who are seeking affordable housing, particularly women who are fleeing domestic violence situations, (the situation is) getting worse, not better," Mr Minns said.
"We're one of the most expensive cities in the world and we're going in the opposite direction: things are getting more expensive to buy and more expensive to rent."
Housing Minister Rose Jackson says the 70 social housing units will be for women fleeing domestic violence and old-age pensioners.
"This development is emblematic of our government's approach to building world class public transport right next to the kind of quality housing we know Sydneysiders need to live in" she said.
"Here at Waterloo, our government is leaning into the idea that transport and housing can and should work together.
"It isn't enough just to say we want density ... it's got to be quality, it's got to be linked to transport and there's got to be social and affordable housing so that people can live in our increasingly unaffordable city.
About 19,000 commuters are expected to pass through the metro station each day when it is in operation.
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