Sydney Region Outline Plan

[1] Whereas the Cumberland scheme echoed contemporary plans for London, the SROP adopted a Scandinavian model of town centres arranged along existing railway corridors.

By focusing development on growth corridors along the rail network, the plan "has allowed Sydney to reach a population of 4.5 million people and achieve the highest use of public transport of any Australian city.

The rapid growth of Parramatta as a commercial centre would require, in the words of the Plan, "boldness, imagination, vigorous action and the utmost co-operation" between landholders, developers, local and state government.

In the longer term, it recommended investigation of new suburbs along the Richmond branch line, at Appin in the Southern Highlands, in the Gosford and Wyong areas, the Forest District and Holsworthy.

In addition to dedicated utilities corridors, the plan contained an ambitious infrastructure agenda: Since World War II the watchword had been 'populate or perish' – but by the middle of the 1970s such sentiments could no longer secure support for major projects.

The troubled Mount Druitt and Green Valley public housing estates, the contentious demolition of older inner-city homes to build expressways, a deteriorating economy and a more febrile political atmosphere combined to force a rethink of the city's approach to growth.

The SROP was effectively torn up in 1977, when the Wran Labor government cancelled a slew of major projects and began selling off infrastructure reservations in return for political support from the powerful Green bans movement.

The plan guided the release of land on the city's suburban fringe for 20 years.
The SROP called for development along the Main South railway line and a major new centre at Campbelltown.