Stronger
together
Prepared
for the future
WELCOME TO RESILIENT SYDNEY
The future is collaboration
Resilient Sydney is a program for Greater Sydney, New South Wales, designed to build the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems to survive, adapt, and thrive in the face of chronic stresses and acute shocks.
This local government initiative works collaboratively with the 33 councils of Greater Sydney to develop and deliver a region-wide resilience strategy.
OUR MISSION
Collaborate to manage risk and build resilience in Greater Sydney through knowledge sharing, capacity building and planning for our communities, infrastructure, and natural environment.
who we are
Resilient Sydney
Resilient Sydney is a collaboration of all 33 councils of Greater Sydney. A member of the Resilient Cities Network, the regionwide collaboration began in 2015, and was one of the first in the world to create and implement a Resilience Strategy, first published in 2018. The second strategy was developed in 2025 and has been endorsed by the member councils. Resilient Sydney is governed by a steering committee of council representatives, NSW Government, business and the community sector.
The strategy aimed to increase the capacity of people, communities, businesses, institutions and systems in Greater Sydney to survive and adapt in the face of acute shocks and ongoing stresses.
A small team, led by the chief resilience officer, facilitates the Resilient Sydney program. Resilient Syndey works with cities around the world to share best practice. It facilitates resilience actions through collaboration wiht leaders and resilience ambassadors in Greater Sydney Council.
Over the past 8 years, the Resilient Sydney network has enhanced the way we understand our city and strengthened the way we work together.
CHAMPIONING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The resilience challenges facing Greater Sydney cannot be solved individually.
They require a collaborative effort from local, state and federal governments, business and community.
Working together, in genuine partnership, will ensure Greater Sydney is a place where all communities thrive.
Greater Sydney councils
Collaborating organisations
why resilient sydney?
Challenges facing Greater Sydney
City resilience is the capacity of people, communities, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt and thrive despite chronic stresses and acute shocks.
Communities across Greater Sydney have lived through the Covid-19 pandemic, major floods, storms and fires, and know they must prepare for future shocks and stresses, which are increasing in frequency and magnitude. In late 2023 and early 2024, Resilient Sydney consulted widely and undertook a resilience risk assessment to inform a new strategy, confirming key shocks and stresses.
Acute shocks are sudden events that threaten a city, such as heatwaves, floods, disease outbreaks and cyberattacks. Chronic stresses weaken a city day to day, including rising inequity, housing unaffordability, family violence and inadequate public transport.
How are these being addressed?
The Resilient Sydney Strategy 2025-2030 contains 30 actions that, delivered through collaboration across all levels of government, national state and local, and partnerships with business and communities, would significantly improve our region’s resilience. Actions were developed following extensive engagement of 200 organisations and 2000 individuals, alongside a region wide risk assessment. What we heard from Sydney communities and technical stakeholders are captured in key reports.
Direction 1
Care for the environment
Direction 2
People-centred city
An equitable city with climate resilient neighbourhoods
Direction 3
Connect for strength
An inclusive city that supports social connections an community agency
Direction 4
Be ready
Direction 5
One city
STRATEGY DIRECTIONS
Snapshot of
Greater Sydney
Density per km<sup>2</sup>
9 river systems
Snapshot of
Greater Sydney
Density per km<sup>2</sup>
9 river systems
