Sydney YIMBY
| Founded | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit |
| Membership | 315 (2025) |
Chair | Justin Simon |
| Website | www |
Sydney YIMBY is a group that advocates for greater housing supply in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia primarily through the aim of densification. The abbreviation YIMBY stands for yes in my backyard.
History
Justin Simon started Sydney YIMBY out of the frustration that a development near a light rail station in Leichhardt got blocked.[1] The group had about 12 members when their first meeting occurred but that number has risen to 315 as of June 2025.[2]
In September 2025, the group supported a proposal by Inner West Council to rezone the areas of Ashfield, Croydon, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville to allow for high-density residential buildings such as apartments that are up to 22 storeys high. The plan will allow for 31,000 new homes over 15 years.[3][4]
Functions
The organisation grew out of a perceived need for more housing in Sydney and to counteract the power of NIMBYs (not in my backyard). Sydney YIMBY primarily advocates for their cause through arguments at council meetings and local events when new developments are proposed. The organisation is inspired by similar groups operating in the United States.[2]
The organisation is in favour of creating more houses close to public transport stops. Sydney YIMBY also advocates for reforms to heritage law.[1]
The Sydney YIMBY movement aims to bring down high housing prices with increased supply of housing.[5]
References
- ^ a b Visontay, Elias (15 July 2023). "Yes in my back yard! Sydney and Melbourne activists demand 'soft density' to ease housing crisis". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 July 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b Bolger, Rosemary and Klauzner, Anna (29 June 2025). "Growing number of Australians are calling themselves YIMBYs". Compass. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025 – via ABC News.
- ^ Malone, Ursula (23 September 2025). "Sydney's inner west residents pack into forum on high-rise apartment plan". ABC News. Archived from the original on 20 December 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Malone, Ursula (1 October 2025). "Inner West Council narrowly approves plan to build 31,000 apartments". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Rushton, Gina; Taylor, Catherine; Silvester, Kylie (13 July 2025). "The fight over your backyard: Why NIMBY has become a 'dirty word'". Long Read. ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
Further reading
- Karp, Paul (23 September 2025). "At this council meeting, YIMBYs got the jump on NIMBYs". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - Moloney, Joey (7 August 2023). "What's the YIMBY movement and how can it help housing policy?" (Podcast). Grattan Institute. Archived from the original on 10 August 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.