A City of New Settlement

Fairfield City is a city of new settlement. It accommodated 3,000 humanitarian arrivals in 2016: triple the usual annual humanitarian intake in 2015. Fairfield City took in 75 per cent of all Western Sydney’s refugee intake, with Liverpool City Council second at 14 per cent. Fairfield City settled at least half of Australia’s special intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees in 2017.

Refugees are moving to the Fairfield area with established religious and community services, family links and large existing communities after their initial arrival in other locations, some of which are interstate: a “secondary settlement” phenomenon. The need for affordable housing to accommodate larger families is required now and into the future.

Fairfield City Centre, along with Cabramatta Town Centre, contains a Centrelink office and offices of non-government organisations (NGOs) who assist in the settlement of new arrivals. This recent phenomenon has created the demand for affordable housing, office space for NGOs, and expanded community facilities. Development opportunities also provide potential community benefits to meet this demand, as well as adding to the vibrancy and importance of the Fairfield City Centre as a place to call home and a place to feel welcome, included and connected.