Updated 26 October 2026
Conveyancing in NSW | Local property guide
Sydney’s Southwest Metro is due to open on Friday 30 October 2026, and that makes this a particularly relevant week for people buying, selling or investing near Marrickville and Dulwich Hill stations. Better transport connections can change the appeal of a location. They do not, by themselves, establish what a property is worth, what can be built on it or whether a purchase is legally straightforward.
The important questions for a buyer are specific: What does the title say? What planning controls apply to this particular lot? Could nearby development affect the property? Are there building, strata or flood risks that remain regardless of the new train service?
1. What is changing on 30 October?
The NSW Government has confirmed that passenger services on the converted Sydenham-to-Bankstown section of the M1 line will commence at 4:31 am on Friday 30 October 2026. Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park and other upgraded stations through to Bankstown will join the continuous metro network through the CBD and north-west Sydney.
The announced service includes trains approximately every four minutes during weekday peaks. The published Marrickville-to-Gadigal journey is 12 minutes, compared with an earlier journey of up to 24 minutes using the former connections. These are published service estimates; actual travel conditions should be checked after opening.
For buyers, the change could make locations within walking distance of stations more attractive. Equally, a property close to the corridor may raise questions about noise, vibration, access, construction activity or future changes in the surrounding neighbourhood. The effect is different for every address.
2. Do the new Metro stations mean my land can be developed?
Not automatically. The NSW Transport Oriented Development (TOD) planning controls have applied to identified parts of Marrickville and Dulwich Hill since January 2025. The state framework allows additional housing forms in specified station precincts, subject to the applicable rules. It does not confer an unconditional right to build apartments on every nearby lot.
A separate Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy operates in qualifying locations within walking distance of nominated stations and town centres. The two planning frameworks should not be confused. Their coverage, exclusions and development standards must be checked against the particular property.
Even where a site falls within a mapped precinct, heritage restrictions, permitted uses, lot configuration, access, design requirements, flood constraints and existing approvals can affect what is achievable. Buyers considering redevelopment should obtain planning advice before relying on an agent’s estimate of the site’s potential.
Inner West Council has also been consulting on proposed changes through Our Fairer Future Plan 2. A proposal under consultation is not the same as an operative planning control. Check the legal position at the time you enter the contract.
3. Start with the contract, planning certificate and title
In NSW, a residential sale contract generally includes a title search, registered plan, relevant registered dealings, a drainage diagram and a section 10.7 planning certificate. Those documents provide the starting point for due diligence. A section 10.7 certificate can reveal applicable planning instruments and certain site constraints, but it does not replace a full review of development approvals or establish that every existing building alteration is lawful.
For a property advertised as a potential duplex, apartment development site or “Metro growth opportunity”, the buyer should consider additional enquiries:
- Check the NSW Planning Spatial Viewer to see whether the identified TOD controls apply to the specific parcel—not merely the street or suburb.
- Review the current council planning controls, heritage status and any proposed changes separately.
- Examine easements, covenants, access arrangements, restrictions and any relevant government interests in the land.
- Verify earlier development and occupation approvals if rental or redevelopment plans depend on existing structures or particular uses.
Where the intended purchase depends on future development, the cost of qualified planning and building advice is modest compared with buying land that cannot be used as expected.
4. Heritage, flooding and nearby development still matter
Marrickville and Dulwich Hill contain established residential streets and heritage-sensitive areas. Some buyers are attracted to the character of older homes, but renovation or redevelopment may involve additional approvals. A new transport service does not override heritage controls or permit unauthorised building work.
Flood risk also requires an address-specific assessment. The Marrickville Valley floodplain has a history of localised flash flooding, and a property’s risk cannot be inferred from how close it sits to a Metro entrance. Buyers should check relevant council information, planning certificates and specialist reports where indicated.
A property near a station can also be affected by neighbouring development. Check development applications, proposed building heights where relevant, and potential impacts on sunlight, privacy, parking and access. An attractive current outlook or quiet adjoining site should not be assumed to remain unchanged.
5. What if you are buying a unit close to the Metro?
For apartments, the station is only one part of the decision. Obtain a strata records inspection and consider the scheme’s financial position, capital works fund, current and proposed levies, insurance, defect reports and meeting minutes. A low purchase price or impressive new transport connection will not remove liability for major building repairs.
Check exactly what forms part of the lot, including parking spaces and storage areas. If the building has an embedded utility network, unusual access arrangements or proposed special levies, the purchase budget should take those matters into account.
6. Will Metro access automatically increase house prices?
No reliable percentage increase can be promised simply because the line is opening. Access to transport may improve demand for some homes, but sale prices also reflect property condition, supply, interest rates, local amenities, zoning, comparable sales and the wider market.
Buyers should distinguish an independently supported property valuation from a selling agent’s forecast. Investors should test rental assumptions, ongoing costs and any period of vacancy, and should not pay a redevelopment premium without checking what the planning controls actually permit.
Sellers should ensure that marketing descriptions of transport, zoning and development potential are accurate. A proposed or conditional development opportunity should not be promoted as if consent has already been granted.
7. Buying at auction near the new Metro? Check before you bid
Interest in a transport corridor can create pressure to move quickly, particularly where a property is marketed to buyers expecting future capital growth. However, purchases made at auction in NSW generally have no cooling-off period. If the successful bidder cannot complete, they may lose their deposit and face additional contractual consequences.
Have the contract reviewed before auction, arrange appropriate building, pest or strata inspections, understand your finance position, and investigate material planning concerns before bidding. Do not assume a title or planning problem can be corrected after contracts are exchanged.
8. A practical Metro property checklist
- How far is the property from the station by the actual walking route, rather than a straight-line estimate?
- Does the title or section 10.7 certificate identify restrictions, easements, flood or heritage matters requiring enquiry?
- Do TOD or low-and-mid-rise housing controls apply to the exact lot, and what other conditions must be satisfied?
- Could development on adjoining sites affect privacy, light, access or neighbourhood character?
- For an apartment, what do the strata records reveal about defects, levies and future work?
- Have you inspected at different times to form a view about existing road and rail activity?
- Does the purchase contract deal adequately with the intended use, inclusions, settlement and any special conditions?
- If buying at auction, have you completed the necessary checks before the fall of the hammer?
9. Getting the conveyancing right
The Southwest Metro opening is an important transport milestone for Marrickville, Dulwich Hill and the wider line to Bankstown. It also provides a useful reminder that good property decisions depend on more than proximity to a station. Buyers and sellers should separate transport announcements, binding planning controls and individual title and contract obligations.
CM Lawyers in Marrickville assists with residential conveyancing and contract reviews, auction purchases and off-the-plan transactions. If you are considering a property near the new Metro corridor, contact our team before exchange so we can explain the contract and identify the searches or specialist advice appropriate to your proposed purchase.
Key resources
Image: Dulwich Hill Metro Station (August 2026) by JustARandomEditor123, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
