The NSW Government released its Industrial Lands Action Plan in 2025, acknowledging pressure from rising industrial land values, rents and, in some locations, extremely low vacancy. The Government has since established the Employment Land Development Program to actively manage the supply of development-ready employment land and coordinate infrastructure investment. The need is real. But there is a bigger question: What should the next generation of industrial land actual

Industrial developments often feature generous landscape setbacks along extensive street frontages. While these areas commonly become decorative lawn or simple planting beds, they have the potential to become valuable public spaces.

Australia's industrial landscape will continue to evolve. Warehousing, advanced manufacturing, logistics automation and AI infrastructure will all influence the way employment precincts are planned and delivered. Landscape architecture has an increasingly important role to play in ensuring these places remain environmentally responsible, operationally efficient and positively connected to the communities that surround them.

How can landscape architecture improve the performance of this industrial place?