Coonamble, in the state's Central Western Plains, is the latest region to receive new key worker housing with the completion of three brand-new police homes.
The $2.6 million project contains three spacious four-bedroom homes, all with a separate kitchen, dining and living room, as well as a rumpus, laundry and private backyard with two-car garage and fitted with solar panels.
Some of the biggest barriers in maintaining rural and regional police numbers is the lack of suitable and available housing.
These new homes have already provided an incentive to serving police to transfer to the region, with all three homes now filled by officers and their families.
It's part of the NSW Government's Key Worker Housing Program committing $146.3 million over four years to deliver 271 homes for police and teachers across the state.
To date, the Program has delivered 178 teacher and police homes in regional NSW using a mix of traditional building, modern methods of construction and land and home packages.
The four-year program will create around 700 jobs across the state, helping to strengthen local economies.
The Minns Labor Government acknowledges the housing crisis across the state, and the need to build more homes, which is why we are delivering unprecedented investment in providing more social, affordable and key worker housing.
This investment in police housing also builds on the Minns Labor Government's ongoing work to deliver better frontline services, support the NSW Police Force and keep the community safe.
The former Liberal-National Government had no plan for police recruitment, no plan for police retention and sent wages backwards for 12 years. As a result, thousands of experienced officers left the force.
We know we have a long way to go, but we are working hard to turn that around by:
- securing a historic pay rise for officers
- paying recruits to train, resulting in applications to join the NSWPF soaring by 70%
- creating a pathway for recruits to serve in or near their hometown after attesting at the Goulburn Police Academy
- establishing the Professional Mobility Program for serving officers across Australia and New Zealand to join the NSWPF and keep their equivalent rank up to Senior Constable
- introducing the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Command to better look after the mental and physical health of officers.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said:
"You can't keep a community safe without police, and you can't keep police without housing. These new homes in Coonamble are a game changer for recruiting and keeping the officers we need in the Central West.
"Three new homes and three police families already in place - that's how quickly the right investment delivers results for communities.
"We're not just talking about supporting our police - we're doing it. New homes, paid training, better pay and conditions, and real pathways to serve close to home are all part of rebuilding the NSW Police Force."
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson said:
"Regional communities like Coonamble are crying out for key workers, but you can't recruit police officers and teachers if there's nowhere for them to live. That's why initiatives like these are so vital for Regional NSW.
"We're helping to combat the key worker shortage in regional NSW by delivering over 270 police and teacher housing across the state by the end of 2026.
"By building more homes for teachers and police in regional NSW we can help attract more essential workers to the areas who desperately need them. It's beneficial on both a service front and for the regional economy."
Member for Barwon, Roy Butler said:
"Without investment in key worker housing like this, many regional and rural towns struggle to attract skilled and essential workers.
"Suitable housing makes it much easier. We are facing a staff shortage at police stations in Barwon. These three four-bedroom homes hold significant value for places like Coonamble; they make communities safer, increase the local population, and boost the economy.
"I thank the NSW Government for this investment."
Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland APM, Western Region Commander said:
"This is an important initiative aimed at attracting and retaining police in regional areas.
"These new homes are vital in encouraging police officers and their families to move to this area and build a connection to the community.
"We know that some of the biggest barriers in maintaining police numbers in regional parts of NSW is a lack of suitable housing, and these new homes mean we can attract police to regional communities, where they're most needed."
