A proposed change to Council's Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (LEP) could open a new pathway to deliver affordable housing in the local government area.
At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 13 July 2026, Council resolved to support a Planning Proposal to amend the WWLEP 2010 by introducing an additional local provisions clause to enable the delivery of Entry Point Housing.
Council also resolved to support a draft amendment to the Development Control Plan 2010 (DCP), providing detailed guidance for the implementation and operation of the Entry Point Housing scheme, and a standard Voluntary Planning Agreement template to secure delivery of Entry Point Housing outcomes.
Council's General Manager Peter Thompson described it as the first step towards adopting the initiative as part of the LEP.
"The Entry Point Housing Program aims to streamline the regulatory processes to facilitate the development of lower cost, well-located and well-designed housing for eligible local purchasers," Mr Thompson said.
"We're trying to attract developers to deliver housing for people who currently are not able to enter the housing market because it is too expensive.
"The dwellings must be sold at an agreed price determined at the approval stage and are only for eligible purchasers who don't own other property and must live in the house as their principal residence.
"There would be no assets test means test, and there's no income tests associated with the scheme, which is directed solely at someone who does not currently own a home.
"By putting in these restrictions, we're excluding investors, so if you're someone who has a lot of real estate assets and you're building the portfolio, these properties are not for you."
Entry Point Housing is anticipated to be a smaller house built on a smaller than average lot to achieve a price point for individuals or households to enter into home ownership.
The projected cost is somewhere around that $420,000 to $425,000 mark for a brand-new freehold title dwelling.
"We have a builder working with us on the pilot; they are looking at constructing a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom property," Mr Thompson said.
"We also have Westpac Bank and Commonwealth Bank working with us to support the product, and we've got a number of retailers working with us to provide cheaper fit-outs."
This initiative is a new concept which has been supported by local Wagga Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr and the NSW Government.
"There's a lot of interest across regional New South Wales to see how it works in Wagga Wagga."
The Planning Proposal will now be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for Gateway Determination.
Once that is received, the Planning Proposal along with the draft DCP amendment and Planning Agreement template will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days, with Council to receive a further report addressing any relevant submissions received during that period for either document.
