Hunter, Central Coast Holding Up, But the Clock Is Ticking on Delivery
New building approvals data shows the Hunter and Central Coast regions continue to outperform much of NSW when it comes to housing approvals - but meeting long-term targets will depend on faster precinct planning and greater State Government support.
Property Council NSW Deputy Executive Director Anita Hugo said the regions are tracking above the state average on housing approvals under the National Housing Accord, with councils like Maitland and Cessnock continuing to lead the charge.
"Maitland and Cessnock are among the best performers in NSW - and rightly so. These are rapidly growing communities with strong demand and councils that are doing the work to support new housing," Ms Hugo said.
"But we're now nine months into the five-year Accord period, and if we want to stay ahead, we need to shift from planning to delivery - particularly on major growth precincts."
The Property Council has identified several strategic priorities for the region, including:
- Finalising the Broadmeadow Place Strategy and committing to a delivery model with infrastructure funding and clear staging.
- Accelerating planning for Lake Macquarie's North West Catalyst Area, which has potential to deliver thousands of new homes.
- Supporting Central Coast Council to improve DA timeframes and restore investor confidence following four years of administration.
"There's a real opportunity in this year's State Budget to put weight behind the regions that are getting on with the job - but they can't do it alone," Ms Hugo said.
"Delivering housing at scale means backing up good local planning with the infrastructure, resources, and leadership that only the State Government can provide."
Ms Hugo said the region has a strong pipeline of projects and significant population growth forecasts, but delays in precinct planning, infrastructure commitments and DA processing threaten to stall momentum.
"This region can be a model for how NSW meets its housing targets - but only if we see meaningful investment in delivery," she said.
Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and member of the Housing Delivery Authority will be speaking the Property Council's Hunter Lunch on 15 May.
