Round three of the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund will deliver 24 councils nearly $4.4 million to unlock housing supply through strategic planning initiatives.
Grants of up to $250,000 will support councils to develop and update housing strategies, plan for infrastructure and essential services, and amend local environmental plans to bring forward the construction of more diverse and affordable housing.
Successful projects in Newcastle and the Central Coast support the NSW Government's Transport Oriented Development reforms aimed at boosting housing supply around train stations, as well as the Low and Mid-Rise Policy which promotes more diverse housing.
Other successful projects include the South Orange Sewer Servicing Strategy, the Singleton planning control review and the Narrabri Development Control Plan update.
In 2024, the Minns Government set new housing targets to rebalance housing delivery across the state, regional NSW received a single target of 55,000 homes over five years. The projects funded under this program will support the delivery of this five-year target.
More people are choosing to live in regional NSW, but homes have become more expensive and harder to find, so delivering more regional housing supply is vital.
By funding local housing, planning and infrastructure projects we will build better communities across regional NSW.
Funding for the first two rounds of the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund allocated $6.88 million to 36 projects.
Key projects delivered so far include the Laffing Waters Master Plan Precinct Contributions Plan in Bathurst, West Dapto Town Centres Master Planning in Wollongong, and the Tamworth Regional Housing Strategy, which will help advance more homes in the pipeline.
This is all part of the Minns Government's plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and in the communities they choose.
For more information on the successful councils and their projects, visit Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund | Planning
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
"By investing in planning today, we're helping councils deliver the homes, parks, transport connections, and infrastructure communities need, and making sure young people and families can continue to build their futures in the regions."
"Good planning unlocks opportunity. Through this fund, we're giving councils the tools to deliver better-designed, more liveable communities across regional NSW, close to transport, jobs, and essential services."
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:
"We're making real progress unlocking more homes across regional NSW by giving councils the support they need to plan for growth.
This $4.4 million investment will fast-track over 105,000 homes and help ensure our growing regional communities have access to the housing, infrastructure, and services they deserve."
| Round Three - Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund | |||
| Council | Project | Funding | Homes |
| Central Coast Council | Central Coast Council residential zone review program | $250,000 | 2558 |
| Griffith City Council | Griffith urban Crown land affordable housing activation business case | $190,000 | 120 |
| Goulburn Mulwaree Council | Technical studies to inform Goulburn's CBD and Surrounds Transformation Project | $122,378 | 4226 |
| Murray River Council | Murray River Infrastructure Strategy for Moama | $99,025 | 3890 |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings Council | Port Macquarie planning control review to unlock housing | $200,000 | 1817 |
| Bega Valley Shire Council | Bega Valley Local Infrastructure Contribution Plan for Wolumla | $50,380 | 1096 |
| Eurobodalla Shire Council | Eurobodalla planning proposal for Batemans Bay Urban Renewal Project | $200,000 | 8000 |
| Singleton Council | Singleton planning control review to accelerate and unlock housing | $120,671 | 8860 |
| Lake Macquarie City Council | Supporting works for the Lake Macquarie Housing Strategy | $250,000 | 2849 |
| Port Stephens Council | Port Stephens infrastructure needs analysis | $249,490 | 11,100 |
| Shoalhaven City Council | Shoalhaven Estate Renewal Strategy and Delivery Plan for Nowra (joint project with Homes NSW and Southern Cross Housing) | $250,000 | 500 |
| Uralla Shire Council | Uralla Growth Management Strategy, LEP review and developer servicing plans for water and sewer | $250,000 | 208 |
| Inverell Shire Council | Inverell detailed drainage assessment and plans for new residential areas | $220,000 | 1002 |
| Cobar Shire Council | Cobar Local Housing Strategy | $166,840 | TBA |
| Central Darling Shire Council | Central Darling Shire Local Housing Strategy | $156,335 | 35 |
| Narrabri Shire Council | Narrabri Development Control Plan update | $47,000 | 5960 |
| Coonamble Shire Council | Coonamble Shire Urban Housing Strategy | $69,916 | 60 |
| Gilgandra Shire Council | Gilgandra residential master planning project > Towards 5000 | $226,930 | 481 |
| Orange City Council | South Orange Sewer Servicing Strategy | $164,772 | 2740 |
| Mid-Western Regional Council | Mid-Western Regional Council housing strategy implementation | $210,000 | 240 |
| Parkes Shire Council | East Parkes Masterplan and Servicing Strategy | $185,799 | 980 |
| Dubbo Regional Council | Dubbo Master Plan and Servicing Strategy for Montefiores, Wellington | $250,000 | 1400 |
| Albury City Council | Albury LEP amendment and toolkit for Thurgoona Growth Precinct | $192,000 | 23,421 |
| City of Newcastle | Accelerate the place-based master planning for City of Newcastle's Transport Oriented Development precincts | $250,000 | 23,591 |
