Parkes Shire Council has secured $185,799 through the NSW Government's highly competitive Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund Round 3 to prepare a Master Plan and Servicing Strategy for the East Parkes residential growth area.
Funded and administered by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund supports regional councils to accelerate the delivery of strategic planning projects that enhance housing supply, affordability, diversity, and resilience across NSW.
The East Parkes residential area has been identified as a key growth precinct in the recently updated Parkes Shire Housing Strategy 2025, which was also funded by a $150,000 grant under Round 2 of the same program. That project incorporated updated flood modelling, capturing the impacts of the 2022 flood event, to ensure accurate and future-focused land use planning.
Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Neil Westcott, welcomed the announcement and what it means for the community. "This is an exciting time for Parkes Shire. As more people look beyond the cities to live, we are seeing increased migration to the regions that is fuelling growth. Coupled with the significant industry expansion and job creation associated with the transformational Parkes Special Activation Precinct (SAP), we can expect our community to continue to grow.
"These NSW Government-funded strategic planning projects place Council in a strong position to carefully and sustainably manage that growth," added Mayor Westcott.
Acting Director Planning and Project Manager Annalise Teale said the funding would enable Council to continue to plan proactively for the future.
"Funding through this program has already assisted Council to deliver its updated Housing Strategy, and this latest announcement will ensure we can continue making positive progress in addressing the housing needs of our community.
"The East Parkes Master Plan and Servicing Strategy will target the areas identified for growth in our Housing Strategy and guide the development of well-connected, liveable neighbourhoods for future residents," add Mrs Teale.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the NSW Government has invested a combined $335,000 through successive stages of the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund to support Parkes Shire Council.
"The East Parkes Master Plan and Servicing Strategy will lay the groundwork for up to 3,480 new homes, so the right services, connections, and community assets are in place to create a thriving, liveable precinct," Mr Scully said.
"This is an example of the Minns Labor Government building better communities by investing to plan enabling infrastructure to support sustainable future growth."
The project is expected to be completed by mid-2026 and will include:
- An infrastructure servicing plan covering wastewater, potable water, stormwater drainage, electricity, and natural assets
- A staging plan for future development
- Concept designs to accommodate up to 3,480 new dwellings
This initiative marks another significant step in Council's long-term strategy to ensure Parkes remains a vibrant, sustainable, and attractive place to live, work, and invest.
To view the updated strategy, click the button below.
