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Investment to unlock more new housing

30 Aug 2022

The construction of tens of thousands of homes can now be accelerated across regional NSW, thanks to nearly $30 million in funding.

The Department of Planning and Environment’s Executive Director of Housing Supply and Infrastructure Monica Gibson said the investment from the Regional Housing Fund, will help deliver the public space and infrastructure needed to support thriving communities.

“We are helping 21 high-growth regional councils deliver 25 new projects that will provide services, open space and connections to fast-track a pipeline of new homes,” Ms Gibson said.

“The $1.4 million infrastructure investment is an incentive for the council doing the planning work necessary to implement the Regional Housing Taskforce’s recommendations locally and fasttrack the delivery of new housing in its region.

“Half of the funding will be given upfront, while the remainder will be delivered if strategic planning initiative milestones have been met, such as updating housing policies and local and affordable
housing strategies.”

Ms Gibson said the Government is focused on getting homes built, with the right infrastructure in place from the get-go.

“This funding will help accelerate infrastructure and open space projects that will directly support more than 46,000 new homes where they’re needed in regional NSW,” she said.

“The strategic work needed to be done to receive this funding could pave the way for more than 113,000 new homes across these local government areas by 2040.”

Strategic planning milestones must be met by 31 December 2022 or 31 March 2023 to qualify for the second phase of funding, with nominated infrastructure projects to be completed by 31 December 2023.

Projects to benefit from the Regional Housing Fund include:

  • A new playground for kids aged 11 and up, to support almost 5,000 homes in Ballina
  • A mountain bike park to support around 4,800 homes in Singleton
  • A sewerage pump station to service 1,300 homes at Old Bar on the Mid-Coast
  • A new cycleway and pathway connecting the missing link between Mitchell Highway at Windradyne to the existing Kath Knowles Walkway, supporting 204 new homes in Bathurst.

This program supports the Government’s response to the Regional Housing Taskforce recommendations and the launch of round three of the Accelerated Infrastructure Fund.

For more information, visit the Regional Housing Fund web page.