Gunnedah Shire Council is set to receive a $202,500 funding boost from the NSW government for housing planning, with the potential to unlock 1000 new homes by 2040.

The funding, which the council will co-contribute to, will support a new Development Control Plan, a Section 7.12 Local Contributions Plan, water supply and sewer network capacity assessments and new Development Services Plans for water and sewerage infrastructure.

The renewed plans will support and streamline future project delivery and accelerate developments, with the potential to support up to 1000 new homes in the region by 2040.

The government said by linking these plans, planners will maximise efficiency, save resources, deliver better value for money and pave the way for more families to call Gunnedah home.

Gunnedah’s 2023 Local Housing Strategy noted existing zoned residential land in the shire “accounts for a potential supply of in excess of 800 residential lots”. It also highlighted availability of a further 895 lots if selected areas were rezoned.

It identified that land close to town on small lot sizes was also desirable.

“With an estimate of 1700 potential lots, it is also important to consider the need to provide for housing diversity within the urban footprint,” the housing strategy said. “Demand for smaller housing typologies is recognised in Gunnedah as a key issue to provide options for a range of people and incomes.”

Several areas were identified in the 2016 Gunnedah Urban Land Use Strategy for future development. These include Wandobah Road south of Mornington Estate, land off McCalls Road to Howes Road in West Gunnedah and land at the eastern end of Maitland Street.

Council’s new grant funding will be drawn from the NSW government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund and will deliver a total of $2.93 million in grants of up to $250,000 to 16 councils from the North Coast to the Central West and the Riverina, supporting a total of up to 23,769 potential new homes.

Councils will use the funds to accelerate new housing strategies, prepare infrastructure and servicing plans, and amend local environmental plans to bring forward delivery of more diverse and affordable housing supply.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the fund was about empowering councils to undertake vital efforts to speed up housing delivery.

“It will help deliver the important planning work needed to boost housing supply, affordability, and diversity and support growing regional communities,” he said.

“We are focused on better co-ordinating housing and infrastructure delivery across the state, while making sure regional homes are ready for the hazards of the future.”

Gunnedah Shire Council was contacted for comment about how funding for the plans will accelerate housing growth locally.

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