30th May, 2024
The NSW Premier Chris Minns and Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Space have just announced fairer housing targets with incentives to councils to build better communities for NSW. These target effect Local Government Areas across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra, the Hunter, Central Coast and regional NSW including Wollondilly. Out of the 377,000 new homes the NSW Government has committed to, Wollondilly Council’s target has been set at 5,500 new homes completed 2029. This number includes homes already underway, which brings the actual number of new homes for Wollondilly to 710.
“There has been a lot of noise and fear on social media about the number of houses that Wollondilly is expected to deliver to meet the NSW housing targets. I have spoken directly with Paul Scully MP, and I can confirm that our target of 5,500 includes homes that are already in the system - homes that are already planned, under assessment or under construction. This means that the actual number of remaining new houses to be built is 710. I urge people to refrain from spreading fear about development targets in Wollondilly and instead pay attention to the facts,” said Judy Hannan MP.
The fairer housing targets rebalance housing across the state, and provide more housing in the Sydney areas where there is existing infrastructure and employment. Infill housing has been prioritised to alleviate urban sprawl, with less reliance on greenfield developments to meet the housing goals. Incentives are in place also for Councils that meet their targets, with parks, green spaces, sporting fields and upgrades to roads and footpaths earmarked for funding.
“Wollondilly already has a headstart on achieving our goal. We have been hard at work building new houses already and the fact is that we have only 710 remaining houses to build of the 5,500 target. What we need to see now is the associated infrastructure to ensure that these houses have not only the basic necessities of roads, water, sewer and reliable power, but the green spaces, employment opportunities, public transport, hospitals and schools that make these new homes part of liveable communities, not just a place to sleep.”
“Wollondilly has for a long time carried more than our fair share of building new housing, and the infrastructure not provided in the past is still an ongoing issue today. Wollondilly cannot miss out on funding for the infrastructure that still needs to be built here just because of the new housing targets allocating infrastructure funding to the northern and eastern suburbs” said Judy Hannan MP.
In addition to funding for infrastructure and community-enhancing assets like parks and greens spaces, the government has committed to faster approval processes for Development Applications, to minimise delays to delivering these homes.
“There is a housing crisis that is only going to be resolved by providing an increase in well designed and suitable housing options, increased amenities and work opportunities. These fairer targets will mean a more balanced approach to providing good housing and infrastructure that builds better communities for Wollondilly” concluded Judy Hannan MP.
Media: [email protected] or Louise Edgecombe 0437 353 209