Applications are now open for the third round of the New South Wales Government’s Regional Housing Strategic Fund, with a total of $3 million available to support the delivery of more well-located and affordable homes.
Regional councils will be able to apply for between $20,000 and $250,000 for individual projects.
Delivering more well-located homes near transport and services has been central to the State Government’s planning reforms.
As regional New South Wales plans for and delivers more homes to its growing communities, the State Government has said that it is supporting that growth by funding strategic planning projects.
Councils can use the funds to speed up new housing strategies, prepare infrastructure and servicing plans and make local planning amendments for the delivery of more diverse and affordable housing supply.
These projects will support regional New South Wales work towards its housing target of 55,000 homes during the National Housing Accord.
The first round of the program funded 20 projects across 19 councils to support the delivery of 40,000 homes. Among them was $107,400 for Port Stephens Council’s partnership with Homes NSW on a sub-precincts masterplan to support the delivery of affordable housing in Raymond Terrace.
The second round allocated $2.9 million to 16 councils to support the delivery of nearly 23,800 homes across regional New South Wales, including $230,000 to Federation Council to undertake a stormwater-servicing plan supporting 5,600 homes across the Murray region.
All New South Wales councils outside Greater Sydney are eligible for funding. Round three will close on 22 November 2024.
New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said that the housing crisis is hitting regional communities just as hard as it is hitting Sydney, and the State Government wants to make sure they have the resources to plan for and deliver more homes in all parts of the state.
“As regional communities grow and evolve, this funding will help deliver the important planning work needed to boost housing supply, affordability, and diversity,” Minister Scully said.
“The State Government is working with regional councils on a coordinated planning approach to deal with regional housing challenges.”
New South Wales Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty, said that the government encourages councils to apply and help unlock the delivery of thousands of new regional homes sooner.
“This funding will support more homes, which means more jobs and better communities in regional New South Wales,” Minister Moriarty said.
“Their submissions will then be assessed by an independent panel using a published criteria.”
Learn more about the fund here.
