The Department of Planning and Infrastructure plays a key role in creating an affordable, well-planned and sustainable supply of land for housing across New South Wales.
This work is undertaken through a number of programs and strategies that set out strategic land-use plans for both metropolitan and regional areas based on long-term housing and employment projections.
These programs and strategies are designed to provide an adequate supply of land to keep up with demand and encourage further investment, while ensuring that growth areas are appropriately located to protect the environment and the amenity of existing and future residents.
The Department is the lead agency for the NSW 2021 target to increase the percentage of the population living within 30 minutes by public transport of a city or major centre in metropolitan Sydney. It is also the lead agency for planning policies to provide for affordable housing.
Greater Metropolitan Region
Through the Government’s Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036, the Department continues to plan for and deliver an additional 770,000 homes in the Sydney metropolitan area by 2036.
Delivery of new land releases is already well underway in Sydney’s Growth Centres, where 181,000 dwellings and land for employment are proposed. In 2008, the former Growth Centres Commission was integrated into the Department.
The Department has also released subregional strategies that outline in greater detail how this new housing and employment will be accommodated across the city’s 41 local government areas.
The Department has also developed new city centre plans for the six regional cities of Gosford, Penrith, Parramatta, Liverpool, Wollongong and Newcastle.
The Metropolitan Development Program (MDP) is the Government’s key program for maintaining the supply of new home sites to accommodate the growing population of the Sydney metropolitan region.
Regional areas
The Department has developed regional land-use strategies for seven different regions of the State outlining projected growth in jobs and housing, the appropriate location of future development, necessary infrastructure and the protection of important environmental assets.
These strategies strongly support the delivery of jobs closer to home by protecting strategic employment lands in each region and by reinforcing the role of town centres.
Each regional strategy is broken down by local government area with aims, actions and targets for housing and employment prepared to cater to the needs and characteristics of each unique area.
Whether in metropolitan or regional areas, the Department undertakes its land supply and management role in close association and consultation with local government, which ultimately oversees the implementation of much of the detailed land-use management in its local area.