Overview
Western New South Wales extends from the Great Dividing Range in the east across to the South Australian border and covers more than half of the state. It includes a population of nearly half a million people in 48 local government areas living in diverse environments ranging from dispersed rural villages to larger regional centres.
The Department seeks a sustainable future for the western regions by:
- creating investor confidence and promoting economic development in the right locations
- protecting valuable natural and built resources
- helping to build stronger rural and regional communities.
We work closely with councils, key agencies and groups across the regions, providing the strategic planning direction to guide local initiatives.
Planning challenges
Particular challenges in planning for Western NSW are to:
- support sustainable agriculture
- conserve valuable natural resources
- foster new settlement and development in suitable locations
- encourage jobs and services
- minimise land use conflict
- achieve social planning outcomes with the limited resources available to local councils.