Making it happen

The regional plan takes an infrastructure-first and place-based approach to future growth.

This requires infrastructure providers, the development industry and public authorities to take an integrated and coherent place-based approach to land use planning through:

• an urban development program
• infrastructure assessment
• place strategies for specific areas.

Read part 1 (PDF, 48.4 MB) of the regional plan to learn more.

Download the Hunter Regional Plan 2041 (PDF, 48.4 MB).

The urban development program (UDP) is the NSW Government’s program for managing land and housing supply and assisting infrastructure coordination.

The UDP already exists in Greater Newcastle but will be expanded to the Upper Hunter and MidCoast regions. This will provide a strong evidence base through quarterly reporting of land supply, dwelling construction and demand.

Two UDP committees will operate with councils, industry and agency representatives participating in the Greater Newcastle UDP, and Upper Hunter and MidCoast UDP.

The UDP committees will oversee a pipeline of housing and employment land supply across the region to identify opportunities to increase supply. They will consider constraints to supply and make recommendations on land use and infrastructure sequencing that may result in more cost-effective housing and job delivery.

The UDP committees will provide annual updates on the implementation of the regional plan and will provide a sequencing plan and delivery report.

An infrastructure assessment framework will allow us to think about whether different growth areas, which will be subject to place strategies, can be supported by existing or new infrastructure. The framework will assess the:

• capacity of existing infrastructure
• potential take-up scenarios of future development
• extent, type and timing of new infrastructure.

The cost effectiveness of new infrastructure will influence government decision-making on where new homes or jobs should be located. Additional analysis will also consider the wider impacts and benefits resulting from this potential infrastructure investment.

Tier 1 (0 - 5 years zoned)

• Subdivisions approved with biodiversity offsets, and enabling infrastructure funding resolved

Tier 2 (6 - 10 years zoned)

• Biodiversity offsets resolved

Tier 3 (11 - 15 years zoned)

Tier 4 (16 - 20 years further investigation)

• Identified in an endorsed local strategy

Tier 5 (20 + years potential future investigation)

• Not identified in an endorsed local strategy

We will use the urban development program and infrastructure assessments to guide a collaborative place strategy approach.

This approach provides certainty for the community on expected areas of significant change and helps identify catalytic infrastructure to enable the cost-effective provision of new homes and workplaces.

Both the urban development program and place strategies will aim to make efficient use of infrastructure, help align state and local investment and lead to stronger place-based planning.

The place strategy process applies to areas moving from strategic planning to construction. It aims to accelerate the realisation of vision of the regional plan into on-the-ground outcomes. A proponent or a council can nominate a site through the place delivery group process.

The place delivery group resolves planning and infrastructure constraints for an area undergoing significant change.

Summary

As one of the fastest growing areas in NSW, with almost 200,000 people estimated to move to Greater Newcastle by 2056, ensuring quality housing and creating jobs will be critical to the success of the city and region.

In order to support the forecasted population growth, and ensure that Greater Newcastle and the Hunter region remain productive, liveable and sustainable, the NSW Government is taking a strategic approach to planning the city over the next 20 years.

The Hunter Regional Plan 2041 and Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036 identifies the Broadmeadow Regionally Significant Growth Area (Broadmeadow) as a priority location for future housing.

This means providing more housing supply and a range of housing options close to existing transport and the city centre.

The Awabakal people are the Traditional Custodians of the place we now call Broadmeadow.

Broadmeadow is an approximately 280ha site located in the City of Newcastle LGA. The area presents a unique opportunity to deliver state-led rezoning to provide increased supply of housing and housing diversity for people living and working in Greater Newcastle and the Hunter  Region.

In parallel, City of Newcastle, in collaboration with the department, is leading the preparation of a draft Place Strategy for Broadmeadow that will inform the precinct’s infrastructure requirements and future rezonings.

In December 2022, the NSW Government announced $73.5m towards the Rezoning Pathways Program – an initiative designed to unlock 70,000 homes across NSW by 2024. Broadmeadow Regionally Significant Growth Area has been identified as one of 10 sites to participate in this pilot program.

In early 2023 the department engaged a team of technical consultants to undertake a range of studies to better understand the opportunities and constraints in the area.

The draft Place Strategy, Masterplan and initial rezoning will go on public exhibition in late 2023 and the community will be invited to have their say.

Neighbourhood workshops will also be held to engage with the community about the long-term vision for the area.

The Hunter Regional Plan 2036 (PDF, 3.58MB) provided the NSW Government’s land use vision for the Hunter. Since its release in 2016, the NSW Government has worked with councils, other stakeholders and the community to deliver on key priorities, which informed this regional plan.

These actions include:

• the release of the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan: Part 1 (PDF, 4.6 MB), Part 2 (PDF, 7.0 MB) and implementation of catalyst areas
• agreement to a memorandum of understanding with the Hunter Joint Organisation on implementation of the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan 2036
• exhibition of a draft Hunter Expressway Strategy and
• establishment of the Greater Newcastle Urban Development Program and release of the Greater Newcastle Urban Development Program Annual Report 2018-19 (nsw.gov.au).