Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes, Anthony Roberts, has announced a new expert group will be established to take charge of the coordination and delivery of a steady supply of housing, jobs and infrastructure on the Central Coast.
Speaking at the Housing Summit held at Red Tree Theatre on September 7, Roberts said the successful Urban Development Program (UDP) will be extended to the Coast, in a move aimed at encouraging investment, certainty and housing stock.
The group will include experts from Central Coast Council, government agencies, the development industry, Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, and utility providers, to monitor the housing pipeline, manage land supply, and facilitate and coordinate infrastructure in the region.
“The UDP has proven to be a success in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven and the Hunter, and its expansion will give greater certainty on infrastructure and investment decisions on the Central Coast,” Roberts said.
Roberts told the summit the COVID pandemic has changed the way NSW residents live and work.
“It’s little wonder many are moving to the Central Coast,” he said.
While he said there was “no silver bullet” to immediately fix housing shortage issues, the Government would work with local government and other stakeholders to address the issue.
He said the Government would identify and remove barriers to infill housing and unlock land to expedite housing development.
He said managing conservation was critical.
“We need to strike the right balance to reflect biodiversity values,” he said.
The expansion of the UDP is part of the Government’s response to the Regional Housing Taskforce’s recommendations, to create a pipeline of 127,000 homes in regional NSW.
The group will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on housing and employment land, ensuring infrastructure is delivered, and identifying ways to speed up new homes and job-generating development.
It will see faster assessment and delivery of development to unlock a pipeline of development-ready land over the next five years.
It will also oversee the implementation of the finalised Central Coast Regional Plan 2041, which will be released shortly following community feedback.
Terry Collins
The solution is simple!
1- Faster trains to Newcastle and Sydney
2- Change zoning. Where do we have rural areas in the middle of the city ?
3- Improve infrastructure (universities, schools, parks, etc.)