NSW Land Audit Unlocks More Sites in Housing Boost Bid

Ten more sites have been unlocked by the NSW Government for housing, creating potential for about 1100 more homes.

A land audit identified the sites—nine in Sydney and one in Newcastle—as surplus to requirements.

In the capital, the land is at Woolloomooloo, Sydney Olympic Park, Hurstville, Marsfield, Seaforth, Minto, and three sites at Arncliffe.

The NSW Government committed $5.1 billion in its latest Budget towards new public housing and the land audit is part of the strategy to deliver 30,000 homes near infrastructure and transport.

NSW lands and property minister Steve Kemper said that through the property audit the state was “undertaking a process that has never been done before by the state government”.

The development of the land at Woolloomooloo, Sydney Olympic Park and Hurstville will be by Homes NSW. About 600 homes, with more than 50 per cent set aside as social homes, are anticipated to be developed on those sites.

The other sites will be developed by Landcom or through partnerships with developers, providing an opportunity for the private sector to be involved.

More due diligence and market research will take place over the next few months before a development partner, and the final mix and quantity of housing on these sites, are announced.

▲ NSW Premier Chris Minns has expressed concern that people aged 30 to 40 years are leaving Sydney because of escalating housing and living costs.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said that getting more homes built for families in well-located areas was a “top priority for our Government and releasing surplus land for housing is a key part of our plan to make this a reality”. 

From 2016 to 2021, Sydney lost twice the number of residents aged 30-40 years than it gained as people struggled to find affordable housing, according to a Productivity Commission report released this month.

“Housing costs are the single largest cost-of-living pressure faced by people across NSW and we are committed to confronting this head on,” Minns said.

“Young people will continue to up and leave our state because they can’t afford to buy or even rent a home here if we don’t take action.”