Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund

All NSW councils outside of the ‘Six Cities region’ and councils in the Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle, Central Coast and Illawarra–Shoalhaven cities are eligible for funding. Refer to the program guidelines (PDF 641.63KB) for a list of eligible councils.

A single council or groups of 2 or more councils, such as joint organisations of councils, may apply. We encourage regional collaboration on projects that address shared strategic planning needs or regional or subregional planning issues. 

For each round of funding, there is a limit of one application and one project for each council or one joint application and one joint project for group projects. A council may apply for and receive funding for both an individual project and a joint project (whether as the project lead or not) within a single funding round if the projects are clearly distinct and there is no duplication.

Program funding will support strategic planning projects, investigations and technical studies that are consistent with the aim and objectives of the fund.

Eligible projects include:

• sub-regional and local planning strategies such as local housing strategies or growth management strategies to identify and sequence future housing investigation areas
• affordable housing strategies and affordable housing contributions schemes
• technical studies that help identify residential lands or that create greater certainty about land’s suitability for residential development (such as flood, bushfire, or biodiversity studies)
• structure plans or precinct master plans for lands with a significant residential component, including both urban renewal projects and new land releases
• preparation of local environmental plan (LEP) amendments that facilitate a significant housing or affordable housing opportunity, such as release of significant housing lands or an urban renewal precinct, in line with a regional strategy or plan or related to a local strategic land use project. This may include a comprehensive LEP amendment
• infrastructure needs analysis, servicing strategies, infrastructure contributions plans, or the preparation of business cases that will better align infrastructure and housing delivery
• detailed planning and design guidelines such as amendments to development control plans (DCPs)
• projects that identify solutions to broader issues that have implications for the location and delivery of future housing supply, such as projects that:
  • resolve constraints to future housing supply
  • address unmet housing needs
  • support the development of innovative housing models, or
  • enable adaptation or mitigation of housing to climate change effects.

The above list is not meant to be complete. We will consider projects not listed above if they align with the program aims and objectives.  

To be eligible for funding in round 2, projects must begin by 15 February 2024 upon receipt of funding. The funding agreement will identify project start activities. Projects must be completed within 12 months from the project start date.

Funding may be used towards the direct project costs such as:

• engagement of third-party professional services for the approved project
• procurements for the approved project, such as relevant data and evidence staff salaries directly for the approved project
• community consultation costs for the approved project
• reasonable project management costs for the approved project (no greater than 10% of total project value)
• any other costs the department determines to be eligible.

Projects that are not eligible for funding include:

• projects outside of NSW (except for cross-border planning projects)
• capital works projects
• projects related to the preparation and assessment of development applications
• projects that have already received development consent
• projects that have received funding under another program, unless the application can demonstrate how additional funding will complement and/or expand the scope or outcome of the project to increase the project’s impact.

Funding may not be used for:

• costs incurred before the approved project start date
• staff training or education
• statutory fees and charges
• legal advice
• financial advice
• administrative or operational advice
• ongoing council costs such as administration, operation and maintenance
• remuneration of employees for work not directly on the approved project
• overhead charges for internal council costs
• infrastructure or other capital works
• any other costs the department determines to be ineligible.