The funding boost from the NSW State Government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund is expected to propel the council’s initiatives to enhance its stormwater network and facilitate the delivery of about 5,600 new homes.
With the state grappling with the lowest housing affordability levels in decades, exacerbated by a slowdown in building approvals and construction activities amid soaring building costs, this funding represents a timely intervention.
The government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund will dispense a total of $2.93 million in grants to 16 deserving councils across NSW, from the North Coast through the Central West to the Riverina, including neighbouring council Hume Shire, who will receive $165,000 for its West-Jindera Residential Land Use Precinct project.
This substantial investment is expected to support the development of new housing strategies, infrastructure and servicing plans, and amendments to local environmental plans.
The overarching goal is to accelerate the delivery of more varied and accessible housing stock, catering to the growing demand in these communities.
Federation Council expressed gratitude for being among the selected councils to benefit from this funding, which will be directed towards developing a Stormwater Servicing Plan for the local government area. Council has previously recognised that the stormwater network for Corowa, Mulwala and Howlong are well beyond their useful life.
“Council is thrilled to be one of the sixteen councils to receive this grant funding from the NSW Government Office of Planning and Public Spaces for $230,000 to proceed with this project,” Mayor Pat Bourke said.
“This funding supports council’s strategic stormwater planning work which will allow for the management of stormwater for urban and residential growth throughout the council area incorporating climate change adaptation.”
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the funding empowers councils to undertake vital efforts to speed up housing delivery.
“It will help deliver the important planning work needed to boost housing supply, affordability, and diversity and support growing regional communities,” he said.
“We are focused on better coordinating housing and infrastructure delivery across the state while making sure regional homes are ready for the hazards of the future.”
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the government is also ensuring councils across the state are adequately prepared for the future, with more homes and development on the horizon.
“We know the communities in the Federation and Greater Hume Shires are growing, and this funding will support them by providing better infrastructure and unlocking more residential land,” she said.
Member for Albury, Justin Clancy, welcomed the funding but cautioned that it marks only the beginning of the investment needed to meet the region’s housing potential
“We welcome any financial support for our local councils as they seek to grow housing opportunities in our communities,” he said.
“It’s fair to say that much more investment will be required to help realise some of the numbers that the government is talking about in terms of potential housing.
“This is important funding, particularly for the stormwater network in Corowa because we all realise the impact the flooding event had on that in 2022- so that’s critical.
“There’s much more investment needed, not just in planning but infrastructure as well, such as sewerage and water- these communities are absolutely crying to grow, and we will keep urging the government to make those investments.”
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