Gunnedah's Local Housing Strategy paves way for future residential development

19 July, 2024 

The Gunnedah Shire Local Housing Strategy was adopted by Gunnedah Shire Council in June 2023 and updated in May 2024 to align with the New England North West Regional Plan 2041.

The Strategy helps to guide future residential growth in the Shire, facilitate an increase in the supply of innovative and affordable housing options and provide clear guidance for Council in providing sustainable housing options.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the document sets a direction for future residential planning proposals that align with the Strategy’s vision for the future.

The Strategy includes three key directions, accompanied by 15 strategies and 34 actions for Council to implement and encourage housing diversity and choice, and increase affordability in meeting the needs of its future population.

They are:

• Direction 1: Coordinate land use planning for future growth, community need and regional economic development. • Direction 2: Provide well-located housing options to meet demand. • Direction 3: Provide more affordable and low-cost housing.

Specific actions include considering incentives for affordable housing, encouraging secondary dwellings as an alternative affordable housing option in all residential zones, investigating public land for conversion to housing in partnership with housing providers, and provide for a range of housing typologies to suit the demands of the changing demographic of the current and future population.

Cr Chaffey said the Strategy includes a study of the urban areas of Gunnedah, and to some extent the villages, and identifies opportunities for an additional projected 580 dwellings over the next 20 years to 2041.

“In the current climate, housing is at the forefront of many people’s minds as it is a key factor in employment. It’s imperative there is available housing in the Shire so we can fill our local workforce shortage which covers a wide variety of sectors,” he said.

“This Strategy has allowed Council to support and finalise three rezoning applications, which will result in land being rezoned to R5 Large Lot Residential and could accommodate approximately 110 residential allotments.”

“Council will continue to work with developers by providing flexibility in planning policy and supporting land that aligns with the Strategy to be rezoned through the Planning Proposal process.”

To view the Strategy, visit https://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/development/landuse-planning/land-use-strategies