The Property Council of Australia has called on Cessnock City Council in the NSW Hunter Valley to take bold action to unlock more housing choices as the region, 154km north of Sydney, continues to grow at record pace.
In its submission to Council’s Housing Discussion Paper, the Property Council highlighted Cessnock’s position as one of the fastest-growing local government areas in NSW, with the population expected to increase by more than 66% to 112,500 by 2041.
Property Council Hunter and Central Coast Regional Director Nuatali Nelmes, the former Lord Mayor of Newcastle, said it was a timely opportunity to reset the planning framework and deliver diverse homes for the whole community.
“Cessnock is booming but planning rules need to keep pace with that growth,” Nuatali said.
“We need to create clear pathways to bring new land online for housing, enable well-located lifestyle villages, and provide more diverse and affordable housing close to town centres. Without these changes, too many families will continue to be locked out of the housing market.
“Right now, the plan is too rigid. We need a safety valve that allows Council to consider well-located land where it meets rezoning principles and delivers real community benefit – whether that’s more diverse and affordable housing, new biodiversity corridors, or quality public open space.”
The submission also recommends:
- Supporting lifestyle villages and manufactured home estates in well-serviced locations;
- Safeguarding larger lots near centres to support future diversity of housing types; and
- Recognising catalyst sites such as the Anambah to Branxton growth area, with capacity to deliver up to 15,000 homes over time.
Villages.com.au lists several local options, including land lease communities Ingenia Lifestyle Hunter Valley, Cessnock, Lincoln Place's Campbell Lifestyle Estate, Cessnock, Over 55s rental community Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley, Cessnock and retirement villages RFBI Cessnock Masonic Retirement Village, Cessnock and The Vines by Teman.