Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government will introduce amendments to the Member for Wakehurst’s Private Member’s Bill next week, which would enable the NSW Government, if required, to terminate the Northern Beaches PPP contract as if a hospital operator default had occurred.

This follows the appointment of receivers to the parent entities of Healthscope, which the NSW Government considers a default under the contract. 

It is the preference of the NSW Government that agreement on the future control and operation of the Northern Beaches Hospital can be reached with Healthscope and its receivers.

However, the Government must be able to act decisively to avoid a prolonged dispute for members of the Northern Beaches community, staff working at the hospital and for NSW taxpayers.

If a mutual agreement is not reached, the proposed amendments would give the Health Minister the power to issue a termination notice to Healthscope. In addition, the Treasurer would have the power to ensure that compensation negotiations occur in a reasonable time frame and to appoint an independent person to determine compensation if agreement cannot be reached.

The alternative to this approach is for the NSW Government to exercise its voluntary termination rights.  Under the PPP contract signed by the Liberal Party, this would see compensation to Healthscope’s receivers and lenders run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

The government’s legislative approach will ensure there are no windfall gains to Healthscope or its receivers.

Discussions between the Northern Beaches Hospital Taskforce, Healthscope and its receivers remain ongoing, and we are hopeful of a productive outcome.

NSW Health will continue to work closely with Healthscope to ensure that patient safety and continuity of services at the Northern Beaches Hospital will not be compromised as negotiations continue.

The Minns Labor Government passed legislation earlier this month banning any repeat of the failed Northern Beaches PPP model in acute care, ensuring that the Liberals’ privatisation of acute public hospitals never happens again.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This is not a decision we take lightly.

“But we are now in a position where the Liberal’s privatisation mess means Healthscope’s receivers are negotiating the future of the Northern Beaches Hospital.

“While an agreed exit from this failed PPP contract remains my preference – I must ensure the government has the right to step in and protect the Northern Beaches community from this dragging on.

“I thank the local Independent Members Michael Regan and Jacqui Scruby for their passion and advocacy.”

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“We’ve made it clear from the very beginning that we don’t support this sort of arrangement.

“This is a complex contract but the community deserves certainty.

“The other mob may have created this mess, but we are going to be the ones to clean it up.”

The Minns Labor Government and Randwick City Council are getting on with the job of fixing Coogee Beach’s long-standing water quality issues, delivering $7 million to clean up one of Sydney’s most iconic beaches.

Locals and visiting beachgoers alike are set to benefit as the Government continues work to ensure that local communities don’t just have the essential services and housing they need, but thriving environments and free recreational spaces to enjoy.

Locals have known for years that stormwater pollution has been letting Coogee down, with Beachwatch consistently rating the beach as ‘Poor’. The 2025-2026 state budget includes $3 million to deliver this project in partnership with Randwick City Council and Sydney Water.

The Minns Labor Government are pushing ahead with the upgrade with works set to begin this year, with the construction of a new pump station and pressure mains.

Once complete, stormwater will be diverted away from Coogee and discharged further offshore. That means no more stormwater flowing across the beach after every downpour, significantly improving water quality and reducing public health risks.

This is about making Coogee swimmable all year round and delivering the water quality that locals, families and visitors expect from a world-class beach.

This is a vital investment in critical public infrastructure that will improve the environment, protect public health and make one of Sydney’s greatest beaches even better.

Rose Jackson, Minister for Water:

“People love Coogee but they’re rightly sick of the impacts of pollution when it rains. This is an overdue fix to a problem that’s been ignored for too long.

“We’re putting an end to this shitty situation once and for all so everyone can enjoy one the best beaches in the world.

“We’re delivering the public infrastructure locals deserve, clean water, safe swimming and a beach the community can be proud of.”

Marjorie O’Neill, Member for Coogee:

“This is a win for our community, who have long called for action to clean up Coogee Beach. I’m proud to have worked alongside residents, council and Sydney Water to secure this investment and deliver real improvements to one of the best beaches in the world.

“Improving water quality isn’t just about the environment—it’s about public health, it’s about tourism, and it’s about ensuring one of NSW’s most iconic beaches lives up to its name every day of the year.”

Mayor of Randwick, Dylan Parker:

“Coogee Beach is not only a popular coastal destination for visitors; it holds a special place in the hearts of local residents.

“This project will address a long-standing issue important to our local community, delivering a better experience for everyone at the beach and in the water, and is a significant step towards protecting our beautiful coastline”.

Paul Plowman, Acting Chief Executive Sydney Water:

“Sydney Water is pleased to be part of this important project to improve water quality and protect public health at Coogee Beach.

“By diverting stormwater away from the swimming area, we can make a meaningful difference to the beach environment and visitor experience.”

The NSW Government is investing $145.1 million in Building Commission NSW as part of the 2025-26 Budget, providing funding security for the dedicated building regulator so it can continue to restore confidence and quality in the sector.

Building Commission NSW employs more than 450 people including building and compliance inspectors, policy experts, investigators, intelligence analysts, lawyers, and industry engagement specialists.

The significant investment in the Minns Government’s third Budget will allow Building Commission NSW to continue to conduct inspections, investigate complex building issues, progress key building reforms and educate the industry.

Specifically, this new recurrent funding will allow the digitisation of penalty infringement notices, which will in turn sharpen the Commission’s data analytics resulting in more targeted inspections and ultimately more prosecutions.

The $145 million funding boost will also allow the Commission to standup joint taskforces with Fair Trading, ASIC, ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) and the NSW State Coroner, to ensure all necessary prosecutions across different jurisdictions can be carried out.

So far this financial year, Building Commission NSW has inspected 1015 building sites for defects and has issued 455 orders as a result, with water ingress and fire safety defects among key issues.

Building Commission NSW has also inspected 401 residential building sites for building compliance issues, including licencing, specialist trade supervision and signage requirements, this financial year.  

These compliance inspections resulted in Building Commission NSW issuing 202 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for issues identified including unlicensed work and contractors working without the right licence.

Building Commission NSW also conducted nearly 20,000 plumbing inspections, more than 2000 electrical inspections, and close to 1000 gas inspections in 2024/25, targeting specialist trade work.

In 2025, Building Commission NSW also devoted significant resources towards ensuring building quality is maintained in regional and rural parts of the state.

This regional push saw teams of building quality and compliance inspectors in the North Coast, Mid-North Coast, Riverina and Murray, as well as the Central West regions of NSW.

These regional inspection blitzes resulted in visits to 223 residential building sites, the issuing or expected issuing of 3 orders with a further 55 orders to be finalised for building defects, and the issuing of 72 PINs.

Building Commission NSW continues to engage with industry on proposed building reforms to consolidate a patchwork of existing laws into a simple and modernised legal framework for rebuilding trust in the sector, improving consumer protections, and reducing defects.

In the 2024-25 financial year, Building Commission NSW’s Construct NSW platform delivered courses to more than 23,800 students and launched five new courses, to ensure the industry is well trained.

Building Commission NSW expects to launch a further 16 courses this year, including Mandarin translated courses on Asbestos and Silica awareness, Electrical and Air Conditioning Standards, Automated Vehicle Parking Systems, and Vehicle Lifts – Safety and Integration.

Minister for Building, Anoulack Chanthivong:

“Building quality is one of the top priorities of the Minns Government.

“Ensuring homes, whether they be apartments or free-standing houses, are built to the highest standards is critical to helping address the housing crisis we inherited in NSW.

“To do this, the NSW Government established Building Commission NSW as a dedicated regulator with the aim of restoring confidence in the construction sector and ensuring building quality is improved across the state.

“This $145 million investment secures the Commission’s funding over the next four years, so it can continue on its mission to uplift and improve the quality of the residential building sector.”

NSW Building Commissioner, James Sherrard:

“In 2024/25 alone we have conducted thousands of inspections on sites across NSW, with a particular focus on building our presence and programs in the regional and rural parts of the state.

“This $145 million investment over the next four years will provide the Commission the funding security it needs to keep inspections going and ensure building quality is maintained across the state.

“It will also allow us to continue to progress key building legislative reforms, and deliver education to the industry, so the sector is supported and can continue to improve into the future.”

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to repair Stockton Beach by allocating $21.5 million in the 2025-26 NSW Budget to continue crucial renourishment works.

The NSW Government is dedicated to the long-term future of this beach. This action, backed by funding, will protect the beach’s natural beauty, Aboriginal heritage, and its recreational and economic benefits.

The Stockton Beach Repair Blueprint outlines the actions required to preserve the beach. The NSW Government has already worked with the City of Newcastle Council to deliver 130,000 cubic metres of sand to nourish Stockton Beach.

The new funding in the 2025-26 NSW Budget will ensure the NSW Government can deliver the next phase of the Blueprint, which involves a range of action including finalising environmental approvals, creating and implementing an environmental monitoring plan, securing licences, planning the approach to procurement, and delivering beach nourishment.

This investment over five years is in addition to the $6.3 million stage one project administered by the NSW Government and jointly funded by the Australian Government and the City of Newcastle Council.

The NSW Government will continue to involve the community and seek their input on the restoration process. The Stockton Special Advisory Panel will continue to provide important stakeholder perspectives.

More information: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/coasts/stockton-beach-repair-project.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“The Minns Labor Government has made significant progress on the restoration of Stockton Beach, but there’s more to do.

“This investment delivers on our election commitment and funds the largest beach repair project ever undertaken in NSW.”

Chair of the Stockton Special Advisory Panel Chairman, Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp:

“I have been fighting for Stockton Beach alongside the community since I was first elected as the Member for Newcastle. I secured $21.5 million for mass sand nourishment, and I am so pleased to be delivering on that commitment.

“It’s one thing to have a blueprint – it’s another to have the funding confirmed in this year’s Budget and to be moving onto the net steps of getting sand back on the beach.

“I look forward to continuing as Chair of the Stockton Advisory Panel and working alongside the City of Newcastle in delivering for the Stockton community.”

Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley:

“Locals have fought for action on Stockton Beach for years, and now, the Minns Labor Government is delivering.

“We’ve already seen the first signs of recovery with sand returned to the beach. This next round of funding means we can keep that momentum going, push ahead with planning and approvals, and deliver the long-term solution Stockton needs.

“This is about protecting a place that means so much to locals – for lifestyle, for culture, and for the economy.”

The Minns NSW and Albanese Australian Governments have combined to provide matching funding worth a total of $500 million to kickstart the long-awaited congestion busting Mona Vale Road West project.

The Minns Government is prioritising delivering essential services that people rely on, including key road infrastructure, that will set NSW up for long-term prosperity.

This is about building a better NSW through better economic management, all without privatisation.

Mona Vale Road is one of the most critical arterial roads serving the Northern Beaches area, connecting the Peninsula to the Northern Suburbs. It is a long-standing traffic pinch point.

The NSW State Budget commits $250 million for the project, matching an Australian Government commitment of $250 million on 22 March by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King.

The project involves upgrading 3.4 kilometres of Mona Vale Road from two lanes to four lanes between McCarrs Creek Road, Terrey Hills and Powder Works Road, Ingleside.

Key features of the Mona Vale Road West upgrade include:

• A new traffic signal intersection with Kimbriki Road, including additional dedicated turning lanes and a truck climbing lane
• Relocating the intersection with Tumburra Street to the west by about 40 metres and changing access to left turn in and left turn out only
• Closing the existing intersection with Addison Road to general traffic and restricting access to emergency vehicles only
• Constructing a new local road connection between Bungendore Street and Powder Works Road, using the existing Harvey Road corridor, and extending the new local road east of Addison Road to meet the intersection of Mona Vale Road and Powder Works Road
• Removing bus stops near Tumburra Street and re-directing bus services along the new local road connection and Tumburra Street to serve existing and future land uses

Other features to encourage pedestrians and cyclists include a shared use path on the northern side of Mona Vale Road between McCarrs Creek Road and Addison Road and upgraded street lighting and landscaping for the full length of the project.

To protect local wildlife, there will be a 40-metre fauna bridge over Mona Vale Road and two fauna underpasses. 

NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to infrastructure that improves people’s lives in NSW.

“I am delighted to be able to give the green light on this project which will make a real difference to the local community with congestion and safety improvements over 3.4 km of one of the busiest arterial routes on the Northern Beaches.

“I acknowledge the constructive role played by the local State MP, Jacqui Scruby, and the local Federal MP, Sophie Scamps, in advocating for this project to be brought forward. This is an example of local representatives working together across the aisle for a good community outcome.

“The most important thing this announcement delivers in the certainty for the project to proceed. Transport for NSW will now be able to move ahead with critical planning work along this important corridor that has significant biodiversity, terrain and technical challenges to be addressed.”

The Minns Labor Government is returning 1.6 hectares of parkland to the people of the Inner West thanks to a $4.8 million investment in the 2025-26 Budget.

For years, central areas of Callan Park have been neglected and locked up by condemned buildings which are not only an eyesore but a safety hazard and a target for vandals. 

This Minns Labor Government investment will enable the demolition of nine derelict buildings over two years.

This work is crucial not only to remove unsafe buildings but to deliver more green and open space for the park’s 2.4 million yearly visitors and the area’s growing population. 

By 2041 the five kilometres around Callan Park is expected to be home to 415,000 people.

Unlocking more open space for people to play, relax and gather is a key step as the area welcomes more housing thanks to the Minns Government’s Transport Oriented Development Program and the Low and Mid-rise Housing Policy, which are expected to deliver higher density in well located areas.

Home to the popular Bay Run, Callan Park is a special place not just for locals but for visitors from all over Sydney and New South Wales, and an important link in Sydney’s broader network of parklands and waterways. 

This investment is part of the ongoing transformation of Callan Park into one of Sydney’s significant urban parklands, providing quality open space and recreation areas for locals and people from across Sydney and New South Wales.

The Minns Labor Government is building better communities for NSW by delivering the green and open space needed to support growing populations.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Minns Labor Government is putting an end to the neglect of Callan Park and investing to restore more quality green space for the growing Inner West community.

“Callan Park is a jewel in the crown of the Inner West, but these nine buildings have been left to deteriorate beyond repair becoming a stain on the park’s reputation.  

“By demolishing these buildings, we will return 1.6 hectares of green open space to the community which is the equivalent of 4000 large picnic blankets or two football fields.

“We’ve unlocked housing density in the streets and suburbs surrounding Callan Park and this funding will make sure future residents have more quality green space in their neighbourhood.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:

“Callan Park is beloved by the Inner West community as a space to gather with family and friends, relax, exercise, and connect with nature and this announcement will further expand its capacity to support our growing community.

“The Minns Labor government are reclaiming areas of Callan Park that have been neglected for years to again make it an inviting place for today and into the future while celebrating and respecting its past.

“I look forward to seeing green space replace the eyesore of these derelict buildings and returning use back to the community.”

In an Australian first, the Minns Labor Government has mandated all hospitality staff and liquor licence holders receive specialised sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training.

The training will enable hospitality staff to identify and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence in licensed venues, is part of an update to the state’s Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training program.

The additional training is an important step in helping improve workplace safety for hospitality staff across NSW.

RSA training is mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies alcohol in NSW. Certification is valid for five years and must be renewed to remain current.

The new sexual harassment and sexual violence course material was developed by Liquor & Gaming NSW in partnership with Good Night Out, an international campaigning organisation focused on gender-based violence prevention in night-time economies.

Approved training providers must now deliver all RSA courses using the updated materials.

This update builds on last year’s RSA training handbook revision, which included new guidance on drink spiking, and is part of a broader strategy to improve both patron and workplace safety in the hospitality industry.

The strengthened RSA module gives hospitality workers a clear understanding of the law, including the differences between sexual harassment, sexual assault and drink spiking.

It explains how alcohol can affect a person’s ability to consent and the role coercion can play. The training reinforces that alcohol is not the cause of sexual violence and is often used to excuse perpetrators and shift blame onto victims. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons disclose sexual harassment, sexual violence or suspected drink spiking, and how to connect them with appropriate support services.

Licensee training has also been updated to reflect employers’ obligations under the federal government’s Respect@Work legislation, which requires businesses to take proactive steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment, including providing relevant education and training for all employees.

The licensee training now references workplace safety requirements for prevention of sexual harassment in addition to guidance on patron safety requirements.

These changes complement existing initiatives such as Think Safe to Drink Safe and Ask for Angela, reinforcing the NSW Government’s commitment to a safer, more inclusive night-time economy.

Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said:

“We want NSW to be the global gold standard for live music, nightlife and entertainment. That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door.

“The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts.

“One of the key priorities in the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy is safety for night-time workers and these changes are all about ensuring workers can look after their colleagues and customers.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“Sexual harassment and sexual violence have no place in NSW and are completely unacceptable in our pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants.

“That’s why it is so important that RSA courses now include training on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and violence and that this training is required to gain certification to serve or supply alcohol in NSW.

“These changes will give the more than 100,000 workers who complete a course each year the skills and confidence to recognise and respond to unacceptable behaviour and is a major step towards making venues safer for everyone.”

Minister for Work, Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“Sexual violence and harassment have no place in any workplace or community.

“SafeWork NSW is committed to educating employers, enforcing Work Health and Safety laws, and supporting respectful, safe workplaces across the state.

“With a dedicated Respect at Work team and the largest investment in workplace mental health in NSW history, we are strengthening protections and expanding specialist inspector roles to prevent psychosocial harm and workplace sexual harassment.

“Every worker deserves to go to work and return home safely to their loved ones.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Government has a zero tolerance approach towards sexual violence and harassment, and we are working to stop it before it starts.

“We are implementing the first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy in NSW to address the underlying and gendered drivers of violence against women.

“It’s important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector.

“This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said:

“There should be no places or spaces where women in NSW feel unsafe. Everyone should feel confident that they’ll be safe when they’re socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub.

“These changes to RSA training represent an important step in making these spaces safer and more respectful for women. Women will be reassured that staff in licensed venues across NSW will now receive enhanced RSA training, and that this will better equip staff to recognise and respond to unsafe or unacceptable behaviour.”

Full Stop CEO Karen Bevan said:

“Full Stop Australia welcomes the addition of new and updated sexual violence prevention and response content in the Responsible Service of Alcohol framework. We were pleased to support the development of the content.

“Sexual violence is widespread and prevalent across the community, and particularly in nightlife settings. Ensuring hospitality staff are equipped to respond sensitively and safely to disclosures of sexual violence is a positive step towards improving outcomes for victim-survivors. Nights out should be fun and safe for everyone. This change is a step in the right direction to ensure the safety of all workers and patrons in NSW venues.”

Support: Anyone impacted by sexual violence can contact the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 on 1800 424 017.

NSW Government taxes and charges on new housing remain at record levels and the highest in the country notwithstanding today’s Government announcement. The Opposition welcomes giving developers a choice to do works in kind to partially meet those taxes and charges, but the total amount they have to meet remains the same.
 
Nearly two years after slapping homebuyers with the Housing and Productivity Contribution, Labor now wants credit for releasing a draft guideline that gives developers a way to do the Government’s job for it — building basic infrastructure. But the tax still stands.
 
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Labor is always quick to blame others but slow to deliver.
 
“This announcement is an admission that Labor can’t build the infrastructure needed to support housing — so now they’re begging the private sector to do it instead.
 
But the $12,000 tax per home still exists, driving up costs and driving down supply,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said Labor’s move is too little, too late.
 
“The $12,000-a-home tax is still there, it’s still pushing up prices, and it’s still holding up supply.
 
While the Government tries to distract with this announcement, the real sting in the tail is that all HPC concessions come to an end on 30 June. 
 
Today’s announcement is an attempt to soften a policy that’s done nothing but make the housing crisis worse,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
Shadow Planning and Housing Minister Scott Farlow said Labor was pretending to fix a problem it created.
 
“Developers have been asking for this. The Government promised it two years ago and they have been sitting on their hands ever since.
 
This isn’t reform — it’s a panic patch job, and the tax hasn’t gone anywhere. Housing is still less affordable because of Labor,” Mr Farlow said.
 
The Housing and Productivity Contribution, introduced by Labor in October 2023, adds up to $12,000 per new home in charges. That cost still applies. The only change today is a draft guideline letting developers pay the tax by delivering infrastructure such as roads or schools, or land themselves.
 

The Minns Labor Government has doubled down on spin while commuters in Western Sydney are stuck in traffic and cut off from future rail investment. 

Today’s media release from its Roads Minister referred to “vanity projects”, an apparent reference to generational Metro investments and motorways, a stunning admission of this do-nothing government’s lack of vision and ambition. Instead the Government is now handing out press releases with vague timelines, offering zero clarity for families crying out for real infrastructure.

The NSW Minns Labor Government’s refusal to commit to long-promised Metro extensions to the new Western Sydney Airport – and then apparently calling them “vanity projects” – shows just how out-of-touch this government is with the future needs of our state.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that while the former Liberal–National Coalition Government delivered the North West Metro, the South West Metro, WestConnex, the M12 and the first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail, Chris Minns and Labor are cutting, delaying and spinning.

“Chris Minns needs to explain how his Government can call future Metro connections to a brand new international airport a ‘vanity project’.

If the Roads minister was referring to other projects as ‘vanity projects’, the Premier needs to come clean on what he thinks they are,” Mr Speakman said.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said families in Western Sydney don’t need spin – they need transport options that work – Labor has ditched real rail investments and is now dressing up planning dollars as progress.

“No new major roads are being built, no trains are being extended, and no congestion is being busted,” Mrs Ward said.  

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said Labor used to talk about delivering for the suburbs – now they call rail projects to Western Sydney vanity and hope no one notices they’re pulling the pin.

“The only thing getting a green light under Labor is another media release,” Mr Tudehope said. 

The Opposition will fight to ensure the infrastructure Western Sydney deserves doesn’t become just another broken Labor promise.

The Minns Labor Government is taking further steps to help address the state’s housing crisis and build a better NSW, with new Budget measures that make it easier to deliver more homes—alongside the infrastructure and services communities need.

As part of the 2025-26 Budget, the Government will:

• extend tax concessions for build-to-rent (BTR) housing developments
• release draft guidelines to speed up the delivery of homes and infrastructure through works-in-kind agreements with developers.

These reforms are about ensuring we are building the homes NSW needs—while continuing to deliver better essential services for communities across the state.

Extending tax concessions for build-to-rent developments

To give investors long-term certainty and encourage more rental housing supply, the 2025-26 Budget will extend key tax concessions for build-to-rent developments.

Under this change owners of eligible new build-to-rent developments will now be able to access a land tax concession of a 50 per cent reduction in assessed land value indefinitely—rather than the previous 2039 end date set by the former government.

Build-to-rent developments typically make their returns to investors through providing long-term and stable rental income.

This means that build-to-rent housing may offer longer-term lease options, better security for tenants, and more housing choice for people at different life stages.

It also means that the expiry of the tax concession in 2039 is a key factor impacting investment decisions today.

This measure will improve the feasibility of build-to-rent developments, helping to unlock a steady pipeline of secure, high-quality rental homes across NSW.

It’s part of a broader strategy to deliver housing that meets the needs of today’s renters—families, key workers, and young people alike.

Ensuring new housing comes with the infrastructure people need

The Minns Labor Government is making it easier for developers to build the housing we need, along with the infrastructure we need to go with it, with the release of proposed guidelines for works-in-kind.

A works-in-kind agreement allows a developer to dedicate land for public purposes or deliver an infrastructure project, instead of paying a Housing and Productivity Contribution.

For example, rather than paying the state government a monetary contribution for the government to build a state road or school, the developer can instead provide the land for the school or build the road themselves and then hand the infrastructure over to the public authority.

This will help speed up the delivery of homes, especially in cases where critical infrastructure is required to unlock more housing, providing works-in-kind means a project can get underway faster.

The draft guideline outlines how works-in-kind proposals are evaluated, prioritised, and managed under the Housing and Productivity Contribution scheme.

The Government is inviting feedback from industry before finalising the guidelines to ensure they achieve their intent of delivering more housing and infrastructure, more quickly.

The Housing and Productivity Contribution was introduced in October 2023 as a replacement to the former Government’s ad hoc State Infrastructure Contributions.

It helps fund the delivery of state infrastructure in high-growth areas of NSW like Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and the Lower Hunter.

The NSW Government is also preparing Infrastructure Opportunities Plans to identify and sequence the infrastructure required to support housing and industrial land targets.

The draft Works-in-kind Guideline is on exhibition for public feedback until 17 July 2025 on the Housing and Productivity Contribution Scheme Works-in-Kind Guideline web page.

Building more homes for NSW

The Minns Labor Government is pulling every lever available to address the housing crisis.

This is all part of the Minns Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families, and key workers across the state have a place to call home, in the communities they choose.

We know there’s much more to do, but we’re getting on with the job of building the homes NSW needs by:

• undertaking the most extensive rezoning in the State’s history, through the Transport Oriented Development and Low and Mid Rise policies
• rebalancing housing to areas better serviced by existing infrastructure, through the 5-year housing targets
• establishing the Housing Delivery Authority, which provides a faster and more certain approvals pathway for major housing developments, with over 53,000 homes already declared State Significant
• delivering 30,000 new homes on surplus government land, including 8,400 new social housing units in the biggest housing investment in the State’s history.

The draft Works-in-kind Guideline is on exhibition for public feedback until 17 July 2025 on the Housing and Productivity Contribution Scheme Works-in-Kind Guideline web page.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“You can’t build new homes without roads, parks, and schools to match, and the community shouldn’t have to wait for them.

“Whether it’s new tax incentives, planning reforms or fast-tracking infrastructure, we’re focused on making it faster and easier to build the homes and communities NSW needs.”

Treasurer of NSW Daniel Mookhey said:

“These measures will give industry the certainty they need to build more homes, faster.

“We are making sure we build the homes we need, along with the essential infrastructure we need to go with them.

“Extending the tax incentives for build-to-rent will make it easier for developers to build, and give renters more choice.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Local infrastructure was an afterthought with the former Liberal-National Government. We’re doing things differently, making sure homes are delivered alongside parks, roads and schools.

“The Minns Government is delivering more homes and better choices for home buyers and renters across the state.

“Works-in-kind is an important part of the mix in our provision of infrastructure. The Works-in-kind Guideline provides a clear, consistent approach to when and how it can be used.”