newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie councillors have backed a new citywide housing strategy and moved a Cooranbong rezoning proposal forward, with future housing growth to be concentrated in existing urban areas and established centres.
The updated Lake Macquarie Housing Strategy was adopted at Monday night’s standing committee meeting after feedback from residents, industry groups and government agencies during public exhibition.
The strategy will guide where the council plans for new housing and the types of homes it considers necessary for a growing and changing population. It does not itself approve developments or guarantee construction.
Growth will be directed towards areas with established infrastructure, services and open space. The strategy also calls for a broader range of housing for families, downsizers, young people and key workers.
Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz said the document sought to balance housing supply and affordability with environmental and infrastructure constraints.
“The housing strategy provides a clear roadmap for delivering the right homes in the right locations,” Cr Shultz said.
“It balances the need for more housing and greater affordability with protecting the city’s environmental values and ensuring growth is supported by existing infrastructure and services.”
The document replaces the council’s 2021 housing strategy and has been updated to align with its 2025-2045 Local Strategic Planning Statement, the Hunter Regional Plan 2041 and recent NSW government housing reforms. Council did not detail a citywide dwelling target or construction timetable when outlining the strategy.
Councillors also agreed to progress a planning proposal to rezone land at 51 Alton Road, Cooranbong, for future housing.
The property is within the Greater Morisset growth area, which the council has identified as having significant capacity for more homes. Further details about the proposed development, including its potential dwelling yield, were not provided.
In other business, the council approved a telecommunications facility at 76 Auklet Road, Mount Hutton. The development includes a 25-metre monopole and associated infrastructure on a site that already contains utility equipment. Council said mature vegetation would help screen the structure from nearby homes.
Councillors also recommended 16 community funding applications worth a combined $28,150 under the first round of the 2026-27 Donations Program. They include a proposal from Sailability Belmont for a virtual-reality sailing program designed to keep people of all abilities involved when weather prevents on-water activities.
Information about the council’s long-term planning and operational program is available online, along with the meeting agenda and reports. A webcast of the meeting is expected to be published within 48 hours.
