More than 20 Hunter residential developments apply for streamlined status

The Advertiser

19-05-2025

More than 20 large residential developments in the Hunter have been put forward to the government's new Housing Delivery Authority (HDA), in an effort to boost local housing supply by streamlining the planning process.
In less than six months, 22 Hunter projects have been submitted to the HDA. Of those, 12 have been assessed and four have been declared a State Significant Development which if approved would create more than 400 dwellings in total.
A 12-storey, 140-apartment complex has been proposed for the old Channel 10 building on Darby Street, while the Ibis Hotel at 700 Hunter Street could be demolished to make way for 165 units.
The plans for a medium-density 56-unit building in the heart of Nelson Bay and a 50-apartment building on the corner of Maitland Road and May Street in Islington have also been declared state significant.
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure secretary Kiersten Fishburn said the HDA take up by Hunter developers had "been quite extraordinary".
"Historical data shows there are typically 80 to 100 developments of this nature submitted each year across the state, so to already have 22 in the Hunter alone is not an insignificant amount," Ms Fishburn said.
The HDA assessed developments against specific criteria including being well located and free of constraints, while applications with an affordable housing aspect will be "looked upon favourably".
Once declared state significant, projects must begin the planning process within nine months. Once approved, construction must start within two years.
Ms Fishburn, who also sits on the HDA panel, insisted the process was not a "tick and flick" and several Hunter applications had already been knocked back.
The HDA is expected to work hand in glove with the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program, which allows for six- to eight-storey apartment buildings within 400 metres of selected train stations.
Developers are yet to show any interest in the nine Newcastle and Lake Macquarie TODs, however Ms Fishburn is not concerned.
Sydney TODs had recently seen a "rapid response" from developers and she "anticipated much the same in the Hunter".
"It only came into place nine months ago, so it takes a while for any rezoning or planning change to take effect," she said.
"Developers need to find the land, purchase blocks and get a development application together, which all takes time."
The only TOD to show progress in the Hunter is Cockle Creek, where a plan led by the state government would deliver 1200 medium-density homes on the 12-hectare site next to Costco if approved.
Ms Fishburn hoped the project, which is being developed by the government's Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation, would be a shining example of what could be achieved within the region's TODs.
"The beauty is when we've got government land, it gives us the opportunity for a best-practice development," she said.
More than 20 large residential developments in the Hunter have been put forward to the government's new Housing Delivery Authority (HDA), in an effort to boost local housing supply by streamlining the planning process.
In less than six months, 22 Hunter projects have been submitted to the HDA. Of those, 12 have been assessed and four have been declared a State Significant Development which if approved would create more than 400 dwellings in total.
A 12-storey, 140-apartment complex has been proposed for the old Channel 10 building on Darby Street, while the Ibis Hotel at 700 Hunter Street could be demolished to make way for 165 units.
The plans for a medium-density 56-unit building in the heart of Nelson Bay and a 50-apartment building on the corner of Maitland Road and May Street in Islington have also been declared state significant.
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure secretary Kiersten Fishburn said the HDA take up by Hunter developers had "been quite extraordinary".
"Historical data shows there are typically 80 to 100 developments of this nature submitted each year across the state, so to already have 22 in the Hunter alone is not an insignificant amount," Ms Fishburn said.
The HDA assessed developments against specific criteria including being well located and free of constraints, while applications with an affordable housing aspect will be "looked upon favourably".
Once declared state significant, projects must begin the planning process within nine months. Once approved, construction must start within two years.
Ms Fishburn, who also sits on the HDA panel, insisted the process was not a "tick and flick" and several Hunter applications had already been knocked back.
The HDA is expected to work hand in glove with the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program, which allows for six- to eight-storey apartment buildings within 400 metres of selected train stations.
Developers are yet to show any interest in the nine Newcastle and Lake Macquarie TODs, however Ms Fishburn is not concerned.
Sydney TODs had recently seen a "rapid response" from developers and she "anticipated much the same in the Hunter".
"It only came into place nine months ago, so it takes a while for any rezoning or planning change to take effect," she said.
"Developers need to find the land, purchase blocks and get a development application together, which all takes time."
The only TOD to show progress in the Hunter is Cockle Creek, where a plan led by the state government would deliver 1200 medium-density homes on the 12-hectare site next to Costco if approved.
Ms Fishburn hoped the project, which is being developed by the government's Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation, would be a shining example of what could be achieved within the region's TODs.
"The beauty is when we've got government land, it gives us the opportunity for a best-practice development," she said.
More than 20 large residential developments in the Hunter have been put forward to the government's new Housing Delivery Authority (HDA), in an effort to boost local housing supply by streamlining the planning process.
In less than six months, 22 Hunter projects have been submitted to the HDA. Of those, 12 have been assessed and four have been declared a State Significant Development which if approved would create more than 400 dwellings in total.
A 12-storey, 140-apartment complex has been proposed for the old Channel 10 building on Darby Street, while the Ibis Hotel at 700 Hunter Street could be demolished to make way for 165 units.
The plans for a medium-density 56-unit building in the heart of Nelson Bay and a 50-apartment building on the corner of Maitland Road and May Street in Islington have also been declared state significant.
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure secretary Kiersten Fishburn said the HDA take up by Hunter developers had "been quite extraordinary".
"Historical data shows there are typically 80 to 100 developments of this nature submitted each year across the state, so to already have 22 in the Hunter alone is not an insignificant amount," Ms Fishburn said.
The HDA assessed developments against specific criteria including being well located and free of constraints, while applications with an affordable housing aspect will be "looked upon favourably".
Once declared state significant, projects must begin the planning process within nine months. Once approved, construction must start within two years.
Ms Fishburn, who also sits on the HDA panel, insisted the process was not a "tick and flick" and several Hunter applications had already been knocked back.
The HDA is expected to work hand in glove with the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program, which allows for six- to eight-storey apartment buildings within 400 metres of selected train stations.
Developers are yet to show any interest in the nine Newcastle and Lake Macquarie TODs, however Ms Fishburn is not concerned.
Sydney TODs had recently seen a "rapid response" from developers and she "anticipated much the same in the Hunter".
"It only came into place nine months ago, so it takes a while for any rezoning or planning change to take effect," she said.
"Developers need to find the land, purchase blocks and get a development application together, which all takes time."
The only TOD to show progress in the Hunter is Cockle Creek, where a plan led by the state government would deliver 1200 medium-density homes on the 12-hectare site next to Costco if approved.
Ms Fishburn hoped the project, which is being developed by the government's Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation, would be a shining example of what could be achieved within the region's TODs.
"The beauty is when we've got government land, it gives us the opportunity for a best-practice development," she said.
More than 20 large residential developments in the Hunter have been put forward to the government's new Housing Delivery Authority (HDA), in an effort to boost local housing supply by streamlining the planning process.
In less than six months, 22 Hunter projects have been submitted to the HDA. Of those, 12 have been assessed and four have been declared a State Significant Development which if approved would create more than 400 dwellings in total.
A 12-storey, 140-apartment complex has been proposed for the old Channel 10 building on Darby Street, while the Ibis Hotel at 700 Hunter Street could be demolished to make way for 165 units.
The plans for a medium-density 56-unit building in the heart of Nelson Bay and a 50-apartment building on the corner of Maitland Road and May Street in Islington have also been declared state significant.
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure secretary Kiersten Fishburn said the HDA take up by Hunter developers had "been quite extraordinary".
"Historical data shows there are typically 80 to 100 developments of this nature submitted each year across the state, so to already have 22 in the Hunter alone is not an insignificant amount," Ms Fishburn said.
The HDA assessed developments against specific criteria including being well located and free of constraints, while applications with an affordable housing aspect will be "looked upon favourably".
Once declared state significant, projects must begin the planning process within nine months. Once approved, construction must start within two years.
Ms Fishburn, who also sits on the HDA panel, insisted the process was not a "tick and flick" and several Hunter applications had already been knocked back.
The HDA is expected to work hand in glove with the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program, which allows for six- to eight-storey apartment buildings within 400 metres of selected train stations.
Developers are yet to show any interest in the nine Newcastle and Lake Macquarie TODs, however Ms Fishburn is not concerned.
Sydney TODs had recently seen a "rapid response" from developers and she "anticipated much the same in the Hunter".
"It only came into place nine months ago, so it takes a while for any rezoning or planning change to take effect," she said.
"Developers need to find the land, purchase blocks and get a development application together, which all takes time."
The only TOD to show progress in the Hunter is Cockle Creek, where a plan led by the state government would deliver 1200 medium-density homes on the 12-hectare site next to Costco if approved.
Ms Fishburn hoped the project, which is being developed by the government's Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation, would be a shining example of what could be achieved within the region's TODs.
"The beauty is when we've got government land, it gives us the opportunity for a best-practice development," she said.