25-07-2025
Biggest rezoning in decades: government announces plans for 4200 new dwellings
The state government will fast-track the rezoning of 574 hectares of bushland earmarked for 4200 dwellings as part of the massive Eden Estates housing project.
The project, one of the largest Hunter land rezonings in decades, straddles the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie council areas and is bounded by Wallsend, Cameron Park, Elemore Vale and Glendale.
The buildings would include a mix of housing types with a focus on affordable housing, employment and supporting community facilities.
It is one of five sites across the state identified as suitable for the construction of an estimated 7800 new homes in the coming years.
The other sites are: Beverly Hills Town Centre (west), a site adjacent to Sydney Markets, Shoalhaven Street Precinct (Kiama Depot), and the former Wallerawang Power Station.
City of Newcastle said it was disappointed the government was taking the rezoning process away from councils.
A council spokeswoman said it was a similar scenario to when the government removed the council's planning powers for 505 Minmi Road, but ultimately agreed with its concerns on biodiversity.
"City of Newcastle's staff have worked collaboratively with Eden Estates and all stakeholders, including Lake Macquarie City Council, to achieve a suitable planning outcome for the site," she said.
"The significant high environmental value of the bushland areas of the Eden Estates land has recently been reflected in the exhibition of the Local Strategic Planning Statement. The Eden Estates concept was in the final stages of an agreement for the preservation of bushland, balanced against the need for housing in well-located areas."
Hunter environmental groups have warned that widespread clearing of the Eden Estates site, also known as the Link Road Forest, would result in an ecological disaster.
Preliminary ecological assessments have identified 11 threatened fauna species, including the endangered large-eared pied bat, and five threatened plant species. While no koalas were recorded on-site, they have been found nearby.
The Hunter Community Environment Centre has called for the project's plans to be amended to preserve the region's last major east-west vegetation linkage.
"There is a desperate need for an amended project plan which shows due consideration to our precious and diverse threatened species by reducing the clearing footprint and preserving bushland connectivity," HCEC spokeswoman Johanna Lynch said.
"Indeed, many members of the community want to see this development halted completely due to its size and unalterable loss of so much native vegetation providing habitat."
An evaluation panel within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure assessed each of the projects, with oversight from an independent probity advisor to ensure objectivity and to uphold the best interests of communities.
The State Significant Rezoning Policy, introduced in September 2024, aims to fast-track the rezoning of key precincts and existing planning proposals delayed in the planning system.
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure deputy secretary Monica Gibson said the department would work closely with councils and other stakeholders to deliver well-located homes and jobs.
"We are also working with applicants to address long-standing, complex challenges by stepping in to lead rezoning in areas that have high potential for growth," she said.
"We're streamlining processes, cutting through red tape, and bringing together key state agencies to help in the delivery of more homes, where they are needed."
The state government will fast-track the rezoning of 574 hectares of bushland earmarked for 4200 dwellings as part of the massive Eden Estates housing project.
The project, one of the largest Hunter land rezonings in decades, straddles the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie council areas and is bounded by Wallsend, Cameron Park, Elemore Vale and Glendale.
The buildings would include a mix of housing types with a focus on affordable housing, employment and supporting community facilities.
It is one of five sites across the state identified as suitable for the construction of an estimated 7800 new homes in the coming years.
The other sites are: Beverly Hills Town Centre (west), a site adjacent to Sydney Markets, Shoalhaven Street Precinct (Kiama Depot), and the former Wallerawang Power Station.
City of Newcastle said it was disappointed the government was taking the rezoning process away from councils.
A council spokeswoman said it was a similar scenario to when the government removed the council's planning powers for 505 Minmi Road, but ultimately agreed with its concerns on biodiversity.
"City of Newcastle's staff have worked collaboratively with Eden Estates and all stakeholders, including Lake Macquarie City Council, to achieve a suitable planning outcome for the site," she said.
"The significant high environmental value of the bushland areas of the Eden Estates land has recently been reflected in the exhibition of the Local Strategic Planning Statement. The Eden Estates concept was in the final stages of an agreement for the preservation of bushland, balanced against the need for housing in well-located areas."
Hunter environmental groups have warned that widespread clearing of the Eden Estates site, also known as the Link Road Forest, would result in an ecological disaster.
Preliminary ecological assessments have identified 11 threatened fauna species, including the endangered large-eared pied bat, and five threatened plant species. While no koalas were recorded on-site, they have been found nearby.
The Hunter Community Environment Centre has called for the project's plans to be amended to preserve the region's last major east-west vegetation linkage.
"There is a desperate need for an amended project plan which shows due consideration to our precious and diverse threatened species by reducing the clearing footprint and preserving bushland connectivity," HCEC spokeswoman Johanna Lynch said.
"Indeed, many members of the community want to see this development halted completely due to its size and unalterable loss of so much native vegetation providing habitat."
An evaluation panel within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure assessed each of the projects, with oversight from an independent probity advisor to ensure objectivity and to uphold the best interests of communities.
The State Significant Rezoning Policy, introduced in September 2024, aims to fast-track the rezoning of key precincts and existing planning proposals delayed in the planning system.
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure deputy secretary Monica Gibson said the department would work closely with councils and other stakeholders to deliver well-located homes and jobs.
"We are also working with applicants to address long-standing, complex challenges by stepping in to lead rezoning in areas that have high potential for growth," she said.
"We're streamlining processes, cutting through red tape, and bringing together key state agencies to help in the delivery of more homes, where they are needed."
The state government will fast-track the rezoning of 574 hectares of bushland earmarked for 4200 dwellings as part of the massive Eden Estates housing project.
The project, one of the largest Hunter land rezonings in decades, straddles the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie council areas and is bounded by Wallsend, Cameron Park, Elemore Vale and Glendale.
The buildings would include a mix of housing types with a focus on affordable housing, employment and supporting community facilities.
It is one of five sites across the state identified as suitable for the construction of an estimated 7800 new homes in the coming years.
The other sites are: Beverly Hills Town Centre (west), a site adjacent to Sydney Markets, Shoalhaven Street Precinct (Kiama Depot), and the former Wallerawang Power Station.
City of Newcastle said it was disappointed the government was taking the rezoning process away from councils.
A council spokeswoman said it was a similar scenario to when the government removed the council's planning powers for 505 Minmi Road, but ultimately agreed with its concerns on biodiversity.
"City of Newcastle's staff have worked collaboratively with Eden Estates and all stakeholders, including Lake Macquarie City Council, to achieve a suitable planning outcome for the site," she said.
"The significant high environmental value of the bushland areas of the Eden Estates land has recently been reflected in the exhibition of the Local Strategic Planning Statement. The Eden Estates concept was in the final stages of an agreement for the preservation of bushland, balanced against the need for housing in well-located areas."
Hunter environmental groups have warned that widespread clearing of the Eden Estates site, also known as the Link Road Forest, would result in an ecological disaster.
Preliminary ecological assessments have identified 11 threatened fauna species, including the endangered large-eared pied bat, and five threatened plant species. While no koalas were recorded on-site, they have been found nearby.
The Hunter Community Environment Centre has called for the project's plans to be amended to preserve the region's last major east-west vegetation linkage.
"There is a desperate need for an amended project plan which shows due consideration to our precious and diverse threatened species by reducing the clearing footprint and preserving bushland connectivity," HCEC spokeswoman Johanna Lynch said.
"Indeed, many members of the community want to see this development halted completely due to its size and unalterable loss of so much native vegetation providing habitat."
An evaluation panel within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure assessed each of the projects, with oversight from an independent probity advisor to ensure objectivity and to uphold the best interests of communities.
The State Significant Rezoning Policy, introduced in September 2024, aims to fast-track the rezoning of key precincts and existing planning proposals delayed in the planning system.
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure deputy secretary Monica Gibson said the department would work closely with councils and other stakeholders to deliver well-located homes and jobs.
"We are also working with applicants to address long-standing, complex challenges by stepping in to lead rezoning in areas that have high potential for growth," she said.
"We're streamlining processes, cutting through red tape, and bringing together key state agencies to help in the delivery of more homes, where they are needed."
The state government will fast-track the rezoning of 574 hectares of bushland earmarked for 4200 dwellings as part of the massive Eden Estates housing project.
The project, one of the largest Hunter land rezonings in decades, straddles the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie council areas and is bounded by Wallsend, Cameron Park, Elemore Vale and Glendale.
The buildings would include a mix of housing types with a focus on affordable housing, employment and supporting community facilities.
It is one of five sites across the state identified as suitable for the construction of an estimated 7800 new homes in the coming years.
The other sites are: Beverly Hills Town Centre (west), a site adjacent to Sydney Markets, Shoalhaven Street Precinct (Kiama Depot), and the former Wallerawang Power Station.
City of Newcastle said it was disappointed the government was taking the rezoning process away from councils.
A council spokeswoman said it was a similar scenario to when the government removed the council's planning powers for 505 Minmi Road, but ultimately agreed with its concerns on biodiversity.
"City of Newcastle's staff have worked collaboratively with Eden Estates and all stakeholders, including Lake Macquarie City Council, to achieve a suitable planning outcome for the site," she said.
"The significant high environmental value of the bushland areas of the Eden Estates land has recently been reflected in the exhibition of the Local Strategic Planning Statement. The Eden Estates concept was in the final stages of an agreement for the preservation of bushland, balanced against the need for housing in well-located areas."
Hunter environmental groups have warned that widespread clearing of the Eden Estates site, also known as the Link Road Forest, would result in an ecological disaster.
Preliminary ecological assessments have identified 11 threatened fauna species, including the endangered large-eared pied bat, and five threatened plant species. While no koalas were recorded on-site, they have been found nearby.
The Hunter Community Environment Centre has called for the project's plans to be amended to preserve the region's last major east-west vegetation linkage.
"There is a desperate need for an amended project plan which shows due consideration to our precious and diverse threatened species by reducing the clearing footprint and preserving bushland connectivity," HCEC spokeswoman Johanna Lynch said.
"Indeed, many members of the community want to see this development halted completely due to its size and unalterable loss of so much native vegetation providing habitat."
An evaluation panel within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure assessed each of the projects, with oversight from an independent probity advisor to ensure objectivity and to uphold the best interests of communities.
The State Significant Rezoning Policy, introduced in September 2024, aims to fast-track the rezoning of key precincts and existing planning proposals delayed in the planning system.
Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure deputy secretary Monica Gibson said the department would work closely with councils and other stakeholders to deliver well-located homes and jobs.
"We are also working with applicants to address long-standing, complex challenges by stepping in to lead rezoning in areas that have high potential for growth," she said.
"We're streamlining processes, cutting through red tape, and bringing together key state agencies to help in the delivery of more homes, where they are needed."
