Infrastructure delivery to be flexible with housing
NSW Government proposals will help unlock stalled housing developments across the state.
A KEY initiative from the NSW Government will streamline the process of combining infrastructure delivery with housing developments.
This is the belief of the Property Council of Australia, which has welcomed the NSW Government’s release of a finalised Works in Kind Guideline and Infrastructure Opportunities Plan.
Property Council NSW executive director Anita Hugo said the announcement responds to years of sustained advocacy by industry for a clearer, more flexible approach to infrastructure delivery.
“This announcement reflects both the government’s work and sustained calls from industry for a clearer, more flexible approach to infrastructure delivery,” Hugo said.
“It’s a smart, cost-effective way to tie new infrastructure works to the delivery of homes. It gives industry a path to partner with government and get more stalled projects off the ground.
“Just last week, industry leaders at the Property Council’s Western Sydney Outlook made it clear that delays to infrastructure plans and a lack of serviced land are stalling investment.
“Expanding works‑in‑kind pathways is a necessary first step to aligning infrastructure needs to where growth is happening.”
Infrastructure Opportunities Plans have been developed for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, the Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle and will be updated annually in line with the NSW Budget cycle.
The Council said developers will be able to identify priority projects, put forward proposals to deliver infrastructure and work with government through a structured assessment and approval process.
The Guideline also allows works-in-kind offers to be submitted at multiple stages of planning, including during rezoning and before or after development approval.
Hugo said the focus on housing delivery was appropriate, with recognition that enabling infrastructure in industrial and employment areas also plays a critical role in housing outcomes.
“Homes don’t get built without roads, services and employment land coming online at the right time so it’s good to see recognition that we also need infrastructure to support jobs growth.
“The Property Council has championed works-in-kind and private sector led infrastructure to unlock new growth precincts, including in our 2026–27 NSW Pre-Budget Submission, to reduce uncertainty and accelerate delivery,” Hugo added.
“The Guideline and Infrastructure Opportunities Plan provide industry with clearer line of sight to priority infrastructure and how it aligns with housing delivery.
“The test now is how it works in practice and we’re ready to work through the detail with government to make sure it delivers the best possible outcomes for our communities.”
