Federal housing pressure on NSW delivers Central Coast benefits

The Central Coast will be a direct beneficiary of the National Housing Accord between the federal and NSW governments, with the state's commitment to build 377,000 new homes over five years including specific targets for the Central Coast that are supported by Commonwealth infrastructure funding for the water, sewer, and road upgrades needed to service new development.

Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins confirmed Commonwealth infrastructure contributions of $42 million for the Central Coast as part of the National Housing Accord support package, specifically directed at the water supply upgrades and local road junction improvements identified as constraints on housing development in the Gosford and Wyong growth corridors.

Hunter Water, which provides water and wastewater services to most of the Central Coast, confirmed the federal infrastructure contribution would allow it to bring forward a trunk water main upgrade in the northern growth corridor by approximately three years, potentially unlocking 4,800 lots that were subject to development restrictions under the current network capacity. "This is the most direct way the Commonwealth can accelerate housing supply — fund the infrastructure that the private market cannot," said Hunter Water chief executive Jim Bentley.

Central Coast Council administrator Rik Hart welcomed the federal contribution while noting that the infrastructure funding alone would not resolve the Central Coast's housing supply problem, which also required planning reforms, workforce availability for construction, and continued private developer confidence in the market. The council is working with the NSW government on a streamlined planning pathway for residential projects in the growth corridors that could reduce approval times from the current 18-24 months to 9-12 months.

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