policy
NSW Planning Amendment (Housing Supply) Bill 2026 targets Central Coast approvals
The bill sets new targets for dwelling approvals across the Central Coast local government area, with direct effects on Gosford and Wyong development sites.
How we reported this
The NSW Planning Amendment (Housing Supply) Bill 2026 requires local councils to fast-track approvals for 4,200 additional dwellings in designated growth precincts on the Central Coast by 2029. The legislation applies to land already zoned for residential use in Gosford CBD and the northern Wyong corridor.
Why the changes arrive now
Central Coast Council returned to elected control in 2024 after a period of administration. State planning documents released in late 2025 identified the region as needing accelerated supply to meet projected population growth of 38,000 residents by 2035. The bill responds to that assessment by altering assessment timeframes and removing some concurrences previously required from state agencies.
Residents in Gosford will see the first effects at sites near the waterfront redevelopment zone, where applications for apartment buildings up to eight storeys can now proceed under a 60-day determination clock. In Wyong, land near the railway station is listed for townhouse and terrace projects that previously faced extended referral processes.
Evidence cited in the bill
The explanatory memorandum accompanying the legislation references the NSW Treasury’s 2025-26 budget papers, which allocate $47 million for enabling infrastructure on the Central Coast tied to the new dwelling targets. Policy analysts note that the figure covers water and road upgrades required before certificates of occupancy can be issued.
Local advocates note that the changes remove the need for separate flood-risk certificates on some infill sites already mapped in the council’s 2023 flood study. This is expected to shorten approval times for projects on the lower reaches of Narara Creek and in parts of Toukley.
The government says the policy will result in the first tranche of approvals being lodged by December 2026. Council staff have begun preparing updated contribution plans to capture the infrastructure levies that will apply to the additional dwellings.