Lake Macquarie Housing Strategy

The Housing Strategy guides the decisions that Council and the private sector will make to deliver a greater diversity of housing to accommodate population growth and demographic change. The Housing Strategy also guides the design and location of housing into the future.

Council plays an important enabling and coordinating role in housing provision. While Council does not directly build or supply housing, it has a strong influence over where, how and what types of housing can be delivered.

The Housing Strategy is one of a suite of Council strategies that work together to guide how Lake Macquarie grows and changes over time. It is supported by a range of related strategies, but the key document that provides the broader strategic context is the Local Strategic Planning Statement which helps coordinate housing delivery with transport, jobs and environmental outcomes.

The Housing Strategy helps guide how and where new housing will be developed across Lake Macquarie over time.  It does not change existing planning controls or require any immediate changes to your property. Instead, it sets a long-term direction to ensure future housing is delivered in appropriate locations and supported by infrastructure, services and jobs.

Lake Macquarie’s population is growing steadily, with around 2,100 additional people expected each year to 2046.  At the same time household sizes are getting smaller, meaning more homes are needed. Planning ahead helps ensure there is enough housing in the right locations, supported by infrastructure and services and reducing the risk of worsening housing affordability.

The strategy supports housing affordability by planning for more smaller and diverse housing types, which are generally more affordable than detached homes. It focuses housing growth in well‑located areas close to jobs, services and transport, reducing everyday living and travel costs. The strategy also supports renewal of existing State owned social and affordable housing and considers affordability from a broader cost‑of‑living perspective, not just rent or mortgage payments.

Council is not responsible for delivering or managing social housing, this is primarily the role of State Government and community housing providers. However, Council plays an important role by using planning controls to support the renewal and redevelopment of existing social and affordable housing, removing barriers to delivery, and working collaboratively with Homes NSW and housing providers to improve outcomes over time.

The strategy prioritises housing in existing urban areas and centres where infrastructure, services and community facilities are already in place. This approach makes better use of existing investment and reduces the need for extensive new infrastructure compared to developing new greenfield areas.

 Council works with State agencies and developers to ensure infrastructure and services are planned and delivered in line with population growth. This includes upgrades to roads, community facilities and recreation areas supported through planning mechanisms such as development contributions and planning agreements.

Protecting and enhancing green spaces is a key focus of the strategy. Housing growth is directed away from high‑value ecological and environmental land, while higher‑density areas are planned to include tree canopy, landscaping and quality public spaces. Increasing tree cover and green infrastructure helps reduce urban heat, improve comfort and support healthier neighbourhoods as density increases.

Council is not responsible for delivering or managing social housing, this is primarily the role of State Government and community housing providers. However, Council plays an important role by ensuring planning controls support the renewal and redevelopment of existing social and affordable housing, removing barriers to delivery and working collaboratively with Homes NSW and housing providers to improve outcomes over time.

While there is enough zoned land to meet long‑term housing needs, development only proceeds when it is financially viable. Rising construction costs, land prices and construction industry capacity can make many sites unfeasible in current market conditions. This means theoretical capacity does not always translate into immediate housing delivery.

The strategy includes clear performance measures that will be monitored over time, such as changes in housing diversity, the number of homes located in centres, resident satisfaction and urban tree canopy coverage. These measures will be reviewed every four years alongside Council’s broader strategic planning framework, allowing the strategy to be updated if conditions or community needs change

Feedback may result in changes being made to the draft Housing Strategy prior to a report being prepared for Council.

You will be notified again, prior to Council considering the matter, which will include a link to the Council report containing a summary of submissions and how feedback was considered.

Your submission can be as concise or as long as you wish.

Ideally, you will express your level of support for the proposal and provide detailed and specific feedback. The feedback will be reviewed by staff and later presented to Council to make an informed decision.

You can make a submission by Monday 22 June using one of the methods below:

• Online submission form 
• Email council@lakemac.nsw.gov.au with the subject heading ‘Draft Housing Strategy submission’
• Write to Lake Macquarie City Council Attn: Integrated Planning, Box 1906, Hunter Region Mail Centre, NSW, 2310.

The draft Housing Strategy will be placed on public exhibition from 26 May – 22 June 2026. 

You can review the draft plan and make a submission on Council’s online community engagement platform, Shape Lake Mac 

Come and chat to the project team

•           Glendale City Centre – Thursday 28 May, 3-6pm

•           You’re Kidding Me Expo, Charlestown Square – Thursday 4 June, 3-7pm

•           Morisset Shopping centre, Tuesday 9 June, 10am-1pm 

•           Windale Hub Services Day – Monday 15 June, 10am-noon

Hard copies of the draft documents are available at Lake Mac Libraries