A new planning pathway to fast-track housing for construction workers on major infrastructure projects in Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) has been introduced by the NSW Government.
With housing supply limited across the country already, the government acknowledges that housing for temporary workers delivering major infrastructure projects is necessary but can place strain on local towns.
The new pathway will help deliver more homes in regional NSW, speed-up renewable energy project development, and support councils to manage the flow of construction workers on major infrastructure projects.
It will also ease pressure on local rental markets.
There are 10 energy projects being investigated for this region, which includes Romani Solar Farm (Wanganella), Wilan Wind Farm (Moulamein), West Nyangay Solar Farm (Booroorban), Saltbush Wind Farm (Booroorban), Bullawah Wind Farm (Hay), Pottinger Energy Park (Booroorban), Yanco Delta Wind and Energy Storage facility (Jerilderie), Avenis Energy battery energy storage system (Caldwell) and Wanganella Renewable Energy Hub.
An overhead powerline which passes through the Edward River region, from Jerilderie to Swan Hill, is also proposed.
Under the planning pathway, construction worker accommodation is clearly defined and can be built in residential zones.
The pathway also provides the opportunity for proponents and councils to determine the best use of this accommodation into the future.
Streamlined approvals for construction worker accommodation will not only provide councils with greater clarity on their housing supply pipeline, but it also provides greater certainty for renewable energy developers on how worker accommodation will be built and managed during and after the construction of a project.
This policy was designed following feedback from the public exhibition of the proposed temporary and seasonal workers accommodation toolkit last year.
An urgent need to address the lack of housing for construction workers in REZ areas was a key issue identified by councils.
The amendments will come into force under State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation 2021.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has released a guideline that provides practical guidance to help councils, industry and the community navigate these new controls.