Local Authority Collaboration Regarding Planning and Development

In 2024, the University of Newcastle continued to play an active role in regional planning and affordable housing via research, partnership, and policy work, including:

  • Institute for Regional Futures (IRF):
    The IRF is a flagship research institute based in the Hunter region. It works with local authorities, industry, governments and communities to build the evidence base that informs planning, policy, and service delivery across regional NSW.
  • Housing & Planning Research:
    The Institute publishes research that highlights gaps in housing supply, affordability, and infrastructure planning. For example, the IRF’s “New analysis: housing need significantly underestimated” demonstrates how projected housing supply does not meet actual demand in regional areas, providing a basis for policy change.
  • Forums & Policy Engagement:
    The University hosts and participates in forums bringing together government, industry, community, and planning bodies to explore innovative approaches to affordable housing. The Built Environment Research Forum is one such example, where policy reforms, planning, and development strategies are considered with the goal of increasing housing affordability.
  • Strategic Planning Services:
    IRF offers services such as demographic analysis, feasibility studies, social & economic research, and strategic planning in partnership with local councils. These services help councils with Local Strategic Planning Statements, Housing Strategy, and Environmental Planning, which may include affordable housing provisions.

Planning inspired by fresh thinking

Good planning hinges on access to the latest data and skilled interpretation which brings insights of value to organisations. In partnership, our team of data analysts build the evidence-base to provide the insights needed to inform quality planning and delivery.

Our areas of expertise include:

  • Strategic planning
  • Population / demographic analysis
  • Social and economic research
  • Social impact assessments
  • Economic assessments and analysis
  • Feasibility studies

Recent work to support planning and delivery

Circular Economy Living Lab

Lake Macquarie City Council

The transition to a low carbon future is a challenge for Australia’s regions, in particular those that rely on a carbon-based economy. The University and Lake Macquarie City Council have a shared commitment to building greater economic, social and environmental sustainability. This commitment has led to the establishment of Australia’s first Circular Economy Living Lab (CELL).

The Institute team was engaged to develop the evidence-base needed to support the development of a strategy and operational plan for the CELL. Building on a strong body of work on the circular economy by the region’s stakeholders, the team assessed the policy environment, potential funding sources, the current state-of-play in the Hunter and international examples of good practice. The team also identified and assessed a potential site for the CELL.

Program evaluation: Local Strategic Planning Statements in regional NSW local governments

NSW Department of Planning and Environment

In March 2018, amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the EP&A Act) introduced a new requirement for local councils to develop a Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS). The LSPS’s are designed to set out Council’s planning priorities which both meet the community’s needs and deliver key State and regional planning objectives.

The Institute’s team was engaged to review the processes and outcomes of the then NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Regional Local Strategic Planning Statements Program. The methodology included analysis of the plans of 31 local governments; and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders within and external to government. The results from the project strengthen local and regional planning in regional NSW.

Evaluation of New Move

City of Newcastle

New Move is an economic development initiative by the City of Newcastle. It is designed to attract skilled professionals and entrepreneurs from Australia’s capital cities to relocate and invest in the city. The initiative provided 30 successful applicants with a $10,000 relocation grant. It also offered a tailored program of networking opportunities and support.

The City commissioned the team to evaluate the initiative. The team assessed its effectiveness in attracting people to relocate to Newcastle. They also projected its longer-term contribution to economic and social outcomes in the city. The outcomes provided learnings for Newcastle and insights that can be applied more broadly to migration and workforce attraction to regional cities.