Contribution Plans

The Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan became effective on 1 January 2022. This plan applies to all land in the Local Government Area except for land to which the Section 7.11 Western Corridor Development Contributions Plan applies. This Plan applies to residential development which would result in the creation of additional private lots/dwellings.
 

• Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan (PDF)

The Section 7.12 Development Contributions Plan became effective on 1 January 2022. The plan applies to the entire Local Government Area for all other development not relating to the creation of additional private lots/dwellings.

• Section 7.12 Development Contributions Plan (PDF)
• Deed of Agreement (PDF) supports implementation of the Section 7.12 Newcastle Contributions Plan

The Section 7.11 Western Corridor Development Contributions Plan (Update February 2020) become effective on 27 February 2020. The plan applies to land in Minmi, Fletcher and Maryland and is identified in the plan. Refer to the PDF for current rates.

• Section 7.11 Western Corridor Development Contributions Plan (Update February 2020) (PDF)
• Submissions Report (PDF)
• Western Corridor Traffic and Transport Study (PDF)
• Western Corridor Background Document (PDF)

• Section 7.12 Newcastle Contributions Plan 2019 (Update December 2020) PDF
• Western Corridor Development Contribution Plan 2013 (PDF)
• Development Contribution Plan No 1, 2005 (PDF)
• Development Contributions Plan No 4, 2006 - Transport Facilities in Blue Gum Hills (PDF)

Affordable housing is defined as housing for very low, low and moderate income households. Affordable housing can take the form of dedicated affordable rental housing, social housing, shared equity housing and assisted home purchase housing.

Housing is considered affordable if the household has a gross income within the following ranges:

• A very low income household has a household income less than 50% of the median Greater Sydney or Rest of NSW household income.
• A low income household has a household income between 50% and 80% of the median Greater Sydney or Rest of NSW household income.
• A moderate income household has a household income between 80% and 120% of the median Greater Sydney or Rest of NSW household income.

As Newcastle is outside of Greater Sydney, the Rest of NSW income is used to determine very low, low and moderate income households. 

In 2021, affordable housing options, both for purchase and rental, were limited, with very low and low income households having severely limited options.

Research by the City Futures Research Centre at UNSW estimated an unmet need for 4,400 social and affordable dwellings in Newcastle, representing 6.4% of all households. Without intervention, this need could grow to 10,000 dwellings by 2041, with an estimated demand of 200–300 new affordable homes per year.

To meet this growing need, Newcastle would require an average of 514 affordable dwellings per year over the next 20 years.

Council adopted the Newcastle Housing Policy in 2021. The purpose of the policy is to state CN's position and approach to facilitating a mix of dwelling types, tenures, and sizes to support the community's diverse needs as it grows and changes. The policy commits to:

• An overall affordable housing target of 15% to work towards, across the city that is monitored using benchmarks for affordable housing, housing diversity and homelessness.
• An Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme.

An Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme is a council-led document which sets out how, where, and at what rate development contributions can be collected by council for affordable housing. It gives the local community greater clarity about the affordable rental housing planned for in the local government area, and provides developers certainty and transparency about how affordable rental housing contributions will be determined, and the contribution rate that will be applied in a condition of consent.

This process is prescribed by the NSW Government.

An affordable housing contribution will be levied, managed and reported in accordance with the Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme. We do this by requiring the dedication of complete dwellings, land or their cash equivalent to CN.

• Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme
• Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme - Rates - May 2026

• AHCS - Appendix A - Affordable Housing Needs Assessment
• AHCS - Appendix B - Feasibility Analysis