State funds housing and infrastructure for Northern Rivers

MORE than 355 new homes and $11.5 million for six major projects are headed to the Northern Rivers under funding packages announced by the NSW Government this week.

Premier Chris Minns said the region was facing some of the toughest housing and economic pressures in the state.

“Housing affordability and availability is the single biggest pressure facing the people of New South Wales, but we know it is being felt acutely in our Northern Rivers communities,” Minns said.

The announcements came as Minns and senior ministers visited Tweed Heads on Wednesday for a Community Cabinet meeting with residents.

Under the housing plan, more than 355 public and community homes will be delivered across the region by June 2027, including 133 in Tweed, 69 in the Richmond Valley, 51 in Lismore, 52 in the Clarence Valley, 48 in Ballina and two in Kyogle.

The government has also purchased a former residential village on Soorley Street in Tweed, converting 70 self–contained units into permanent supported housing for people at risk of homelessness.

The site, next to Tweed City Shopping Centre, had been vacant until earlier this year when it was temporarily used as emergency accommodation for older people and people with disability.

Alongside the housing commitments, six projects will share $11.5 million from the Regional Development Trust’s Community Investment Program.

Southern Cross University will receive $3.67 million to build the Southern Cross Regional Athletics Facility in Lismore, while McCaughey Investments will receive $4.09 million for a regional cold storage facility in Casino.

Tweed Shire Council will receive $1.5 million to revitalise the Tweed Heads CBD, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation will receive $982,726 to develop cultural land management practices on Bundjalung Country, Taree Universities Campus will receive $831,024 to boost workforce capacity, and Waarugirr Indigenous Corporation will receive $467,274 to develop outdoor industry skills for Aboriginal communities near Bowraville.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said securing the Soorley Street site was critical to reducing homelessness.

“This site includes 70 self–contained units and is already changing lives. It is providing stable homes for older people and people with disability who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness,” Jackson said.

“We didn’t want to see this place lost to the private market. We stepped in and secured it because we know stable, supported housing delivers far better outcomes than emergency accommodation.”