The New South Wales government has sold more than two-thirds of publicly owned sites identified as surplus and suitable for housing to private developers as a result of its much-vaunted statewide property audit.
Many sites are being sold without requirements for social or affordable housing.
Despite a Labor policy directing that government land suitable for housing should be prioritized for public housing, Homes NSW has bought just three of the 55 sites that have been identified for sale. It is now in the planning stage to construct 208 homes. It has expressed interest in a further seven sites.
A spokesperson for the Department of Lands said, “Homes NSW and Landcom have a first right of refusal on all sites identified as part of the land audit. Approximately a third of all sites identified have been transferred to or are currently undergoing due diligence by Homes NSW or Landcom.”
This means that more than two-thirds of the land is going to private developers.
NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong said, “It’s increasingly clear that this land audit is actually a scam – and it’s those struggling with the housing crisis who will suffer from this broken promise.”
The government has boosted the number of social houses on sites it already owns, with 1,711 homes added to the stock since it came to office.
The sale of surplus land is part of the Minns Labor government’s plan to deliver up to 30,000 homes through the $6.6bn Building Homes for NSW program announced in the 2024-25 budget.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/20/more-than-two-thirds-of-nsw-public-land-suitable-for-housing-sold-to-private-developers
