May 2024

The National Urban Policy outlines the Australian Government’s goals for making urban areas liveable, equitable, productive, sustainable, and resilient. This shared vision for sustainable growth in cities and suburbs has been committed to by all Australian Governments.

The UDA is delighted that the Federal Government recognizes the role urban environments play in shaping Australians' lives and meeting challenges to create healthier, equitable, resilient communities. The draft policy outlines the challenges facing Australian cities and urban areas and restates universal goals with supportive objectives and principles. While the UDA supports the intent of the framework, there are concerns about the lack of recognition for the critical role of design and integrated, multi-scale approaches in achieving these aspirations.

The UDA offered observations and recommendations based on our collective experience and similar past national policies, organized under these headings:

Promote Design

Think National, Empower Local

Foster an Integrated Approach

Create Benchmarks that Catalyze

Be Dynamic and Future-Facing

February 2024

The NSW government released an Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) for a future policy intended to allow low and mid rise housing in more areas within the Six Cities Region. Proposed changes include allowing:
- Six-storey residential flat buildings in R3 Medium Density Residential zones within 400m of train stations or town centre precincts,
- Four-storey apartment buildings in R3 zones within 800m of train stations or town centre precincts,
- Manor homes, terraces and multi dwelling housing in R2 zones within 800m of train stations or town centre precincts, and
- Dual occupancies throughout R2 Low Density Residential zones.

The UDA supports a diverse range of housing types, urban intensification in the right locations, and the proposal to include dual occupancies in R2 zones. However, the UDA is also concerned that these controls will not always further the stated objectives of the EIE, creating unintended consequences that could lead to poor built outcomes, browner streetscapes and community backlash.

The submission proposed practical recommendations to assist the government in delivering the housing NSW needs.