The Hon Clare O'Neil MP
Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness
The Hon Kristy McBain MP
Member for Eden-Monaro
The Hon Rose Jackson MP
NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness
The Hon Steve Kamper
NSW Minister for Lands and Property
The Hon Steve Whan MP
Member for Monaro
The Albanese Labor Government and NSW Minns Government are today announcing that earth works will commence on a significant enabling infrastructure project in Cooma, which will support unlocking 177 new homes into the future.
This project will support the construction of roads, and the delivery of electrical, water, sewer, and telecommunications infrastructure at the Cooma North Precinct - supported by a $23.6 million joint investment by the Albanese Labor Government and NSW Minns Government.
This will see this unused NSW Government land transformed into a major housing precinct to include private, social, affordable, and key worker housing, as well as housing for seniors.
Homes NSW is acquiring the 12.6-hectare site from Crown Lands, thanks to an agreement between the agencies to identify suitable Government land across the state that could be used for housing.
Located just 2 kilometres north of Cooma's town centre, the new precinct will lay in foundations for a diverse range of housing into the future, including:
- 127 private market lots
- 26 seniors living apartments
- 12 social housing dwellings in 6 duplexes
- 12 key worker/ affordable
Civil works and subdivision at the site will commence this month, with the land expected to be ready for housing construction in June next year.
For more information visit: www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/land-and-housing-corporation/regional/Cooma
Australian Government funding for this project was allocated in 2024.
Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said:
"We know that boosting housing supply is a huge priority for the Cooma region, and that starts with getting the enabling infrastructure in the ground, so we can get more housing off the ground - which is why Steve Whan and I have worked together to progress this significant project for our community.
"It's fantastic to see earthworks on the enabling infrastructure needed for more housing about to commence, thanks to our $23.6 million joint investment - which will support unlocking more social housing, more homes for growing families, and more housing to attract and retain the key workers Cooma needs.
"This is one of the many housing projects we're delivering across Eden-Monaro, with our Government investing $33 billion to build more homes- the biggest investment in housing in a decade, along with delivering free TAFE places to grow the construction workforce, and expanding eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme to get more people into home ownership."
Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Clare O'Neil said:
"This partnership between the Federal and State Government is laying the foundations for more homes in Cooma, helping reduce homelessness and taking pressure off rents.
"Kristy McBain has long been an advocate for this project and it's great to see this partnership with NSW - a Labor Government that is rolling up its sleeves and using government land to build more homes."
NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:
"This development in Cooma is a fantastic example of how we are unlocking vacant and underutilised state government land to deliver much-needed housing for regional communities.
"Once built, these social homes will be immediately delivered to clear the region's priority social housing waitlist."
NSW Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:
"When I was elected two years ago, I was shocked by the extent of the housing crisis facing town across Monaro. We saw nothing but sale of social housing from the previous Nationals members for Monaro. Cooma was no exception and when you are hearing stories of people sleeping in cars over a Snowy Mountains winter you know there is a serious problem.
"This development is critical for our region. The Minns Government is taking an approach of having a mixed housing approach on this vital development - because we know that approach to housing creates the best results for social cohesion.
"This development is huge news for Cooma and our region, one I have been tracking carefully since I was elected, and I am delighted to have been able to work with my colleague Kristy McBain to get it done."
NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"The NSW Government is focused on building better communities, and that includes by identifying unused government land that is suitable to support housing.
"Efforts to find more land through this agency agreement, and other initiatives like the State's property audit, are essential building blocks to help ease the State's housing crisis."
