Cobar Shire is one of five councils in the Barwon region set to benefit from more than $660,000 in funding, as part of Round 3 of the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund.
Council will receive $166,840 in funding to support the development of a local housing strategy aimed at guiding the delivery of diverse, affordable, and resilient housing options—something that’s been missing in Cobar’s strategic planning.
Council’s General Manager, Peter Vlatko, said the funding is a big step forward for the town.
“This plan will cover the whole town and help us create sustainable housing development,” he said.
“It’ll look at everything—land and infrastructure like water, sewer, power etc.”
Mr Vlatko added that having a clear, evidence-based strategy will help council make informed decisions moving forward.
“It gives us a tool based on facts, not just hearsay,” he said.
Council will be able to strategically plan for future housing supply and address local housing issues, including the preparation of local housing strategies, infrastructure contributions plans and development control plans.
The Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund is designed to help regional councils like Cobar prepare for future housing needs—especially housing that’s not only affordable and diverse, but also able to withstand natural hazards.
It does this by funding strategic planning projects, technical studies, and housing-related policies.
Cobar’s local housing strategy is expected to be completed by March 2026.
