Land management
Acquiring land for public purposes
The Department's Land Management Branch, in consultation with our planners and resource specialists, buys land we need to implement key public projects and to protect the State's natural assets.
Metropolitan projects
In Sydney the Department has acquired sites for the Western Sydney parklands, Olympic-level sporting facilities, Rouse Hill town centre, the M2 Motorway and various improvement programs. Over the past 50 years, more than 35,000 hectares has been acquired in the Sydney Region. This includes land for special uses, open space corridors, regional open space, transport corridors, regional centres, employment and education. Purchases are financed through the Sydney Region Development Fund. The fund's new acquisitions are supported by income from the sale of surplus lands. The Department works closely with its government and community partners to achieve successful results for surplus sites. Sydney councils also contribute to the fund. As purchased properties are improved, the asset is dedicated to the relevant council or State government agency for ongoing care.
Coastal protection
To protect significant features such as headlands, dunes, hinterland, coastal lagoons and lakes, and areas where original vegetation is still dominant, the Department runs the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme.
Land supply for housing
The Metropolitan Development Program (MDP) is the Government’s key program for maintaining the supply of new home sites to accommodate the growing population of Sydney and the Central Coast. The program covers both infill sites in existing urban areas as well as the release of land not previously urbanised, known as greenfield areas, typically on the metropolitan fringes. The MDP develops an indicative ten-year dwelling supply forecast.
MDP 2007 Update - latest information on greenfield land and dwelling supply
Land supply for business and industry
The NSW Government in early 2007 released an action plan for Sydney's employment lands, to cater for at least 125,000 jobs over 25 years. The action plan was the result of top-level advice from the Employment Lands Task Force which includes business and industry representatives.
Action Plan for Sydney's Employment Lands
Actions to support employment lands in regional areas are outlined in our regional strategies.