NSW Regions' could see thousands of new homes built if the State Government co-invests in a new program the Country Mayors Association (CMA) wants to see as part of this September's state budget. 

The proposed idea, called "Building Country Homes," would see the state government and the state's 92 regional councils both contribute $100 million each to construct new housing in regional and rural areas that were most in need.

"State Government and local government would work together in those areas for new homes to be built, and once those homes are built they are put on the market, the profits that are made from the sale of that are then split between state and local government," CMA Chairman and Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey told the Western Plains App.  

"The whole purpose is not to make money, but the whole purpose is to make sure we are building homes in areas that are struggling to see investors come in." 

The proposal is part of the CMA 2023 State Budget Priorities document the CMA has presented to the Labor Government, which will deliver its first budget in March. 

Mayor Chaffey. Image: Local Government Association. 

"We are calling on the State Government not to forget the heart of New South Wales in the upcoming September Budget," Mayor Chaffey said. 

"After extensive consultation with our members, we are presenting the NSW Government with a document that lists the top five priorities for rural and regional New South Wales and includes some very clear ways forward". 

"We are calling on the government to listen and to act to ensure regional and rural voices and needs are heard," Mayor Chaffey added. 

CMA Deputy Chairman Mayor Rick Firman said the CMA 2023 State Budget Priorities document included realistic and achievable "asks" of the State Government that could have an enormous impact on rural and regional NSW. 

"To meet the challenges of housing, we are seeking a commitment to a four-year funding program called the Building Country Homes Program that would help member councils increase the housing stock available," Mayor Firman added. 

Mayor Chaffey said other "asks" for Government were a NSW Skills Board to oversee the Department of Skills and Training review of the Smart and Skilled Program to find solutions to the inadequate access to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship courses in country NSW. 

The document also seeks a commitment to funding the Fixing Local Roads Program from 2023 to 2027, with provision for the inflation rate and changes to the terms for the program, as well as a review of the local health districts to address critical health care shortages. 

Plenty of interest - but no money on the table yet 

Mayor Chaffey said the current housing shortage began around COVID, and many regions had a dire housing shortage 

Mayor Chaffey was non-committal on the issue of how many houses this might deliver. However, it may be worth noting that the Commonwealth Government expects its $1 billion housing fund to build 30,000 new affordable homes. 

Image: NSW Department of Planning. 

So - best case scenario - there is $200 million on the table, and there could be at least a few thousand, possibly more homes built with that money. 

But the question remains on whether the Government will commit to it. 

"I've met with many opposition, MPs, and cross-benchers to discuss this concept among others," Mayor Chaffey told the Western Plains App. 

"We've been able to talk to as many MPs as we possibly can, and there has not been an MP who has said that idea is ridiculous; in principle, it has been positive, but we have not seen any financial commitment at the moment, and we really hope that when that budget comes down September 19, we will see many of our ideas implemented including our 'Building Country Homes' idea".