Women's refuges in Lightning Ridge and Coonamble have been given the official green light with more than $12 million from the NSW government.

Six units will be built in the Ridge and another six in Coonamble both in secure compounds which are planned as one-stop shops for victim-survivors where they won't have to leave to access support services.

Lightning Ridge currently has the three-bedroom Women's Safe House, which Mission Australia services and will turn into a men's refuge once the Core and Cluster is up and running.

Coonamble has never had a dedicated crisis accommodation for women fleeing domestic violence despite being in the top handful of local government areas for DV rates in NSW.

NSW's Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Jodie Harrison, visited the towns in late July-early August as part of the formal announcements.

"One of the major reasons that some people stay in violent relationships because they have nowhere to go," Minister Harrison said in Coonamble on 1 August. 

"It'll provide the really specialist on-site services that victim-survivors need to heal and recover and break that cycle of domestic and family violence."

The facilities are part of the government's Core and Cluster program, which includes self-contained units and common areas where residents will have access to services like legal advice, counselling and employment support.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison with representatives from Murdi Paaki Regional Housing and Mission Australia at the Lightning Ridge announcement. [IMAGE: supplied]

Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation will develop the Ridge Core and Cluster, which will have a wheelchair-accessible unit and pet-friendly spaces.

Dubbo-based non-profit Orana Support Service will develop the Coonamble project, which will have an audio-visual setup to attend court virtually.

Coonamble leaders and domestic-violence advocates welcomed their announcement, including local Country Women's Association president Amanda Colwell.

“Coonamble has consistently been in the top handful of LGAs across the state for rates of reported domestic violence, and to think that we’ve gone without any real support for all of those years was just a terrible situation,” Mrs Colwell said.

“Now that gap seems to be closing, it’s a very good thing for the women of Coonamble.”

However, one Lightning Ridge resident who lives near where the Core and Cluster will go said they are concerned that their town won't have the services to support it.

"There's obviously a need for that type of development- no one would argue that. But they have to be very, very careful where they place them," the resident said, who wished to remain anonymous.

"Adjoining towns where they've got 24-hour policing and emergency medical services would have obviously been more suitable. We have no psychological no psychiatric services here, no financial assistance services."

The Coonamble and Walgett Shire regularly record among the highest rates of domestic violence-related assault in NSW

"Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation (MPRHC) is proud to be leading the development of this refuge with our service partner Mission Australia and the NSW Government, to ensure there will be a safe place where women and children can escape violence and abuse," MPRHC General Manager Paul Kemp said.