NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

We’re proud to recognise two outstanding winners at this year’s NSW/ACT Community Achievement Awards for Crown Land Management. These land managers have gone above and beyond for their communities. 🌿 Crown Land Management Excellence Award Winner: Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land Manager Through a series of community-driven upgrades, this reserve has been transformed by volunteers on the land manager board. From redeveloped tennis courts and a new women’s netball team to improved accessibility and a clubhouse, the reserve supports local sporting groups, social connection and even disaster resilience. 🏛️ Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award Winner: Balranald Shire Council Balranald Discovery Centre has been transformed into a vibrant hub for the community. Recent upgrades include a technology refurbishment and a brand-new Discovery Pavilion celebrating Aboriginal cultural heritage, providing a welcoming space for locals and visitors to connect and explore. 👏 Congratulations to both winners for showcasing how Crown land can be activated, be inclusive and sustainable and deliver real benefits for communities across NSW.

Penrith Beach is returning for a third summer of fun 👏🏖️ From 7 December, Western Sydney locals and visitors will once again have access to a free, accessible place to cool down thanks to a $5.2 million funding commitment. This season offers extended operating hours and updated amenities, including shaded seating, outdoor showers and hydration stations. Penrith beach has attracted more than 330,000 visitors since its opening in 2023, highlighting demand for free, high quality outdoor open spaces. As part of the Places to Swim program, the beach offers Western Sydney families a local, convenient alternative to coastal travel during hot weather. Penrith Beach will be open daily, including public holidays, through to April 2026. For more information and updates, visit https://ow.ly/5mEc50XyOus 🔗

Today we launched the mid-rise additions to the NSW Housing Pattern Book in Darling Harbour. Nine inspiring apartment designs were unveiled by Minister for Planning Paul Scully and Abbie Galvin, Executive Director of Government Architect NSW. These were created by top architectural firms from across Australia and New Zealand. We were joined by the architects, who shared their vision for delivering high-quality, affordable, and sustainable homes centred around community connection. These designs prioritise quality of life at every stage of life, with patterns that maximise natural light, fresh air, greenery, and shared outdoor spaces. Thank you to the talented architects and the team at Government Architect NSW for your leadership, creativity, and commitment to better housing. Learn more about the NSW Housing Pattern Book at https://ow.ly/UrYk50XxiHO 🤝Collins and Turner Architects, Nguluway DesignInc, MHNDU, Neeson Murcutt Neille, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Spacecraft Architects, Silvester Fuller, Bennett and Trimble, Andrew Burges Architects

New mid-rise designs just launched🏡 We’ve released the next part of the NSW Housing Pattern Book, featuring 9 mid-rise apartment designs that are modern, affordable, and energy efficient. Created by top architects from Australia and New Zealand, the new patterns are designed to enhance quality of life at every stage of life, through fresh air, natural light, greenery and shared open spaces. They’re flexible, easy to build, and come with a streamlined approval pathway to help get more quality homes delivered, faster. For the first 6 months, the designs are available at a discounted price, making it even easier to get started. Explore all the designs at https://ow.ly/9V2I50XxhuG 🤝Government Architect NSW, Collins and Turner Architects, Nguluway DesignInc, MHNDU, Neeson Murcutt Neille, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Spacecraft Architects, Silvester Fuller, Bennett and Trimble, Andrew Burges Architects

💰 Land values across New South Wales have reached an all-time high of $3.09 trillion, rising 3.6% from $2.98 trillion in 2024. The NSW Valuer General has now finalised land values for every parcel of land across the state, reflecting land-only values as at 1 July 2025. These valuations are underpinned by the most robust market evidence available, including an analysis of more than 66,000 property sales across NSW. For more information on land values and the NSW valuation system, visit https://ow.ly/ba8E50XxfOE 📊 Additional breakdowns City of Sydney • 2025 land value: $143.6 billion • Year-on-year change: 3.5% Greater Sydney • 2025 land value: $2.0 trillion • Year-on-year change: 4.5% Coastal NSW • 2025 land value: $582 billion • Year-on-year change: 2% Regional NSW • 2025 land value: $342 billion • Year-on-year change: 0.7%

Tweed Holiday Parks Fingal Head has taken out the NSW Government–sponsored Holiday Park on Crown Land Award at the 2025 Caravan & Camping Industry Association Awards of Excellence. The park was recognised for its standout community partnerships, cultural awareness training, sustainability initiatives, and its commitment to improving guest experiences. Located on Bundjalung Country at Booninybah (Fingal Head), other initiatives include support for the Banaam Alliance Walk on Country, protecting habitat for endangered bush stone-curlews, and helping local schools and surf lifesaving clubs. Congrats to the team for setting a benchmark for the more than 220 Crown land tourist parks across NSW and contributing to a thriving caravan and camping sector.

As NSW’s largest holiday park group, caring for more than 9000 hectares of Crown land, Reflections Holidays is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to support regional economies, protect the environment, and improve the places visitors love. 2025 has seen some extraordinary results across its coastal and inland NSW locations. 🌱 Cutting waste and saving money: $100,000 saved in just three months by reviewing waste operations and making smarter, more sustainable changes. 🐟 Investing in threatened species: Over $1.1 million has been committed to help protect endangered fish species and support healthier waterways. ⚡ Supporting the shift to EVs: 28 new EV chargers rolled out across eight parks, making low-emission travel easier for guests exploring NSW. 💡 Improving community spaces: In partnership with Byron Shire Council, new solar lighting in Brunswick Heads, creating safer and more sustainable public areas. Reflections is Australia’s only certified social-enterprise holiday park group investing all profits back into the parks and reserves it manages. Have you stayed at one?

Nowra is growing, and we’re taking steps to support this growth with new homes, jobs and a revitalised city centre. A long-term roadmap for Nowra City Centre is guiding future investment and planning decisions across all levels of government. This roadmap will help revitalise the CBD while unlocking opportunities for new housing and employment. Two rezoning proposals along the Nowra riverfront are also open for public feedback 💭 Together, they can deliver up to 900 new homes within walking distance to schools, parks, transport and local jobs. We’ll continue working closely with Shoalhaven City Council to transform Nowra into a thriving, well-connected city centre. Feedback closes Wednesday 17 December 💬 Visit https://ow.ly/7Lut50XuqII

🚤A $985,754 Crown Lands grant will transform Marine Rescue NSW’s headquarters. Thanks to the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund, an uninhabitable building at Hungry Point will be revamped into a modern, multi-purpose facility. Last boating season, Marine Rescue NSW volunteer crews carried out 3,246 rescues, bringing 7,687 people safely home. The upgraded premises will become the heart of the service's emergency operations and: ✅ Provide fit-for-purpose spaces for training and professional development ✅ Improve storage and coordination for rescue equipment ✅ Support closer cooperation with other emergency services We thank Marine Rescue NSW and its volunteers for protecting the safety of all who enjoy our state’s waterways.

Did you know? Crown Lands maintains over 2,120 kilometres of fire trails and 670 hectares of Asset Protection Zones (APZs) across NSW, helping keep families, homes and communities safe from bushfires. With summer approaching, the NSW Government is investing an extra $1 million in bushfire hazard-reduction works on Crown land. This boost will support maintenance across about 300 APZs statewide, from Cobar in the west to Sydney’s Northern Beaches. What’s an APZ? It’s strategically cleared land near homes, schools, aged-care centres and other key sites. This involves removing combustible materials such as dry grass, leaves, twigs, branches and undergrowth. Clearing deprives bushfires of the fuel they need to spread. This funding is part of a broader $13 million bushfire mitigation program for 2025–26, which also includes $6.2 million for upgrading and maintaining fire trails.