Growth Management and Housing Strategy

Project update 14 July 2025

At the Planning Committee meeting on 3 April 2025, Council agreed to endorse the draft Growth Management and Housing Strategy Options Paper, subject to several recommendations and changes. These changes have been added to the updated Options Paper (Version 02), please refer to text in the red text boxes for changes. Council’s resolution to further edit, amalgamate and remove some of the Change sites was based on a multi-criteria assessment process which was undertaken across each of the Change sites.

The next step is to turn the Options Paper into a draft Strategy. Council will work with a consultant and staff from across Council to prepare this draft. The draft Strategy will then be shared with the community for feedback. It’s expected to be ready by the end of 2025, with public consultation happening in early 2026.

Growth Management and Housing - Options Paper endorsed

Council has officially endorsed the Growth Management and Housing Options Paper, a key document which will set the direction for managing housing and employment growth until 2041.


The Options Paper was developed following extensive consultation with residents in early 2024, which heard from more than 1,200 people across four information sessions, nine drop-in opportunities and two online sessions across the Shire.


This feedback helped to inform the final version, which was endorsed at the April 2025 Council meeting. In this version, many of the initially identified sites were either removed from consideration or refined in scope.


Summary of the growth strategy for the Tweed for the next 20 years:


  • Support existing Greenfield development sites and continue to work with current developers to bring these sites to market.
  • Review planning controls for Tweed Heads to ensure building heights and densities align with its role as Tweed’s Regional City.
  • Explore additional urban infill opportunities to increase employment and housing opportunities within proximity of the Banora Point business zones and along part of Minjungbal Drive.
  • Review opportunities for additional low-rise housing diversity in locations with good access to shops, services and public transport.
  • Review opportunities for additional housing diversity across Land and Housing Corporation lands within proximity to Tweed Valley Hospital.
  • Review opportunities for additional rural housing flexibility including rural workers dwellings, secondary dwellings (granny flats) on land greater than 10ha and detached dual occupancy on land greater than 40ha.
  • Review the “dwelling entitlement” process to enable rural allotments subject to certain land criteria, to lodge a development application for a dwelling to be assessed on merit.
  • Bring forward employment land opportunities at several key strategically located sites.


Council will now begin drafting the Growth Management and Housing Strategy which will be exhibited for community feedback in 2025.

Options Paper and strategy differences


While the Options Paper and strategy are linked, the purpose of each document differs:

The Options Paper:

  • Provides a range of opportunities to be refined or culled prior to transfer to the next stage of the project.
  • Establishes the framework upon which the strategy will be built in the next stage of the project.
  • Identifies matters to be further investigated in the next stage (strategy stage).

The draft strategy will:

  • Clearly establish the 20 year growth outlook, needs, challenges and vision framework for the Tweed.
  • Provide more detail in relation to constraints and development opportunities across the endorsed change options.
  • Provide a strategic planning delivery program for implementing the final recommendations.
  • Match an infrastructure and service delivery timeframe against each of the endorsed options.
  • Enable advocacy with all levels of government and industry to overcome impediments.
  • Be presented for exhibition late-2025.

Project update November 2024

Thank you Tweed for having your say!

After extensive consultation with Tweed residents in March and April 2024, Council heard from more than 1,200 people.

Themes that dominated community response included flooding, preservation of amenity and character, exploring opportunities for rural village expansion and rural housing, as well as concern expressed about growth implications associated with traffic and parking.

Once adopted by Council, the final Options Paper will form the basis for the Draft Strategy which will be exhibited for community feedback in 2025.

Breakdown of engagement:

Project overview
The Tweed is growing and changing. To achieve greater housing choice and diversity, we need to identify where new housing and potential employment land might be located in the future.

This type of planning is critical to the way the Tweed region develops over the next 20 years, and how it will look, feel and function.

We are developing the Tweed’s plan to manage housing and employment growth: the draft Options Paper is the next step in the process.

During this stage we are asking for community input so that we can make sure the project is on the right track.

This project was open for feedback until 4pm, Friday 22 March 2024.

What we asked the community

We want you to have your say on a range of suggested options that might help accommodate our growing population and workforce until 2041. About the options:

  • These options propose ways we can increase the supply of additional housing and employment land across the Tweed.

  • Some options relate to specific locations while some relate to the whole of the Tweed.

  • The proposed options, or changes, will be incremental and may (or may not) take place over time. It is important to note that not everybody will be impacted and not all changes will be taken up overnight or over the intended 20-year period.

Feedback is being sought on any likes, dislikes, or suggestions to how changes within the draft Options Paper might be improved - this includes changes that may not have been considered.

What is included in the Draft Options Paper?

The draft Options Paper sets out a range of changes that have the potential to support the Tweed in the future in how it can meet key growth challenges in a sustainable way through to 2041.

The draft Options paper includes:

  • 10 key considerations for planned growth. These considerations, developed with community feedback, have directly informed the preparation of the changes detailed in the draft Options Paper.

  • 83 proposed changes. While the main focus of these changes is increasing housing density in areas already populated, a range of growth opportunities have also been proposed in the rural areas and greenfield areas of the Tweed.

  • Potential housing supply options - potential areas identified to accommodate future housing supply include: Tweed Heads, Tweed Heads South, Banora Point, Kingscliff, Pottsville, Murwillumbah, Burringbar and Uki.

  • Future employment opportunities - areas identified to accommodate future employment growth include: Central Tweed, Cobaki - Terranora, Eastern Hinterland, Murwillumbah, Rural West, Tweed Mid Coast, Tweed South Coast.

Project update 14 July 2025

At the Planning Committee meeting on 3 April 2025, Council agreed to endorse the draft Growth Management and Housing Strategy Options Paper, subject to several recommendations and changes. These changes have been added to the updated Options Paper (Version 02), please refer to text in the red text boxes for changes. Council’s resolution to further edit, amalgamate and remove some of the Change sites was based on a multi-criteria assessment process which was undertaken across each of the Change sites.

The next step is to turn the Options Paper into a draft Strategy. Council will work with a consultant and staff from across Council to prepare this draft. The draft Strategy will then be shared with the community for feedback. It’s expected to be ready by the end of 2025, with public consultation happening in early 2026.

Growth Management and Housing - Options Paper endorsed

Council has officially endorsed the Growth Management and Housing Options Paper, a key document which will set the direction for managing housing and employment growth until 2041.


The Options Paper was developed following extensive consultation with residents in early 2024, which heard from more than 1,200 people across four information sessions, nine drop-in opportunities and two online sessions across the Shire.


This feedback helped to inform the final version, which was endorsed at the April 2025 Council meeting. In this version, many of the initially identified sites were either removed from consideration or refined in scope.


Summary of the growth strategy for the Tweed for the next 20 years:


  • Support existing Greenfield development sites and continue to work with current developers to bring these sites to market.
  • Review planning controls for Tweed Heads to ensure building heights and densities align with its role as Tweed’s Regional City.
  • Explore additional urban infill opportunities to increase employment and housing opportunities within proximity of the Banora Point business zones and along part of Minjungbal Drive.
  • Review opportunities for additional low-rise housing diversity in locations with good access to shops, services and public transport.
  • Review opportunities for additional housing diversity across Land and Housing Corporation lands within proximity to Tweed Valley Hospital.
  • Review opportunities for additional rural housing flexibility including rural workers dwellings, secondary dwellings (granny flats) on land greater than 10ha and detached dual occupancy on land greater than 40ha.
  • Review the “dwelling entitlement” process to enable rural allotments subject to certain land criteria, to lodge a development application for a dwelling to be assessed on merit.
  • Bring forward employment land opportunities at several key strategically located sites.


Council will now begin drafting the Growth Management and Housing Strategy which will be exhibited for community feedback in 2025.

Options Paper and strategy differences


While the Options Paper and strategy are linked, the purpose of each document differs:

The Options Paper:

  • Provides a range of opportunities to be refined or culled prior to transfer to the next stage of the project.
  • Establishes the framework upon which the strategy will be built in the next stage of the project.
  • Identifies matters to be further investigated in the next stage (strategy stage).

The draft strategy will:

  • Clearly establish the 20 year growth outlook, needs, challenges and vision framework for the Tweed.
  • Provide more detail in relation to constraints and development opportunities across the endorsed change options.
  • Provide a strategic planning delivery program for implementing the final recommendations.
  • Match an infrastructure and service delivery timeframe against each of the endorsed options.
  • Enable advocacy with all levels of government and industry to overcome impediments.
  • Be presented for exhibition late-2025.

Project update November 2024

Thank you Tweed for having your say!

After extensive consultation with Tweed residents in March and April 2024, Council heard from more than 1,200 people.

Themes that dominated community response included flooding, preservation of amenity and character, exploring opportunities for rural village expansion and rural housing, as well as concern expressed about growth implications associated with traffic and parking.

Once adopted by Council, the final Options Paper will form the basis for the Draft Strategy which will be exhibited for community feedback in 2025.

Breakdown of engagement:

Project overview
The Tweed is growing and changing. To achieve greater housing choice and diversity, we need to identify where new housing and potential employment land might be located in the future.

This type of planning is critical to the way the Tweed region develops over the next 20 years, and how it will look, feel and function.

We are developing the Tweed’s plan to manage housing and employment growth: the draft Options Paper is the next step in the process.

During this stage we are asking for community input so that we can make sure the project is on the right track.

This project was open for feedback until 4pm, Friday 22 March 2024.

What we asked the community

We want you to have your say on a range of suggested options that might help accommodate our growing population and workforce until 2041. About the options:

  • These options propose ways we can increase the supply of additional housing and employment land across the Tweed.

  • Some options relate to specific locations while some relate to the whole of the Tweed.

  • The proposed options, or changes, will be incremental and may (or may not) take place over time. It is important to note that not everybody will be impacted and not all changes will be taken up overnight or over the intended 20-year period.

Feedback is being sought on any likes, dislikes, or suggestions to how changes within the draft Options Paper might be improved - this includes changes that may not have been considered.

What is included in the Draft Options Paper?

The draft Options Paper sets out a range of changes that have the potential to support the Tweed in the future in how it can meet key growth challenges in a sustainable way through to 2041.

The draft Options paper includes:

  • 10 key considerations for planned growth. These considerations, developed with community feedback, have directly informed the preparation of the changes detailed in the draft Options Paper.

  • 83 proposed changes. While the main focus of these changes is increasing housing density in areas already populated, a range of growth opportunities have also been proposed in the rural areas and greenfield areas of the Tweed.

  • Potential housing supply options - potential areas identified to accommodate future housing supply include: Tweed Heads, Tweed Heads South, Banora Point, Kingscliff, Pottsville, Murwillumbah, Burringbar and Uki.

  • Future employment opportunities - areas identified to accommodate future employment growth include: Central Tweed, Cobaki - Terranora, Eastern Hinterland, Murwillumbah, Rural West, Tweed Mid Coast, Tweed South Coast.

  • Community Engagement Summary April 2024

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Council asked the local community to have their say on a range of suggested options that might help accommodate our growing population and workforce until 2041.

    The draft Options Paper was on exhibition for 6 weeks. We would like to thank the community for getting involved in conversations at local shopping centres, markets and community information sessions. Over 9,300 visits were recorded to yoursaytweed.com.au/futuretweed where the draft Options Paper and interactive location map were available for review.

    During the exhibition period there were 1,547 downloads of the Options Paper on Your Say Tweed and 1,616 views of the draft Options Paper digital book.

    A number of face-to-face presentations took place with local Chambers of Commerce, business groups, Advisory Committees, Rate Payer groups and community forums.

    Online presentations were held for targeted industry groups and the wider community.

    Over 1,166 conversations took place at local markets, local shopping centres and community information sessions.

    More than 650 submissions were received which are now being reviewed prior to finalising a Draft Options Paper for consideration by Council later this year. Once adopted by Council, the final Options Paper will form the basis for a draft strategy which will also be exhibited for community feedback.

  • Discussion Paper November 2023

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Shaping the future of the Tweed

    The Tweed is growing. Where we live, the ways we work and the types of houses we live in are changing.

    Over the next 20 years our population is expected to grow by 30,000 people and some 11, 000 jobs will potentially be created.


    To help us plan for these changes, Council is developing a Growth Management and Housing Strategy (GMHS), a plan to guide growth across the Tweed in a way that maintains our connected communities, unique character and natural environment.

    The GMHS is now at an important phase in its development, seeking to establish the vision for what the Tweed’s future will look and feel like.

    Key planning considerations

    Last year we asked the community what they wanted(External link) for the future of the Tweed to look like. From this feedback, 10 key considerations were identified to ensure Council adapt to growth in a sustainable way. A discussion paper has been prepared to work through these key considerations when reviewing what housing and employment land alternatives are possible in the future.

    These considerations are:

    • Plan for areas that enable growth
    • Support sustainable development
    • Provide a range of housing options in suitable areas
    • Preserve the Tweed's amenity, character, heritage and lifestyle
    • Match planned growth with the provision of services
    • Supply of diverse and affordable housing options
    • Identify areas that can facilitate employment growth
    • Ensure protection of the natural environment
    • Protect suitable agricultural land and rural values
    • Build resilience to natural hazards such as floods and bushfires

    View the Discussion Paper.

    Get involved!

    We are asking the community to think about what the Tweed may look like in the future, and ask:

    • Where will we live?
    • Where will we work?
    • What will our neighborhoods look like?

    Get involved in the conversation by sharing your thoughts on the key considerations and how they apply to the above questions. You can share comments in one of the following ways:

    What happens next?

    In early 2024 we will move into the next phase of the draft Growth Management and Housing Strategy where an Options Paper will be available for the community to review.

    This paper will provide details of housing options and employment growth opportunities. The above key considerations will lay the foundation for what options will be presented.

    Make sure you follow this project to receive the latest updates by clicking on the Follow Project prompt.

    View previous phases of the Growth Management and Housing Strategy.

  • Community members contribute to Issues Paper

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
    supporting image

    During early-stage consultation with the community in August and September 2022, the Growth Management and Housing Strategy page on Your Say Tweed received 900 visits.

    Representatives from local resident and ratepayer groups, community groups, local urban planning consultants and interested residents from across the shire attended interactive Community Briefing Sessions to learn more about the project and share their views on how they would like to see the Tweed grow and what should be considered when planning for the future of housing and employment land.

    Almost 300 people completed the online survey. 40% of survey respondents have lived in the Tweed more than 20 years, 39% between 10-20 years and the remainder moved to the Tweed in the last 10 years.

    A sample of what we heard

    • The natural environment, access to the coastline and rural landscapes are part of what makes the Tweed a great place to live.
    • Local people value our open, green space and scenic views, our lifestyle and the convenience of living close to services and facilities.
    • People want to see bushland, tree-lined streets and the Tweed's heritage, character and identity preserved. They also want to see improved transport infrastructure and service (roads, public transport, walkways and cycleways). Housing affordability is also highly valued.
    • The majority of people who participated in the consultation indicated that they think population growth should be accommodated either as redevelopment within existing residential areas of the Tweed or a combination of existing and outside existing residential areas. Many accepted that this might mean that medium to higher density dwellings such as residential flat buildings and townhouses or smaller-sized suburban blocks with detached or semi-detached houses and smaller yard space may be needed to accommodate this growth.
    • The vast majority of people felt that it was very important for the Tweed to have bushland/rural/urban breaks to separate our built-up urban areas and our rural towns.

    Community feedback and contributions will help inform the development of an Issues Paper alongside input from the Project Reference Group, other stakeholder engagement and research. The draft Issues Paper will be placed on Public Exhibition for further comment before being finalised.

  • Early stage consultation

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
    • Early stage consultation - completed
      We asked for your thoughts on what is important to you when it comes to housing and employment opportunities in the Tweed. This helped us understand what you most value about the Tweed today and what you hope it will be like 20 years from now.

    • Public Exhibition - Draft Issues Paper - Tuesday 25 October to Monday 21 November 2022 - completed
      The draft Issues Paper presents the key findings from the early stage consultation, a background review of the current planning and policy context and demographic and employment data. It is an important evidence base document that establishes the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the Tweed Shire over the next 20 years, in the context of population and employment growth, and set the direction for the next phases of preparing the Growth Management and Housing Strategy.

    Read the draft Issues Paper
    Read the Supporting Material - Economic Assessment

    Contributions are now closed for review.

    • Industry Forum - May 2023 - Representatives from housing and employment industries are invited to provide feedback using the Feedback Form below.

    • There will be a range of opportunities for the community to have a say throughout the development of the draft Strategy.

  • Project background

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Working together to plan for a new era in the Tweed

    The Tweed is one of the largest and fastest growing local government areas in regional NSW. With the NSW Government expecting a population of up to 112,244 people in the Tweed by 2041(External link), this could mean an increase of approximately 13,290 people on our current population of 97,151 (according to the 2021 Census). So, to help guide the future of housing and employment land for the next 20 years, Council has begun preparing a Growth Management and Housing Strategy.

    Read more about population projections.

    What is the Growth Management and Housing Strategy?

    The Growth Management and Housing Strategy (GMHS) will establish a framework for sustainable development so that the Tweed is ready for the future. It aims to guide growth in a way that maintains our desirable lifestyle, strong community, unique character and environment and continues to offer opportunities for our residents to thrive.

    The Strategy will provide a clear understanding of how housing supply and related employment generating opportunities will change over the next 20 years in the Tweed and will set out planning principles and policy goals that protect, maintain and respect our natural environment, community expectations, lifestyle and heritage values.

    As we age, our housing needs change, the GMHS will look at where our increased and changing population will live and the types of housing that will be required to accommodate these different needs.

    Many of us prefer working close to home, leaving more time to be at home with family and friends, it is good for our wellbeing and it is good for the environment. Given the ever-changing nature of our employment needs (especially since the COVID-19 pandemic) the GHMS will look at where potential employment land should be located to meet the changing needs of the community.

    The GMHS will seek to make sure that growth and development does not adversely impact on the amenity, character and unique natural environmental values that the Tweed is renowned for. It will also consider constraints such as flooding and other natural hazards.

    Have your say about how we manage growth in the Tweed

    • Early stage consultation - completed
      We asked for your thoughts on what is important to you when it comes to housing and employment opportunities in the Tweed. This helped us understand what you most value about the Tweed today and what you hope it will be like 20 years from now.

    • Public Exhibition - Draft Issues Paper - Tuesday 25 October to Monday 21 November 2022.
      The draft Issues Paper presents the key findings from the early stage consultation, a background review of the current planning and policy context and demographic and employment data. It is an important evidence base document that establishes the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the Tweed Shire over the next 20 years, in the context of population and employment growth, and set the direction for the next phases of preparing the Growth Management and Housing Strategy.

    Read the draft Issues Paper
    Read the Supporting Material - Economic Assessment

    • Industry Forum - May 2023 - Representatives from housing and employment industries were invited to provide feedback.

    • Discussion Paper - Shaping the future of the Tweed. Open for public comment 15 November - 14 December 2023.

      Read the Discussion Paper

      (External link)
    • Public Exhibition Draft Options Paper - February 2024. There will be a range of opportunities for the community to have a say throughout the exhibition period. Follow this project page to stay up to date.
Page last updated: 17 Jul 2025, 09:15 AM