NSW allocates $36 million to upgrade parks, sports fields and swim sites in Hunter’s high‑growth areas

The New South Wales government has launched the Better Open Spaces Program, making $36 million available to upgrade parks, sporting fields and swimming locations across six high‑growth local government areas of the Hunter Central Coast region. Eligible councils – Central Coast, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Cessnock and Port Stephens – can apply for up to two grants ranging from $150,000 to $2 million for projects that are ready by mid‑2027 and can be completed by mid‑2029.

Funding will support three categories: parks and sports fields (e.g., play spaces, fitness areas, off‑leash dog zones, multi‑purpose courts), swim sites near waterways or beaches, and town squares or civic plazas. Applications open on 1 July and close at the end of August. NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the program “matches housing growth with investment in quality open spaces” and will help keep communities “active, connected and thriving.”

The initiative follows a peak in regional housing approvals, with 5,101 dwellings approved in 2024‑25, driven by new apartments in Newcastle and developments on the outskirts of Maitland and Lake Macquarie. The grants aim to ensure new homes are situated near well‑maintained community facilities, transport and jobs.