Development approval has been granted for the first stage of an ambitious masterplan that aims to bring up to 5,500 new homes over the next 20 years to Dubbo’s North-West Urban Release Area. This climate-resilient precinct has been fast-tracked to help address Dubbo’s urgent housing demand.
Spanning 375 hectares in North-West Dubbo, this key growth area was first recognised in 1996. The plan includes development scenarios for 5,500 to 6,000 homes, with the potential to accommodate a population of 12,500 to 15,000. Residential zones will vary from general and low-density to high-density, with space also allocated for a neighbourhood centre, mixed-use areas and public recreation. The project’s initial phase includes single homes, townhouses and apartments, with 30 per cent designated as tenure-blind* social and affordable housing.
Carol Marra, co-director of Marra and Yeh Architects (which designed the project’s initial phase in collaboration with Latstudios), highlighted its focus on climate resilience and walkability. “Extensive community consultation was undertaken before the masterplan process to ensure the community’s voice was central,” Carol said. “Early on, we established relationships with local Traditional Owners – the Tubba-Gah Wiradjuriby – participating in a Walk on Country to better understand the area’s stories and history.”
Focus on community and climate resilience
The masterplan process involved a close partnership with Dubbo Regional Council (DRC), bringing together departments such as traffic, engineering and open space through a series of co-design workshops. This collaboration helped accelerate the masterplan timeline from a typical five years to just eight months.
Working with SJB Planning, Carol and Yeh Architects navigated the planning system to enable twice the usual residential density in the first stage, with potential for further increases in later phases. “This increased density is paired with more open space and community amenities, benefiting both residents and the broader community.”
Environmental considerations were key to the project’s design. The precinct, named “Gunyah” (meaning “home” in Wiradjuri), was developed with input from the Tubba-Gah Wiradjuri People, focusing on the natural landscape, hydrology and existing landform. The precinct also maximises tree canopy, aiming to offer shaded, comfortable walking and cycling routes.
Green spaces within the project are designed to support stormwater retention and filtration, supporting climate resilience and protecting the local river red gums, which hold cultural significance and benefit from periodic flooding. Near the village centre, space is also allocated for aged care facilities to support Indigenous elders remaining on Country.
A model for regional Australia
Developer Brett Anderson sees this development as a potential blueprint for regional housing solutions. “Delivering housing in regional areas at the speed required has been a challenge for decades. Our masterplan in Dubbo sets a valuable example for other regional projects,” he said.
Incorporating each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Gunyah precinct represents a benchmark in sustainable regional development. As Dubbo’s housing demands continue to grow, the North-West Dubbo Urban Release Area stands as a testament to what is possible when community, sustainability, and innovation intersect.
*a design principle that aims to make it impossible to distinguish the type of housing in a development by its appearance
