Central and Far West

The Central West SA4 is forecast to grow from 213,545 people in 2021 to 237,123 in 2046, a net increase of 23,578 people, reaching 230,000 residents in 2036. Meeting that growth requires an additional 16,895 dwellings.

Central West runs about 500 kilometres inland from the western edge of the Blue Mountains to the semi-arid plains, covering around 70,300 square kilometres across 13 local government areas: Bathurst Regional, Oberon, Orange, Blayney, Cabonne, Lithgow, Mid-Western Regional, Cowra, Forbes, Parkes, Lachlan, Weddin and Bland. Bathurst and Orange are the main regional hubs, followed by Mudgee and Lithgow.

Bathurst is growing consistently. Laffing Waters, in the Bathurst - East SA2, is under way on NSW Government funding, with its later stages falling beyond the forecast period. Stewarts Mount, in Bathurst West, is in structure planning and is expected to commence about five years after Laffing Waters.

In Orange, the Shiralee precinct continues under its structure plan, and the Redleaf development under Landcom provides much needed affordable housing for the region. Large lots in the north of the city sit underutilised while development applications are issued or under assessment across the northern growth corridors.

Mudgee has recorded a strong construction completion rate over a period when Bathurst and Orange both dipped.

Densification is being attempted in the regional hubs, though it is confined to their central business districts and faces feasibility constraints. In Bathurst, the George Street carpark becomes less feasible as dwelling yield rises, and the St Mary's and St Joseph's sites have had their heights reduced. Mixed-use capacity in the Orange central business district faces similar feasibility questions.

State funding is a strong lever for development across the region, including NSW Government trunk infrastructure grants at Laffing Waters, Landcom at Redleaf, and the Regional Housing Fund at Lithgow.

New South Wales is forecast to add 2.1 million people by 2046. The Central West SA4 contributes around 1% of that growth, reflecting its modest share of the state total.