Narrabri Special Activation Precinct

NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

Housing Analysis

Narrabri was announced as a Special Activation Precinct (SAP) in November 2020.

The Narrabri SAP is expected to attract employment and investment opportunities to the region, capitalising on Narrabri’s strategic location to Inland Rail, the Narrabri West Walgett Line and the Narrabri Northern NSW Inland Port. This requires planning for housing, infrastructure, community and social needs required for the town to support additional growth.

With direct access to national and international markets via the Inland Rail, the SAP is anticipated to be a commercial hub that will target energy intensive manufacturing, value-add agricultural production, recycling, and freight and logistics.

The investigation area of the SAP includes the Narrabri Northern NSW Inland Port, which is located 6km from the town centre.

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is in the initial stages of master planning conducting technical investigations which will inform the draft Master Plan for the SAP.

What we did

Atlas carried out a housing study to support the growth in population brought about by the SAP, one of the many studies being undertaken to inform an evidence base for the draft Master Plan for the SAP and confirm the final boundary.

A new schedule to the Activation Precincts State Environmental Planning Policy was to be added to the rezoning of land and the creation of exempt and complying development pathways for development within the SAP.

The outcome

The NSW Government will not proceed with the Narrabri SAP following the 2023 Strategic Infrastructure Review. In April 2025 the Narrabri rezoning proposal was finalised to enable land for housing, employment uses and industrial activity.

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