The former Mullumbimby Hospital site is rare flood-free land in Mullum.
Since 2017 we have been working to see the site developed with a mix of housing and other community facilities and services.
Multiple stages were undertaken to achieve this.
Works completed so far include:
- Remediation works - hospital buildings demolished, and asbestos area capped.
- Site Strategy and Urban Design Protocol – developed through community consultation, this describes the history, vision, objectives, and urban design principles for the site’s development.
- Planning Proposal - the land has been rezoned for housing with an 11.5m building height.
- Enquiry by Design process – produced community informed concept plans of the development’s footprint.
- Development Strategies and Draft DCP Preparation – presented to Council meeting in November 2025 with the DCP being endorsed for Public Exhibition.
- Roundtable with Homes NSW and Reconstruction Authority – The Mayor and Council staff met with key State Government representatives to discuss the opportunity for an MoU to deliver the project.
Current Stage
In 2025 we received funding from the Commonwealth, through the NSW State Government, to engage consultants to prepare:
- Masterplan – to provide a detailed reference scheme to test the market and potential development partners.
- Development Strategy – to provide a phased development, that delivers the developments vision and ensures viability and alignment with community values.
- Site-specific Development Control Plan – to deliver on the Masterplans vision, currently open for feedback until 27 May 2026.
On 27 November the consultant’s report was presented to Council for consideration. It included:
A site-specific Development Control Plan setting out the guidelines for the:
- Location
- Type of housing or buildings
- Density
- Look and feel of the site.
View the Report - Council Meeting 27 November 2025
Four potential models for housing delivery
- Englobo sale where a portion of the site earmarked for housing is sold via an Expression of Interest process that stipulates specific criteria for affordable housing and community outcomes.
- Project Delivery Agreement
- Joint Venture – Council forms a partnership with a developer
- Master Developer – Council is the developer.
Council supported, in principle, the Englobo sale of the site to the NSW Government to deliver public, social, affordable, and Aboriginal housing.
On 17 February 2026, Council met with Homes NSW and the Reconstruction Authority to discuss the opportunity to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the delivery of the project.
As part of the process, we are organising a Stakeholder Workshop and Community Drop-in sessions as part of the public exhibition of the Draft Site-specific DCP.
We will prepare a report back to Council on the progress in mid 2026.
Funding
This work has been funded with $263,000 provided through the NSW Government's Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, under commonwealth's Housing Support Program - Stream 1.
