The Pulse | 23 July 2026

Precincts, Pumped Hydro and Plyscrapers: NSW Construction Runs on State-Significant Speed

This week's reporting frames the NSW Government's state-significant pathways as the mechanism carrying the State's largest housing and energy projects into delivery.

This week's reporting frames the NSW Government's state-significant pathways as the mechanism carrying the State's largest housing and energy projects into delivery. One Global Capital's $1.9 billion, 840-apartment Five Dock precinct was declared State Significant Development and routed through the new Housing Delivery Authority, letting rezoning and the development application run together [1, 3]; Inca Property Group lodged a 53-apartment Mona Vale application under the Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy [5]; and the $1.8 billion Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project won the first pumped-hydro planning approval in NSW in six years [4]. On the resistance side, Cessnock councillors voted to object to two state-significant battery developments on Wine Country Drive, seeking to move their assessment to the Independent Planning Commission [2].

On major builds, two flagship projects marked progress against the same backdrop of state-led delivery. The Atlassian Central hybrid-timber tower beside Sydney's Central Station reached full height at 180 metres, reported as the world's tallest structure of its kind at an estimated $1.4 billion [6]; and Bhullar Group delivered 30-tonne rail bridge girders to the Australian Rail Track Corporation network from a regional NSW workshop, at a 100 per cent weld-testing pass rate [7].

Housing Supply: The Housing Delivery Authority Pathway and a Low and Mid-Rise Lodgement

Build Australia and Hotel Management reported that One Global Capital won a declaration of its Five Dock Spencer Street proposal as State Significant Development under the NSW Government's new Housing Delivery Authority pathway [1, 3]. The declaration lets the $1.9 billion mixed-use precinct move through a streamlined state-led process in which rezoning and the development application proceed together, and opens scope to lift the site's practical capacity to about 80,500 square metres at a 5.7:1 floor space ratio [1, 3]. On the 1.4-hectare site, the reporting described roughly 840 apartments across five residential towers, together with a 150-key hotel, commercial and retail space and public open space [1, 3]. Hotel Management reported that One Global Capital, the firm behind the Skye Suites brand, acquired the Inner West site in March [3]. One Global Capital's chairman and group chief executive, Iwan Sunito, said "In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW government's most important planning pathways." [1] The Authority was set up by the State to speed major housing schemes judged capable of adding substantial supply [1, 3].

Apartments.com.au reported that Inca Property Group lodged a State Significant Development Application for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront project at 35-39 Darley Street East, Mona Vale, to replace an existing 18-apartment strata block [5]. The scheme sets aside nine affordable build-to-rent homes drawn from the State's infill affordable-housing programme, occupies a 2,679-square-metre elevated site about 280 metres back from Mona Vale Beach, and is among the first in the area to be assessed under the State's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy [5]. Inca Managing Director Josh Thompson said "This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress Dawn through to completion", adding that the route let the firm acquire a one-off site and have it assessed by the NSW planning department [5]. Construction is to be carried out by Inca's in-house arm, GOP Constructions [5].

Energy Transition: A Pumped-Hydro Approval and Council Resistance to Hunter Batteries

Felix Project reported that the $1.8 billion Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project won planning approval, turning the former Stratford Mining Complex in the Gloucester Valley, about 100 kilometres north of Newcastle, into a renewable energy hub [4]. The proponent is Gloucester Coal Pty Ltd, a Yancoal Australia Limited subsidiary, and the scheme pairs a 300 MW pumped hydro station holding 12 hours of storage with a 320 MW solar farm; it is forecast to supply as much as 13 per cent of the long-duration storage the State is targeting for 2034 and to create up to 350 construction jobs [4]. The reporting noted the project was declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure in June 2024 and sits within the NSW Government's Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, a 20-year plan to broaden the generation mix as coal is retired [4]. Paul Scully, the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, said "This is the first pumped hydro project to secure final planning approval in NSW in 6 years." [4]

The Dungog Chronicle reported that Cessnock City councillors resolved, on two 7-6 votes, to lodge formal objections to a pair of adjacent battery projects on Wine Country Drive, Rothbury [2]. Both the Sunshine Estate and Rothbury systems have been declared state significant energy developments, which takes them past council approval and puts the decision with the state government [2]. Councillor Susanne Dixon said the objection would not halt the developments but could move the approval decision out of the hands of Planning Minister Paul Scully and across to the Independent Planning Commission, stating "This change automatically introduces a much higher level of scrutiny." [2] Councillor Quintin King called the batteries "toxic bombs" and raised fire-response concerns, while the reporting noted Ausgrid's advice that battery fires are rare, that most affect only a single unit, and that any proposal falling short of its safety and reliability standards "simply won't proceed" [2].

Major Builds: A Hybrid-Timber Topping-Out and Regionally Fabricated Rail Girders

The ABC reported that the Atlassian Central tower beside Sydney's Central Station reached full height, marked by a topping-out ceremony held on the 39th floor [6]. At 180 metres it ranks as the tallest hybrid timber building anywhere; work began on the site in 2022 at an estimated $1.4 billion, completion is expected in 2027, and its hybrid timber design cut the amount of carbon-intensive concrete and steel required [6]. Atlassian co-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes said the result would be "the most technologically advanced building in Australia", while NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey called it an "engineering marvel" and tied it to the state's "Tech Central" precinct around Haymarket and Redfern [6]. The reporting noted the tower is co-owned with Dexus, carries a six-star Green Star target, and will set aside its lower floors for a co-living hostel of 500 beds run by YHA Australia [6].

The Narrandera Argus reported that Bhullar Group fabricated and delivered heavy bridge girders for the rail network run by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, with the sections arriving at Denman Yard in the Upper Hunter [7]. The girders were built in temporary facilities at the firm's Narrandera workshop after construction delays and regional labour shortages, and passed weld testing at a 100 per cent rate against the fatigue-category code that heavy-haul rail work demands [7]. Each girder weighed 30 tonnes and measured 34 metres long by 2.5 metres high, requiring specialised heavy transport and an oversize permit to reach the site [7]. Managing Director Michael Bhullar said "We are incredibly proud to see major transport infrastructure components for the national rail network being built right here in regional New South Wales." [7] The reporting noted the new Narrandera workshop was expected to be fully operational by the end of August [7].

Final Thoughts

Two patterns run through the week's coverage. The first concerns where planning decisions are made: the developments reported across the Five Dock precinct [1, 3], the Mona Vale lodgement [5] and the Stratford approval [4] each moved through a state-significant pathway rather than local council assessment, with the Housing Delivery Authority, the Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, and a Critical State Significant Infrastructure declaration the respective routes. The composition of that reporting was consistent with assessment authority sitting with the State for the projects it most wants delivered, rather than with the councils in whose areas they fall.

The second pattern is the response that acceleration draws. Cessnock councillors' objection to two state-significant batteries [2] was reported as an attempt to move assessment to the Independent Planning Commission rather than to stop the projects, a procedural lever aimed at the pathway itself. Alongside that, the Atlassian tower reaching full height [6] and Bhullar Group's rail girder delivery [7] were reported as conventional builds reaching milestones under their own programs. The composition of activity reported this week was consistent with large housing and energy projects advancing through state-led assessment while established project delivery continued in parallel.

1.  Build Australia (17 July 2026). NSW's Five Dock Spencer Street advances under new pathway. https://buildaustralia.com.au/projects/five-dock-spencer-street-advances-under-new-pathway  

2.  Dungog Chronicle | by Dylan Nicholson (17 July 2026). 'Toxic bombs': Hunter council votes on battery 'mega-projects'. https://dungogchronicle.com.au/story/9309436/cessnock-council-to-object-to-wine-country-battery-proposals  

3.  Hotel Management | by Daisy Melwani (17 July 2026). NSW backs One Global Capital to fast-track $1.9 billion mixed-use precinct. https://hotelmanagement.com.au/2026/07/17/nsw-backs-one-global-capital-to-fast-track-1-9-billion-mixed-use-precinct  

4.  Felix Project | by Monica Gameng (19 July 2026). Development of Stratford Pumped Hydro & Solar project given the green light. https://felix.net/project-news/development-of-stratford-pumped-hydro-solar-project-given-the-green-light

5.  Apartments.com.au (20 July 2026). First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments. https://apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-inca-eyes-mona-vale-with-state-significant-da-for-dawn-apartments  

6.  ABC News | by Sean Tarek Goodwin (22 July 2026). Atlassian marks 39-storey milestone in $1.4 billion hybrid timber tower build in Sydney. https://abc.net.au/news/2026-07-22/nsw-atlassian-new-building-topping-out-ceremony-sydney/106943758  

7.  Narrandera Argus (22 July 2026). Bhullar Group delivers massive ARTC bridge girders. https://narranderaargus.com.au/news/bhullar-group-delivers-massive-artc-bridge-girders-ko0bj3fc