About common planning assumptions
Common planning assumptions are shared information and tools that we and others use to make business plans, and strategies. These include:
- data sets
- parameters
- assumptions
- models
- analytical tools.
They help NSW Government agencies plan important services and infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads, and transport by providing a consistent evidence base.
Using these common planning assumptions makes it easier for government agencies to access the latest information, helping them plan better services and infrastructure. This supports the Premier’s Priority of providing world-class public service.
Assumptions and datasets
NSW Government agencies create, and update information used as common planning assumptions. These assumptions were approved by the Common Planning Assumption Group (CPAG) in April 2021.
We use common planning assumptions to develop new government policies, strategies and business cases. They have been used to prepare key government plans, including:
These data sets and projections usually cover 20 years for business cases over $10 million and 40 years for major investments and strategies.
These are our common planning assumption data sets, reports and tools, organised into different categories.
The 2021-22 NSW Intergenerational Report delivers a snapshot of our future state to inform the policies that will continue to make NSW the best place to live, work, run a business and raise a family.
- Population projections – Projections of population, mortality, migration, fertility and household formation
- Greater Sydney housing supply forecast, November 2020 – Provides information on where, when, and how many new homes are likely to be built within the city.
NSW and Australian Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) project – NARCliM is NSW Government’s trusted source for regional climate projections data and related information. NARCliM2.0, was released in 2024 and replaces previous generations as the CPAG-endorsed climate projections.
For more reading:
Climate change projections interactive map – Explore annual and seasonal climate change information relevant to 10 NSW regions and the ACT. You can select from 2 greenhouse gas emissions scenarios for 7 time periods 2020-2090.
NARCliM2.0 Climate change snapshots – Summary information and infographics for a deeper understanding of climate change on 10 NSW regions and the ACT, and the impacts on each region.
NSW Climate Data Portal – Registered users can browse the collection of NARCliM climate projections data and select and download by location, date range and a range of formats.
Relevant NARCliM1.0 Products:
- technical report on extreme rainfall
- technical report on bush fire risk
- heatwaves snapshot
- heatwaves technical report.
Air quality – learn how NSW monitors air quality and air emissions inventories:
- NSW air quality monitoring data
- NSW air quality monitoring reports
- NSW air emissions inventory results
- NSW air emissions in my community
- National Pollutant Inventory results.
The Biodiversity Values Map (BV Map) shows land with high biodiversity value that is sensitive to impacts from development and clearing:
Sea level rise assumptions – Read about sea level rise and learn about impacts on flooding, coastal inundation, and estuaries and impacts from climate change.
Regional Planning NSW – Provides all approved regional plans.
- Metropolitan transport demand – passengers
- Freight:
- Small area projections for population, workforce and employment – TZP22 on the Open Data Hub
- Workspace ratios – A guide on workspace ratios to help understand how many potential jobs could result from new employment related development
- Employment projections summary (PDF 462.81KB) – Explanation of the employment projections.
- Projects and initiatives map – An interactive map of all new funded and committed transport infrastructure projects train, bus, light rail, freight, interchanges, parking, roads and maritime and walking and cycling paths across NSW.
- NSW School infrastructure projects map – An interactive map of all school infrastructure projects in NSW completed since 2011, in progress and recently announced.
- Health infrastructure projects – An interactive map showing Health Infrastructure projects in all parts of the state by planning, delivery and completion stages.
The NSW Connectivity Index is an interactive user-friendly tool that measures the quality of digital connectivity across NSW through 3 key elements:
- access
- affordability
- demographics.
Contact NSW Treasury
For general or media enquiries, complete our online form or visit our Contact us page.
- Address: 52 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW 2000 (Enter via 127 Phillip Street)
- Post: GPO Box 5469, Sydney, NSW 2001