A two-day forum in Bellingen that began on Thursday saw about 100 people (including from the Nambucca) come together to talk, listen, learn and share ideas and experiences about the complex subject of housing affordability.
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Organisers estimated that about 40 per cent of attendees were from the general community, with the rest having a work-related interest in the housing sector.
The general managers of Bellingen and Nambucca shire councils were there, and some of the councillors and staff, along with housing providers, town planners, architects, housing co-operative members, non-government organisations and people from intentional communities like Bundagen.
They heard that although housing affordability is a national problem, potential solutions can be particular and local and might embrace tiny houses, secondary dwellings, new models of land ownership, multiple occupancies and housing co-operatives.
Prominent speakers at the forum included the Chief Planner of NSW, Gary White; CEO NSW Shelter, Karen Walsh; and CEO Common Equity, James Brown.
Chief Planner Gary White said simply increasing supply was not the answer, given that housing also functions as an investment vehicle and is subject to a complicated array of influences.
He spoke about needing to understand the broader context within which regional and local planning decisions would be made, referring to megatrends – major shifts in environmental, social and economic conditions that will substantially change the way Australia lives.
For example, our ageing population, climate change, the rise of the South East Asian middle class, advances in technology and the pressure being placed on finite environmental resources.
A major thrust of his argument was that local government should take a strategic approach to town planning rather than a regulatory one, consulting with their communities and developing a story that captures the character of their particular place and its desired future.
“What unfortunately we tend to do is pay very little attention to strategic planning,” he said. “We have our battles on a DA by DA basis. Put the effort into the top-level storytelling. Put in place the systems so we can deliver the right stuff quickly and pump the bad stuff out quickly. Let’s be planners rather than regulators.”
Anglicare this week reported, the North Coast is economically disadvantaged when compared to both the NSW average and the national average. Levels of unemployment remain high, with longer than average disengagement from the work force and an overall lower median household income.
There are issues in the big cities, the regional centres and smaller towns. But we never hear the government acknowledge the extent of the problem here let alone do anything about it.
The State and Federal Labor candidates Andrew Woodward and Cr Susan Jenvey attended the conference.
In a press release, Mr Woodward has outlined Federal Labor’s plans to alleviate the affordable housing crisis in the area:
- Reform negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions;
- Facilitate a COAG process to introduce a uniform vacant property tax across all major cities;
- Limit direct borrowing by self-managed superannuation funds;
- Increased foreign investor fees and penalties;
- Establish a bond aggregator to increase investment in affordable housing;
- Boost homelessness support for vulnerable Australians;
- Getting better results from the National Affordable Housing Agreement;
- Re-establish the National Housing Supply Council and the Minister for Housing.
While NSW State Labor’s plans are:
- 25% of dwellings constructed on government-owned land that is being redeveloped will be designated as Affordable Housing;
- 15% of dwellings on privately-owned land rezoned for housing will be designated as Affordable Housing;
- Conduct a full audit of all publicly-owned land and create an Affordable Housing Land Register; and
- Refocus Urban Growth to prioritise the development of affordable, social and mixed housing.
“Finally, we have housing affordability on the agenda in the area. For too long the issue has been on the back burner. It is a now front and centre issue on the Coffs and mid-north coast. The community is speaking up; we've heard it; we get it and, we’re going to be keeping it high on the agenda,” Cr Jenvey said.