A scheme created by Byron Council in a bid to generate more affordable housing in the shire looks set to get its first workout when a housing project comes before this week’s Council meeting.
Coming into force as of last January, Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme (AHCS) requires developers who want their land rezoned to facilitate housing, to contribute land, money or dwellings to Council which would then use it to create affordable housing.
It only applies in Mullumbimby, Bangalow and Byron Bay.
This week, councillors will consider the first rezoning proposal – also known as a planning proposal – that requires such a contribution.
Landowner, Maxwell Campbell, via his company Instant Steel Pty Ltd, is seeking to rezone the lion’s share of a four-hectare site at 68 Rankin Drive, Bangalow.
Located on the northern edge of the Bangalow residential area, the developer is applying to rezone the existing RU2 Rural Landscape and the RU1 Primary Production zones, to a mix of R2 Low Density Residential and R3 Medium Density Residential.
According to planning documents coming before this week’s Council meeting, the rezoning would facilitate the construction of more than 40 new residential dwellings.
In their report, staff say the land is ‘largely cleared and does not contain environmentally sensitive areas’.
One lot ‘affordable’
The developer’s contribution under the affordable housing contribution scheme would be one medium-density lot.
This would be dedicated to Council as part of any future subdivision approval of the land.
Council staff have recommended that councillors vote to give the proposal a preliminary green light, paving the way for it to proceed to the state government for Gateway determination, a process that applies to all rezoning proposals.
If determination is granted, the whole project will then go on public exhibition.
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