Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live? Maybe it should be sprinkled throughout the shire?
Your opinion of how to identify where and how affordable and social housing should be facilitated in the Tweed is being sought by the Tweed Shire Council (TSC).
In 2021 TSC declared a housing emergency in response to unprecedented pressures on housing affordability and accessibility to affordable rental and rent-to-buy housing. Council is now preparing an Affordable Housing Strategy (AHS) to identify options to address the housing crisis facing the Tweed and to provide more sustainable, affordable housing for the community into the future.
Lots approved but not built
One of the key issues facing many councils like TSC is the lack of leverage they have in forcing developers who have approved housing developments to actually get the dwellings built. Currently there are almost 20,000 housing lots approved in Tweed local government area (LGA), but not developed – yet there is a housing crisis.
Therefore the Tweed Affordable Housing Strategy is being formulated alongside a strategy for managing the Tweed’s growth and housing, the Growth Management and Housing Strategy 2041 (GHMS), which identifies locations where housing diversity could exist, including affordable and social housing.
Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry urged as many residents as possible to have their say and complete the survey on this critical issue.
‘Every day we are faced with stories of hardship and difficulty as the cost-of-living crisis impacts residents across our community,’ Cr Cherry said.
‘We know so many people are in dire need of affordable and social housing but there simply isn’t enough stock available.
‘At the last Census in August 2021 we learned the Tweed has one of the highest rates of homelessness in NSW, with an estimated 529 people defined as homeless and a growing number of people living in an assortment of multiple residency housing types, temporary lodges or in severely crowded dwellings.
‘Sadly, there is a group of newly vulnerable individuals and families who, even though employed, find they cannot afford a mortgage or rental property. This includes key workers such as medical and emergency workers, care providers, teachers and those who work in retail and service industries.
‘We need to do everything we can as a community and at Council to make it easier to build more affordable housing in the Tweed so our children can afford to remain here once they leave home.’
Unlocking affordable housing
When completed, the Tweed Affordable Housing Strategy will give clear direction to Council and community housing providers (CHPs) on how to unlock new opportunities for affordable housing.
As part of Phase 3 of the strategy, Council is now seeking direct input from the community through a survey on the following:
- how to integrate new social and affordable housing development within local neighbourhoods
- higher density housing essential for financial feasibility
- potential solutions or options to improve the supply and choice of social and affordable housing
- consideration of alternative ways to support very low to low-income earners in terms of accessing housing and essential support services.
‘Housing supply shortages, particularly rental properties, and rising land and property prices are creating unprecedented rental and mortgage stress within the Tweed. This is particularly affecting those on lower incomes who are struggling to find safe and secure accommodation,’ said Council’s Strategic Planning and Urban Design Unit Coordinator Iain Lonsdale.
Currently across the Tweed, affordable and social housing supply makes up only 2.9% of our total dwellings, and 47% of households are experiencing rental stress.
‘Our figures show there is an unmet demand of 1,118 dwellings for social housing and 2,665 dwellings for affordable housing. While the State and Federal governments are planning for the funding and future supply of social and affordable housing, there are significant market shortages and Council is exploring how it can assist.
‘We need to find new and better ways to work together with government, industry, social and community housing providers and private market makers and the community, if we are to effectively address our housing crisis.’
The definition of affordable housing is rental housing for those on very low, or low to median incomes, priced so these households can meet their other essential basic living costs such as food, healthcare and transport.
Council is working on the development of an Affordable Housing Strategy in four phases, with help from the elected Council, Community Housing Providers and input from the community. The next stage is Phase 4 and will see the development a draft strategy which is aimed to be on public exhibition later this year.
Have your say
A discussion guide is available on Council’s Your Say Tweed page. Complete the Tweed Affordable Housing Strategy survey online before 4 pm on 19 April 2024.
Alternatively, provide your feedback by:
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: The General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah NSW 2484.
- In person to the Tweed or Murwillumbah Council offices.
