A “one-size-fits-all” approach to the housing crisis fails is a missed opportunity and fails to address community infrastructure needs according to NSW’s local government peak body.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) president Mayor Phyllis Miller warns the roll-out of the NSW Government’s low and mid-rise housing policy on 21 February misses the chance to provide urgently needed affordable housing, particularly for essential workers in key locations.
NSW Planning and Public Spaces minister, Paul Scully announced the reforms of planning controls within 800 metres around 171 town centres and stations across metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Hunter regions.
The reforms will allow for dual-occupancies, terraces, townhouses and residential flat buildings – sometimes known as “the missing middle”. The Government claims the reforms will provide 112,000 homes in five years.
However Mayor Miller said while each council would have views on specific sites, continued collaboration and transparent partnership with State Government was needed if the policy was going to succeed.
“We’re glad to see the changes outlined by the Minister will still allow councils to assess important development conditions including parking, light access and minimum frontages but it’s important to note that will be set against new “non-refusal” standards that are being imposed on us by the State,” Mayor Miller explained.
“When I met with the Planning Minister earlier this week, I made it very clear to him that together we can achieve much better outcomes if the State Government continues to work with councils when it comes to delivering housing solutions.
“The State Government insists that allowing these housing types will boost housing supply around transport and town centres, improve affordability, maintain the character of an area and build better communities” said Mayor Miller. “But that will only happen if the increase in density is matched with proper and significant infrastructure support from the State Government – we’re talking about schools, libraries, sports fields and playgrounds, adequate hospitals, even the basics of road infrastructure and sewerage and water supply.”
Mayor Miller appreciated that the Government had responded to councils’ concerns about applying the policy to land that was prone to bushfires and floods, and had listened to feedback for areas where greater density would lead to unacceptable traffic and congestion impacts.
However the mayor expressed disappointment that there was no inclusion of affordable housing mandates in the policy.
“The absence of any contribution for in-perpetuity affordable housing is a significant missed opportunity to address this dire need, particularly for workers who carry out essential jobs in our communities,” said Mayor Miller.
“These key elements of much needed infrastructure and affordable housing mandates need to be in place from the very start so developers can factor that into the cost of land” she said.
“Councils are at the forefront of our communities – we know what opportunities there are but we also know too well the obstacles that are holding us back. Local Government – as always – stands ready to work alongside the State to help address this very real housing crisis.”
