Affordable housing has become an important issue in Australia, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne and major regional centres.
In response to the increased demand for housing options and the need to support more vulnerable community members, Clarence Valley Council has developed an Affordable Housing Strategy.
Council was successful in receiving funding from the Department of Community Services (DoCS) through the Area Assistance Scheme (AAS) to jointly fund a three year Clarence Valley Affordable Housing Project. The project has the following objectives:
- research the existing
housing situation, undertake
a housing needs analysis of
low income people in
the Clarence Valley and
make recommendations
for strategies to increase
land available for affordable
housing - create links and processes
between Council’s physical
land use planning, economic
development and social
infrastructure development
to ensure Council can continue
to facilitate the expansion of
affordable housing - develop partnerships with the
private and community sector
to increase affordable
housing - plan and develop four
affordable housing projects
in the Clarence Valley with the
agreed partners.
Much has been achieved in a short timeframe, including:
- completing the Clarence
Valley Housing Needs Analysis
Report, presented to Council
in March 2007 - delivering the Clarence
Valley Affordable Housing
Forum, attended by delegates
from Coffs Harbour to Tweed
Heads in July 2007 - achieving endorsement of
the Clarence Valley Affordable
Housing Strategy in November
2007 - investigating and identifying
potential partners to develop
affordable housing - identifying suitable land,
potential housing and financial
models for provision of
affordable housing.
