Property Council backs move to identify Crown Land

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The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to improve the state’s regional housing crisis through identifying Crown land to develop for social and affordable housing.

Property Council’s Hunter Regional Director Anita Hugo said the result will benefit the Hunter as the region continues to face growing pains with increasing rent and house prices.

“As demand increases, we need to continue supporting the delivery of diverse types of housing right across the region especially in light of increased population migration to the region and the after-effects of COVID,” Ms Hugo said.

“This decision by the government to identify suitable Crown land sites to support housing supply in the regions is greatly welcomed as it will help to accelerate the release of new housing into the market to address the growing regional supply gap.

“Industry is cautiously optimistic in this first step towards providing more housing options for social and affordable housing as well as for key workers.

“Importantly this land needs to be serviced and enabling infrastructure fast-tracked if it is to be part of a timely solution to the significant issues being faced across our regions.

Ms Hugo said land supply differed greatly from one area to the next.

“Being able to identify all options and create the right environment for housing development to occur in the areas it is needed most is crucial,” she said.

“Ideally, the strategy that follows will address current issues with planning processes and enabling infrastructure to deliver the right types of housing in the right places.

“Social amenity and access are important to livability and jobs growth and needs to be considered as part of the bigger picture.

“Right across the region, there are housing supply shortages in both the buyers and renters’ markets and housing completions are not as high as we would like to see them, so this type of support from the NSW Government will support local councils to deliver the critical housing and infrastructure we urgently need.

“DPE has identified that the Hunter requires 84,700 dwellings from 2016 to 2041 requiring delivery of approximately 3,380 dwellings per year. A continued focus on supply is required to ensure we have the homes to house those migrating to the region.”

Media:  Aidan Green | E [email protected]