Illawarra Region Update
Communities Plus Industry Briefing
On 16 November, Property Council together with Edmiston Jones hosted an Industry Briefing on the NSW Government’s Communities Plus Program, which is part of the Government’s Future Directions Strategy for social housing in NSW.
Peter Anderson, Executive Director of the Land and Housing Corporation, provided us with an informative presentation on the $22 billion program which utilises social housing sites for redevelopment to deliver more social housing with mixed private and affordable housing.
The ten-year program will focus on major renewal projects which will include 23,000 new and replacement social housing dwellings, 0 affordable housing dwellings and 40,000 private dwellings. The targeted mix of these projects will be 70% private and affordable, and 30% social dwellings. There will also be a change in dwelling types to one and two bedroom units.
We heard about a range of sites within the Greater Sydney region which are already underway and being redeveloped such as Ivanhoe, Telopea, Waterloo, Bonnyrigg and the Australian first ‘build to rent’ development which will be located in Redfern.
On a regional level, Peter was also able to provide information on the upcoming Communities Plus developments at Robert Street, Corrimal (Corrimal Coke Works site) and also 15-19 Crown Street, Wollongong in which has recently gone through an EOI process.
It was great to have Peter in Wollongong to provide an overview of the program. There was some great discussion around the benefits of the program, what it means for housing supply in the region and partnerships with private developers and community housing providers.
Future Directions End of Year Event
On 23 November, we held the Illawarra Future Directions End of Year Event at Holey Moley in Wollongong. It was a great event, with lots of fun-filled networking and celebrations for 2018. When you mix mini golf, drinks, food and a great bunch of people – why wouldn’t it be awesome?!
Many thanks to our sponsors GPT who have supported this event and also assisted in helping to promote greater diversity in the property industry in 2018.
The Future Directions Committee have done a great job this year creating a foundation for young people in the Illawarra property industry to network and develop their professional skills.
In 2019, this group will continue to grow and strengthen with a number of activities, events and professional networking events planned.
Many thanks to the 2018 Future Directions Committee for putting together this year’s program of events:
- Renee McGuinn – Edmiston Jones
- Tim Wilson – GHD
- Jarrod Poort – MMJ
- Harriet Mourd – MMJ
- Sarah Bourke – New England Constructions
- Virginia San Gil – Colliers
- Kady Leggett – Colliers
- Olivia Yeatman – RMB Lawyers
- Holly Howell – GPT
We also thank all of you for helping us to grow the Future Directions network and strengthening our relationships between all sectors in the property industry!
