Kiama Council has welcomed today’s release of Business Illawarra’s Affordable Housing Solutions report.
Council, through the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, was consulted in the development of this important advocacy document and acknowledges the need for adequate housing to be available to support our key workers.
Kiama’s economy is supported by tourism, and it is crucial that we have housing available for employees of our small businesses, tourism operators and associated business.
Similarly local aged care businesses, including Council’s own Blue Haven, and many local hospitals, schools and construction industry businesses require affordable homes for key workers to live locally. Our young people are also telling us that they need local options and want to stay in the LGA but cannot afford to do so.
Council’s Director Planning Environment & Communities Jessica Rippon said: “We are actively developing housing solutions and strategies for our Municipality.”
“We agree that there needs to be multiple solutions to what is a complex problem, including legislative reform, system review, strategy development and establishing opportunities with private business. These are all the types of options that Council is currently exploring and is open to work through.”
“With the current Australia-wide housing crisis, Kiama Council is actively discussing all options for new and innovative public-private partnerships to help improve yield.”
Council also acknowledges that designated affordable housing development in Kiama is in very short supply.
Currently Kiama Council has only one designated affordable dwelling, which is on land owned and leased by Council to the Housing Trust at peppercorn rates. This dwelling was built many years ago and has reached the natural end of the asset’s life. Council understands the property is in urgent need of redeveloping and is open to helping with relocating and redeveloping the site to get a more modern outcome and greater yield for the site.
Under the terms of the lease the disposal of the property has strict conditions to adhere to and staff have been working through and preparing council reports.
“We are actively seeking for both this and other opportunities to improve and enhance our existing stock and encourage affordable housing development within our region for key workers, in whatever way we can.”
“We want to make sure the [affordable home] resident isn’t displaced from the community but what is clear to us is that’s it’s time to think differently and to work with lots of partners to achieve the kind of aspirational goals this report demands,” Ms Rippon said.
Council will continue to work with both Business Illawarra and other industry groups to seek solutions and improvements to the housing situation both in our LGA and region.”
Council will also continue to contribute and support advocacy work that provides recommendations and options that enable change and improvements to the situation.
