Image: View of Sydney apartments. Image: Byvalet/Shutterstock
by GRACE JOHNSON
Local Government NSW has called for local councils to be included in solving the housing crisis.
The organisation has warned that communities across NSW could find themselves living in congested neighbourhoods if the NSW Government’s proposal for greater housing density goes forward without collaborating with local councils.
The concerns come as NSW Premier Chris Minns announced that councils will be forced to lift long-standing bans on building terraces, townhouses and two-storey apartment blocks in an effort to dramatically increase housing density amid the housing crisis.
Currently, each local council has its own rules for what kind of homes can be built in their area, which are currently at odds with what the government is wanting to build.
The state will also ensure that low- and mid-rise homes are built in “high value” areas close to transport and town centres.
The State Government believes that the new housing in zones previously banned by councils could create about 112,000 new homes across the greater Sydney region, Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra. This would be equivalent to 30 per cent of the number of homes NSW needs to meet under its Housing Accord target of 377,000 new homes by 2029.
Speaking on the Sydney region, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “Sydney is one of the least dense cities in the world but fewer than half of councils allow for low-rise and mid-rise residential buildings in areas zoned for such homes.”
“We’re confronting a housing crisis so we need to change the way we plan for more housing, we can’t keep building out we need to create capacity for more infill, with more diverse types of homes.”
“Density done well means townhouses, apartments and terraces clustered near shops, high streets and parks,” he affirmed.
In response, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has expressed concerns that forcing increased housing density could lead to neighbourhoods without adequate parking, green space, schools and hospitals.
LGNSW President Cr Darriea Turley AM emphasised that there is no “cookie cutter” solution to the housing crisis, and that council planning rules have always reflected their communities’ vision rather than the wishes of developers.
“While we don’t shy away from the need for more housing, it’s councils who undertake the strategic planning for their communities based on the capacity of services and the availability of infrastructure,” she said.
“Councils recognise the scale of the housing crisis, but the proposal will do nothing to reduce the price of homes given developers will still seek to make maximum profits.
Highlighting the importance of quality living, Cr Turley warned, “It will be like the situation we see in supermarkets where people are paying more for less. The price of homes will continue to rise but the quality and size of those homes shrink.”
The major changes will see three- to six-storey unit blocks, terraces, townhouses, duplexes and smaller one- to two-storey apartment buildings allowed in areas currently banned by councils.
Councils across Sydney were previously outraged by being left in the dark about proposed development changes.
Cr Turley insisted that councils understand their communities and local infrastructure best, saying “Increases in density must be accompanied by investment in infrastructure to ensure quality of life for all communities is not worsened.”
“Local councils understand their communities and are always best placed to deliver housing diversity that is the best fit for local character and contributes to making great living places,” Cr Turley said.
You May Also Like
