Housing Affordability Tackled In First Ever NSW Housing Strategy

The NSW Government today released its first ever housing strategy for the State, outlining a 20-year vision for better housing across NSW. The strategy will seek to resolve systemic issues affecting residents in the Northern Beaches including housing affordability, homelessness and the availability of social housing.

Member for Manly James Griffin said the Housing 2041 strategy and an initial two-year action plan will deliver improved outcomes immediately and into the future by focusing on housing supply, diversity, affordability and resilience.

“Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges we face on the Northern Beaches, as is the delivery of housing for the vulnerable in our community. We are determined to fix this issue,” Mr Griffin said.

“The first of its kind strategy unifies Government commitments to housing-related policy, such as the Homelessness Strategy, and Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW and will assist in addressing the major issue of housing affordability in our area.

“New and innovative housing will be delivered when and where it is needed, supported by sustainable technologies that can help reduce living costs.”

The Housing 2041 includes a strong focus on supporting regional NSW on the back of recent crises that have ravaged NSW including COVID-19, bushfires and floods.

A key feature of the strategy will be increasing cooperation between the Government and private investors as we maximise the impact of government owned land for innovative housing Mr Griffin said.

“The key to breaking the issue of housing affordability won’t be with old and tired policy initiatives but taking an innovative approach to how we use available property to make comfortable, sustainable and affordable homes for individuals and families.”

The Strategy and inaugural two-year action plan features initiatives to support better housing outcomes including:

• Better access to data, including the launch of the Government Property Index (GPI) – an online interactive mapping tool that will increase transparency of the State’s property portfolio and encourage private investment on public land
• establishing a cross-sector Expert Housing Advisory Panel to guide delivery of Housing 2041 and increase collaboration across Government and the housing sector
• better use of government-owned land and information to develop new housing types, tenures and delivery models
• strengthening relationships with local governments, the community housing sector and developers to trial new innovative housing solutions
• A Temporary Supportive Accommodation (TSA) pilot with Wollongong Council that seeks to use vacant land and buildings to deliver a safe home for those who need it.

Housing 2041 was informed by sector-wide consultations and community feedback following the launch of a Discussion Paper in June 2020.