Work is underway by the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council to try and create more affordable homes in the region.
The council’s Affordable Housing Strategy aims to lay a foundation for developers to build more properties and fast-track state and federal policies.
The long-term plan contains 17 strategies including defining ‘affordable housing’, advocating for crisis accommodation, and housing targets to reach by 2041.
It also features measures to amend planning controls covering different housing types such as residential flat buildings, smaller houses and multi dwelling housing.
The council’s general manager Rebecca Ryan says diversity in lot sizes and property prices will be a key focus for their long-term plans.
Ms Ryan says the affordable housing strategy will be a “living document” and will consider the latest available property data.
She says there is a role for council’s to play in tackling housing affordability issues.
“We’ve current got nearly a zero per cent vacancy of affordable rentals and even purchasing,” Ms Ryan says.
Something that council is really hoping is that we can work with our state and federal government partners, land developers, and social and community housing providers to see what we can work on in the long-term.”
15 submissions were made on the long-term housing framework by groups and individuals during a public consultation period between November and February.
Saint Vincent De Paul’s Canberra and Goulburn branch have welcomed the council’s housing strategy, and are renewing their calls for a caravan park to be established in Braidwood in the early phase of the plan.
The charity’s policy coordinator Kwadwo Owusu says the re-emergence of the mining industry in the Braidwood enclave has directly impacted the cost of rental units within the town.
Mr Owusu says the group’s conference members have reported difficulties for essential workers such as Teachers, Nurses, and Doctors to find accommodation.
The post Affordable Housing Strategy plans underway appeared first on 2CC Talking Canberra.
