housing
We appreciate the priority commitment and focus of the NSW Government to meet the Housing Accord targets and want to actively partner with the Government to achieve these across the Hunter region.
A variety of barriers are inhibiting delivery which need to be addressed to meet these targets and to create healthy vibrant communities as the Hunter’s population grows.
The main issue impacting Councils is the provision of enabling infrastructure. Significant areas of development-ready land exist, but construction cannot proceed due to delays in the provision of core enabling infrastructure such as roads and transport, water and sewer services, and stormwater and flood mitigation.
Data from the ten Hunter councils indicates that approximately $938 million in infrastructure investment would unlock 61,000 new homes across the Hunter region.
Key challenges on which we want to partner with the NSW Government include:
- Funding for enabling infrastructure
- State Government integrated planning
- Balancing biodiversity
- Cost of construction and the reducing diversity of housing stock
- Increasing viability of housing in Transport Orientated Development (TOD) and Low-rise Mid-rise areas.
- Shortage of skilled trades
- Limited social and affordable housing
