Housing strategy on exhibition

Council’s draft Central Coast Local Housing Strategy, drafted to help manage the future demand for housing within the region, is now on exhibition for community input until Wednesday, April 26.

Council’s Director Environment and Planning Alice Howe said the draft strategy explored the challenges associated with housing such as continuing rapid population growth, the shortage of low-cost rental accommodation and the lack of diversity within the existing housing stock – and identifies a vision and key objectives to address those challenges.

“A co-ordinated approach across all levels of government and the private sector is required to support diverse and sustainable housing on the

Central Coast,” she said.

“Council is able to directly influence housing typologies and supply through land use zoning, development approvals, development charges and public infrastructure delivery.

“The Local Housing Strategy will ensure this is done in a coordinated and collaborative manner.”

Howe said Council originally sought input from the community about its Local Strategic Planning Statement and the Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy.

It then collated the information gathered and prepared a discussion paper, in conjunction with a comprehensive evidence-based report.

The result of these have informed the development of the draft Local Housing Strategy.

“We now want to again receive feedback from the community on this very important strategy, as it impacts virtually everyone on the Coast and will become even more crucial as the Central Coast population continues to grow,” she said.

Howe said Council would also hold drop-in community information sessions during the exhibition period.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said Council was committed to helping shape the future of housing on the Coast, in particular, how affordable housing could be woven into overall housing development.

“There is a common misconception that affordable housing refers to social or community housing,” he said.

“This is not the case –affordable housing is much