Kiama Council has released its "Draft Growth and Housing Strategy - leading growth for good" for public comment.
The Strategy sets a new vision for our community which seeks to balance growth and change with the essence of what we love most about living here by providing a framework for how we can best accommodate growth and ensure sustainable and responsive delivery of housing for our community.
Director Planning, Environment & Communities Jessica Rippon said the Strategy is the cumulation of several months of extensive community engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, community, our young people and industry.
"Through the development of this Strategy we have had intelligent and robust discussions with our community and key stakeholders. We have requested expressions of interest from the development industry, met with interested community members, spoken with industry groups and spent time at both our local high school and primary schools to also speak to our younger community members."
"We have heard a broad range of views and used these, along with detailed data and background research to inform the development of our Strategy."
"Anyone reading or watching the news knows our nation is facing a housing crisis."
"The Australian and NSW Government have begun housing reforms with ambitious targets. Kiama Council, and our community, are required to play a part."
"So, we have taken this unique opportunity in time to strategically plan and identify opportunities, to ensure that the infrastructure needed for quality growth can be planned and implemented to support our growing community."
"We recognise the role a healthy housing system plays in our Council-wide goals and that as our population will grow, we can lead the change so that everyone that chooses to make Kiama home can find a house that supports their lifestyle and needs."
The Strategy outlines how the more than 31,000 expected to call Kiama home over the next decade, will be accommodated within both existing residentially zoned land and in new land that has been identified for further investigation.
"Those 31,000 people are going to need an estimated 3,500 new homes, which represents a significant planning and development challenge for our community," Ms Rippon said.
"That's why having this Growth and Housing Strategy is so important: it clearly articulates where, how and why growth will occur."
The Draft Strategy was prepared according to the NSW Government's Local Housing Strategy Guidelines, and has four priorities:
- Sufficient and well-located housing supply
- Diversity of housing options
- Infrastructure is provided to support population growth
- Our centre and villages thrive
Each priority has identified outcomes and actions to achieve them.
The Draft Strategy also includes a vision, information about our Municipality, a housing supply and demand analysis, land use opportunities and constraints, as well as place-based opportunities and actions.
"Council recognises it is going to take commitment and partnerships at all levels of Government as well as industry and community groups to address our housing challenges. We hope this Strategy demonstrates our commitment to playing our part in the housing solution."
The Draft Growth and Housing Strategy is now on public exhibition and all members of the community and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback. www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/growth
"We are encouraging our community to read the document, to look through the proposed opportunities and actions and to provide their feedback on the Draft document."
The Landowner / Developer Expression of Interest (EOI) has also been re-opened during the public exhibition period.
The Draft Growth and Housing Strategy is on exhibition until Friday 16 August 2024 and submissions can be made until 5pm that day.
