We all need a place to call home. We're developing a new Nillumbik Housing Strategy to help ensure we have housing that meets the different needs of all our residents. Have your say on the draft today.
The Draft Nillumbik Housing Strategy 2024 has been released for community consultation via Participate Nillumbik until Monday 27 May.
The draft strategy will guide future residential development in the Shire. This includes the location and types of homes needed over the next 15 years.
The draft has been prepared with input from volunteers who joined the Community Reference Group, following an Expression of Interest process in 2023. It also reflects feedback we have heard from the community on housing through previous consultations on Council's Community Vision, Council Plan, Municipal Planning Strategy and Neighbourhood Character Strategy.
The strategy is intended to work hand in hand with the Neighbourhood Character Strategy, which identifies the preferred character of our residential areas.
It also comes as the Victorian Government is developing its own blueprint, Plan Victoria, to guide housing and development for the state, focusing on delivering more homes near transport, jobs and essential services
The Draft Housing Strategy identifies six priority areas for housing in the Shire, balancing this with preserving the neighbourhood character held in such high regard – the reason people choose to live here.
These priority areas align to key actions in the draft: housing diversity and accessibility, housing affordability, ageing in place, Nillumbik's unique neighbourhood character and environment, supporting our townships and our activity centres, and innovative and sustainable housing design.
Deputy Mayor Karen Egan said Nillumbik's strategy was essential to ensuring housing in the Shire was the right type, in the right location and met the different needs of Nillumbik's diverse community.
"Housing is central to the lives of everyone, however, the type of housing we need may change depending on our age and stage in life. The housing needs of a first-home owner, for example, is different to a growing family or a downsizer.
"We want to ensure we have housing that meets everyone's needs while also responding to and preserving our Shire's unique neighbourhood characteristics," Cr Egan said.
"We would also like to see more affordable types of housing as well as housing that is sustainable into the future and supports the goals of our Climate Action Plan.
"I would like to thank the volunteers from our Community Reference Group for their input into this draft."
The draft strategy is available to read on Participate Nillumbik, where residents can also use a mapping tool to see how it may be applied to their property.
Housing is a complex issue. Council is providing a number of in-person and online Q&A sessions through April and May, where residents can speak with Council staff about the strategy. Register to attend at Participate Nillumbik.
Feedback closes 11.59pm, Monday 27 May.
