The Draft Local Housing Strategy Revision is currently on public exhibition to allow the local community to have their say.
The strategy’s revision has been prepared in response to feedback from council, NSW Government agencies and industry stakeholders regarding the lack of growth outcomes and policy direction in the 2023 strategy.
Mayor John Harvie said the revised strategy gave the community a clearer idea of what housing could look like for the local government area in the future.
“The updated draft sets out where growth should occur, how it should be staged, and the type of housing we need to support a diverse and changing population,” he said.
“It also provides clearer guidance for developers and landowners while ensuring decisions align with council’s long-term strategic priorities.”
According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics 2021 census, the Murray River Council LGA population increased by 18 per cent between 2011 and 2021 to 12,850 residents, with more than half based in Moama.
It is estimated around 82 and 103 dwellings will need to be built annually over the next 20 years to keep up with the growth.
The revised strategy highlights several priority areas, with affordable housing emerging as a significant issue.
Data from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice shows that local housing costs have risen substantially.
Even though incomes are rising and housing is still relatively affordable, faster-rising rents are leading to people experiencing housing stress, as residents are spending a high portion of income on rent.
Census data also shows that seven per cent of the population are employed as key workers, including nurses, carers, teachers, cleaners and police.
As these roles are vital but typically earn lower incomes, the strategy emphasises the importance of providing suitable, affordable housing to ensure key workers can continue to live and work in the area.
The strategy also notes that while the area has an ageing population, there has been strong growth in the 25 to 34 age cohort and among children aged five to 14, indicating an influx of young workers and families to the area.
As a result, future housing will need to cater to both growing families and older residents, requiring a diverse mix of multi-bedroom homes, smaller dwellings, and age-appropriate, ageing-in-place housing options.
With the population landscape continuing to change, the demand for diverse housing types is growing, with only a small proportion of semi-detached dwellings, flats and apartments in the local market.
The strategy also covers other key elements including:
- Updated population and dwelling projections to 2046.
- A clearer framework for where and how future housing should be delivered.
- Staging plans for Moama and key towns to guide orderly growth and infrastructure delivery.
- Policy direction to support housing diversity, affordability and age-friendly design.
- Guidance for assessing rezoning requests and development proposals to ensure they align with strategic priorities.
- Integration of infrastructure, environmental constraints and cross-border growth considerations.
- Opportunities to work with cross-border councils to better co-ordinate land supply and growth.
The draft strategy has been informed by extensive consultation with NSW Government agencies, the development sector, local stakeholders and previous community feedback.
Once the public exhibition period closes, all feedback will be reviewed before a final version is presented to council for adoption.
The revised draft strategy and project background, along with an online submission portal, is available at yoursay.murrayriver.nsw.gov.au
Submissions close February 8.
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