Draft Affordable Housing Policy and Procedures

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Consultation has concluded

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Council recognises the role we play, alongside State and Federal governments, to increase access to and availability of affordable housing for our growing and diverse community. That’s why we’ve drafted our Affordable Housing Policy and Procedure. We’re now seeking your feedback to inform the final versions.

Background

On 27 February 2023, Council adopted the Wollongong Housing Strategy 2023. This Strategy recognised the need to increase access and availability of affordable housing in the Wollongong Local Government Area. The Housing Strategy was informed by community feedback. Its aim is to guide Council on how we will manage and plan for housing across the Wollongong area over the next 10 to 20 years. The Housing Strategy looks to balance our growing community’s needs with measures to protect our local environment, infrastructure requirements and meet housing targets set by the NSW Government. The Strategy outlined the steps Council would need to take to support access to and the availability of affordable housing. One of the actions was to prepare an Affordable Housing Policy and accompanying Procedure.

What are the goals of the draft policy and procedure?

The draft Policy:

  • Aims to assist an increase in the provision of affordable rental dwellings in the local government area which constitutes one of a number of actions in the Wollongong Housing Strategy 2023 that address this issue.
  • Includes a 10% Affordable Housing floor space target for residential rezonings and larger residential developments.
  • Is a step towards the preparation of a draft Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme and will enable the waiver of development application fees for affordable housing projects lodged by community housing providers.
The draft Procedure will be an internal document that will guide how Council staff manage:
  • Development Application fee waiver requests.
  • Affordable Housing Contributions.
  • The required provision of affordable housing for larger residential developments.

The NSW State Government have also recently introduced policies which include the requirement for the provision of affordable housing. Our draft Policy does not propose to duplicate the State’s requirements, but rather supplement the State’s initiatives by filling some of the gaps.

The Wollongong Council draft Affordable Housing Policy and Procedure are on exhibition from 3 June to 8 July 2024.

To find out more:

Share your thoughts by:

Please provide your feedback by 8 July 2024. For written, phone and emailed submissions, please quote: 'Draft Affordable Housing Policy and Procedures'. Any submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.

Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.

Council recognises the role we play, alongside State and Federal governments, to increase access to and availability of affordable housing for our growing and diverse community. That’s why we’ve drafted our Affordable Housing Policy and Procedure. We’re now seeking your feedback to inform the final versions.

Background

On 27 February 2023, Council adopted the Wollongong Housing Strategy 2023. This Strategy recognised the need to increase access and availability of affordable housing in the Wollongong Local Government Area. The Housing Strategy was informed by community feedback. Its aim is to guide Council on how we will manage and plan for housing across the Wollongong area over the next 10 to 20 years. The Housing Strategy looks to balance our growing community’s needs with measures to protect our local environment, infrastructure requirements and meet housing targets set by the NSW Government. The Strategy outlined the steps Council would need to take to support access to and the availability of affordable housing. One of the actions was to prepare an Affordable Housing Policy and accompanying Procedure.

What are the goals of the draft policy and procedure?

The draft Policy:

  • Aims to assist an increase in the provision of affordable rental dwellings in the local government area which constitutes one of a number of actions in the Wollongong Housing Strategy 2023 that address this issue.
  • Includes a 10% Affordable Housing floor space target for residential rezonings and larger residential developments.
  • Is a step towards the preparation of a draft Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme and will enable the waiver of development application fees for affordable housing projects lodged by community housing providers.
The draft Procedure will be an internal document that will guide how Council staff manage:
  • Development Application fee waiver requests.
  • Affordable Housing Contributions.
  • The required provision of affordable housing for larger residential developments.

The NSW State Government have also recently introduced policies which include the requirement for the provision of affordable housing. Our draft Policy does not propose to duplicate the State’s requirements, but rather supplement the State’s initiatives by filling some of the gaps.

The Wollongong Council draft Affordable Housing Policy and Procedure are on exhibition from 3 June to 8 July 2024.

To find out more:

Share your thoughts by:

Please provide your feedback by 8 July 2024. For written, phone and emailed submissions, please quote: 'Draft Affordable Housing Policy and Procedures'. Any submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.

Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.