I have been pursuing the issue of affordable housing pretty much for the entire time I've been elected to Shoalhaven City Council ( 14 years at time of writing ) - every angle that I can think of!
A recent meeting with another group of NSW State Gov bureaucrat's and I still feel like a hamster on the wheel!
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The Victorian government introduced meanwhile use in their state - and I think it could be a game changer in NSW for the housing continuum.
So meanwhile use looks at land or buildings held by government for a future reason to be used today for housing in a temporary way. The Shoalhaven land that came immediately to mind was that owned by Transport for NSW in road corridors. Land that already has buried infrastructure like water, power and communications and could quickly support portable homes that can be removed when its time for the land to be used for the purpose its been held for- like highway upgrades.
Meanwhile use gives us immediate access to land while we move to a longer term solution. One of the long term solutions I have been pushing for in the Shoalhaven is the redevelopment of our existing social housing stock. Like many places the housing stock owned by the NSW Gov is in poor condition. Many of the homes around Nowra are asbestos with no insulation, poor condition and on larger blocks of land that could be amalgamated into medium density sites. Medium density in the Shoalhaven looks more like 3//4/5 story small apartment blocks rather than larger towers that our city counterparts might experience. These older homes were built in the late 60's and early 70s- we also have a number of old style Defence Housing of a similar vintage.
Once the meanwhile use has occurred it drives the urgency to solve the future of those living in the zone.
I recall a conversation with then Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey who found the prospect of meanwhile use so abhorrent that I was taken aback with the vehemence of her verbal response which of course was followed up with a thanks, no thanks letter!
In 2021 I though we were making some headway on meanwhile use as the NSW Government had considered Wollongong as a pilot place and were looking to write up a position paper on guidelines. Of course the whole thing was shelved with a change in premier and its back to badgering for some redevelopment of the housing stock.
The recalcitrance of the State Gov to deal with improved social housing conditions for the Shoalhaven is just appalling - it such a win on so many levels - but most importantly it would be a win for our people.
A modest 10 year plan would make a huge difference for our people - it could reduce the costs to run the households, improve the residents health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce carbon pollution by integrating renewable energy. As we start to move into another election period we need to keep the heat on for housing investment for the Shoalhaven and beyond.
More Reading:
Unlocking public assets will help meet housing needs
Repairing Australia's Affordable Housing Crisis
Finding community amidst NSW climate and housing emergencies.
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