City of Coffs Harbour Council has announced it will test the market to gauge interest from third parties in progressing affordable housing at two key Central Business District sites.
The blocks – No.38 and 41 Gordon Street – are both owned by the Council and zoned as E2 Commercial Core with a complying building height limit of 44 metres (approximately equivalent to 13 storeys).
At its July meeting, Council authorised its General Manager to undertake an expression of interest process on the sites.
“We are looking to flesh out any interest from preferably what are known as ‘Tier 1’ Community Housing Providers (CHPs) – these are major operators who typically manage many tenancies, often exceeding 350,” Mayor, Nikki Williams said.
“The process will see if there’s interest in these sites and potentially the expectations and plans of CHPs.
“The exercise will not bind the City to any actions, including the sale of these properties, with the results of the expressions of interest process to be reported back to Council.”
The expression of interest process is to include an option for parties to include a mix of key worker and/or student accommodation as part of an Affordable Housing proposal.
Council also resolved that the process would be on a preferred land leasehold basis.
No.38 Gordon St is currently the site of the City’s Laboratory, which is relocating to City-owned land on Christmas Bells Road in 2025-26.
No.41 Gordon St currently accommodates a cottage which has been used for commercial purposes.
City Planning and Communities Acting Director, Ian Fitzgibbon said it is widely acknowledged there is a lack of affordable housing in Coffs Harbour, and across much of NSW, particularly in larger, growing urban centres.
“Affordable housing is generally considered to be where the rent does not exceed 30 per cent of a household’s gross income where that is deemed to be low to moderate,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“Should a property be utilised by a CHP for affordable housing then this interest is registered on the title so that commits an operator to complying with an original intention,” said Business Services Director, Steve Bayliss.
A City of Coffs Harbour Affordable Housing Strategy: Options Report identified 12 City-owned sites potentially suitable for the development of affordable housing.
Of these, the Gordon St lots have been ascertained as offering the greatest potential for affordable housing or mixed-use development given the zoning, density and permissible building height, Council said in a statement.
Mr Bayliss said the Council had been in talks with Homes NSW and had received preliminary strategic feedback from several Tier 1 CHPs outlining their possible requirements to establish viable affordable housing on City-owned land.
