Orange City Council has signed an MOU with the NSW Government’s land and property development organisation, Landcom, to deliver affordable housing in the Central Tablelands city.
Mayor, Jason Hamling said the MOU was aimed at providing affordable housing options for low to moderate income households and was a step towards building a more equitable community in Orange.
“When the Community Strategic Plan was developed last year housing affordability was the number one issue facing the Orange community. The signing of this MOU shows we have listened and now we are getting on with delivering a solution,” Mayor Hamling said.
“We want to work towards making sure Orange has a place for everyone to live irrespective of their income. Housing affordability is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted response. It can’t be solved overnight but we are on our way.”
Landcom CEO, Alexander Wendler said such partnerships were a way to deliver solutions to a state-wide housing crisis.
“Councils have raised major concerns over the ever-growing housing supply and affordability pressures as the housing crisis continues to impact communities across the state,” he said.
“It is through trusting relationships and partnerships just like the one between Landcom and Orange City Council that we can deliver greater housing affordability and diversity to address the specific and unique needs of regional communities. We know that local Councils know their own communities best,” Mr Wendler said.
“Since 1976 Landcom has delivered more than 100,000 homesites across 240 projects within NSW. By 2030 we’re planning to deliver at least another 25,000 home sites with 40 per cent of our portfolio in Regional NSW.”
The MOU has identified the Gateway site at the eastern entrance to the city, which could deliver up to 230 new homes. In time, other sites will also be investigated, Council said.
Next steps include a feasibility assessment of the site in terms of access to services (water, sewer power) before work will then commence on rezoning. Council anticipates the start of construction is around 12 to 18 months away.
There are a number of models to deliver affordable housing and under the MOU that could include agreements that set aside 25% of a residential area for affordable purchasing or renting, said Mayor Hamling.
“At the Gateway site what Council brings to the table is land and Landcom brings runs on the board and close to 50 years of experience,” he said.
The signing of the MOU comes a week after figures were released that found a significant number of people in Orange were under rental and mortgage stress.
Shelter NSW’s Regional Housing Need Index report identified 61% of low-income households were experiencing rental stress and 39% of low-income households were experiencing mortgage stress in the Orange Local Government Area.
When households spend more than 30% of their income on either rent or mortgage payments it is considered they are at risk of “housing stress”, meaning they are likely to struggle to pay for their essential basic household needs such as food, clothes, healthcare and transport costs.
