I’m pleased to announce that Council is pushing ahead to deliver the next stage of its ground-breaking Central Coast Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy.

At the 22 August Council Meeting, Council staff prepared a report which outlined Council owned sites suitable for affordable and emergency housing, which was in response to the formal request I made late last year that Council explores what it can further do to address the housing crisis gripping the Central Coast region. 

I was pleased to resolve that Council will progress investigations on identified and suitably located Council owned sites to be utilised for affordable housing developments. These properties located at The Entrance, Toukley and Wyong are well-situated in terms of public transport and availability of retail, community and health services.

There is no quick fix for affordable housing, but the question of what role Council can, and should, play in the issue of affordable housing is a high priority for us.

Through identifying surplus sites and land which can be used for affordable housing, Council is adding to the pipeline of building set in place to address the lack of affordable housing supply on the Coast.

This decision expands on the pilot partnership with community housing provider Pacific Link, which is progressing well to deliver affordable housing at Ashton Avenue, The Entrance, and the four Council-owned dwellings which are currently formally managed by a community housing provider for community transitional housing.

I’m proud of Council’s resolve in tackling the issue of housing on the Central Coast through its Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy – Council is leading the way in this space across NSW and walking the talk. 

Rik Hart, Administrator