Hume Community Housing Association has lodged a development application with Central Coast Council for 20 units in Wyong following a successful government grant to build affordable public housing.
According to data released by the Department of Communities and Justice, the number of residents seeking public housing in the Wyong area has increased by 15 per cent.
Over the past year Wyong has experienced a 39.3 per cent increase in house prices, as well as an 8.9 per cent increase in rents.
Hume Community Housing Association is proposing to build 20 units on the 3,160sqm block at 12-14 Jennings Rd, Wyong, which is zoned for medium density residential.
The company is a Tier 1 community housing provider (CHP) responsible for managing more than 4,500 properties across NSW and providing housing and associated services for more than 9,000 customers.
In February 2023, the Department of Communities and Justice invited CHPs to submit tenders for grant funding via Round 2 of the Community Housing Innovation Fund.
The fund is a part of significant reforms to social housing in NSW comprising a group of programs with $225M of funding to boost the supply of social and affordable housing in collaboration with CHPs across NSW.
Hume was successful in being awarded funding for 12-14 Jennings Rd, Wyong, to redevelop the site and provide new affordable and social housing.
The funding is based upon the proviso that Hume operates a minimum of seven units within the development as social housing in alignment with the grant funding agreement between Hume and the DCJ.
The development application says that all the two-storey units in the complex – four three-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom – will be for the purpose of affordable housing.
According to the DA, the Jennings Rd site is in an accessible area suitable for in-fill affordable housing as it is within walking distance of the train station, shopping and medical services in Wyong CBD.
More detail about the development (DA/2371/2023) is available on Central Coast Council’s website.
Sue Murray