A new project by Pacific Link Housing at Woy Woy will increase affordable smaller units which are scarce in the private rental market.
According to 2021 Census information the Woy Woy/Blackwall area has a higher proportion of renters in private and social housing than the whole Central Coast local government area.
In that area of more than 14,000 people 35.8 per cent were renting, and 7.9 per cent living in social housing compared to only 3.2 per cent for the wider Central Coast LGA.
And 35.1 per cent of the population are living solo, 41.7 per cent are couples without children, 13.6 per cent one-parent families.
Yet, there is a significant shortage of smaller apartment properties in the area, according to data included in a new housing proposal by Pacific Link.
The community housing provider has lodged a development application with Central Coast Council to build 21 units on vacant land it owns at 18 Macleay Ave, Woy Woy.
Pacific Link will manage the residential rental complex comprising a mix of one and two-bedroom units in either double-storey or single-storey buildings.
The units will be rented at affordable prices to address the significant absence of one and two-bedroom private rental stock.
Pacific Link’s Woy Woy proposal is one of multiple development proposals across the Central Coast to provide more community housing in partnership with Council.
The 5,273sqm site was rezoned in 2023 to allow residential development on 3,100sqm, with a significant portion of land east of the existing watercourse being retained under public recreation zoning and managed under a biodiversity plan.
Pacific Link is in the process of dedicating the eastern portion of the site (the public recreation land) to Central Coast Council under a Voluntary Planning Agreement endorsed at the rezoning stage.
The development application (DA/2464/2023) is on public exhibition on Central Coast Council’s website and submissions will be received until Friday, March 8.
Sue Murray