This week we have seen the NSW Government commit to building 377,000 new homes across the state over the next five years, to align with the National Housing Accord.
As part of this, Central Coast Council is now expected to see 9,400 new homes constructed, meaning roughly 2.5 per cent of new homes built in NSW over the next five years will be within our region.
There is no doubt that our community has a shortage of housing, and this can be evidenced by the fact that vacancy rates for rental properties here on the Central Coast sit at around one per cent.
Pre-COVID, this figure was almost double.
On face value, this is a positive policy that supports local councils to meet their housing targets, with a view that it remains a critical issue that we build more homes to cater for our growing population, particularly our young people.
However, I am sceptical that the Central Coast will receive its fair share of funding and I am pessimistic about how far the budgeted funds will go in building the essential infrastructure that is needed alongside these new developments.
From a planning perspective, we also need to properly consider where these new homes will be built.
Previous messaging from the NSW Government suggests that the earmarked transport orientated development (TOD) sites will take the bulk of these new developments and these locations include Woy Woy, Gosford, Tuggerah and Wyong.
Email May 30
Jared Wright, Avoca Beach
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