newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council has put a draft housing strategy on public exhibition, setting out how it plans to respond to growing housing pressure, affordability challenges and future growth across the local government area.
The Draft Housing Strategy outlines council’s approach to population growth, smaller household sizes, land supply, infrastructure provision and housing affordability. It is built around four priorities: directing growth to existing urban areas, increasing housing diversity, supporting more affordable and social housing, and maintaining liveable, high-quality neighbourhoods.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the strategy provided a blueprint to help existing residents and people moving to the city find homes that met their needs.
“Australia is facing a severe housing shortage, with demand far outstripping supply and driving rents up rapidly,” he said.
“Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing our community and this plan aims to address that challenge head-on. It focuses on delivering more choice, improving affordability and making the most of commercial precincts and existing services and transport.”
A separate Draft Employment Land Use Strategy is also on public exhibition after Monday night’s council meeting. That strategy plans for up to 15,000 new jobs by 2046 as Lake Macquarie transitions from traditional industries to emerging sectors.
Mayor Shultz said the employment strategy supported council’s goal of repurposing former mining and energy sites for new uses, including renewable energy, manufacturing and technology industries.
“Planning for housing is critical, but we also need to plan for jobs,” he said.
“We need to work with the development community to ensure people can live close to the things they need, while also unlocking new economic opportunities across the city.”
The employment strategy also identifies potential growth in knowledge-based industries, including opportunities linked to Avondale University.
Lake Macquarie City Council Director Development Planning and Regulation David Antcliff said both strategies were based on evidence and community feedback.
“This work reflects what we’ve heard from residents and industry about the need for more housing choice, better affordability and well-planned growth,” he said.
More information about both strategies is available at https://shape.lakemac.com.au.
