More Affordable Housing needed for the Hawkesbury


The Hawkesbury is facing a growing affordable housing problem which must be addressed.

One of the causes is that the number of NSW owned social housing properties (for low income and disadvantaged tenants) as a percentage of all housing in the Hawkesbury area has declined significantly and at a faster rate than social housing in Greater Western Sydney.

To respond to the decrease in affordable housing, Hawkesbury City Council has developed a Draft Affordable Housing Policy which recommends a range of strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing (including affordable rental housing) in serviced residential areas of the town centres of the Hawkesbury. This policy is now on display for community consultation and Council is calling on residents to have their say.

Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Kim Ford said Council must respond to the changing needs of our community to ensure that those who require it can have access to affordable housing.

“On July 29 2014, Council adopted the Hawkesbury Homelessness Action Plan (HHAP). One of the actions of the HHAP was to develop an Affordable Housing Policy for the Hawkesbury Local Government Area. This has now been developed and we need the community to get involved and give us their feedback on this policy,” said Mayor Kim Ford.

Council’s Draft Affordable Housing Policy recommends that a range of strategies be developed to support the increase of affordable housing, in particular affordable rental housing - for Hawkesbury residents on low and fixed incomes. One strategy Council is currently exploring is to develop an affordable rental housing partnership on an identified suitable parcel of Council owned land. This is presently under discussion with a local social housing provider.

There are many factors that have contributed to the housing shortage. For example, Census figures show a rise in Lone Person Households and an increase in smaller family size in this area – a trend which is expected to continue with our aging population. This will require an increase in smaller housing properties in close proximity to essential services to accommodate the changing needs of the community.

Vacancy rates in the private rental market are expected to remain very low (between 1% to 2% vacancy) which will add further pressure to the availability of affordable housing for low to middle income families in the private rental market.

The Census also shows the gap between household income and the cost of housing continues to widen. This continuing decline of affordable housing will negatively impact on the liveability for purchasers and renters in the low to middle income brackets, leading to greater housing stress and possible homelessness for an increasing number of families and individuals.

The Draft Affordable Housing Policy is now available for view and for comment at Council’s new community engagement website, Your Hawkesbury – Your Say at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com until Monday 6 July. The ‘Your Say’ site can also be reached from Council’s homepage www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au. The Draft Affordable Housing Policy can also be viewed in hard copy at Council’s Administration Offices at 366 George Street, Windsor.

For more information visit Hawkesbury City Council