Bega Valley Shire Council has approved new measures to help residents more affordably add secondary dwellings to their properties.
The changes include waiving Section 7.11 developer contributions for secondary dwellings for two years and introducing a two-year trial of reduced water and sewer charges*.
Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick said the measures aim to support more affordable and flexible housing choices for local residents.
"These changes reduce some of the upfront costs that can discourage people from adding a secondary dwelling on their property," Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
"This means residents wishing to add a secondary dwelling to their property could save between $9,500 and $17,000 on Section 7.11 developer contributions on top of significant savings through reduced water and sewer charges.
"If the trial proves successful it could encourage more residents to build secondary dwellings that support extended family living, provide worker housing and increase long-term rental options."
The approved motion also promotes the use of prefabricated and modular homes, as well as complying development pathways to make it simpler for people to add new homes in towns and villages connected to Council's sewer network.
Mayor Fitzpatrick said the initiative aligns with Council's ongoing efforts to increase housing diversity and affordability.
"Increasing housing diversity is an important part of working to address the current housing shortage," he said.
"When approved through the right planning pathways, secondary dwellings can deliver affordable, practical options for local residents and contribute to a more balanced mix of housing across the shire."
Council will also provide clearer information to the community about the broader range of housing types now possible under recent planning changes.
These include dual occupancies, townhouses, terraces, villas and manor houses, which are now permitted in more zones and on smaller lots across the shire.
This work will continue alongside Council's ongoing advocacy to the NSW Government for updated and clearer legislation around caravans, moveable dwellings and manufactured homes.
As part of the adopted measures, Council will also ask the state government to clarify the intent of the definition of 'household member' with the intention of having as broad a definition as possible.
The two-year trial will allow Council to review the impact of the changes and assess how effectively they support new housing supply across the shire.
Council is publicly notifying the waiver for 28 days as required under the Local Government Act 1993. After this period, the waiver will take effect if no objections are received through Council's Have Your Say webpage.
The resolved motion can be read on Council's website (item 14.1).
*The trial Section 64 water and sewer charges will be set at a maximum charge of 0.25 Equivalent Tenements each, regardless of the number of bedrooms at a property.
