Parkes Shire Council is in the process of preparing a housing strategy to plan for the future housing needs in the Parkes Shire.
The Parkes Shire Housing Strategy will set a 20 year vision for housing in the shire, in line with the NSW Government's Local Housing Strategy Guideline and the Parkes Local Strategic Planning Statement 2041.
The strategy also aims to address the full range of housing needs for the community, with a focus on areas where there are gaps in the housing market. A draft version of the Parkes Housing Strategy will be ready for public exhibition in later 2021.
A Housing Issues Paper has been prepared to share the findings of Council's preliminary investigations and encourage discussion and inputs from the wider community. The issues paper draws on a range of inputs, including demographic, housing and economic data, housing policy guidelines, housing sector strategies and studies undertaken for other places.
Mayor of Parkes Shire Cr Ken Keith OAM said, "As Parkes attracts more residents, the provision of well located, diverse and good-quality housing is important to ensure that our Shire continues to increase its high standards of living and remains welcoming and accessible to a wide variety of people.
"Council has a role to play in facilitating the supply of new housing that better matches the community's preferences and needs. To plan for the future needs of our community, Council must set a strategic direction for housing policy to better inform land-use zoning and other planning controls," added Cr Keith.
Council is inviting the community to submit comments on the Parkes Shire Housing Issues Paper that is currently on public exhibition until 31 March 2021, as well as complete the Housing Preference Survey to help plan for the housing needs for Parkes Shire now and into the future.
To have your say, visit Your Say Parkes to view the issues paper and to complete the survey before Wednesday 31 March 2021. Alternatively, you send a written submission to Council, at PO Box 377 Parkes NSW 2870. Hard copies of the survey will also be available at Parkes Shire Council's Administration Office at 2 Cecile Street, Parkes.
