Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, and representatives from Landcom, the NSW Government's development agency announced today a landmark agreement for the development of up to 29 studios, one and two-bedroom units on a Council-owned carpark in Mullumbimby.
The project today received unanimous support from Byron Shire Councillors.
The location for the proposed development is at 57 Station Street, a site which is currently a Council-owned public carpark.
The agreement means Council and Landcom will, over the next six months, work together to:
- Develop and agree on a concept design for the development of the carpark at 57 Station Street for affordable housing.
- Confirm a community housing provider to partner to develop and manage the project.
- Investigate options to secure funding for the project including working with the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation.
- Obtain all relevant partnership approvals.
"To say I am excited by this project is an understatement because the lack of affordable housing is such an incredible burden on our community, even more so now since the floods," Mayor Lyon said.
"This affordable housing development will be targeted towards people on low to moderate incomes and be built on one of our existing carparks sites in the town centre.
"Recognising that parking is a premium in Mullumbimby, we will also use the next six months to look at securing land on the fringe of the town's CBD for additional parking," he said.
"Landcom is delighted to be involved in such an exciting project that helps address housing affordability in the regions," Matthew Beggs, Executive General Manager Partnership and Business Development at Landcom, said.
"Landcom has a proud history of delivering affordable and sustainable projects and this approach will be reflected at Station Street, Mullumbimby," Mr Beggs said.
"This project represents a great model for other successful projects with local councils across regional NSW and I hope it will become the first of many as we look to address housing affordability and boost supply.
"Partnerships are at the heart of all of our work, and are critical in addressing the challenges associated with affordable housing throughout regional NSW," Mr Beggs said.
"I am hoping this will be the first project of its kind with Landcom and Byron Shire Council because we have other sites such as the old Mullumbimby hospital land, that lend themselves to this type of partnership," Mayor Lyon said.
"I really commend Landcom for being so receptive to this project and working with us because affordable housing is not something that Council can solve by itself," Mayor Lyon said.
The timeframe for this development is approximately two years.
Landcom is a state-owned corporation that works with government and the private and not-for-profit sectors to deliver housing project that provide social and economic benefits to communities.
