Photo: Bega District News
30 August 2023
Bega Valley Shire Council is overwhelmingly pleased with the NSW Premier, Chris Minn's announcement in Bega yesterday to convert the former Bega TAFE site into a residential and social housing development.
Shire Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick said the announcement is a significant step forward in addressing the housing crisis here in the Bega Valley and increasing affordable and social housing across the shire aligned with Council's Affordable Housing Strategy.
"Too many people in our community are finding it extraordinarily tough to find somewhere to live, and for people hoping to move to our shire to take up job opportunities, their options are extremely limited," Cr Fitzpatrick said.
"This impacts just about everyone in the Bega Valley because business owners and community service operators are unable to fill vacancies, which affects everything from your morning coffee to the provision of vital health services.
"Yesterday's announcement is a significant milestone that will see around 97 new dwellings including 30% social and affordable housing.
"This is a great start to providing the additional 168 social housing dwellings and 2,500 new affordable dwellings we need by 2036, while also increasing overall housing supply in the market."
Cr Fitzpatrick said Bega is one of our more affordable towns and is a great location for housing.
"It's the regional centre of the Far South Coast and offers employment opportunities, private and public schooling, and diverse sporting facilities," Cr Fitzpatrick said.
"It also offers a wide range of shopping and essential services, and is home to the South East Regional Hospital.
"We are particularly excited to see this development progress and we hope it's the first of many opportunities to help address the housing crisis in the Bega Valley Shire."
Council and the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) have been working together since April 2022 to determine whether existing state-owned unused land could be repurposed for new social, affordable and private housing supply.
"In February this year, we signed a 5-year collaboration agreement with LAHC, with the aim of increasing and enhancing social housing opportunities across the shire," Cr Fitzpatrick said.
"There is still a long way to go and more to do to address the housing crisis, but we look forward to continuing our relationship and collaborative work with the NSW Government and the Land and Housing Corporation to make this new development a reality."
