How best to see affordable housing delivered on the old Mullumbimby Hospital site?
That was the question Byron Shire Councillors were asking at the Council meeting on 27 November after staff presented a report on the next steps for the redevelopment of the site which was bought from the NSW Government for $1 in 2017.
The report detailed the recommendations of consultants engaged to develop a range of options about the best way to see the site developed to deliver affordable housing and essential community facilities, while ensuring Council recuperates the cost of remediating the site which currently sits at almost $5.7 million.
"The preferred option recommended by consultants was an Englobo sale. This means selling the developable part of the site through an Expression of Interest process to deliver affordable housing and community benefits," Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said.
Mayor Ndiaye offered an alternative motion that supported the Englobo sale of the site to the NSW Government for delivery of public, social, affordable and Aboriginal housing.
"The NSW Government is looking for ways to deliver more social and other housing options, and Council believes the old Mullumbimby Hospital site ticks a lot of its boxes and should be offered the chance to buy the site," Mayor Ndiaye said.
"As a priority we invite the Minister for Housing, the Hon Rose Jackson, and representatives from the relevant State Housing Agencies such a as Homes NSW and the Reconstruction Authority to a round table discussion with Council," Mayor Ndiaye said.
"The benefits of this option are that Council will be able to stipulate the purpose of the housing and it will control the EOI process to make sure that the community aspirations for that site, which were set through extensive consultation over many years, are delivered," Mayor Ndiaye said.
"Council will now write to the Minister for Housing, Rose Jackson, to arrange a meeting," Mayor Ndiaye said.
"I would like to thank the community for its contribution to this project and its unwavering desire to see the old hospital site redeveloped for the express benefit of people who want long-term, affordable housing security," she said.
Information about the redevelopment of the Mullumbimby Hospital site is on Council's website Mullumbimby Hospital redevelopment
