Kiama Council has endorsed a Local Housing Strategy to guide the long-term provision of new homes.
The NSW Government has issued our Municipality a target of 900 extra homes by 2029, with an extra 6,917 people expected live here by 2041.
Mayor Cameron McDonald said the Local Housing Strategy would ensure the right amount and types of new homes would be provided in the right locations, supported by infrastructure.
"This Strategy puts the interests of our community front and centre in the process of meeting our housing targets," Cr McDonald said.
"It represents 18 months of effort by Council's planning team, working with various NSW Government agencies, especially infrastructure and transport providers, local landowners and most importantly our existing residents."
"I wholeheartedly thank everyone who played a part in delivering this critical part of the roadmap for our future."
Kiama Council conducted extensive community and stakeholder engagement throughout the drafting the Strategy, including information sessions, pop-up stalls and online consultation.
Council received more than 280 formal submissions, with each read and considered in full.
A Public Exhibition Engagement Report summarises the key issues raised, staff responses and any resulting changes to the draft strategy.
Director Strategies & Communities Ed Paterson said the Strategy was about more than meeting the five-year target set by the NSW Government.
"This Strategy will influence how our Municipality grows over the next 20 to 30 years and beyond," Mr Paterson said.
"Through a mix of infill and greenfield development, it shows we have more than enough space to accommodate the new residents expected over that timeframe."
Mr Paterson said the Strategy identified a potential 1874 infill sites across the Municipality, which could be convert from single to dual occupancy properties.
The majority of infill is expected to occur in and around the Kiama and Gerringong town centres.
The Strategy also identified more than 5,000 residential lots in greenfield developments.
"The important part of this strategy is managing carefully how, when and where that housing rolls out," Mr Paterson said.
"While greenfield developments will eventually provide the bulk of our future housing, most of this this will take years, if not decades to realise, such as the Bombo Quarry Precinct."
"That's because we need to get it right, and that's why we've included the principles for greenfield developments in this Strategy."
The principles for greenfield development include:
- There are appropriate road, pedestrian and public transport networks and connections.
- State Government infrastructure and all required services have been planned for.
- The Sydney Water system has capacity to provide sewer and water services.
- There is a mix of land use controls to ensure a diversity of housing typologies.
- Employment lands are provided in accordance with the Kiama Employment Lands Strategy.
- Any financial liability to Council is minimised.
- Useable open space that meets both quantum and quality standards is provided.
- Heritage places, items and values are identified and preserved as appropriate.
- Areas of high environmental significance are identified, retained and managed as appropriate.
- The provision of social and affordable housing has been adequately considered.
A key action of the Strategy is to develop a Structure Plan, to identify appropriate road networks, servicing networks, zonings, staging and timing.
This will be developed in collaboration with the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure, Transport for NSW, Sydney Water, Endeavour Energy, Schools Infrastructure, landowners and the broader community.
Council is exploring opportunities to partner with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure to progress the preparation of this Structure Plan as a priority.
The Structure Plan will enable an Infrastructure Framework to be developed and will form the basis for any future development proposals.
The Strategy includes an action plan which considers Council's current resource allocation, budget and priorities.
The actions are further classified as short term (1-2 yrs), medium term (3-5 yrs) and long term (5-10 yrs), and identifies the role of Council in implementing that action.
Initial actions include reviews of planning controls to improve feasibility of medium density development within the centres of Kiama and Gerringong.
