Lake Macquarie City Council will investigate affordable housing opportunities on Council-owned land at Cardiff and Booragul following support for a Mayoral Minute at tonight's ordinary meeting.
Council will release an expression of interest for suitable Community Housing Providers to develop and manage affordable housing on appropriate Council-owned sites.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the move could help increase the supply of affordable housing across the city while retaining public ownership of the land.
"By exploring partnerships with community housing providers and long-term lease arrangements that retain public ownership of the land, these sites have the potential to support the delivery of more affordable housing across our city," he said.
The action stemmed from the Lake Macquarie Housing Forum 2025, which brought together stakeholders from across the sector to explore strategies for improving availability and affordability.
Councillors also endorsed the referral of Council's Draft 2025-2026 Financial Statements for audit, with the final audit scheduled to commence later this month.
"Council recorded a strong $19.1 million operating surplus before capital revenue and paid debt down by $33.4 million, putting us in a stronger financial position to continue investing in the services and infrastructure our community relies on," Mayor Adam said.
Councillors also adopted a new Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), reinforcing Council's commitment to creating a city where everyone belongs and can participate in ways that are meaningful to them.
Mayor Adam said the DIAP outlined a clear, four-year plan to continue removing barriers experienced by people with a disability.
"Accessibility, participation and inclusion are fundamental to a connected and thriving city, and the actions in this plan will help ensure people of all abilities can take part in community life," he said.
The action plan includes 38 deliverables across four focus areas including:
- developing positive Council and community attitudes and upholding the rights of people with disability
- creating liveable and safer communities
- supporting access to meaningful employment and independence
- improving access to mainstream services through better systems and processes
"Outcomes include improving accessible walking, cycling and transport networks, promoting accessible recreational facilities and experiences, creating opportunities for people of all abilities to participate in community life, and clear, accessible communications and information," Mayor Adam said.
"By listening to people with lived experience and embedding their insights into the way we plan and deliver services, we can create better outcomes that benefit the entire Lake Macquarie community."
The recommendations at tonight's meeting align with Council's long‑term planning, which is shaped by the community's priorities for caring for the natural environment and a diverse and thriving economy.
The full agenda and reports are available at meeting agendas and minutes.
The stream of tonight's meeting will be available online at lakemac.com.au within 48 hours.
