Kiama Council has welcomed this week's announcement from the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure that it is now seeking community feedback on the rezoning of the Council-owned Shoalhaven Precinct.
The Shoalhaven Street Precinct is one of Council's catalyst sites, the others being 11 Manning St, Havilah Place, Spring Creek and the Minnamurra Depot. As part of preparing its Local Housing Strategy, Council identified the opportunity to strategically provide housing on this 2 hectare site – which comprises Council's Works Depot and an adjoining block of land – due to its close proximity to the Kiama Train Station and the Kiama CBD.
Mayor Cameron McDonald said "Staff have been working in close partnership with the NSW Government on this exciting project for several months now. I'm extremely pleased that the community will now have an opportunity to provide meaningful feedback."
"This project has been identified by both the endorsed Housing Strategy and Council's Strategic Finance & Governance Improvement Plan. The engagement being run by the Department is an extension of the community consultation Council undertook as part of developing these Strategies."
"As a signatory to the National Housing Accord, Kiama Council is doing its part to provide housing, and importantly affordable housing, in the right locations with the right services."
Council and the Department have been working with infrastructure providers, specifically Sydney Water, to confirm that the necessary infrastructure can be provided to this precinct. Council continues to work with Sydney Water on their capacity modelling to ensure future housing opportunities identified by the Housing Strategy can be serviced by Sydney Water.
It has also been proposed that any housing constructed on the site will provide a minimum of 10% affordable housing.
"Council has heard from our community on the importance of affordable housing in our area, to ensure that essential workers, students and others can find homes near to where they work and study, and also to promote inclusivity within in our LGA," said Mayor McDonald.
The Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure are holding the following community drop-in sessions to engage with this important proposal:
- Tuesday 11 November: 1-4pm – Joyce Wheatley Community Centre
- Wednesday 12 November: 3-6pm – Kiama Farmers Markets
