The Port Stephens Housing Strategy Annual Report 2024/2025 has been published, highlighting Council's progress in delivering diverse, affordable housing.
Mayor Leah Anderson says that housing and the lack of affordable and diverse options remain one of the biggest challenges facing our community.
"We remain committed to easing the housing challenges our community is facing and delivering options to meet the future needs of our community," Mayor Anderson said.
"I'm proud to share our first Local Housing Strategy Annual Report. It's a great way to show the community insights on where Council is at in meeting our housing strategy targets," Mayor Anderson added.
The Annual Report has been developed and published as an action of the Local Housing Strategy, adopted in June 2024.
Since the adoption of the Port Stephens Local Housing Strategy, Council has completed or started 50% of the listed actions.
Council has approved over 660 Development Applications (DA), well above the 550 house target for the past 12 months. Port Stephens is also the fastest council in the Hunter for approving applications, with an average of 49 days.
"Approvals in the past year for higher-density housing, such as dual-occupancy homes on one lot, have doubled. This shows the vision of our strategy becoming a reality," Mayor Anderson said.
While exceeding the Development Application approval target, the number of completed dwellings, recorded through Occupation Certificates, is below the target.
"The report has also highlighted areas we need to keep working on. It shows a big variance between DA approvals and completed builds," Mayor Anderson said.
"We know this trend is occurring nationally, impacted by factors out of Council's control, such as tighter lending conditions, high interest rates, rising construction materials and labour costs, and industry shortages.
"We're proactively responding to challenges as they arise, including the potential risk of a future shortfall in housing completions, and other challenges impacting future targets," Mayor Anderson added.
Council has advocated to the State Government for changes to planning legislation that will make it simpler to develop more affordable homes in areas like Nelson Bay and Raymond Terrace.
"We're getting ahead now for what could impact our long-term targets for housing. We're undertaking investigations and rezoning of additional residential land and taking further actions to facilitate infill housing in existing centres," Mayor Anderson added.
