A long-term blueprint for gentle growth
Beyond immediate reforms, Council is also progressing its Tweed Growth Management and Housing Strategy, a long-term blueprint to manage growth in a way that adds "gentle density" without eroding the character people love. Instead of dramatic high-rises in quiet suburbs, the strategy focuses on smaller homes and low-rise options such as dual occupancies, townhouses and manor houses — generally up to 2 storeys — in carefully chosen locations close to shops, services and public transport. The aim is for new housing to "fit into the landscape" so well that most people barely notice the change, while still delivering more homes for workers, families and older residents. A draft strategy, building on the recently finalised Options Paper, will be taken out to the community for feedback in the middle of the year.
A broader framework - advocacy, services and systems change
Director of Sustainable Communities & Environment Naomi Searle states that Council's housing work extends well beyond bricks and mortar.
A house is the foundation," Ms Searle said. "But people also need the wraparound services - outreach, mental health support, pathways to employment. Council's job is to advocate for all of it, and we will keep doing that."
In recent months Council has:
- Successfully advocated for local government partnership principles to be embedded in the Homes for NSW Strategy 2025–2035.
- Played a founding role in Northern Rivers Zero - a collective impact project aiming to end rough sleeping across 7 Northern Rivers LGAs by 2034.
- Supported the By-Name List, a real-time database of every person experiencing homelessness in the Tweed, now tracking 244 active clients.
- Welcomed the announcement of 70 supported temporary accommodation units in Tweed Heads South, purchased by the NSW Government to ensure they remain available for people needing short term‑ housing support long into the future.
- Submitted a housing-first framework into 2 NSW health strategies, calling for homelessness to be recognised as a health crisis.
- Commissioned 5 architectural concept designs for social and affordable housing on council-owned land across the shire.
Council is also advocating strongly for the continuation of the Tweed Assertive Outreach Program, currently funded to 30 June 2026. Homes NSW specialist caseworkers, and health professionals go on patrols to connect with people experiencing homelessness and help them find stable, long-term housing
"This is one of the most tangible things we could do right now. Real homes, real people, right here in our community - and at a cost that makes genuine sense. We'll keep pushing until we get there," Cr Cherry said.
