Lake Macquarie City Council has unveiled a sweeping draft plan aimed at tackling mounting housing pressures across the region, as demand for homes continues to outpace supply and affordability worsens.
The Draft Housing Strategy sets out how council intends to manage population growth, accommodation diversity, affordability and future land use across the LGA over coming decades.
Lake Macquarie City mayor Adam Shultz says the proposal provided a clear blueprint to help existing residents and people moving to the city find homes that meet their needs.
“Australia is facing a severe housing shortage, with demand far outstripping supply and driving rents up rapidly,” he said.
“Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing our community and this plan aims to address that challenge head-on.
“It focuses on delivering more choice, improving affordability and making the most of commercial precincts and existing services and transport.”
The plan has been shaped around four major parts: concentrating growth within established urban areas, increasing housing diversity, supporting affordable and social housing, and protecting the liveability of neighbourhoods as the city grows.
Cr Shultz says these priorities support council’s goal to repurpose former mining and energy sites for new uses.
“Planning for housing is critical, but we also need to plan for jobs,” he said.
“We need to work with the development community to ensure people can live close to the things they need, while also unlocking new economic opportunities across the city.”
The housing strategy was released alongside a separate Draft Employment Land Use Strategy, which forecasts the creation of up to 15,000 new jobs across Lake Macquarie by 2046.
It outlines how former mining and energy sites could be transformed into hubs for renewable energy, manufacturing and technology industries as the city transitions away from traditional sectors.
The strategy also identifies potential growth in knowledge-based industries, including opportunities connected to Avondale University.
Lake Macquarie City Council director development planning and regulation David Antcliff says both strategies were grounded in strong evidence and community feedback.
“This work reflects what we’ve heard from residents and industry about the need for more housing choice, better affordability and well-planned growth,” he said.
Both draft strategies are now on public exhibition, with community feedback set to help form the final plans before adoption by council.
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