This article was first published by Narrandera Argus on 16 March 2023. Click here to view the full article.
Narrandera Shire ratepayer and former local government councillor Bob Manning believes that councils like Narrandera need to do more in regard to the lack of housing, especially in relation to independent living developments like the one proposed for the corner of Elwin and Crescent Streets near the Narrandera TAFE College.
After speaking in the public forum section of the Council’s meeting, he was later supported by Cr Jenny Clarke during the general business segment at the meeting.
“We need to drive this issue if we want to cater for the influx of people for various developments taking place in the town and shire and also to cater for our ageing population so that they do not have to move elsewhere,” said Mr Manning.
Mr Manning mentioned the slow progress on the independent living village concept proposed for the corner of Elwin and Crescent Streets in Narrandera.
Council held several meetings with Argyle Housing, a major developer of affording housing in NSW and determined that it was considering the feasibility of developing a mixed housing estate on the site.
There were several key changes at the senior management level of the group which led to a delay in discussions with Council but it is understood they are still interested in examining this development proposal.
Initially there were no expressions of interest received when the council called for them in regard to building an independent living village on the site and that led to Council contacting others to determine if there was any interest. Mr Manning said his concern was that the matter appeared to be stagnant.
“There are a lot of young workers in town but they appear to have found accommodation whereas older people need independent housing to stay in Narrandera as long as they can instead of moving to Leeton and Wagga to find more suitable accommodation,” he said.
“Argyle Housing is said to be looking at the Elwin/ Crescent Streets land, but I believe the Council needs to offer them incentives like it did with the Barellan aged care units.
“Council needs to offer them sweeteners.”
Mr Manning said the Council also needed to look at vacant blocks in town such as the Whitton Street petroleum distribution centre land which seems to be in limbo and put the pressure on the owners to do something with it.
Cr Clarke supported Mr Manning in calling for action on independent living development in Narrandera.
“Narrandera is badly in need of this type of housing. Our council has been very successful in getting grants but the majority of these have been for sport – we need to get Government help for the establishment of an independent living village.
“If one were built it would free up larger houses and blocks.”
Cr Clarke agreed with Mr Manning that the Council needed to concentrate on getting three units built on the block near the TAFE college and to take more action in regard to lack of housing.
“We need to drive this issue if we want to cater for the influx of people for various developments taking place in the town and shire and also to cater for our ageing population so that they do not have to move elsewhere.”
A national housing crisis has become evident in many country areas, including Narrandera. Councils and housing authorities are calling for a $400m funding injection as just 0.8 per cent of rental properties are available to lease nationally in January, according to Domain.
More Australians than ever are said to be living in cars, caravans and tents in what one advocate calls a “truly national” housing crisis that has seen rental vacancy rates fall to their lowest level ever in both regional areas and capital cities.
Councils and housing groups have joined the call for a funding boost for housing in the federal budget.
Tens of thousands of Australians moved to the regions during the pandemic.
This and other trends led to more city people relocating to country towns and cities which put pressure on the housing market.
It has prompted a partnership between National Shelter, the Community Housing Industry Association and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to call for a $400 million Commonwealth funding boost over four years to address the fundamental problem of not enough housing.
Australian Local Government Association vice-president and Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said his council set up a housing company, in conjunction with the gas industry to build nearly 80 affordable units, but demand for housing was still outstripping supply, he said.
Mr Burnett said councils understood the needs of their communities and were well placed to facilitate the construction of the right mix of housing.
But the Grattan Institute’s Brendan Coates said if councils wanted more houses built, they could do so tomorrow “by allowing more development applications to proceed”.
“Councils decide planning applications and decide what gets built,” he said.