From the Mayor’s desk: Affordable housing vs housing affordability

A HOUSE is more than a building.

It’s where we feel safe, raise our families, and grow old.

But I know that for many in our community, the dream of a secure home is feeling further out of reach.

Whether it’s the weekly grocery shop or filling up the car, these everyday expenses add up with the rising cost of living, and housing is part of that pressure.

When we talk about housing affordability, we’re talking about a balance.

This means that everyone from our local shop workers to our emergency services can afford to live in the community they live or work.

Unfortunately, that balance is currently off.

One in three households in our region is in “housing stress,” meaning that after the rent or mortgage is paid, there isn’t much left for life’s essentials.

We’re taking direct action through our Local Housing Strategy to help address this issue.

Our role is to facilitate housing rather than build it all.

We’re currently the fastest Council in the Hunter for building approvals, and last year we approved over 660 new homes to help get more people into their homes sooner.

We’re also unlocking Council-owned land, streamlining planning approvals, and advocating to state and federal governments for the funding needed to accelerate the delivery of more homes.

By focusing on more housing options like townhouses and apartments near town centres, we’re creating ways for our older residents to downsize locally and for young people to get their first start.

This will ensure that every generation can remain connected to the area they love and live close to shops, services and public transport, helping to address the broader housing pressures facing our region.

Getting this balance right is a long-term journey that we need to make together.   Whether you have an idea, a concern about your suburb, or simply want to understand our plans for the future.
I invite you to join me for a Facebook Live on Monday, 22 April.

Please bring your questions, so we can talk about housing challenges and opportunities together.

This is a chance for us collectively to ensure Port Stephens remains a place where everyone can afford to live, work and play.

By Leah ANDERSON, Port Stephens Mayor