Kiama Council has welcomed the release of the Advocacy Campaign Report by Business Illawarra to accelerate housing supply in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. In partnership with key regional stakeholders, Business Illawarra has released this major report outlining solutions to the affordable housing crisis affecting key workers in the region.

“There is a role for each level of government, the property sector, community housing providers, major employers, peak bodies and the wider community in supporting the development of new affordable housing – and being innovative in how we do it,” said Adam Zarth, Executive Director of Business Illawarra.

The report, based on leading research undertaken by Judith Stubbs and Associates, was launched at two events in Wollongong and Nowra. It examines the underlying causes of the crisis and identifies actions to grow affordable housing in town centres across the region.

Mr Zarth said that his organisation was responding to the concerns of local employers and business owners who were suffering acute workforce shortages and attributed them to a lack of affordable housing regionally. “We knew that the housing challenge key workers face is particularly acute in our region, where they spend on average 40 per cent of their income on rent, compared against the 30 per cent national average,” he said.

“Today we have articulated the actions that each of us can take to address this issue, which is hampering economic growth and exacerbating difficult trading conditions for key sectors including hospitality, human services, retail and construction,” Mr Zarth added.

The research was supported by the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, Warrigal, MMJ Real Estate, the Housing Trust and the Property Council of Australia (Illawarra).

Kiama Council acknowledged that designated affordable housing development in Kiama is in very short supply. Council, through the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, was consulted in the development of the document and acknowledged the need for adequate housing to be available to support its key workers. 

“Kiama’s economy is supported by tourism, and it is crucial that we have housing available for employees of our small businesses, tourism operators and associated business,” Council said in a press release. 

Kiama Council only has one designated affordable dwelling, which is on land owned and leased by Council to the Housing Trust at peppercorn rates. This dwelling was built many years ago and has reached the natural end of the asset’s life. Council understands the property is in urgent need of redevelopment and is open to helping with relocating and redeveloping the site to get a more modern outcome and greater yield for the site.

“We are actively seeking for both this and other opportunities to improve and enhance our existing stock and encourage affordable housing development within our region for key workers, in whatever way we can,” said Council’s Director Planning Environment & Communities Jessica Rippon. 

“We want to make sure the [affordable home] resident isn’t displaced from the community but what is clear to us is that it’s time to think differently and to work with lots of partners to achieve the kind of aspirational goals this report demands.” 

Jennifer Macquarie, Chair, Property Council of Australia (Illawarra) said that Kiama was the least affordable location to buy or rent a home in the four LGAs covered by the report.

“This presents a significant challenge for attracting and retaining lower to middle income workers in the aged care, retail, hospitality and tourism sectors that make up such a significant part of Kiama’s economy,” Ms Macquarie said.

“The Property Council appreciates Kiama Council’s commitment to identifying solutions to this problem, in particular the possibility of building Affordable Housing on Council owned land adjacent to Bombo quarry and the opportunity for housing density and diversity within the quarry itself when that is eventually developed. 

“It will take a number of years before these projects will deliver new housing, and in the meantime we encourage Council to review its internal assessment processes and its planning documents to enable the industry to deliver smaller, more affordable housing options in a more efficient manner within Kiama LGA. We are keen to collaborate with Council on these initiatives and trust that this will be treated as a priority given the urgency of the affordable housing issue in the LGA and the region.”