Gerringong local Annette Pust has experienced the housing crisis first hand as a renter in one of the most expensive LGAs in the country. 

After seeing close friends leave the township in search of more affordable housing in the Illawarra, Annette felt there weren’t enough options available. 

She began a petition calling on Kiama Municipal Council to utilise the vacant aged care facility in Havilah Place by turning it into housing stock. She believes the site will help ongoing rental stress, provide emergency accommodation and aid the housing crisis in the second most expensive town in the country. 

Council have stated that the Blue Haven aged care facility in Havilah Place is in an “advanced state of dilapidation and cannot be repurposed.”

A German native and Gerringong local for fifteen years, Annette said she is perplexed by the situation at hand, and feels a part of the solution is right in front of the Council.

“It’s been empty for five years… I don’t know how you can have a site sitting empty and have the building rot away in essence, I can’t explain it.”

Council voted in favour of receiving a report on the options for a public-private partnership and mixed-use development on the site, ensuring at least 25 per cent is allocated to social and affordable housing — a motion put forward by Councillors Imogen Draisma and Stuart Larkins last term.

The former residential aged care facility on Havilah Place has been deemed as unsafe and unhealthy to enter. 

Blue Haven has been operating since 1979, the most recent addition in 2019 is Blue Haven Bonaira — which is currently in the settlement phase of being sold to private owner Hall & Prior.

Council are in the process of exploring options to subdivide and divest the facility as a requirement outlined in the NSW Government Performance Improvement Order. A business case will be presented to councillors for consideration and a site masterplan will be drafted.

Birgetta Smith, a Gerringong local and supporter of the petition, is facing the housing crisis with the added stress of a recent divorce.

“We have to sell the house and probably move out of the area.”

“My kids have grown up in Gerringong, they would love to stay, but there’s not a chance. There’s no affordable rentals around, it’s not affordable to buy something.”

Gerringong has 74 houses available on the market as of September this year — with a median price of $1,400,000 as of July this year. 

“Any petition regarding future uses for the Havilah Place site would be subject to our Petitions Policy and would need to accord with already resolved decisions and the substantial staff work already undertaken on implementing these decisions, alongside the State required work articulated in the PIO”, a spokesperson for Council said.

Property market analyst Propertyology ranked Kiama the second most expensive township, above Australia’s most populous city, Sydney.

The petition will be located at Gerringong Pharmacy.