Opinion

by Karen Fowler

The Draft Local Housing Strategy could reshape our towns and villages - but is it heading in the right direction?

At a recent Kiama Matters Inc meeting, I asked people to ensure they help shape the future of Kiama by engaging with the Housing Strategy process and providing feedback to our Council and Councillors.

The Housing Strategy will define the way our urban environment grows and guide priorities for infrastructure and services.  See Draft Housing Strategy V2 here

The Strategy will determine what our villages will look like in a decade’s time.

The Strategy outlines four key priorities - well-located housing supply, diverse housing options, supporting infrastructure, and thriving centres. 

While I agree with these priorities, the question I would like people to consider is whether the Strategy actually delivers on them.

One concern being raised by the community is that the document relies on outdated population projections. 

It draws from 2022 data suggesting Kiama will grow by 6917 people by 2041. 

However, updated 2024 figures project growth of just 2180. We appear to be planning for almost double the expected number.  

Even using the older figures, the Strategy seems to propose more housing than needed.

The plan identifies an existing capacity to deliver 2341 new homes by 2041, mostly through in-fill development in Kiama and Gerringong. 

To meet the projected shortfall, Kiama Municipal Council has proposed four Urban Expansion Areas across the Local Government Area. 

The largest - in Kiama - could accommodate 4200 lots yet we only need to cater for 1028 new dwellings to meet the shortfall. 

This raises important questions about scale, sustainability, and the ability to keep Kiama liveable. Council argues it needs a pipeline of greenfield land because it cannot control when developers build. 

While I understand this, the community still needs to consider whether the size of this proposed pipeline is justified.

There are positives. I welcome the “non-negotiable principles” in the Strategy and the inclusion of a requirement for a Structure Plan to coordinate planning proposals and infrastructure across the area. 

The actions in the document around infrastructure planning have also been strengthened.

Good strategic land use planning requires consideration of not only economic outcomes. It must also weigh up environmental, social and cultural outcomes. 

Economic outcomes are easy to measure. Environmental impacts can be assessed by experts. But social and cultural values - our sense of place, our heritage, our access to housing and services – the things that create a healthy and happy community, they are harder to quantify and need to be defined by the people that live here. 

This is why we need your input. Happy and healthy communities come from people feeling safe, supported, and connected. 

I keep hearing that our cultural values are embedded in our love of green hills, our beaches, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle. If we want a future that protects these, we must ensure planning decisions are guided by more than population targets and dollars.

I urge residents to read the Strategy. Reflect on whether it reflects our community’s needs. This is more than a plan. It is a vision of our future. Let’s make sure it is one we share.

Hae your say here