In an effort to soften the blow of the national housing crisis for its residents, the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council has presented an Affordable Housing Strategy for community consultation.

Records from 2016 in the local government area revealed 2,200 very low, low, and moderate income households were in housing stress. This is projected to grow by 1,575 households to 3,775 households in housing stress by 2041.

The draft Affordability Housing Strategy includes 17 potential policies ranging from ‘interventionalist’ to ‘market led’ options that the Council said will help address the community’s housing affordability concerns.

The need for affordable housing in the region is based on a range of socio-economic, planning, funding and policy environment data relevant to the delivery of affordable housing in NSW. Stakeholder consultation will be used to assist in developing the draft strategy.

QPRC Mayor Kenrick Winchester said the council is aware affordable housing is increasingly difficult to access across the country and in the Queanbeyan-Palerang community.

“We know that access to affordable housing has become increasingly difficult across the country and in our own community over the last few years,” said Mr Winchester.

“The strategy is written to start the conversation with the community, so we are looking forward to hearing your feedback.”

The strategy is open for comment until the end of February 2023 and a further report will be presented to Council in March 2023 with the community’s feedback and details of cost.

The report will present advice on the suitability of the various strategies and how they might be best implemented in the future.

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