Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee has called on the ACT Government to commit to updating the ACT Housing Choices Community Survey.
The current Housing Choices Community Survey (the ‘Winton Report’) was released in 2015, and found that only 2 per cent of Canberrans want to live in high density apartments, she stated.
“This Labor-Greens Government cannot refuse to collect new data about how and where Canberrans want to live because they’re scared the result won’t support their 70 per cent infill policy agenda,” Ms Lee said.
“It’s time for fresh data to inform the future of land release, development, and planning in the ACT.
“Canberrans deserve real leadership when it comes to addressing the housing crisis, but what we’re seeing from Labor and the Greens is wilful ignorance.
“The 2015 survey found that an overwhelming majority of Canberrans want to live in medium and low-density housing, and this Labor-Greens Government cannot hide from that.
“If Labor and the Greens are serious about addressing the housing crisis here in the ACT, there should be no hesitation in commissioning a fresh survey,” Ms Lee concluded.
ACT Government response
Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management, responded that the District Strategies work, as part of the Planning System Review and Reform Project, would identify areas for more medium density development.
The ACT Government expects the consultation on District Strategies to include discussion about density, affordability, and housing choices, which would inform future planning outcomes, Mr Gentleman said.
The Grattan Institute’s submission to the Productivity Commission review in March (page 16) stated that the most effective way to improve housing affordability was to increase density in inner and middle suburbs – “which is what the ACT Government is doing,” Mr Gentleman said.
The same report states: “Planning rules that constrain development in Australian cities have also led to a shortage of medium- and high-density housing compared to what Australians actually want. After accounting for trade-offs in price, location, and size, many people would prefer a townhouse, semi-detached dwelling, or apartment in a middle- or outer-suburb, rather than a house on the city fringe.”
Mr Gentleman said: “The Canberra Liberals are annoyed that the research about housing choices and affordability contradicts their tired talking points.
“Elizabeth Lee devoted a debate on a motion last sitting week to medium density housing options while continuing to oppose medium density development in suburbs close to shops, services, and public transport.”
