COFFS HARBOUR, NSW, April 21 - Housing affordability has emerged as the central cost-of-living issue in the Cowper electorate, with Nationals MP Pat Conaghan promising $11 million for sewerage infrastructure to enable new housing development while Independent challenger Caz Heise proposes comprehensive reforms to address what she calls a “broken” housing system.
Housing affordability in the north coast region has firmed up as a leading cost-of-living theme that has dominated the Federal Election campaign.
The two leading candidates for Cowper, Nationals MP Pat Conaghan and Independent Caz Heise, have been outspoken on their vision for fixing the local housing crisis.
Mr Conaghan said a future Coalition Government would provide $11 million for the Bellingen Shire Council’s critical Sewering Coastal Villages Phase 3 project, allowing an additional 30 new residential properties to connect to the system.
Mr Conaghan said Bellingen Shire Council originally applied for Phase 3 funding back in 2022 under The Nationals’ Building Better Regions Fund.
“Unfortunately, with the change of Government, Labor unceremoniously dumped the Building Better Regions Fund and denied all prior applications,” Mr Conaghan said.
“An elected Coalition Government will right that wrong and get this funding into to these works straight away, to not only safeguard our current infrastructure, but lay the groundwork for new housing and industry in the future.”
He said regions such as Cowper would also receive their fair share of the Coalition’s $5 billion home building plan, with a target of 30 per cent of the funding to be invested to unlock new homes in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud, who was recently in Coffs Harbour, outlined that a Coalition Government would free up more than 100,000 homes in Australia by:
• Reducing migration numbers, compared to Labor who has brought in more than one million migrants in their first two years in office.
• Putting a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes.
• Working with the building and construction industry and bringing in people on skilled visas to support local tradies.
• Tackling union corruption that has contributed to driving up the costs of building by 30 per cent.
• Freezing further changes to the National Construction Code to ease red tape and compliance burdens for builders.
Independent candidate Caz Heise released her vision for reforms to create affordable and stable housing in our region three weeks ago.
“There is no silver bullet to fix the housing crisis, but one thing is clear - what we’re doing now is broken,” Caz said.
“It’s unacceptable that people in our community are living in tents because they can’t afford rent, and that locals are being priced out of the community they grew up in.”
“This isn’t just about housing, this is about whether people can afford to stay in the community they love, where their kids go to school, and where their parents live.
The independent said her key housing priorities included:
• Government investment in social and affordable housing to provide long-term security for those most in need.
• Reform planning and zoning laws to allow more affordable homes to be built.
• Change the tax incentive structure to ensure that the houses that are being built meet the needs of our community, rather than property speculators.
• Support innovative housing models and community-led solutions, such as Community Land Trusts
• Make downsizing easier for people who want to stay in their community, but no longer need a family-sized home
• Stronger regulation of short-term rentals, ensuring they don’t price out locals.
Caz Heise- Independent