By Bruce Miller
There is conflict brewing in the Urunga community over a proposal by the Waterfall Way Community Land Trust (CLT) to build affordable housing units on vacant land at Lot 1 Ferry St.
At first glance it seems straightforward. The words “affordable housing” set off an almost religious fervor, and the opponents always look like NIMBIES. But life is rarely so simple.
In one corner is the CLT, a community not for profit organisation, proposing to develop affordable homes for locals who are working families but priced out of the property market. Their model is a shared equity plan, a first in Australia, with the CLT acquiring free or low-cost land and only the building being sold to the residents, to keep the cost affordable.
In the other corner are The Opponents, primarily neighbours, who object to the development on the grounds of loss of a local space, increased congestion, there are enough affordable homes in the area, loss of habitat and they feel that they were not adequately consulted.
Lot 1 Ferry St, unused operational Council land, bounded by the railway line and zoned residential, has long been identified by Council as a site potentially suitable for affordable housing. The site is compromised by a railway setback, a sewer main and five significant blackbutt trees. The CLT hope that this land will be gifted to them for what is to be a pilot housing project.
Where the wheels possibly fell off is that this is the first anyone, including residents in that street, knew of this. It was via the media in May 2025, when headlines said “Bellingen set to make affordable housing history”
The horse has suddenly bolted, and the neighbours have moved to Defcon 1.
The Opponents have responded with an effective grass roots campaign with letters to the editor, paid advertisements, social media and writing to Counsellors and associated parties, including some extravagant claims regarding the location, flora and fauna.
At their October meeting a majority of Counsellors continued to support the affordable housing model and to consider this site for this purpose. Council is getting legal advice on the conditions of transfer of any land, noting Ferry Street but considering other possible sites. At least one counsellor wants more information on available alternatives.
Apart from an information night the Opponents say they have had no discussions or information from Council or the CLT and they haven’t seen any plans. “This just seems like a forgone conclusion,” said resident Peter Dingle.
He says there has been no discussion about if this is the best model, let alone the best place for it. He is focused on the lack of consultation, the increased parking congestion on an already busy road and the loss of bushland opposite his house.
Resident Graeme Mooney rejects the label of NIMBY, saying he believes that, given the 14 boarding house units approved at the neighbouring Kalang Motel there is enough social housing in the area. He says the land is a green corridor with many valuable trees and that it is just not appropriate on this site.
CLT Chairman Dr Michael Darcy said that he can understand community objections, as everyone has a right to protect their lifestyle.
He said that they will not be clearing the land as the CLT constitution requires them to improve the environment. An environmental report identified five significant blackbutts, some possibly 100 years old, with valuable nesting sites, and they are looking at ways to work around these trees.
However, construction industry sources question whether the trees can really be saved, and after considering easements and avoiding the tree roots, will there be enough land to be viable.
The CLT says their aim of providing affordable housing for the “missing middle,” workers who don’t qualify for government assistance but cannot get into the property market, would allow workers on local wages to have secure accommodation, pegged to cost of living rises rather than the property boom.
The CLT understand community concern at something new. CLT spokesperson Kerrie Pearce said “Change is hard. I totally get that, but we are thinking of the greater community good.”
Industry sources and critics say they believe that the CLT have not been transparent from the beginning, and that if you want community trust then you have to earn it.
Graeme Moonee believes that this is an unproven model from overseas and that we could destroy the block of land without knowing that this will work. Peter Dingle says “Where is the consultation? Where are the options?”
Kerrie Pearce says If we don’t take housing action in a rural area then nothing will be done.
There are consultation steps in the land transfer and building process and CLT stress that this is just early exploration.
There is merit on both sides and maybe some compromise can be reached. Council could even sell the land to a developer who may put up a block of units.
As we are seeing around the country, there are no easy answers. Affordable housing is a vexing problem, indeed.
For more information on the housing model go to https://housingmatters.org.au/
For more information on the community opposition go to Facebook or the Letters section
(L-R) Peter Dingle and Graeme Mooney