By Michael Burt
Bellingen Shire residents have four days left to have their say on The Waterfall Way Community Land Trust (WWCLT) affordable housing proposal for Council land at Lot 1 Ferry St, Urunga.
The community consultation phase follows legal advice that Bellingen Shire Council does have lawful pathways to directly negotiate the sale of the land to the WWCLT.
The advice, tabled at the Council’s February Ordinary meeting, also stated that the Council could provide financial assistance, including selling the land for less than market value.
Results from the community consultation will be fed into a report for Councillors to consider at the April Ordinary meeting.
“We are thrilled that council are seriously interested in providing land for a demonstration site for providing affordable homes for local people,” said Waterfall Way CLT Executive Officer, Kerry Pearse.
“Reaching out to community for feedback is a very important step because the community needs to want this if it is to proceed.”
“This process is already encouraging other landholders to look at working with us, which is fantastic for increasing the availability of affordable homes into the future.”
WWCLT is a locally led not-for-profit organisation that grew of out the shire’s Housing Matters Action Group.
Ms Pearse said the Ferry St project’s aim is to provide affordable and secure homes for up to seven local families.
“Unlike social housing, this is for working locals with some rescources but just can’t afford to buy into the market. Our commitment is for local solutions now as government policy changes take a very long time.”
“Ferry street was the best site in terms surplus council sites that were available. It’s a good size for this project because it’s not too big and it’s well located for working families.”
“It is not speculative housing or a private profit-driven project, but rather an affordable solution, now and for future generations.”
“This demostration site would have national interest to show how this model could work. While this is the first time the model has been set up in Australia, there are multiple examples of successful projects in the US, UK and Europe.”
Support for the potential sale of the land has not been universal, with some nearby residents voicing concerns about loss of local space, increased congestion, and a lack of consultation.
Ms Pearse said WWCLT had consulted directly with concerned residents.
“If this does goes ahead, we are committed to working with the immediate local residents to do whatever we can to respond to their concerns.”
“If it does not go ahead, there are a number of safeguards that will prevent the land from being used for anything else. If the WWCLT had to be wound up for some reason, the land must be transferred to another similar not for profit entity.”
Council’s legal advice also recommends putting a caveat in the title that it cannot be sold for other means and can only be used for the purpose of providing affordable housing.
To find out more about the CLT and the Ferry St proposal, visit https://www.wwclt.org.au/ or call 0494 331 821.
Community consultation closes on 30 March. To have your say directly to council, go to https://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Have-Your-Say/Potential-Disposal-of-Operational-Land-for-Affordable-Housing
Should Council decide to progress the proposal further, additional public consultation would occur as part of the statutory development assessment process