Onkaparinga Council considers leasing out part of Skoda Street Port Willunga reserve for affordable housing development

A southern suburbs council will consider leasing out a part of a reserve to help with the issue of social and affordable housing, providing a blueprint for other areas.

A portion of a council reserve in Adelaide’s south could be turned into social and affordable housing as a growing number of residents struggle to find appropriate rental homes.

Onkaparinga Council has earmarked 6000 square meters of Skoda Street Reserve at Port Willunga for the potential development following a proposal from the Fleurieu Region Initiative to build social and affordable housing on under-utilised council land.

In a recent presentation to council, Peter Smith, from the Fleurieu Region Initiative, said the organisation was proposing a two storey development with self contained apartments on the site.

Mr Smith added the project wouldn’t be a Housing Trust style of development and could include support services for tenants, such as financial counselling and mental health support.

A portion of Skoda Street reserve in Port Willunga could be turned into affordable housing. Picture: Supplied

“If Skoda Reserve does go ahead, it’s almost a litmus test case for council and, I guess, for this type of development and if it was to be successful, then I see it as a model going forward for other locations,” he said.

A council spokesperson said council was “committed to exploring our role in addressing the housing crisis in our city”.

According to census data, in 2021 more than 35 per cent of people leasing in the council area were experiencing rental stress – in the Aldinga/Port Willunga area that figure rose to 44.1 per cent – compared to the state rate of 30.5 per cent.

The spokesperson said council will be “testing community appetite” for the proposal through community consultation next month.

Council documents state the northern portion of the reserve is partially undeveloped and “potentially surplus to open space requirements”.

A BMX bike track that sits on the parcel would be moved to the southern side, which will continue to operate as open space.

If the proposal goes ahead, council will retain the land and grant a long-term lease of up to 42 years to a housing provider who would develop the space into rental accommodation.

Council documents identify a number of concerns the community might have with the development, including a loss of open space, concerns around the development’s impact on property values and “the perception of increased social issues”.

“Should the (expression of interest) proceed, key criteria could include: evidence from similar projects demonstrating that well designed and well-managed affordable housing does not negatively impact property values, demonstrating benefits such as improved social diversity and local economic contributions,” documents state.

“Should the lease proceed, council would require the lessee to implement a robust tenancy management plan, requiring clear selection criteria”.

If council decides to proceed with the lease, it will undertake an expression of interest to find a suitable not-for-profit housing provider to for the development, construction and management of the rental accommodation.

While this follows a proposal from Fleurieu Region Initiative, council said the organisation, which operates under St Vincent de Paul Society South Australia, would still need to make “make a submission during an open, transparent Expression of Interest”.

Originally published as Onkaparinga Council considers leasing out part of Skoda Street Port Willunga reserve for affordable housing development