Lismore council’s plan to boost affordable housing stock

A Northern Rivers council will dangle carrots in a bid to get developers to build new housing within reach of people on limited incomes. Here’s how the plan would work.

Lismore. A tent under a bridge on the edge of town. Picture: David Swift

Lismore City Council has voted unanimously to incentivise “ethical developers” to build homes in the area after thousands of properties were lost in the 2022 floods.

Council wants to see more properties built in the city’s urban areas under its Affordable and Diverse Housing Strategy.

The new policy voted on during the May meeting aims to provide incentives and contributions discounts for certain types of housing.

Lismore council has voted unanimously to adopt an affordable housing strategy. Picture: Cath Piltz

Council’s strategy aims to see that 40 per cent of all new housing is ‘diverse’ or ‘medium density’ by 2033. And further, that 15 per cent of all new housing will be affordable to households in the ‘very low’ to ‘moderate’ income categories.

Councillor Adam Guise said he backs the policy which offers developers carrots to build affordable housing.

“This is a policy about council waiving the fees that developers or applicants would pay for providing the type of housing the aged, single, or couple households need,” Mr Guise said.

Lismore councillor and North Lismore resident Adam Guise.

“Not large detached housing out in the rural areas but actually medium density, well designed, compact, walkable, housing within our city limits.”

Shop-top housing would remain unaffordable due to costs associated with needing to disaster-proof them, he said.

Shop-top housing options would be remain unaffordable even with council’s plans to give discounts and waivers to developers, says councillor Adam Guise. Picture: Cath Piltz

Council was criticised for delaying the Bristol Circuit and Cynthis Wilson Dr affordable housing developments to the next financial year.

“These have been long in the making and further delays just continue to kick the can down the road,” Mr Guise said.

“Having some discounts and incentives is all well and good but really what needs to happen is government intervention.

“It’s particularly important considering the housing crisis we’re in and in recent times the flood and natural disaster imply impacts which will only be exacerbated under climate change.”

Lismore councillor and CEO of Resilient Lismore, Elly Bird, supports council’s decision to incentivise affordable housing development in Lismore.

Councillor Elly Bird recently attended a housing session facilitated by the Women’s Village Collective which provides pathways into the housing market for single older women and single parents.

“I think it’s relevant across the Northern Rivers and so what’s outlined in this report is a deferral of fees for things like secondary dwellings,” Ms Bird said.

“I think that it’s really great that we are seeing a diversity at approach here and that we’re doing whatever we can to try to bring these types of housing stock to market.

“I really do hope that we get some ethical developers who want to come and be a part of Lismore’s future and solving the complex housing problems that we have here in the Northern Rivers.”