‘Is this urgent?’: Shellharbour councillors debate last-minute affordable housing motion

A Shellharbour councillor has questioned the urgency of a motion for the council’s CEO to convene a meeting between local and state officials to discuss the region’s housing affordability crisis.

As it has been in the final week of the federal election campaign, housing affordability was a key point of discussion during Tuesday’s Shellharbour Council meeting.

Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh, with the support of Mayor Chris Homer, had intended to table a notice of motion for the council to commence discussions with the NSW government about the potential of the existing Shellharbour Hospital being turned into affordable housing once the hospital is relocated.

Cr Marsh, however, withdrew the motion at the final hour and forwarded an urgent business motion calling for acting CEO Melissa Boxall to facilitate a roundtable discussion for councillors, relevant council staff and state government authorities.

Councillor Rob Petreski interjected, stating that while he believed the issue to be important he “couldn’t see the urgency” because “this has been an issue for a decade or more”.

Mayor Homer rejected the point of order and allowed his deputy to speak to the motion.

Cr Kellie Marsh tabled an urgent motion about housing affordability.

“We have a crisis in our area where people are grasping to achieve home ownership,” Cr Marsh said.

“There are people living on the street, in garages and other cramped forums because they can’t get into the housing market.

“Middle class Australians and the dream of owning a home is getting further and further away from people – in particular younger Australians.”

Labor councillor Maree Edwards said it was an issue that affected people of all ages, but cited how local governments are “low on the chain” when it comes to finding a solution.

“You would have to be living in a cave to not understand housing affordability is an issue,” she said.

“We are going into an election on Saturday with both parties putting forward ideas on this issue. We are low on the chain when it comes to solving this.

“Putting my social worker hat on, we collectively need to help out because it’s not only young people affected, but there are also 50-year-old women living in a car who can’t afford to put a deposit on a home.”

Independent councillor Jacqui Graf and Cr Edwards’ Labor colleagues Cr Petreski and councillor Lou Stefanovski pointed to the LGA’s “hands being tied without federal and state government support” with the latter suggesting the council “not rush and wait for a more educated [government] in Canberra”.

Ultimately, the motion was passed unanimously.

In other business …

Dog water park causes minor splash

Cr Graf was left on her own in opposing a motion seeking a report on the construction of a “dog agility water park”.

Cr Mayor put forward the notice of motion for staff to look into the feasibility and estimated costs of establishing the LGA’s first such park at Keith Barnes Oval in Albion Park.

Cr Kellie Marsh wants to see a "dog agility water park" at Keith Barnes Oval in Albion Park. Picture: Shellharbour City

“I believe shade and seating in all our recreational spaces, including dog parks, and water parks for children rather than fur babies should be our priority,” Cr Graf said.

“Water parks for our dogs might be great in the future, but in the hierarchy of priorities, other works need to be done first.”

Cr Graf’s appeal fell on deaf ears, however, with the rest of the council voting the motion through.

“We could potentially seek grants from federal or state government,” Cr Marsh said.

“Whether it’s animals or humans, we need to make sure we have something for them.

“We are always battling to get people to the west side of the city and this could be a point of difference.”

South Coast arts scene boost

Cr Petreski was endorsed by the council to be its representative on the newly formed South Coast Regional Arts Development Organisation (RADO).

The South Coast RADO, which will see Shellharbour work alongside the councils of Kiama and the Shoalhaven, will help “progress arts projects as well as the careers of local artists”.

It also intends to increase the visibility and advocacy of local artists and the promotion of their work across NSW.

“The idea of RADO is we can pull all of our resources together,” Cr Petreski said.

“The most exciting thing is through this organisation we can apply for government grants to support and foster local artists.

“Public art sets the tone and feel off the place, it sets the mood for our LGA.”

Cr Petreski noted Wollongong Council was not a part of this arts alliance given it was categorised as a regional city and “have their own capacity to apply for grants”.