Bega Valley Council seeks help to ease post-bushfire housing crisis

The legacy of Black Summer combined with a Covid-induced coastal migration from the city has left the far south coast in the grip of an historic housing crisis. Full report.

A south coast council has called on all levels of government to help ease the region’s current housing crisis.

When 32-year old pregnant Bega mother of three Ashleigh Maybury heard her rental property would be sold and the new tenants wanted to move in as soon as possible, she says she knew it would be difficult to find a new home.

“Legally real estate only has to give us 30 days notice to vacate so we definitely weren’t planning a move given the current circumstances with housing,” Ms Maybury said.

Pregnant mother Ashleigh Maybury, pictured with her daughter Regan, is struggling to find a rental property in Bega.

“As hard as it is to be in this position for myself and my family, my heart actually goes out to anyone in our position because it is hard not knowing if you’re going to have a home.

“I have had others contact me and tell me their stories of trying to find a home and it’s really terrible knowing there are so many others like myself out there.”

She said the fact many others were in her position has made the market “very competitive”.

“My partner, kids and I are just staying positive and hoping that we will find our new home before we have to vacate our current home,” she said.

She said real estate agents had been supportive and told her to “be productive and approach every real estate possible”, and to apply for “anything that is suitable”.

Bega Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said Bega Valley Shire Council would write to federal and state ministers seeking support, investment and policy changes to help address what he said was “a critical shortage of affordable housing”.

“We need to act, and we need to act now,” he said.

Bega Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said the council was writing to all levels of government for help. Picture: Facebook

“I’ve heard of locals who can’t find a place to park their caravan, let alone find a house to live in.

“I’ve heard of people not being able to accept a job, because they can’t find somewhere to live.”

Cr Fitzpatrick said while council was putting together a strategy they can’t solve the crisis, which has continued since the devastating Black Summer bushfires, on their own.

He said the council could make changes to zoning to help promote more housing, and was assessing a high volume of development applications for new housing as quickly as it can.

“Too many people in our community are finding it extraordinarily tough to find somewhere to live, and for people hoping to move to our shire to take up job opportunities, their options are extremely limited,” he said.

One local GP said her colleagues had been forced to find rental properties “via word of mouth”, due to the scarcity of availability.

According to data from Everybody’s Home, a national campaign against homelessness, an essential care or service worker on the south coast would need to spend between one third and two-thirds of normal working week’s wages on rent.

Bega Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick says the crisis caused by the Black Summer bushfires has been compounded by the pandemic. Picture: Sean Davey

“Essential workers are increasingly priced out of coastal and bush communities too,” spokeswoman Kate Colvin said.

“People with big city incomes are moving to the regions and totally warping the rental markets.

“It’s astonishing that a care or service worker simply could not afford a modest apartment in the majority of our regions.

“These are the people who got us through the pandemic. We must find a way to let them live close to their work.”

Acting NSW Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia Lauren Conceicao has welcomed new NSW Government policy. Picture: Twitter

This week the Property Council of Australia welcomed the NSW Government’s draft Housing State Environmental Planning Policy, which it hopes will alleviate the crisis.

“We want to ensure that the SEPP simplifies housing policy and does not introduce building controls and development standards that render these types of developments unfeasible for developers,” Acting NSW Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia Lauren Conceicao said.

“We welcome the introduction of co-living as another diverse housing option and are hopeful this option will provide more affordable and appropriate rental options for young people.”