Unaffordable south coast housing is seeing residents urge government to do more

South coast towns battling unaffordable housing problems are set to benefit from a $11.15 million cash injection, but residents say more needs to be done.

A For Sale Sign Outside a House. Picture: File.

South coast residents grappling with the current housing crisis plaguing the area have been left unimpressed by a multi-million dollar cash promise.

The NSW Government announced on Wednesday they would inject more than $11.5 million into the Bega electorate for the delivery of essential infrastructure that would help council unlock land for new homes.

This would see road, active transport, and water infrastructure to support new housing in South Moruya.

The government also invested $89 million in fast-tracking assessments to get more housing sooner, but residents want more to be done.

Georgie Rowley from Batemans Bay said politicians needed to look at broader solutions, rather than throwing money around.

“Of course our government always Band-Aids issues by offering dollars in the hopes it will appease the people,” she said.

“It will help some, but when?

“It will still take two plus years to just decide where and when before anything commences.”

Young dad Ben Marshall agreed, saying he was worried about the future for his young children.

“My kids are quite young, so I’m hopeful when the time comes for them to buy their own house that things will be a little more affordable,” he said.

“But something is going to need to happen now for that to be a possibility.”

This cost of living burden is set to only worsen for some, after the Bega Valley Shire council voted to increase rates by 47 percent over the next two years.

But, Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said the decision had to be made.

“While realistically we need a 90 percent increase, we’ve listened to the community about the economic stresses they are experiencing,” he said.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who is also the Liberal candidate for Bega, said the new funding would deliver “more of the much-needed housing for our community”.

Bega Valley Shire Council Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick voted on February 1, 2023 on the rate increase. Picture: Tom McGann.

However, for Bega resident Talha Beck, the Australian dream of owning a home is looking less likely as council’s rates continue to rise.

“It’s one thing to build more homes, but with rates rising by that much over the next few years, how are they going to be affordable,” she asked.

“Without affordable homes on the south coast, people are going to have no choice but to move.”

The burden of the housing crisis is being felt right along the south coast, with Moruya, south of Batemans Bay struggling.

Currently, more than 50 homeless people are living at the North Head campground, with Eurobodalla Shire mayor Matthew Hatcher writing to the NSW Premier in January, outlining the seriousness of the situation.

North Head campground in Moruya is currently housing many homeless people and families who are living out of tents. Picture: Tom McGann.

“The NSW Government is responsible for crisis and social housing, and they must step in and help us solve this issue,” Mr Hatcher said.

“These are primitive campgrounds, meaning there is no permanent hot water or enclosed showers.

“They simply aren’t a suitable place for people to be living permanently.”