Bush Summit 2022: ‘Outdated’ planning rules blocking high-rise solutions to housing crisis

Looking for a home in regional NSW? The solutions are there but a suite of arachaic planning laws are standing in the way, some mayors argue.

High-rise apartments are the solution to the bush’s devastating housing crisis but archaic council and planning rules are stifling any shot at innovation.

Rising house prices and a lack of stock are forcing working families and professionals to live in cars, tents and motels while councils drag their feet on solutions.

The problem is being felt in regional towns all across the state but flood-devastated Lismore is at risk of being left in the rubble if it can’t find housing to attract workers to rebuild the economy.

Mayor Steve Krieg broke ranks and sensationally slammed council bylaws for getting in the way of solutions.

Lismore Council has not yet decided its formal position on high-density housing but Mr Kreig is calling for a statewide review of the planning framework in a bid to attract young people and workers to regional hubs.

Mayor Steve Kreig walks the main street of Lismore during the devastating March floods. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Danielle Smith

“Not everyone wants a quarter acre block. I see young people coming in buying a three-bedroom apartment on the tenth floor. That is the sort of planning we need in Lismore at least, we need to be bold,” he said.

“We have to have planning laws, there is no question about that. But a lot of planning laws are somewhat outdated, there has to be a statewide review.”

Mr Kreig said apartments were also the key to attracting skilled labour — the most powerful currency in staff starved regional economies.

“For Lismore, we want to attract young professionals. We have a big court system and a big health network. Because Lismore is on a flood plain, for Lismore to not only survive but thrive, we need to build up. The most logical solution for that is high rise apartment living,” he said.

“I have a 23-year-old daughter who is a nurse in Lismore Hospital. She doesn’t want a house, she will invest in a unit. She wants to travel, she knows she can lock her unit and she can walk into the city for dinner.”

As of last year, just 17.5 per cent of all homes in regional NSW are medium or high density compared to 46 per cent in Greater Sydney, data from ProfileID showed.

Mayors say high-density homes and granny flats could be the answer to the housing crisis. Picture: Getty

Mr Krieg said many councils — particularly along the picturesque coastline — were opposed to affordable housing options because of the tourist appeal.

In Griffith, Mayor Doug Curran backed calls for both planning bylaws and the state’s crown land and environment planning laws to be reviewed.

“Councils have to adapt to changing environments. We can’t say to the state government ‘It’s all your fault’, we need to play our part in this … We need to clean our backyard first (but) … we do need help from the state government as well,” he said.

“The whole department of planning needs a review, not just the bylaws. There are faults that lie at the feet of councils but the department of planning has a role to play a role as well.”

Mr Curran supported an increase in apartment living as well as more granny flats and manufactured homes that can be transported.

“People don’t need big block anymore. It suits growing families but it doesn’t suit retirees or students and we need to make sure we cater to all those people,” he said.

“We’ve at council lost workers recently because they were not able to find somewhere to live. We are screaming for workers … If those students leave, they are never coming back.”

In Lismore, the local economy is still struggling to bounce back from the flood disaster - and a lack of housing has contributed. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Sandeep Singh, 27, and wife Santosh Kaur, 30, moved to Griffith from Sydney when he was offered a job as a graduate engineer and project manager with Flavourtech.

“Our move to Griffith didn’t go well, there is no housing here.”

“It took over a month to find a house which delayed my starting here. I reached out to the Sikh community and together with the HR people at work they managed to find me a house. Without them I don’t think I would have found anything. If I had know how difficult it would be I would have thought twice about applying for a job here.”

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts was contacted for comment.

The Daily Telegraph’s 2022 Bush Summit will be streamed online live and free on Friday August 26. Register to watch here: https://bushsummit2022-dailytelegraph.splashthat.com/

Originally published as Bush Summit 2022: ‘Outdated’ planning rules blocking high-rise solutions to housing crisis