The Mount Gambier City Council endorsed the Local Affordable Housing Plan at its July meeting, representing a step forward in collaborative efforts that seek to address the demand for affordable housing for the Blue Lake city’s community.
Economy, Strategy and Engagement manager Biddie Shearing said like many communities, Mount Gambier was currently facing challenges with the demand for affordable housing.
“Defined as accommodation where a low or moderate income household pays no more than 30% of their annual income to rent or buy, affordable housing is a focal point for action across all levels of government,” she said.
“Council has embarked on a series of initiatives to better understand the housing landscape and Mount Gambier’s needs in a broader ecosystem of housing, leading to the development a Local Affordable Housing Plan.
“To support the development of this plan, council connected a collective group of stakeholders within our community from community services, real estate, developers and practitioners to engage in constructive dialogue, share insights and develop holistic approaches to improve affordable housing issues in our community.
“We recognise that affordable housing is not a standalone solution but rather a piece of the puzzle in addressing housing accessibility and ensuring everyone can access safe and affordable housing options.”
Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said highlighting the insights, issues, opportunities and constraints of the local affordable housing shortfall currently, the plan outlines how council aims to combine resources, expertise and support to address housing affordability challenges and create more inclusive communities by fostering community, government and commercial partnerships.
“Improving affordable housing within our community is not something one entity can achieve alone, it will require collaboration across multiple sectors to identify and deliver sustainable solutions for our community,” Mayor Martin said.
Regional Australia Institute (RAI) acting chief executive Amanda Barwick commended the council on adopting its Local Affordable Housing Plan.
“Housing remains one of the biggest hurdles affecting communities across regional Australia, but finding solutions requires a localised approach. This new plan not only recognises that affordable housing is an important component in a community’s accommodation stock, it also highlights the need for all levels of government to work with business, service providers and the wider community to address this critically important issue,” Ms Barwick said.
“The City of Mount Gambier has pledged to support the RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition, a 10-year, 20-goal framework that aims to increase regional Australia’s prosperity.
Objectives include increasing the share of skilled workers employed in regional Australia, boosting post-school qualification completion rates, doubling the proportion of new migrants settling in regional Australia, increasing workforce participation, improving access to transport services, and strengthening engagement in arts, culture, community, and recreational experiences in regional Australia.
“This plan helps to address the goal of increasing rental vacancies in regional areas to above 3% and ensuring building approvals keep pace with population growth. “
These goals aim to enhance various aspects of regional development and well-being to drive regionalisation over the next decade.
Ms Shearing said a central point of monitoring and reviewing the council’s Local Affordable Housing Plan involved ongoing discussions and deliberations with the established Mount Gambier Housing Alliance.
“This centralised group serves as a core for engaging stakeholders, sharing insights, and collectively addressing emerging challenges. Regular reviews conducted as part of the group provide opportunities to assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and integrate current knowledge and observations into future iterations of the plan,” she said.
“By empowering the community to lead the conversation surrounding housing needs, the plan can be more responsive and reflective of local priorities and a collaborative approach ensures the Affordable Housing Plan remains dynamic, relevant, and effective in meeting the diverse housing needs of Mount Gambier residents.”
View the City of Mount Gambier Local Affordable Housing Plan here.
