Two current Mount Gambier City councillors have joined forces to push for higher density multi-storey living within the city limits.
Ben Hood and Max Bruins, who are both seeking re-election, believe it could be key to easing housing pressures, facilitating growth and improving the vibrancy of Mount Gambier’s CBD.
“We have a number of government departments and also private businesses who are leasing or subsidising the lease of three and four bedroom homes for individuals because there are no viable alternatives,” Mr Hood said.
“As a result, we have larger families who are struggling to find rental properties big enough to accommodate them.
“Talk of amalgamation really outlines that for Mount Gambier to grow we can either expand out and take up vital agricultural land or we grow up and allow for multi-storey living within the city bounds.”
Mr Bruins said currently the CBD of Mount Gambier fell within the Urban Activity Centre Zone and in this zone there were height parameters applying to development.
A maximum Building Height is set at 12 metres with a maximum building number of levels set at three.
Both Mr Bruins and Mr Hood want to open up the CBD to ensure taller buildings can be constructed to assist with the housing shortage and supply the market with mid- and higher-end long-term studio accommodation.
“Many of the people re-locating here for work either on a temporary or semi-permanent basis would much prefer a smaller apartment in the city where they could walk to work and do not have maintenance obligations such as lawns to mow,” Mr Bruins said.
“If apartment living was an option, it would improve the vibrancy of the CBD at the same time as freeing up housing stock for families, but at present no such apartments exist.”
“With the construction of the Wulanda Recreation and Conventions Centre coming to an end, we now need to focus our time and resources into strategies to continue to promote growth within the City of Mount Gambier.
“We need to think outside the box and act as a facilitator to bring landowners, developers and other stakeholders such as state government to the table and encourage some viable urban infill options. This is high on the agenda for both Cr Hood and myself if re-elected next month.”
