Zoning in on our future housing needs

Published on 26 September 2018

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The Strategic Planning team at MidCoast Council will host a series of community workshops in mid-October to explore the region’s residential zones and how they may be applied to cater for our future generations.

The outcomes from the workshops will inform the development of a draft Housing Strategy, part of a larger process to consolidate planning controls across the entire MidCoast region.

“We currently have different residential zones being used across the three former regions, so now is the time for us to review our planning rules and make them consistent across the MidCoast”, explained Roger Busby, MidCoast Council’s Manager, Strategic Planning. “The housing strategy is one of a number of important projects rolling out over the coming months that will help us develop a robust, contemporary and consistent planning framework to guide the way we manage land use across the region”.

The focus for the upcoming housing workshops is to review how our residential zones currently work, and discuss a potential suite of residential zones that may cater for our diverse and changing housing needs.

“The aim of the Housing Strategy will be very much around providing for a mix of housing choices and addressing the needs of our future population, all the while remaining responsive to the unique character of our towns and villages”, Roger added.

Workshops will be held in seven different locations, and community members are encouraged to come along to the venue nearest them to be part of these important discussions. The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

  • 11am-1pm at Harrington Community Centre; and

  • 6-8pm at Hallidays Point (Black Head SLSC)

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

  • 11am-1pm at Tea Gardens Baptist Church Hall;

  • 6-8pm at Old Bar SLSC; and

  • 6-8pm at Taree Visitor Information Centre

Thursday, 18 October 2018

  • 11am-1pm at Council’s Forster office; and

  • 11am-1pm at Council’s Gloucester office

Registrations are required by Friday 12 October, and can be made using the online form at www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/housing or by phoning 6591 7222.

The local region is currently home to almost 48,000 residential dwellings, and 78% of them are detached houses. A trend towards more diverse housing options has been seen in some of our coastal locations, where demand has driven more medium to high density development.

For more information about the development of the draft Housing Strategy, visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/housing

For more information about the development of a single, consistent planning framework for the MidCoast, and to register your interest in being involved, visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/zoningin

“Zoning in on our future” is part of MidCoast Council’s commitment to develop updated and consolidated planning rules for the MidCoast region by 2021.

 

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