Community Gateway is shovel-ready with a new affordable housing development for Lismore CBD
Housing affordability in the Northern Rivers region has been a growing problem for years.
As property values continue to rise around Australia, rental home affordability in the region has been doubly impacted by the end of COVID-related government incentives and an influx of incoming property investors.
These factors have recently created devastating consequences in the region for people and families renting their homes. Average rental values have risen so much that many people can no longer afford to live in them.
Several years ago, we began developing an affordable housing project to respond to this growing need in Lismore.
Last year, we submitted a finalised development application for this project to Lismore City Council and it was approved. The approved development for Lismore CBD includes:
- Four two-bedroom units
- Six one-bedroom units
- Communal areas on each floor of the building
- Rooftop entertaining areas with an outdoor kitchen
- Ten garden plots for residents
- Ground floor coffee shop
- Private car parking spaces
- Public toilets
- Solar power
The development is ready to go and just one step away from being realised.
But that step is funding. Along with several other housing agencies in the region, we have applied for funding from NSW Government to build the development.
As we await the results of our funding application, the rental housing crisis in the Northern Rivers continues to escalate.
Should the funding application be successful, we will dedicate this development to the support of older, vulnerable women.
Research undertaken locally by Southern Cross University and more recently in the Australian Human Rights Commission 2019 report into homelessness highlights the vulnerability of older women to homelessness due to an interplay of several risk factors.
Community Gateway CEO, Jenni Beetson-Mortimer said:
“This development meets a growing social need in Lismore. It will increase housing availability in the CBD, it utilises the space over our carpark and is within walking access to local shops and services. Most importantly, it will revatalise Lismore CBD with a modern and sustainable development.”
