Georges River Draft Affordable Housing Policy

The Georges River Affordable Housing Policy was adopted by Council in May 2021.

The Policy outlines Council’s position and approach to providing affordable housing in the Georges River Local Government Area (LGA). The Policy comprises principles and policy statements that together will guide Council’s actions to support affordable housing.

The Policy is supported by the Inclusive Housing Strategy and Delivery Program, which was adopted by Council in August 2020.

The Policy contains the following affordable housing targets from the Inclusive Housing Strategy:

• 2020-2025 - 14 affordable dwellings per year (70 dwellings to 2025, at 1.5%)
• 2025-2030 - 24 affordable dwellings per year (120 dwellings to 2030, at 4%)
• 2030-2040 - 34 affordable dwellings per year (340 dwellings to 2040, at 6%)

These targets will achieve between 5% and 10% of new dwellings as affordable dwellings by 2040, consistent with the former Greater Sydney Commission requirements.

The adopted Policy is due for review by May 2024.

Amendments to the Affordable Housing Policy

Council resolved on 25 March 2024 to amend its Affordable Housing Policy and place it on public exhibition for a minimum of 60 days in accordance with Section 160 of the Local Government Act 1993.

The Affordable Housing Policy has been amended to:

• Update relevant legislation: State Environmental Planning Policy No 70 – Affordable Housing (Revised Schemes) and State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 have been replaced with State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021.
  
  
• Delete the affordable housing targets: Council has not met the targets for a number of reasons.
  
  Firstly, under Section 7.32(3)(b) of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, any condition imposed on a development consent must be authorised by a Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and be in accordance with an affordable housing contribution scheme (AHCS) for dedications or contributions set out in, or adopted by, the LEP.
  
  Council resolved on 28 November 2022 to prepare an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme. Since that date Council officers have been working with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) on a structure for an AHCS. Correspondence dated 17 November 2023 from the DPHI provided a way forward which requires the preparation of a feasibility study to determine a viable Affordable Housing Contribution rate, accounting for any local infrastructure and Special infrastructure contributions that would be applied on the site, either existing or required as part of a future rezoning.
  
  Secondly, Council’s Planning Agreements Policy has to be updated to comply with the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning Agreements) Direction 2019 issued 28 February 2019 by the Minister for Planning which imposes preconditions and mandatory considerations for a council to take into account prior to entry into a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) for Affordable Housing in connection with Development Applications (DAs) (and proposed DAs). Recent new practice notes on planning agreements issued by the DPHI have further delayed the finalisation of the draft VPA Policy. The Practice Notes will not be effective until June 2024.

The report ‘ENV014-24 Review of the Affordable Housing Policy’ and Council meeting minutes can be viewed or downloaded from the supporting documents tab on the right side of this page.

The Draft Affordable Housing Policy can also be viewed or downloaded from the documents tab on the right side of this page.

How you can be involved

The Draft Affordable Housing Policy will be on public exhibition from Wednesday 3 April to 5 June 2024 and available:

• Via the documents and supporting documents tab on the right side of this page
• Georges River Civic Centre, MacMahon Street, Hurstville
• Hurstville Library, Corner of Queens Road and Dora Street, Hurstville
• Kogarah (Clive James) Library and Service Centre, Kogarah Town Square, Belgrave Street, Kogarah

We're inviting you to provide your comments and feedback on what you think of the Draft Affordable Housing Policy.

If you would like to provide feedback or comments, we encourage you to:

	Complete our online feedback form below, or
	Return a hard copy submission.

If you are returning a hard copy submission, please quote Draft Affordable Housing Policy, Public Exhibition – SF24/2031 at the beginning of your submission and return:

	In person to Georges River Council Civic Centre or Libraries
	Via email: mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
	Via post: PO Box 205, Hurstville BC NSW 1481

The closing date for responses is 5 June 2024.

Any submissions received are considered public, however, a person may request to have their personal details suppressed. For more information about Council’s Privacy Management Plan, contact the Public Officer on 9330 6400. If you make a submission and have made political donations or gifts, a statement must be completed.