When people move to Newcastle and wish they'd done it years ago, they often mention the vibe of the place (with apologies to The Castle).
It's worth reflecting on. At its core, it's dignity, a sense of safe belonging and a future in our community.
City of Newcastle works every day to secure that for all Novocastrians, and it requires access to a safe, convenient, affordable home. That commitment is already being aided by a landmark agreement between the city and the state.
Historic deal
While the provision of social and affordable housing is not traditionally the role of local Councils, in May 2022 City of Newcastle struck a historic deal with the NSW Government that will see $12 million invested directly into the delivery of new social housing in Newcastle at priority locations.
This memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been a breakthrough in our ability to increase social housing, create local jobs and support the Novocastrians who are most at risk. We can see the fruits of this agreement, which fast-tracks social housing, most recently at Wallsend.
The two-storey, nine-dwelling social housing development in Curry Street will house 16 Novocastrians and create 19 jobs. Construction began recently and is due for completion early next year.
Crucially, the nine new homes are being built around the infrastructure people need, a stone's throw from bus stops with regular services to shops and amenities in Jesmond, Wallsend and Elermore Vale.
As well as the MoU between the state government's Homes NSW and City of Newcastle, the development is backed by the Homes NSW Social Housing Accelerator Fund.
The fund has a $610 million remit to deliver 400 social housing dwellings, through priority projects like Curry Street.
The priorities enshrined in the MoU also echo loudly through City of Newcastle's current investigations into our strategically located parcel of land in Hunter Street.
Known as Rail Bridge Row (pictured), City of Newcastle purchased this 4,125 sqm inner city block from the NSW Government in 2020 with a view to deliver a mixed-use development with ground floor retail potential, affordable housing and commercial uses.
While its potential will continue to be explored in the months ahead, affordable housing is at the core of these timely discussions. The cost of living affects everyone in our city and central to that is a home.
Recent data indicates a deficit of more than 8,000 affordable dwellings in Newcastle. It can feel insurmountable, but City of Newcastle neither has nor wants the luxury of kicking this challenge down the road.
We are proud to be doing all that we can from a local government level to support the creation of more social and affordable housing in Newcastle.
Plans are already in place for another project in Peters Avenue, Wallsend, which will deliver an additional 20 social housing units from next year as part of the MoU.
Careful planning
Such initiatives are the product of hard work and careful planning, and reflect a broader strategy by City of Newcastle that includes the 15 per cent affordable housing target enshrined in our Housing Policy.
While the housing shortage needs a multi-partisan response from all levels of government, there's no quick fix.
Long-term thinking is at the heart of City of Newcastle's Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme, developed in consultation with housing experts and industry stakeholders, to make sure new developments pull their weight with affordable housing.
By building affordable housing provisions into the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan, the city is paving the way for a more equitable housing landscape.
With our city's population forecast to grow by more than 40,000 people by 2041, City of Newcastle is at the coalface delivering for our community.
Through collaboration, planning and unwavering dedication, our city is making tangible progress towards providing Novocastrians with the security and dignity we all deserve.
