Encouraging news from the Mid North Coast!  On Wednesday 15 April, Bellingen Shire Council unanimously agreed to progress the next stage of investigations and negotiations for a proposed affordable housing project in Urunga led by the Waterfall Way Community Land Trust (WWCLT). 

The proposal would see Council continue due diligence on the potential transfer of publicly owned land for an affordable housing ‘demonstration project’ under a Community Land Trust (CLT) model. There is strong community support for this project, with 76 per cent of the submissions from the community consultation in support. 

Housing Matters Action Group, a long-standing Shelter NSW member, has been the core founding member of WWCLT and a leading advocate for affordable housing solutions in the Bellingen Shire for many years. Since 2017, Shelter NSW has worked alongside Housing Matters through training, policy discussions and advocacy support to strengthen local understanding of the housing system and the policy reforms needed to address housing affordability. 

Shelter NSW has long been interested in innovative and alternative housing models that can deliver lasting affordability, particularly for people living on lower incomes. Community Land Trusts, though they often require people to have resources to enter the arrangement, are particularly promising because they remove land from the speculative property market and place it into community ownership. By separating ownership of the land from ownership or occupancy of housing, CLTs can help ensure affordability is retained for future generations rather than being lost as owners become tempted to cash in rising land values. 

While there are still important steps ahead before any final decision is made, this is an exciting development for a region experiencing significant housing affordability pressures and growing demand from workers, families and older residents. 

We congratulate Housing Matters Action Group, Waterfall Way Community Land Trust and everyone involved in advancing this proposal. Stay tuned for further updates as the project progresses. If you are looking for secure, affordable home ‘ownership’ in the mid North Coast in the coming years, complete a Registration of Interest form to express your interest, or sign up as a Friend of the WWCLT Ltd to stay informed and help build the movement. 

We hope this initiative continues to move forward and delivers lasting benefits for current and future members of the Mid North Coast community.