As NSW rolls out major planning reforms to encourage low- and mid-rise housing in established areas, questions of equity, affordability and long-term outcomes are becoming increasingly urgent to address. 

Our colleagues and friends of ACT Shelter have organised a timely, policy-focused online forum that puts equity and affordability front and centre in the ‘missing middle’ (e.g. terraces, townhouses and low-rise apartments) housing debate. 

Across Australia, people, organisations and governments are pushing for more medium-density housing as a response to the housing crisis, promising more homes in established suburbs and a more diverse housing mix. Yet evidence from Australia and overseas shows that increasing supply alone does not guarantee affordability.  

In NSW, reforms linked to transport-oriented development, low-rise density accelerated approval pathways, and streamlined approvals (such as through the HDA) are reshaping neighbourhoods at a rapid pace.  

ACT Shelter is hosting an online policy forum that speaks directly to these challenges. The session will explore how missing middle reforms can be designed — and regulated — to deliver better outcomes for renters, lower-income households and communities, rather than simply boosting supply and land values. 

The forum will bring together experts in housing economics, taxation, planning, strata and property law, community housing and government. Through a mix of presentations and panel discussion, speakers will examine the policy safeguards and complementary reforms needed to ensure missing middle housing supports housing justice, including the role of land tax, planning incentives, strata law, and strategic urban design. While the discussion is grounded in the ACT context, the themes are highly relevant for NSW policymakers, advocates and practitioners navigating similar reforms and trade-offs. 

The ‘Missing Middle’: Equity and affordability implications
Friday 13 February 
1.30pm – 3.30pm Speakers include: James Bennett, ACT Government Nathan Dal Bon, CEO, Community Housing Canberra Dr Tim Helm, Director of Research & Policy, Prosper Australia Professor Cathy Sherry, Macquarie University Law School Dr Ed Wensing, SGS Economics & Planning / UNSW City Futures Whether you’re working in housing, planning or advocacy, or following the implications of NSW’s current planning reforms, this webinar offers a timely opportunity to engage with objectives, outcomes, and policy detail. Shelter NSW encourages all members, friends and interested parties to attend! 

Register now on Shelter ACT website

We hope to see you there!