As some of our readers may recall, Shelter put in a robust submission to the Greater Cities Commission (‘GCC’) in late October on the Six Cities Discussion Paper. Briefly, the Paper proposes an expanded, connected Metropolitan region from Newcastle/Cessnock in the north down to Illawarra-Shoalhaven in the south.
Following our submission, we were invited to attend a Housing Roundtable in late November alongside various stakeholders interested in enhancing the Vision of the GCC as it relates to housing supply, affordability, and diversity.
We maintained during the Roundtable our position that there needs to be considerable overlap between these supply, affordability, and diversity parameters to ensure well-located, good-quality, accessible, and affordable housing is available across the Metropolis of 6 Cities. Our own Specialist Planner, Pilar Aberasturi, spoke in favour of Affordable Housing Contributions Schemes being installed across the Metropolis with contribution rates of at least 10% and dedicated housing being affordable in perpetuity.
We look forward to continuing to engage with the GCC as it prepares Regional and City Plans across the Metropolis.