In September, the newly named Greater Cities Commission (‘GCC’) released a discussion paper on its vision for a broader 6 cities Metropolis incorporating Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, and Shoalhaven regions. The 6 cities Metropolis will be home to approximately 80 percent of the State’s population by 2041. The GCC therefore faces a huge responsibility in ensuring the way the Metropolis grows will be socially sustainable and fair.

Shelter put in a submission at the end of October, where we made some 30+ recommendations to better centre housing justice and mandate ambitious social & affordable housing targets in any future City Plans.

The overall message we wished to convey in our submission is that simply meeting general housing supply targets in the Metropolis will not deliver the well-located, quality, affordable housing required for low-income households. With huge social housing waitlist numbers and record-low rental vacancy rates, Government-owned land has never been more precious. These public assets need to be better utilised and leveraged for intergenerational equity. We reject business models that sell off vast tracts of public land for little long-term public benefit. We also assert that a liveable and equitable Metropolis relies on broader reforms to consumer protections for renters and holding developers to account in delivering on social and transport infrastructure.

We thank our members for their input into strengthening our submission.

Shelter will engage more closely with the GCC in the coming months and we are attending a Housing Roundtable hosted by GCC in late November.