Shelter NSW supports the urban renewal of transit centres in ways that make them more inclusive. For over a year we have fought hard for the NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program to be the most effective that it can be. Along with our friends at the Planning Institute of Australia (NSW) and within the Sydney Alliance and Hunter Community Alliance we have remained steadfast; calling for substantial proportions of affordable rental housing to be required within any future upzoned transport precincts (under a Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning MIZ framework); and for that affordable housing to be required to be in perpetuity, managed by not-for-profit community housing providers. 

In many respects, elements of our advocacy have been successful. The overall program (Tier 1 and 2) will in fact require regulated and genuinely affordable rental housing as a condition of any new housing supply. And the requirement that affordable housing be held in perpetuity was an early win, secured last year but excellent to see it reconfirmed! 

And while we have been disappointed at the rates settled (and in fact lodged formal objections to each of the Tier 1 proposals because of it) we do recognise that this is a game changer for NSW. Low-medium income renters, including many workers and their families who are being driven far from their communities and workplaces in search of genuinely affordable housing may find eventual relief as the program takes off. 

The Tier 1 Accelerated Precinct plans have established a minimum required 3% affordable homes to be held as affordable housing in perpetuity across all sites, and higher affordable housing rates of up to 18 per cent across key sites within the precincts. You can read more about the approach and analysis behind this approach in this document prepared by consultants for the NSW Government.  

Image: Macquarie Park Masterplan (NSW Government)

But now to implementation! 
We’ve been encouraged to see the Hornsby Precinct Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme and Macquarie Park changes move from draft status into law. We call on the NSW Government to provide practical assistance to the various other Councils that will need to set up new processes. 

And as we look to a future of potentially improving feasibility, we were encouraged to hear Department of Planning representatives recently note that a review of affordable housing contribution requirements could be undertaken in the future. We don’t however, see any legislated reason for that to happen. But that is a fight for another day! 

You can hear our Principal Policy Officer Cathy Callaghan talking to James O’Loghlin on ABC Radio recently about affordable housing and what the TOD program has to offer the people of Greater Sydney. Skip forward to 1:48 into the program: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sydney-mornings/mornings/104645254?utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared