Inner West Council identifies potential sites for affordable housing

15 August 2023

Following an audit of land owned by the Inner West Council, 10 sites so far have been identified as opportunities for developing affordable housing on Council land.

With a number of parcels of land now shortlisted, the Inner West will be writing to State and Federal Housing Ministers to initiate discussions about a partnership to provide new social housing at those sites. The aim is to bring all three levels of government together to address the housing crisis in an immediate and tangible way.

Inner West staff have met with local community housing providers Bridge Housing, Link Wentworth Housing and St George Community Housing to discuss partnering models for delivering affordable housing, including feasibility and threshold dwelling yields.

Council’s proposal to the State and Federal Governments will include maintaining title over the sites where new homes would be built. These sites include Cove Street depot on Parramatta Road in Haberfield as well as a number of council carparks across the Inner West area including in Dulwich Hill, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Petersham and Rozelle.

The Inner West is seeking to set a positive example for how Councils across Australia can help address the housing crisis.

Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne said, “Inner West Council wants to show leadership on the housing crisis.

“That’s why we are asking the State and Federal Governments to work in partnership with us to build desperately needed new homes on Council owned land.”

Councillor Chloe Smith said, “We want to be part of the solution, focused on finding innovative ways to use existing Council assets to address Sydney’s affordable housing crisis.

“We have made a great start and are very hopeful that more sites will be identified by the time the completed audit comes back to Council in November.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Jonny Browne, Jonny.Browne@innerwest.nsw.gov.au