A housing strategy aims to identify an appropriate range of housing types that will meet the needs of a diversity of households. A Housing Strategy informs how we accommodate population growth and change, and provide housing choice for the community in appropriate locations.

Our Housing Strategy will need to consider community needs and aspirations, while insuring housing supply can meet demand. It will need to be flexible and responsive to shifts in local housing markets. It will also review appropriate locations throughout our council area for different housing types required to meet residential demand.

As the City continues to grow, it is essential that Council appropriately plans for the needs and growth of the community. It is important to balance growth, while still preserving the natural environmental qualities of the area that make Shellharbour a great place to live.

Where we live and the dwelling types available will form part of the strategic framework that influences how we grow and develop in the future.

In February 2019, Council appointed PSA Consulting Australia to help deliver the strategy.

A Housing Strategy may prompt changes that need to be made to Council’s strategic planning documents including the Shellharbour Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2013 and the Shellharbour Development Control Plan (DCP). Part of Council’s ongoing strategic planning work is to monitor and review the LEP and DCP. The Housing Strategy will enable Council to make informed decisions about changes to these documents in relation to residential development.

House on its own block: means a traditional detached dwelling on its own block of land.

Freestanding townhouse: means a townhouse, which is two storeys, with its own small yard and is separated from other dwellings by no more than 0.5 metres

Freestanding villa: means a villa which is single storey, has its own small yard and is separated from other dwellings by less than 0.5 metres.

Attached townhouse: means a townhouse, which is two storeys, that has its own small yard and is attached to one or more neighbouring dwellings.

Attached Villa: means an attached villa, which is single store that has its own small yard and is attached to one or more dwellings.

Terrace: means a two storey dwelling with its own small yard that is attached to other dwelling(s) and has its own street frontage.

Apartment in large complex: means an apartment with no private yard area in an apartment building that has a shared, common entrance foyer or stairwell and is higher than two levels or contain more than four dwellings.

Dual occupancy one on top of the other: means a ground level dwelling that has access to a small yard area, with another separate dwelling on the top level that has a balcony space, but no yard area.

2 level walk up apartment: means a building containing three or four apartments (one or two apartments on each floor). The ground level dwelling(s) have access to a small yard area. The top level dwelling(s) have a balcony but no yard area.

Caravan: means a caravan that is located on property and used as the primary residence of the occupants.

House or flat attached to a shop/business: means a house or flat that is attached to a shop, office, factory or any other non-residential structure.

Council has provided a number of opportunities to provide feedback in the development of the strategy. Feedback was gathered on this project page, via an online survey, workshop and IRIS conducted a phone survey with local residents. The results of these consultations are available in the Document Library.

You are invited to make a submission on the draft Housing Strategy during the public exhibition period, between 10 July to 6 August 2019.