The NSW Government is planning to transform underutilised government land at Bega’s former TAFE site into a new 97 dwelling diverse housing project with 30% of the homes to include much-needed social and affordable housing.
A new Bega TAFE facility was opened in late 2021, meaning there will be no impact on tertiary education in the area as a consequence of this acquisition.
This is part of the government’s plan to help ease the ongoing housing crisis by unlocking surplus government land that can be repurposed to create more housing supply across the state.
The NSW Government is today announcing:
- Subject to planning approval, almost 8 ha of NSW Government-owned land at Barrack Street in Bega, already zoned for residential use will be redeveloped by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) to provide about 97 new social, affordable, and private homes.
- The mixed tenure development proposes to deliver approximately 8 affordable homes, 65 private homes and 24 social homes, including a 20-unit complex specifically designed for senior social housing residents to meet the needs of this growing cohort of the community.
- It will create a modern, diverse community that is close to key amenities and deliver new infrastructure including, roads and footpaths that deliver positive social and economic outcomes for the Bega community.
Bega is currently experiencing a housing shortage with the social housing priority waitlist increasing 56% in the 12 months to June 2023.
Bega also has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in all of NSW at just 0.24%.
The NSW Government is committed to easing the housing pressures faced across NSW and has already taken immediate action including:
- Implemented planning reforms to expedite the delivery of more housing as building more homes is essential to reducing homelessness.
- Extended temporary accommodation from an initial period of 2 days to 7 days.
- Removed the 28-day cap ensuring vulnerable people are able to access support when they need it most.
- Increased the cash assets limit from $1000 to $5000 when assessing eligibility for temporary accommodation.
- Removed the cash asset limit assessment entirely for people escaping domestic and family violence.
- Extended Specialist Homelessness Services contracts for 2 years, to 30 June 2026.
- Appointed a rental commissioner to work with us in designing and implementing changes that rebalance the rental market, making it fairer and more modern.
- Put a 12-month freeze on the requirement for people in temporary accommodation to complete a rental diary, while the scheme is reviewed.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:
“We have a housing crisis in NSW and it is on all of us to work together to address the challenges.
“Part of that challenge is the lack of supply.
“Today’s announcement is an important step towards unlocking supply to deliver housing relief in regional NSW.”
Deputy Premier and Minister Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Prue Car said:
“There is a shared responsibility across government to tackle our housing crisis and we will continue to identify government-owned land, including former TAFE sites, that help meet that demand. It is an opportunity to transform these sites into crucial housing.
“We would never reduce access to education facilities to deliver this. The NSW Government has already opened the Connected Learning Centre and a Multi Trades Hub in Bega managed by TAFE NSW.”
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:
“The scale of the challenge to resolve the housing crisis across the state is massive so if there’s an opportunity to deliver more housing, especially social and affordable homes – we will take it.
“There are simply not enough houses for the people who live and work here. We welcome innovative solutions to deliver more housing and will continue to work across the board to find more opportunities just like this one.
“This development will also create a senior’s living complex, which will provide fit-for-purpose social housing for our aging community. These modern homes will include well-located 1- and 2-bedroom units, will be easier to maintain and more economical to run.
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said:
“Bega has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the state and as the social housing waitlist continues to increase, we must do everything we can to support the Bega community and part of that work means delivering more homes.
“Not only will the development deliver more housing, it will also create 55 more local jobs during its construction.”