ON the same night it unveiled a housing strategy proclaiming the need for more infill and medium-density development, Lake Macquarie council has approved a controversial 27-unit residential flat building.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council voted on Monday night to exhibit its draft housing strategy, which will guide future housing design and delivery in the city
The strategy provides a snapshot of existing housing, forecasts future needs and outlines how future stock should be delivered.
The city's housing market is currently dominated by traditional detached dwellings.
Of the 86,000 dwellings in the local government area, more than 85 per cent are separated houses, 10 per cent semi-detached dwellings and 5 per cent apartments.
The city's population of about 205,000 is set to grow to at least 250,000 by 2050.
The 55-59 years age group is the most populous and the population will continue aging with age groups above 75 years experiencing the greatest growth.
The strategy suggests there will be an increase in smaller household types, including couple families without children, lone persons and one-parent families.
An analysis of residents' housing preferences, combined with predicted population growth, suggests demand for semi-detached dwellings and apartments could more than double in coming years.
Lake Macquarie, as outlined in the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan, is expected to accommodate an extra 13,700 dwellings by 2036.
Of those dwellings, the draft housing strategy suggests 3700 should be separated houses, 4250 semi-detached dwellings and 5750 apartments.
Such a split would be a substantial change, as between 2007 and 2018 there were approximately 7837 separated houses and 3319 multi-dwelling developments approved in the LGA.
The strategy outlines a preference towards infill housing over greenfield developments and lists a range of actions, mainly changes to local planning controls, to help facilitate an increase in medium density-housing types.
It was moved at the meeting in a block of motions, one of which was a development application for the demolition of four houses in Warners Bay to construct of a 27-unit residential flat building.
The DA, lodged in 2017, had drawn the ire of local residents, who submitted two separate petitions and dozens of submissions opposing the proposed Albert Street development.
Residents labelled the initial 34-unit project an "over-development", saying it would have a negative impact on traffic, parking and the amenity of the street.
The now approved three-storey complex exceeds the area's standard 10-metre height limit by a metre, but it was deemed acceptable in the suburb, which was described in the report to councillors as being in "transition from lower density housing to higher densities".
Neither the housing strategy or Warners Bay development attracted comment from councillors.
"Our community and households are changing, and so the types of housing needed are diversifying," Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said after the meeting.
"The draft strategy will ensure we strike the right balance of housing options across the city."