NSW Government seeks to document emerging housing supply
Industry and council calls for more accessible and transparent housing supply data have prompted the NSW Government to launch two new online platforms.
It is hoped that they will become the state’s most authoritative resources on housing supply and population movements.
With the aim of better supporting planning and investment in NSW, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes launched the Greater Sydney Urban Development Program and Housing Evidence Centre websites.
"They are set to become the state’s most authoritative resources on housing supply and population movements.
“The new Greater Sydney Urban Development Program creates a one-stop-shop for information on metropolitan housing supply, and allows us to plug in real time data on the trends affecting the housing market,” Mr Stokes said.
“We are releasing a new point-in-time snapshot of the pipeline of dwellings and lots in Greater Sydney’s greenfield areas, which will give more certainty to those making infrastructure and investment decisions in those areas.
“Industry and councils have been calling for more accessible and transparent data and this website will assist with their decision-making on future housing needs.”
Minister for Water, Housing and Property Melinda Pavey said the Housing Evidence Centre website would streamline the delivery of the NSW Housing Strategy 2041.
“The Housing Evidence Centre aligns with the Housing Strategy 2041 to address four key areas to combat housing stress in NSW including housing supply, diversity, affordability and resilience,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Councils can rely on this information as an authority to predict future housing stress which will help them to develop and deliver housing solutions based on evidence.”
The Greater Sydney Urban Development Program will cover the 33 Local Government Areas of Greater Metropolitan Sydney.
The Housing Evidence Centre website will be focused on providing data for all of NSW including regional areas.
The Property Council of Australia was quick to raise concerns over the latest Metro Housing Monitor data released by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
It called for greater action from the government on housing supply. NSW Property Council Executive Director, Luke Achterstraat said the latest figures posted online "were evidence of why everyday Australians express their concerns about housing affordability and supply."
“This latest data shows 29,785 new homes were built in Sydney over the 2020-21 financial year.
"This is lower than the 30,190 homes that were completed over the 2015-16 financial year, and around 8 percent lower than the 32,464 homes completed over the 2019-20 financial year,” Mr Achterstraat said.
“The NSW Intergenerational Report states that we need 42,000 homes built per year. With an existing undersupply of almost 50,000 homes across the state, to fall behind a further 12,000+ homes this year puts us in dire straits and highlights the need for positive solutions."