Regional Development Australia Central Coast (RDACC) has welcomed the announcement by Central Coast Council naming Pacific Link Housing as its official partner in the first stage of council’s Affordable Housing Land Proposal program.

As a key driver of affordable housing initiatives across the region, RDACC supports collaboration between all levels of government and industry to address this critical regional issue.

RDACC Deputy Chair, Anna Cruckshank, says with the Central Coast’s population expected to increase by 15% to 404,265 people by 2041, affordable housing is a major economic and social issue we all need to work together to address.

“Based on our current population projections, the Central Coast will need in excess of 78,000 homes to accommodate our population growth within less than two decades,” says Ms Cruckshank.

“Our regional economic development is currently being hampered by an acute housing shortage, with vacancies of around 1% in both the rental and sales markets preventing staff and skilled workers from relocating to the Coast and causing deepening social issues.

“These factors will only continue to become more of a challenge over time given our expected population growth, so now is the time for our regional leaders to take action to address this critical housing shortage.”

CEO & Director Regional Development, John Mouland, says RDACC has been working with its partners to implement affordable housing solutions.

“In September this year, a collaboration between RDACC, Business NSW and Pacific Link Housing brought together over 100 business and community leaders at the inaugural Central Coast Housing Forum to discuss the impact of housing affordability gaps for the region,” says Mr Mouland.

“This event facilitated collaboration between industry, government and regional stakeholders to provide input into our way forward.  Outcomes of the forum will help us to accelerate development and plan for the various housing needs of the Central Coast as a future city.”

Following the event, Pacific Link Housing, in partnership with key regional stakeholders including RDACC, produced a paper on the ‘State of Affordable Housing on the Central Coast in 2022’, which represents the culmination of forum ideas and sets out the elements needed to see more affordable housing delivered on the Central Coast.

“It’s fantastic to see Central Coast Council now partnering with Pacific Link to implement tangible solutions to this regional challenge — and the affordable housing development planned for The Entrance is a step in the right direction,” added Mr Mouland.