Bellingen Shire Council has unanimously voted to progress the proposed disposal of council-owned land at Ferry Street, Urunga, to Waterfall Way Community Land Trust Ltd (WWCLT).
The decision was made at council’s August ordinary meeting after councillors considered submissions received during public consultation.
The proposal has been considered through a series of council decisions, including an assessment of alternative council-owned sites, community consultation, an independent valuation and legal advice. Council has also established a transaction-specific probity plan and considered measures aimed at protecting the community’s long-term interest.
Bellingen Shire Council general manager Mark Griffioen said the decision was the latest step in council’s work to address housing affordability and access to secure housing across the shire.
“The push to consider different approaches to housing affordability and diversity originally came from Council’s Local Housing Strategy. Following on from that, in 2021, Council supported a regional feasibility study examining the establishment of a Community Land Trust model and has continued to investigate alternative housing approaches through subsequent strategic and operational planning,” said Mark Griffioen.
“Our community has consistently told us that access to affordable and diverse housing matters. More than 1,600 people participated in developing council’s 10-year strategic planning document, Our Plan for the Future, which specifically commits Council to exploring alternative pathways to secure housing.”
“That direction is now embedded in Our Plan for the Future, which includes a strategy to facilitate access to affordable and diverse housing options. There is also a specific action in the Plan to support WWCLT to address regulatory barriers to enable moderate-to-middle income households to access secure home ownership through co-ownership or a 99-year lease model.”
In June, council resolved to publicly exhibit a proposal to sell the Ferry Street land to WWCLT for $1 as financial assistance before making a final decision. The land has been independently valued at $750,000.
Bellingen Shire mayor Steve Allan said councillors considered issues raised in the submissions, including the value of the land, governance and probity, site selection, environmental and cultural heritage matters, project feasibility and measures to protect the community interest over the long term.
“Housing affordability is a challenge that extends well beyond local government. State and federal governments have the primary policy, funding and regulatory levers, but councils and community organisations are increasingly being asked to help respond to what is happening on the ground in their own communities,” said Allan.
“For Bellingen Shire, that means looking at where Council can practically support different approaches without pretending local government can solve the housing crisis on its own.
“This proposal reflects that approach. It is about being prepared to test a different model, work with community organisations and use the tools available to Council where there is a clear strategic and community benefit.
“The level of participation through the exhibition process was significant. While 82 per cent of the 350 submissions received supported proceeding, Council also considered the concerns raised by those who objected. This decision allows the proposal to move forward, but there are still important safeguards, approvals and conditions that must be satisfied before any transfer or development can occur.”
Council’s resolution requires safeguards to be included in the final contractual arrangements before the land can be transferred to WWCLT.
The conditions include development consent, evidence that adequate project finance is available, agreed delivery milestones, sunset and termination provisions and restrictions requiring the land to be used for the agreed community land trust housing purpose.
The arrangements must also give council mechanisms to recover or reacquire the land, or otherwise protect its interest, if the project does not proceed as agreed or the land is no longer used for its intended purpose.
Griffioen said the staged process allowed the proposal to be assessed progressively, with requirements and decision points at each stage.
“The August resolution does not provide development consent or authorise construction. WWCLT will still need to progress through the applicable planning and development assessment processes and demonstrate that the project can be financed and delivered before the land transfer can be completed,” said Griffioen.
“The safeguards establish clear conditions that must be satisfied before the transaction can be completed, providing Council with mechanisms to protect the community interest if those requirements are not met.”
“Any future development proposal for the site will be subject to the relevant statutory planning and assessment requirements. This includes consideration of environmental, Aboriginal cultural heritage, engineering, traffic, access, drainage, servicing, and other applicable planning matters. The development application process will also provide further opportunities for community engagement.”
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