The State Government’s land swap and offer of $170,000 for more land to build social housing is insulting, according to Goulburn’s Deputy Mayor Caitlin Flint. Photo: John Thistleton.
Goulburn is doing more than its fair share in addressing the social housing crisis in Australia, according to residents and council members.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council has rejected a proposal by the NSW Government to swap two parcels of land to enable a $10 million development for 20 social and affordable homes in the suburb of Crestwood.
Two public hearings have been held into the proposal to swap land off Gibson Street for land in Howard Boulevard, which would be rezoned to enable residential development.
The council was initially supportive, but now a majority of councillors have changed their minds. They don’t want the project to go ahead.
At a public forum at the council’s meeting on Tuesday night, Crestwood resident Lyn Magree said nationally, 3.6 per cent of Australians lived in social housing.
In the Goulburn Mulwaree local government area, that percentage was 4.9 per cent, 1.3 per cent above the national average.
“Let’s now compare our council with those of the federal, state and local leaders,” Ms Magree said.
”Inner West Council, home of the Prime Minister and federal leader, the number is 3.3 per cent. Georges River Council, home of the NSW Premier and leader, is 2.8 per cent.
“Bega Valley Council, home to (Member for Eden-Monaro) Kristy McBain, the number is only 2.3 per cent.
“If the Labor Party truly stands for social housing as they claim, then their councils should increase their share before knocking on our door.”
When one community carried a disproportionate share of social housing, as Goulburn did, it affected the demographic balance of the entire community and one area in particular, education, she said.
The 2024 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results showed Goulburn’s school students were not achieving proficiency and one of the factors that may be influencing this outcome was the over-representation of social housing, Ms Magree said.
At two public hearings, council meetings and in letters and petitions, residents around the Howard Boulevard and Gibson Street neighbourhoods have opposed the project because of the loss of public space, impact on traffic and parking, and increase in antisocial behaviour and crime.
Social and affordable housing provider Homes NSW says its proposed development will improve the lives of those needing social housing, benefit the Goulburn economy and create more than 50 jobs.
Cr Daniel Strickland, who lost his motion to support the project, said the proposal would have ensured vulnerable residents, particularly older ones, had the housing that met their needs in a community they already called home.
“We heard that Goulburn has over 300 people on the waitlist, many of whom are seniors, living alone or in homes that are too large for them on blocks they no longer can maintain,” he said.
“The proposal helps ‘right-size’ our housing stock and creates 20 new homes, designed specifically for senior living.”
Cr Strickland said it was a humane and sensible initiative, and the council had to make decisions not based solely on the loudest voices but in the best interests of the whole community.
He said the land in question was close to other parks, all well connected with a walking track, and under the deal the council would receive $170,000 for more recreational improvements.
But Deputy Mayor Caitlin Flint, who foreshadowed a motion to go ahead with the land’s reclassification, but not to proceed with the land swap with Homes NSW, spoke against the social housing project.
A resident of Rhoda Street, which has a housing development almost identical to what’s proposed in Howard Boulevard, Cr Flint said it was promoted as homes for seniors. But every day she saw this not being the case, and she consequently had trust issues with believing what Homes NSW was telling the council.
“In any case, we don’t want to become known as the social housing capital of the state,” she said.
As for the offer of $170,000, that was insulting in a profit-driven NSW Government commercial venture, Cr Flint said.
“In essence, we’re being asked to swap prime land with future use potential for flood-prone land that we already maintain,” she said. “Council would not be benefitting in any way from the transaction before us tonight and I will not be guilt-tripped by the social conscious argument.”
The council rejected the land swap and will now do a feasibility study on the Howard Boulevard/Gibson Street land’s potential.
