Plan offers lots of hope

The majority of Cumberland councillors have rejected a proposal which would have seen the lot sizes reduced to 500sqm.
The planning proposal was initiated in response to the Low Rise Medium Density Housing Code released by the NSW Government, which introduces a minimum lot size requirement for dual occupancies which is lower than what Council’s current controls allow.
Council has also requested a further deferral of the State Government’s controversial Medium Density Housing Code, which also allow manor homes, terraces and other multi-dwelling developments in low density R2 zones, without going to the council but instead, through a private certifier for approval.
Cr Steve Christou welcomed council’s decision saying the majority of councillors were concerned that a reduced lot size would have an enormous impact on the people who can least afford it.
He said the realities are we would most likely see small to medium size developers turning up to house auctions and out bidding your average mum and dad family, newly weds, and young people looking to break into the housing market.
“Developers tend to have deeper pockets than your average resident and would be in a better position to out bid genuine home buyers out of the market,” he said.
“In a day and age where housing affordability is nearly non existent and wage growth is very slow it is widely accepted that it is becoming near impossible for our children and grandchildren to own a house.
“We should be doing all we can to assist people with purchasing a house not hindering them further by allowing people to snap up small blocks of land then sub dividing them.
“In addition this then leads to more overcrowding of our local streets which causes all sorts of problems with parking, rubbish removal, and providing the infrastructure needed to keep up with the population growth.”