Parramatta gives green light for affordable housing action plan

City of Parramatta is lobbying the NSW Government for planning reforms to deliver affordable housing in perpetuity, rather than for a limited time period, as part of a two-year action plan aimed at urgently driving up the supply of affordable housing.

An action plan, signed off by Council last night, will see the City investigate Affordable Housing Contributions Schemes in key precincts including Westmead, Camellia and Granville as well as consider the potential for Council-owned land to deliver affordable rental dwellings. 

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Sameer Pandey said increasing supply of affordable housing was a key priority for Council.

“The 2021 Census data showed a third of renters and almost a quarter of mortgage holders across the LGA were spending more than 30% of their gross income on housing. This has only become worse with multiple interest rate rises in the past 12 months,” Cr Pandey said.

“We’re looking at all the levers within our control to drive up supply, but this is not an issue we can solve alone.” 

Cr Pandey stressed new reforms being driven by the NSW Government needed to ensure affordable housing is provided for the long-term.

“Any development bonuses should be for affordable housing that is provided in perpetuity. Housing pressures are not going to disappear in 15 years.”

“The NSW Government also needs to prioritise investment in key transport infrastructure that will unlock housing potential, like Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 and more stations for Sydney Metro West.”

“We want the State Government to work with us and help us achieve our goals as we make the City of Parramatta more affordable to live in.”

To ensure the plan is on track, a review of the action plan will take place in September 2024 with a final evaluation in 2025.

The Affordable Housing Action Plan is designed to strengthen City of Parramatta’s existing Affordable Rental Housing Policy established in 2019. 

Council has already rezoned land and increased densities in growth precincts to deliver its 23,660 dwelling target set by the State Government for the 2021 to 2026 period. Thousands more dwellings are forecast to be approved as more growth precincts are planned.