What is the future of housing development in Kempsey Shire?

How should Council plan for predicted population growth?

Does the community support more diverse and affordable housing across the Shire?

Council recieved 143 submissions for the Local Housing Strategy survey. We thank community for their feedback. The submissions are being reviewed and will be incorprated into the draft Local Growth Management Strategy which will be placed on Public Exhibition in late 2022. 

What is happening?

The current estimates are that the population of Kempsey Shire will grow by 5,421 by 2041.

Such an increase will put pressure on property prices unless new homes are built. It is estimated that the increased population will lead to a demand for 2,790 new dwellings.

A draft Local Housing Strategy

Kempsey Shire Council has developed a draft Local Housing Strategy to address the housing demand/supply issues and the policy implications of this expected population growth.

The Local Housing Strategy will provide an overview of the issues, options, and recommendations for housing. Through this process, Council will plan for the provision of all forms of housing for the Shire.

This Local Housing Strategy is also the first stage in developing a revised Local Growth Management Strategy for the Shire. The Strategy is additionally important as it provides the evidence-base for any potential changes to the Kempsey Local Environmental Plan 2013 and Development Control Plan 2013, which influence the possible location and type of new or additional housing within Kempsey Shire.

What is in the Strategy?

In addition to responding to growth projections, the Local Housing Strategy considers the following housing priorities:

• affordable and well located
• sustainably designed to be resilient to natural events
• responsive to cultural considerations and individual household needs
• located in areas with lifestyle opportunities that provide for complete communities

The draft Local Housing Strategy includes the following key recommendations:

• Reduce the minimum lot size from 500m2 to 400m2 within all R1 zoned land
• Allow increased housing densities in appropriate locations within Kempsey Shire, subject to certain principles
• Consider residential development within current Business zones
• Set different residential development controls for each locality
• No additional areas for new rural residential development are required (beyond the supply of investigation land already identified)
• Work with the Indigenous community to determine their specific cultural housing aspirations and needs

There are additional recommendations regarding affordable housing, social housing, smaller dwellings and residential aged care facilities. These are all outlined in detail in the Discussion Paper.