The Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) has called on the Senate to pass the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and deliver thousands of affordable homes for key workers and vulnerable Australians.
CCCLM chair and City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said funding needs to be directed where it’s needed most.
Data from Australia’s capital cities show that collectively they have over 50,000 approved residential housing projects yet to see shovels in the ground.
“Australia’s capital cities are amongst the most expensive places to live in the world, but their high amenity, services, infrastructure and access to jobs make them the best-placed to accommodate more housing,” Lord Mayor Capp said.
“Commentators often point to planning and zoning as the reason for lack of housing supply. Yet, in capital cities, we have a strong pipeline of approved homes that are not being built, in part due to the cost of construction and current market conditions.”
“We are experiencing an acute shortage of well-located Affordable Housing, pricing people out of their communities and leaving essential workers, like the nurses and teachers who keep our cities running, without a place to live.”
“Capital city councils are part of the solution, but we can’t go it alone,” says the Lord Mayor.
“HAFF is designed to support the delivery of social and affordable housing. All levels of government need to work in lockstep with Community Housing Providers to build more housing, now.”
“To begin easing the housing crisis we need to get the HAFF up and running and shovels in the ground.”
“In the City of Melbourne alone, we have an approved pipeline of 22,000 apartments. The Federal Government’s target is 30,000 affordable homes over the next five years.”