When Uncle Steven Roberts rang property developer Bob Shelley with an idea to create a new affordable housing development in Goonellabah, it ignited a collaboration between the local Indigenous community, developers and social housing advocates.

With a tangle of zoning, legal and funding issues to surmount, the proposed development seeks to offer 587 modular, free-standing affordable homes for the community. 

Hopes for the development are to see a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living side by side, with people with disabilities, families and the aged.

Mr Roberts said he had been working with Mr Shelley for a couple of years and he hoped that by collaborating, they could finally tackle Lismore’s shortage of affordable homes.

“I’d like people to be able to rent and eventually own their homes in a rent-to-buy scheme,” Mr Roberts said. 

“There’s lots of us just paying rent now who will never get a chance to buy a home – especially as the housing market gets more unaffordable.

“We need to get the community involved with this issue and keep the conversation about getting affordable housing happening.”

Off the grid

Mr Shelley said he bought the 116 acres of land on Oliver Avenue in 2014. It is located near the Regatta Housing Estate and Pineapple Road.

“I originally wanted to take the whole suburb off the grid, but the idea didn’t get any traction,” he said. 

“It’s been sitting there ever since and I would like to see it developed.

“Focussing on affordable housing is what we need for middle-income earners, as well as lower-income people who simply need housing.

“Covid has changed the development landscape too. Covid and high-density apartments don’t mix and no one wants to build them anymore.

“So, we need a new model of building to overcome high density, Covid issues.”

Modular housing

That’s where Mr Shelley sees modular housing as the solution. 

“The new development proposes to build small, individual houses. They are modular buildings that can be put up quickly,” he said.

“The construction materials can be manufactured in Goonellabah industrial estate and set up in a day.”

Stumbling blocks 

Mr Shelley said the stumbling blocks to the development going ahead are opposition to more development, and the fact the land is currently zoned as farmland.

“Council is arguing that the cow paddock is needed, but there is loophole clause in State environment planning legislation that says a development can be carried out if it is next to an already existing urban block of land.

“Council said they already have 2500 blocks of land available in Lismore for development on Pineapple Road, in North Lismore Plateau and Invercauld Road – but that is land that will be sold for at least 250k a block.

“Sewage capacity is also a problem – but we can put our own sewage system in.

“Six years ago, I had 24 reports done and spent a lot of money getting them done – the plans are drawn and ready to go. 

“If the State government can step up and fund the housing side of it, then the tenants’ rental return can pay the government – and eventually they own their own houses.”

Social housing

Ngulingah Land Council chief executive Bill Fisher said the land council had an interest in social housing, but currently their social housing portfolio was limited.

“Demand outweighs supply at the moment, so I’m looking at what other opportunities are out there,” he said

North Coast Community Housing

North Coast Community Housing (NCCH) chief executive John McKenna said he thought the new housing development was a good proposal.

“It’s a big development with 587 potential housing outcomes,” he said.

“We’ve done it on a small scale, but this is huge - with more blocks than the North Lismore Plateau development.

“It will be important to make sure it mixes tenure, so it doesn’t just become social housing.

Housing emergency

“It will also need to have State Government backing, but unfortunately, there’s not much in next week’s State Budget for social and affordable housing.

“So, the big problem is where will the money come from? 

“Seven local regional councils in the region have all declared housing emergencies – all with housing shortages. 

“We need to make sure we don’t just build all the regional quota of affordable homes in Goonellabah.”

State Government

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has also been involved in the discussion with Mr Roberts, Mr Shelley and Lismore Council.

While the proposal is in its early stages, MP Saffin is supportive of pursuing more local affordable housing options.

Council

Lismore Council Mayor Vanessa Ekins said she had already had two meetings with Mr Roberts with regard to the proposed new affordable housing development.

She said the need for affordable housing in the area was “great”, but any developments would need to go through an appropriate planning process.

“The problem is that the proposed site is not zoned for development, and not included as part of Council’s current growth management strategy," she said.

“The block of land is on state significant farmland and would need to be reviewed and rezoned to be developed – it’s important we protect farmland and the green belt.

Is it affordable?

“We also need to make sure it is designed well, that local people have access to it and that it is actually affordable.

“We don’t want to create ghettos that are a problem for those who live there.

“The creation of sewage, water and road infrastructure is also difficult and expensive.”

Blocks need to be developed

Mayor Ekins said Council already have enough land zoned for development to the year 2035.

“We need to encourage the owners of those blocks of land to actually develop those blocks,” she said. “Mr Roberts should talk with them too."

“At the moment, Council is conducting research to look at what the barriers to development are – we get land often sitting there for up to 10 years before it is built on.

“We will have a report brought to the July Council meeting and we also need to lobby the State Government for funds.”

The future

Mr Roberts will be meeting with Lismore Council planning staff in the near future to see if he can progress the new housing development. 

He said he is not going to give up.