THE NSW state government is looking to transform underutilised land at the former TAFE site in Bega into a new 97-dwelling diverse housing project.
The housing project at an eight-hectare government-owned site on Barrack Street in Bega, located 55km north of Eden, will include around eight affordable homes, 65 private homes and 24 social homes.
This will include a 20-unit complex specifically designed for senior social housing residents, to meet the needs of this growing demographic in the community.
“The scale of the challenge to resolve the housing crisis across the state is massive so if there’s an opportunity to deliver more housing, especially social and affordable homes – we will take it,” said Rose Jackson, minister for housing and homelessness.
“There are simply not enough houses for the people who live and work here. We welcome innovative solutions to deliver more housing and will continue to work across the board to find more opportunities just like this one.
“This development will also create a senior’s living complex, which will provide fit-for-purpose social housing for our aging community. These modern homes will include well-located 1- and 2-bedroom units, will be easier to maintain and more economical to run.
The land is already zoned for residential use and will be redeveloped by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), subject to planning approval.
The project is targeting a modern, diverse community close to key amenities and delivering new infrastructure including, roads and footpaths, which will deliver positive social and economic outcomes for the broader Bega community.
“We have a housing crisis in NSW and it is on all of us to work together to address the challenges. Part of that challenge is the lack of supply,” said Chris Minns, premier.
“Today’s announcement is an important step towards unlocking supply to deliver housing relief in regional NSW.”
Like much of the country, Bega is experiencing a housing shortage. With one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in all of NSW at 0.24% and Bega’s social housing priority waitlist increasing 56% in the 12 months to June 2023.
“Bega has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the state and as the social housing waitlist continues to increase, we must do everything we can to support the Bega community and part of that work means delivering more homes,” said Michael Holland, member for Bega.
“Not only will the development deliver more housing, it will also create 55 more local jobs during its construction.”
A new TAFE facility was opened in Bega in late 2021, so the project will have no impact on tertiary education in the area.
“There is a shared responsibility across government to tackle our housing crisis and we will continue to identify government-owned land, including former TAFE sites, that help meet that demand. It is an opportunity to transform these sites into crucial housing,” said Prue Car, deputy premier and minister of skills, TAFE and tertiary education.
“We would never reduce access to education facilities to deliver this. The NSW Government has already opened the Connected Learning Centre and a Multi Trades Hub in Bega managed by TAFE NSW.”
