The ‘‘nationwide problem’’ is felt just as sharply for Finley residents, where access to rentals is almost non-existent. CEO Karina Ewer says servicing and selling off blocks of land through council will help chip away at the problem for buyers and renters alike.
‘‘In any of the towns at the moment it is not possible to get rentals. As soon as homes come on the market, they’re sold,’’ Ms Ewer said.
‘‘So this is just an opportunity to make sure that there is some stock available, and maybe ease that pressure on the rental market.’’
The move is council’s plan to ‘‘mitigate’’ the effects of homelessness and housing instability in the area.
‘‘This is to open up some land and housing opportunities in Finley — all of our townships at the moment are experiencing land shortage,’’ Ms Ewer said.
‘‘So this is an opportunity to get some more people in.’’
The properties are lots 26 and 33 in Lewis Cr, Finley. Both measure 758m².
Ms Ewer said to ensure the project is effective, buyers will be limited to the purchase of one block each with positive covenants placed on both blocks for the sale.
‘‘So people can’t buy two blocks for larger yards, and things like that.
‘‘The intent of them is to boost development in Finley.’’
While Berrigan Shire did not embark on this project or similar projects in Berrigan’s towns specifically for profit, Ms Ewer did say the financial return would allow council to continue making fully serviced land available for housing.
‘‘We’re happy to break even if we are able to.
‘‘If we are able to get a profit, that would be great, because then we’ll put that money towards another development — that’s just council’s intent.’’
While other local governments in the region have struggled to open up parcels of land for rezoning and redevelopment, Ms Ewer said the process was fairly quick in bureaucratic terms, because the land was already owned by council.
Ms Ewer said realistically, this first round of blocks ‘‘will not completely eradicate’’ the shortage.
Berrigan Shire’s local environment plan, part of which will guide how council addresses the housing shortage, will likely not be finalised until early 2023.
Once the LEP is complete, Ms Ewer expects Berrigan will continue a strategic approach to the issue.
‘‘(The LEP) will set out where council might be able to strategically do similar subdivisions, but we’ll just have to go through those and see,’’ she said.
Vinnies Services team leader for the Deniliquin and Finley area Meghan Fisher says the housing crisis issue has ‘‘hit the whole country’’, but especially impacts country towns.
‘‘Finley has been no exception to the rule,’’ she said.
‘‘We are seeing very similar patterns in Finley to what we have seen in Deniliquin and surrounds.
‘‘I think this (council’s land sale) is a great initiative. It’s certainly not going to solve the problem, but they are making steps in the right direction which is exactly what has needed to happen.
‘‘I think it’s great council has been listening to its communities needs and even though only a small amount of land, every little bit helps. Especially if it frees up rentals for other individuals and families.’’
Ms Fisher believes council’s strategy is an effective way for local government to tackle an issue which is generally regarded as a state government responsibility.
‘‘I think Berrigan Shire has hit the nail on the head for implementing a strategy that can be put into action right away and for something it can control.
‘‘Local governments now need to raise more awareness in their communities regarding the housing crisis, and get people to reach out to state government to release more funding for social and community housing.’’
Ms Ewer believes a multi-level government approach is the key way to fix the issue in the long term.
‘‘I think it’s going to take a lot of work between Crown Land, the Crown lands group (Crown Land Taskforce), between councils — lots of talking and advocating on councils’ behalf, because we’re not the only council that is experiencing increased levels of homelessness.
‘‘And so it is a nationwide issue. So there’s no easy answer.’’
Housing is generally regarded as a state government issue.
Ms Ewer added the ‘‘urban shift’’ phenomenon of the pandemic has increased the pressure.
‘‘It’s going to be federal, state and local councils trying to work together to make sure that we really mitigate the issues that are arising, and it’s really due to the urban shift. People need high density areas, and moving to places like this.’’
