Uralla Shire Council has taken an important step to support affordable housing in our community, resolving to transfer the land at 15 Hill Street to Homes North Community Housing once grant funding is secured. This is the first project of its kind in Uralla, and it responds to the growing pressures local people are facing in the rental market.
The Hill Street site which is located behind the Post Office and currently home to four units and a vacant block, will be redeveloped into new affordable homes designed for people on low to moderate incomes, including essential workers, older residents, and households experiencing housing stress.
To deliver this project, Council has partnered with Homes North, a Tier 1 not-for-profit community housing provider, and Homes NSW within the Department of Communities and Justice. Homes North will design, build, and manage the new homes, while Homes NSW ensures the land is safeguarded for affordable housing in perpetuity. A $65,000 grant from ACEN Australia is supporting the early planning and design work.
Council has committed to contribute the land, while Homes North brings their equity, their ability to access concessional finance, and their eligibility for Commonwealth grant programs like the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). Without a Tier 1 community housing provider, Uralla simply can’t unlock this funding.
Homes NSW (an agency within Department of Communities and Justice) safeguards the public interest by registering an interest on the title, which means the land can never be sold off for another purpose. They also oversee the delivery agreements with Council and Homes North.
This is a proven and widely adopted model, already implemented by State and Commonwealth governments in collaboration with the community housing sector and forward-thinking councils such as Shoalhaven City Council. By adopting it here, Uralla can finally deliver on the long-held community goal of increasing affordable housing, without exposing ratepayers to unsustainable debt or risk.
Council wants to make sure the community has a clear voice as the project moves forward. Two important documents are now on public exhibition for community submissions:
- Homes North Allocation Strategy, which sets out who will be eligible for the new homes and how they will be prioritised; and
- Draft Terms of Reference for a new Project Advisory Committee, which will bring together Councillors, neighbours, tenants, service providers, and Council staff to provide advice and feedback during the project.
Council and Homes North have also agreed on a set of Design Principles to guide the architects and designers when work begins. These principles go above and beyond the usual planning rules (like heritage conservation and development controls) to make sure the new homes reflect Uralla’s values.
Over the coming months, Council and Homes North will finalise design principles, appoint an architect, and begin early design work. A Development Application will follow, with further opportunities for the community to view plans and provide feedback.
To learn more, read the draft documents, and have your say about this project, visit: yoursay.uralla.nsw.gov.au/hill-street-project
Media Release: Uralla Shire Council
