Campbelltown Council voted down an attempt to set a whopping 10 percent benchmark for social and affordable housing in our local government area.
Councillor Cameron McEwan wanted the proposed Campbelltown Affordable Housing Action Plan to go to public exhibition with that benchmark number.
But only Cr McEwan and the two Greens councillors supported his amendment when it was put to the vote by Mayor Darcy Lound.
A report to council attached with the draft policy noted that in Campbelltown 8.4 percent of all new dwellings were for social and affordable housing.
That’s more than double the Sydney metropolitan area average of 4.1 percent.
However, Cr McEwan said he felt the 8.4 benchmark was not ambitious enough.
“More needs to be done to address housing affordability, both here in Campbelltown and across the country,’’ he told council.
“I believe this plan is weakened and not ambitious enough in its scope.
“We should be a little more aspirational than 8.4 percent, and 10 percent is an achievable target,’’ said the Sustainable Australia Party councillor.
Labor councillor Karen Hunt wasn’t having any of it.
“I hear what you are saying, but Campbelltown Council is doing its fair share, and has done its fair share for many years,’’ Cr Hunt said.
“We’re doing far more than any other LGA and should leave it at that.’’
Cr Hunt was backed in by Mayor Darcy Lound.
“I won’t be supporting the amendment, despite the good intentions,’’ he said.
“I agree with Cr Hunt: Campbelltown is doing more than the Sydney average.
“Affordable rental housing does not raise any rates, so we’re already behind the eight ball financially.’’
The draft Campbelltown Affordable Housing Action Plan was produced because of the State Government’s conditional approval of a formal council housing strategy.
The other reason is the tough conditions affecting housing supply.
The report noted that:
- Campbelltown’s population is projected to grow from approximately 176,500 residents in 2021 to over 229,000 by 2041, creating ongoing demand for new housing.
- Although local housing prices and rents remain lower than the Sydney average, the available evidence indicates that affordability pressures have intensified:
- rental vacancy rates fell from 2.5 per cent in 2016 to 0.9 per cent in 2025 (a decrease of 64 per cent).
- median rent increased by 71.4 per cent between 2016 and 2025.
- median monthly mortgage repayments increased by 71.1 per cent between 2016 and 2025.
- median weekly household income increased by 33.1 per cent between 2016 and 2025.
