New South Wales announces affordable housing incentives
The New South Wales government will allow developments with more than 15 per cent affordable housing to access the State Significant development planning approval pathway.
The incentive will apply to developments with a capital value north of $75 million. Other incentives in the offing include a 30 per cent floor space ratio boost and a height bonus of 30 per cent above local environment plans.
Planning Minister Paul Scully said internal government briefings had revealed a shortfall of 134,000 new dwellings over the next five years. He stressed that while these projects will benefit from a streamlined planning approval process, they must still meet rigorous checks and balances and comply with local government development policies.
Work begins on affordable housing in Sydney
Sods turned on Thursday at the site of City West’s $55 million affordable housing project in Bourke Street, Waterloo.
Sydney’s redoubtable Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, who got a gong on Monday and became an Officer of the Order of Australia, did more ground-breaking work along with Leonie King, CEO of City West Housing, and Colin Rahim, chief executive of Growthbuilt.
The 74-unit building, called Boronia Apartments, will house people on low- to moderate-incomes, including essential workers, with one-third of the apartments reserved for women and children at risk of homelessness due to domestic violence.
Funding partners include the City of Sydney, the NSW and federal governments and the builder Growthbuilt. The complex is expected to be finished in late 2024.
Overcoming a vertical challenge
Bell-Bay based Timberlink is the only vertically integrated wood products producer in Tasmania. It manufactures a wood-plastic composite with plantation pine sawdust and shavings from the Bell Bay plant. This is mixed with granular plastic waste sourced from a third party.
It’s the only facility in the state to manufacture wood-plastic products, and not only uses waste as a resource but reduces reliance on imports. The decking and screening brand is expected to launch this month with production beginning later this year.
Timberlink’s wood-plastic composite plant will be powered by rooftop solar and hydro power, while rainwater collected from the roof will be used for cooling in the manufacturing process.
Greg Combet to head Net Zero Authority
The Albanese government announced on Wednesday appointments to the Net Zero Economy Agency and Advisory Board, and it is full of eminent Australians with impressive track records on progressive change. Well known Gouldian finch breeder the Hon Greg Combet AM will chair the agency, and brings a formidable reputation as the former secretary of the ACTU, and federal MP.
Since 2018, Combet has been chair of Industry Super Australia and chair of IFM Investors. He resigned from both of those roles this week to focus on his new appointment. On the advisory board are: Professor Ross Garnaut AC; Professor Paul Simshauser AM; Anthea Harris; Nicole Lockwood; Kellie Parker; Michele O’Neil; Professor Robynne Quiggin; Anna Skarbek; Tony Maher and Laura Tyler.
Combet begins the role on 10 July, 2023.
From car yard to thriving community
A former car yard in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray has been transformed into a precinct with nearly 400 much-needed homes. All well and good, but it’s the quality of the design that is gaining attention. It is short-listed for the 2023 High-Density Residential Development of the Year Awards.
Toby Lauchlan, multi-residential partner at ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects, said: “We knew we needed to … provide an answer that was multi-faceted, with a diversity of spaces, heights, scales and materials.
“It had to be a fine grain collection of buildings connected by communal spaces including beautiful landscaped gardens and terraces, all which would contribute to the character of … the broader neighbourhood.”
The 364 apartments, 16 townhouses and 10 SOHOs have been purchased by owner-occupiers, young families and down-sizers.