Housing squeeze - Hay needs eight houses a year
The regional housing squeeze is holding back the economy, and in Hay an average eight dwellings will need to be constructed every year to cope with the town’s expected annual growth rate of 0.60 per cent.
Council staff have developed a housing strategy for Hay, listing 19 strategies which could assist in developing a mix of housing stock across the shire.
“There is no doubt there is a shortage of available housing in Hay, both rental and for purchase,” General Manager, David Webb said.
“Staff have been in discussions with Argyle Housing as well as other landholders in Hay to look at ways housing can be developed, including on its own subdivision in South Hay.
“While it is acknowledged that as a whole, Hay Shire population is predicted to decline, it is expected the population of the main township of Hay will remain steady, or in fact may slightly increase.
“This will be the result of a migration from retired farmers and the elderly from outlying rural areas and small villages into the township in recognition of the wider range of services and housing types available to this age group.”
Mr Webb said anecdotal evidence also suggests there may be a migration to rural areas post COVID, which has already begun in Hay. Council staff believe under a high growth scenario, the population of Hay township will grow by 400 people by 2041.
A survey in November last year of current housing stock showed there were 53 unoccupied houses, nine vacant lots, two unoccupied government houses and an unknown number of vacant units.
As at January, the public housing waitlist had 27 people/families requiring housing with five being high priority.
Of the 19 strategies identified to improve the housing stock, Council believes two of them are likely to be most effective in increasing the supply of affordable housing in the local context:
1. Actively seeking to facilitate an increased supply of lower cost and affordable housing types through the market by ensuring there are no unnecessary impediments in local planning instruments. This also requires some fundamental changes to existing planning controls such as the removal of minimum lot sizes in urban areas.
2. Create affordable housing for very low and low-income renters and purchasers through partnership on land owned by Council and other public authorities. The preferred partner would be a registered community housing provider such as Argyle Housing with a strong track-record in development and management of affordable housing and a local presence.
Council resolved at its monthly meeting last week to adopt its Hay Housing Strategy 2022 which had been on exhibition for 42 days, and for staff to commence implementing those strategies as resources permit.
