LETTER: Kudos for visionary Urunga affordable housing project

DEAR News Of The Area,

I HAVE to respond to Peter Dingle’s letter of 7 August (‘History will frown on Urunga affordable housing experiment’, Page 18,Coffs Coast NOTA) in regard to the affordable housing project at Lot 1 Ferry Street, Urunga.

I live in Urunga, am a member of the Urunga Wetlands Landcare Group, and highly value the beautiful natural spaces that we have here.

Any loss of habitat cannot be taken lightly, but I think the environmental impacts to Lot 1 Ferry Street have been given serious consideration by Council and the Waterfall Way Community Land Trust (WWCLT).

I have visited Lot 1 Ferry Street more than once. It is lovely and also unique. Unique in that it is owned by Council and is surplus to council needs, giving our shire the opportunity to progress an important affordable housing project.  The site is a good size for the project to both make a difference and be achievable.

Sure, Council could sell it at market value, or just let it be, but I believe the project will give back far more to Bellingen Shire than those options.

The proposal has had much public consultation through face-to-face meetings, online info and invitation for community submissions.

When I viewed the plan options at a public meeting in Urunga, I came away satisfied that due consideration was made to meet the social needs of housing as well as the environment.

Clearly habitat will be lost but, as much as possible, the plans were sensitive to the environment and at least some of the beautiful blackbutts Peter is concerned about are to be retained within the complex.

Dianne Jacobus makes an excellent case for the need for affordable housing in her letter to NOTA on 7 August (‘Helping people buy a home is not virtue-signalling’, Page 20, Coffs Coast NOTA) and I just want to add my own anecdotal two cents worth to her words.

I have met people who want to move to our area to work and live but had difficulty finding property they could afford to either buy or rent.

One day at the Urunga markets I spoke to two teachers and a nurse – people who would contribute much to the community by working in education and health care.

Imagine if these individuals were able to live at Lot 1 Ferry St.

I think the benefits of the project would extend far further than just “giving” them an affordable place to live.

There is no one magic bullet to solve housing affordability but we have much to learn and gain by progressing this interesting and visionary project model.

The WWCLT is a competent and diligent community group with a proven track record.

I would be very proud to see this project come to fruition in my home town.

Regards,

Sandy Radke,

Urunga.