Builders and developers ‘screaming out’ for more residential land – Cr Amos

COFFS Harbour Councillor Paul Amos has expressed disappointment after his motion calling for a stronger strategic focus on additional residential land and industrial land in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area was defeated at Council.

The revised motion asked Council to adopt a strategic position that Coffs Harbour should identify and plan for additional suitable land for residential development and industrial purposes, including land where businesses could establish, expand and create local jobs, and advocate for that position through future regional and local strategic planning.

“My argument to Council was straightforward – a Regional City needs land for people to live and land for people to work,” Cr Amos said.

“This wasn’t a proposal to rezone a particular property or open up inappropriate land tomorrow. It was about establishing a direction for the future and beginning the work of identifying suitable opportunities for both housing and industry.”

Cr Amos said builders and developers were increasingly raising concerns about the lack of suitable land.

“Builders and developers are screaming out for more residential land and industrial land, but they are telling us that they cannot get access to enough quality product,” he said.

“That should be a warning to Council. If the industry is already struggling to find suitable land, we need to be planning now for what comes next, rather than waiting until the shortage becomes even more severe.

“The question I believe Council needs to answer is this: where will the next large release of land for traditional young homebuyers come from if we don’t identify it now?

“Families and young people who aspire to buy a traditional home need more than broad promises about future growth. They need a realistic pipeline of suitable, serviced land that can eventually be brought to market.”

Cr Amos said the need to plan ahead was particularly important as Coffs Harbour continued to grow.

“We need housing choice, including opportunities for families and young people who still aspire to own a traditional home, but we also need sufficient industrial land where businesses can establish, expand and create local jobs.”

Council’s own planning has previously identified demand for around 65 additional hectares of employment precinct land — essentially industrial land for businesses, trades, manufacturing, storage, transport and other employment-generating activities — by 2040.

Likewise, Council’s residential planning has previously projected the need for around 12,800 additional dwellings by 2040, while recognising the role of both infill development and residential growth areas.

“I was particularly disappointed with suggestions that taking this strategic position would serve no practical purpose,” Cr Amos said.

“Councillors are elected not only to deal with today’s issues, but to provide strategic direction about where we want our city to be in 10, 20 and 30 years.

“The motion may have been lost, but the issue hasn’t gone away.

“I remain firmly of the view that Coffs Harbour should be proactively planning for sufficient residential land and industrial land so future generations have the opportunity to both live and work in Coffs Harbour.”