Governance of affordable housing in South Australia: what do regional planning reforms

mean for non-metropolitan local government?

Jessica Porter, University of South Australia Business School

PhD Scholar

ARC Linkage Project: LP150100160

Housing affordability in non-metropolitan Australia

• Lifestyle, retirement & leisure living. • Urban-rural migration. • Lower incomes (when compared to metropolitan areas). • Higher cost of costs of dwelling construction, running & maintenance

costs. • Spatially restrictive legislation. • Sale of public housing in rural & regional communities. • Cost of rental properties. • Lack of employment opportunities, public transport & other services.

(Beer, 2017; Costello, 2009; Webber, 2016)

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How is housing affordability being addressed?

Inclusionary zoning increases the proportion of affordable housing in well-located and well-serviced areas. It can be combined with other planning incentives to guide development in particular areas, such as transport corridors (Verdouw et al, 2015, p33).

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Government involvement in affordable

housing policy

ARC Linkage Project: LP150100160

Federal Government National Affordable Housing Agreement developed by

Council of Australian Governments (COAG)

Each State and Territory is responsible for ‘land use, supply and urban planning and development policy’

Local Governments key roles to address affordable housing through ‘local urban planning and

development approval processes’. (Department of Social Services, 2016)

Across the States and Territories

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Affordable Housing Strategy/Plans/Policy

Implementation Date

Inclusionary Zoning

ACT Affordable Housing Action Plan April 2007

NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009; and

State Environmental Planning Policy No. 70 Affordable Housing (Revised Schemes)

July 2009 Limited areas

WA Affordable Housing Strategy December 2010

TAS Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025 September 2015 Due 2017

QLD Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 TBC Earmarked

VIC Homes for Victorians: Affordability, access and choice TBC Limited areas

NT No information available N/A N/A

What’s happening in South Australia?

Currently in South Australia affordable housing is addressed through: • local affordable housing strategies • development plan amendments to include affordable housing policy • local affordable housing projects • statutory schedule eight referrals for developments that include affordable housing. (Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, 2017)

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South Australian Policy documents

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https://service.sa.gov.au/legislation/142-development-act-1993.html

https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/19156/Region_plan_Murray_Mallee.pdf

http://www.sa.gov.au/topics/planning-and-property/development-plans

Development Act 1993 Planning Strategy Development Plan

Planning Reforms – “Our New System” Planning,

Development and Infrastructure Act

•Prepared by the South Australian Government

State Planning Policies

•Prepared by the State Planning Commission

Regional Plans

•Prepared by the State Planning Commission or by the SPC in conjunction with a Joint Planning Board

Planning and Design Code

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Joint Planning Boards = “good” governance?

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http://www.saplanningportal.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/299608/Factsheet__Joint_Planning_Arrangements_.pdf

What does this mean for non-metropolitan local government?

• Regional planning approach • Regional plans • Joint Planning Boards • Funding arrangements with the private sector • Enhanced ability for local government to initiate policy

changes in their area

Contact details

jessica.mowatt@mymail.unisa.edu.au

Jessica L Porter

ARC Linkage Project: LP150100160

https://localgovernmentandhousing.com

References • Beer, A, 2017, A housing affordability crisis in regional Australia? Yes, and here’s why, The Conversation,

viewed 27 January 2017, <http://theconversation.com/a-housing-affordability-crisis-in-regional-australia-yes-and-heres-why-71808>.

• Costello, L 2009, ‘Urban–Rural Migration: housing availability and affordability’, Australian Geographer, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 219–233.

• Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, 2017, Affordable housing, Government of South Australia, viewed 22 June 2017, <https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/planning-and-property/land-and-property-development/local-government-involvement-with-affordable-housing>.

• Department of Social Services, 2016, Housing Support, Australian Government, viewed 12 June 2017, <https://www.dss.gov.au/housing-support/programmes-services/national-affordable-housing-agreement>.

• Verdouw, J, Flanagan, K, Gorter, T & Habibis, D 2015, Affordable Housing Strategy Tasmania 2015-2025, Discussion Paper: Key Issues and Innovations, March, Housing and Community Research Unit, University of Tasmania, viewed 19 June 2017, <https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0009/203688/Discussion_Paper_AHURI_and_UTAS.docx>.

• Webber, K, 2016, Rental affordability report shows regional Australia not necessarily a better option, ABC News - Australian Broadcasting Corporation, viewed 1 May 2017, <http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-21/rental-affordability-report-shows-regional-not-better-option/7346498>.

ARC Linkage Project: LP150100160