Councillor Chris Harris

Media Release (joint release with Sylvia Hale)

The Greens have called on Minister Sartor to stipulate that a percentage of affordable housing targeted to people on low to moderate incomes be included within the new development on the CUB site on Broadway in Chippendale.

“Minister Sartor is currently thinking about taking over the CUB project. He has said that he will levy the developers for affordable housing, but it will be spent in Redfern/Waterloo. We are saying that affordable housing should then be provided at the CUB site, not a suburb away”, said Sylvia Hale, Greens spokesperson on planning and housing, and Councillor Chris Harris, City of Sydney Greens councillor and local resident.

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Yesterday I attended the launch of the Greens affordable housing bill at Pyrmont Point Park. Syliva Hale delivered a short speech to launch the bill and this was followed by a few words from the Mayor of Waverley, Mora Main and myself.

Pyrmont was chosen as the location for the launch as the successful City West affordable housing scheme has been established in this area for some time and now provides affordable accommodation for over 900 people.

The bill has been drafted as an amendment to the Environmental Planning legislation and would allow councils to require new housing developments of 10 units or more to provide a minimum of 10% of new housing units for people on low and moderate incomes. The affordable units would be managed by non-profit housing co-operatives or the Department of Housing.

Audio: Affordable housing remarks - April 2, 2006 at Pyrmont Point

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