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Residential Strategy

We are developing a Residential Strategy to set a clear vision and policy framework for the Shire’s urban residential lands. How we deliver future housing will influence the form of our towns and villages at the lot, street and neighbourhood level.

Where are we now?

Council has endorsed a working draft Residential Strategy. A key policy of the Strategy is 'housing that reflects the local in our places'. To achieve this, residential character narratives have been developed with local community groups. The narratives describe what makes our urban neighbourhoods distinctive from each other in the way they look and feel.

Initial community consultation - Shaping our Neighbourhoods - has now concluded.

Shaping our Neighbourhoods - Find out more

Where to next?

Feedback from Shaping our Neighbourhoods will be incorporated into the draft Residential Strategy, setting out a plan to make sure housing meets the needs of everyone in our community in a way that enhances character and livability.

The draft Residential Strategy will be on display in the second half of 2019.

The Residential Strategy

The Residential Strategy will set a clear vision and policy framework for the Shire’s urban residential lands. How we deliver future housing will influence the form of our towns and villages at the lot, street and neighbourhood level. Around 6,000 additional people will choose Byron Shire as their home by 2036. This is approximately how many people live in Ocean Shores at the moment.

The Strategy is an important starting point for how Council will plan for this future housing supply by setting out:

how many new dwellings are required
where new housing should be located
what types of dwellings are needed to make sure housing meets the needs of everyone in our community - young people, families, older people, workers and vulnerable communities
ways to shape our neighbourhoods to make sure that new housing is delivered in a way that enhances character and liveability
other issues, such as what infrastructure is needed to support growth

Rolling out the Residential Strategy

Our community engagement on the draft Residential Strategy will be undertaken in two parts:

Shaping our Neighbourhoods - from 12 April - 24 May 2019

Find out more - join the discussion

Draft Residential Strategy - on display in the second half of 2019

The draft Strategy will incorporate the feedback from Shaping our Neighbourhoods, providing the community with a well-informed Strategy. It will set a clear understanding of the role both infill (additional housing in existing neighbourhoods) and new land release housing will play in meeting the needs of everyone in our community, while ensuring it is delivered in a way that enhances character and liveability.

The two part approach will deliver a sound Strategy, informed by research and ongoing conversations in our communities. It will provide a Strategy that is workable, practical and centred around:

building partnerships with the private sector and community housing providers to create genuine affordable housing
ensuring greater housing choice for our residents and improving the liveability of our neighbourhoods
identifying the best locations to accommodate future housing growth, considering transport links, services and infrastructure, as well as land suitability and future character
linking expected housing growth with increased community infrastructure needs enabling Council to plan and advocate for those needs

The Residential Strategy is an important tool for setting out a plan for responding to population growth and changing housing needs. A two part approach will provide Council and the community with a solid position for:

moving forward in a localised response to the Low Rise Medium Density Code
amendments to the LEP to incorporate SEPP 70 Affordable Housing Scheme
hearing community ideas and being able to better understand what the community thinks is important for future housing provisions. This is an essential part of developing the Strategy.

Low Rise Medium Density Code

Research has found that a growing percentage of new homes could be delivered as infill development. Infill is additional housing in our existing residential neighbourhoods. For example, secondary dwellings, or replacing a house with townhouses.

The State Government has recently introduced a State-wide Low Rise Medium Density Code, which effectively fast-tracks the assessment process for infill development. Council currently has a pause on the Code's application until 1 July 2019, to allow time to understand the implications this would have on local residential character and infrastructure and to incorporate this into our Residential Strategy.

Supporting Information

Draft Residential Strategy

The Draft Residential Strategy(PDF, 18MB) , as reported to Council in December 2018. Please note the document is a working draft.

Settlement Strategies

Housing Needs Report

The Housing Needs Report(PDF, 3MB) involved background studies and investigations to identify needs. It examined case studies on delivering housing diversity and made recommendations for tools and mechanisms to help address local housing challenges. Consultation was tailored to better understand the characteristics of the housing industry.

Preliminary Draft Residential Strategy

The Preliminary Draft Residential Strategy(PDF, 10MB) focused on identifying the likely number of homes and the land required to accommodate them. As the second step of consultation, community engagement was directed around potential 'areas of interest' for delivering future housing.

Report to Council on 23 February 2017 (Preliminary Draft Residential Strategy submissions )
Submission from Department of Planning and Environment(PDF, 886KB) on the Preliminary Draft Residential Strategy