Pittwater Life April 2024 Issue

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Business Life: Money with Brian Hrnjak Business Life Positive changes could lose out in adversarial argument This month a look at issues arising from the State Government’s changes to housing density and building targets. Late last year the Minns Government revealed a series of policy changes affecting housing density particularly around town centres and transport hubs. The essence of the changes were: n Dual occupancies (two separate homes on a single lot), such as duplexes, in all R2 low density residential zones across all of NSW. n Terraces, townhouses and two-storey apartment blocks near transport hubs and town along the corridor of Pittwater rates that is the key driver of grew by 624,000 people (2.4 centres in R2 low density / Barrenjoey Road from housing prices, it’s no surprise per cent). These figures are residential zones across the Narrabeen to Avalon. While that the State Government expected to increase to new Greater Sydney region, Hunter, the policy and the government would eventually turn up on highs in pending statistical Central Coast and Illawarra talk about merit assessment, the doorstep of local Councils. releases. Something like 40 (the Six Cities region). the policy contains a potent Former RBA Governor Phil per cent of new migrants n Mid-rise apartment blocks non-refusal standard Lowe said as much in the AFR will find their way to Sydney near transport hubs and meaning that Councils will be in 2023: ‘Dr Lowe said house for reasons of it being a key town centres in R3 medium effectively powerless. prices and rents were rising point of entry, family reunion density zones and appropriate The initial reaction from as the population expanded reasons and work availability. employment zones. This will Northern Beaches Council from thousands more migrants In the absence of adequate mean more housing just a was pretty mild to say the wanting to enjoy the high supply, how can rents and short 10-minute walk (800m) least: ‘Council is preparing a standard of living in Australia. house prices not go up? from transport hubs, shops submission on the proposed He blamed state and local Here are the key fronts and amenities. reforms. We have also written government zoning and shaping up in what could The aim was to generate to the Honourable Paul Scully, planning regulation, as well become an almighty an estimated 112,000 new Minister for Planning and as people opposing housing social war: the State homes across greater Sydney Public Spaces, expressing developments, for the nation’s Government who tabled and to restore what’s become significant concerns about housing undersupply.’ their housing policy as called the ‘missing middle’ the radical proposal, and Current RBA Governor a means of addressing of housing choice, referring requested an urgent meeting Michelle Bullock at the housing affordability particularly to terraces and with the Premier and Minister press conference following through additional supply; town homes. The Transport- for Planning.’ the March rates decision local Councils who are Oriented Development SEPP Submissions to the reinforced this view; again being accused of stifling calls for residential flat government closed on 23 from the AFR: ‘I wouldn’t like supply through excessive buildings within 400m of February, the Council debated to predict housing prices. bureaucracy and pandering 31 selected rail stations and the issue on 27 February (yes, Frankly, every time we tried to vested interests; and the transport hubs with density those dates are correct), with to do that we seem to get it Federal Government who and height uplifts (to 8 storeys) the minutes indicating not wrong… But ultimately, the determine a key element for if the proposal includes much movement from the bigger force in housing, I housing demand – population sufficient affordable housing initial reaction – basically a think, comes down to supply growth. provisions. This second arm stern letter to the Minister. and demand. And that’s Underlying the above of the State Government’s This year, however, can be something that obviously, factors is the generation proposals seeks to create a febrile one for local issues governments can deal with.’ gap: ‘boomers’, who in this an additional 138,000 new being a Council election year Last financial year fight are the beneficiaries of homes over the next 15 years. where sensitivities on issues Australia’s net overseas decades of property price In January, this magazine such as this are heightened. migration was 518,000 appreciation and who happen reported the potential for the With the sudden realisation people, the highest on record, to be overrepresented as policy to result in high rise sweeping the political set that albeit a rebound from COVID decision makers on local development in town centres it is supply and not interest lows. Population overall councils, being pitted against 58 APRIL 2024 The Local Voice Since 1991
the younger generation, Gen Zs and Millennials, who are struggling with affordability and who will look towards independent and alternative parties who will listen to their concerns. Consider this advice reported in The SMH last year, from Christopher Rath, Liberal whip in the NSW upper house to his fellow state party members to ignore pressure from NIMBY Baby Boomers in their electorates who oppose new housing: ‘The reality is that you’re not going to lose your seat because of 10 letters that you receive about a development from a few NIMBYs that don’t want it to go ahead, he said. But you will lose your seat if only one-infive Gen Z and one-in-four Millennials are voting for the Liberal Party because they can’t afford to buy a home. That’s how you’re going to lose your seat. My suggestion would be to do more to drastically increase private housing supply in NSW and maybe worry a little bit less about the handful of NIMBY boomers that email and phone your office.’ We know from experience that determined State governments ultimately get what they want and there’s little doubt that many Councils in established areas of Sydney have been acting as stewards of the status quo. Ask any of your neighbours who may have gone through the DA process if they found it at all to be customer-focused, straight forward or just a whole bunch of expensive, bureaucratic mumbo jumbo. (If you are curious about the ‘local rules’ do take a moment to peruse our own local Pittwater 21 DCP – all 1,049 pages of it!) If this issue becomes an argument played out in an adversarial way between local Councils and the State Government, we risk missing out on a rational conversation about the positive changes to planning and development that we might hope to see, that might reflect what people want. There are innovative projects being held up as examples all over the State: build-to-rent units in Inner West Council area using church land to provide lowcost housing for local essential workers; low-rise multi-use commercial and residential estates such as Habitat in Byron Bay, with a recent example of this also in Noosa; or well-planned, low-rise medium-density apartments such as the Richard Coledesigned Catalina Boardwalk development in Avalon Parade. If people understand what’s possible they might be more inclined to be brought along on the journey. Brian Hrnjak B Bus CPA (FPS) is a Director of GHR Accounting Group Pty Ltd, Certified Practising Accountants. Office: Suite 12, Ground Floor, 20 Bungan Street Mona Vale NSW. Phone: 02 9979-4300. Web: ghr.com.au and altre.com.au Email: brian@ghr.com.au These comments are general advice only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice. This article is not an offer or recommendation of any securities or other financial products offered by any company or person. Business Life The Local Voice Since 1991 APRIL 2024 59
Page 1:
The Local Voice Since 1991 APRIL 20
Page 4:
FREE LOCAL MONTHLY INDEPENDENT DIST
Page 8 and 9: Mona Vale ranked the 6th best beach
Page 10: News Council line on ticketless fin
Page 13 and 14: een sale near CLOSE: The sale of We
Page 16: ‘Cost shifting’ disputed News
Page 20 and 21: Warriewood’s Piano Man News Every
Page 22: News Laura youngest ‘Woman of Yea
Page 26 and 27: Wild ride for hospit News It’s be
Page 30: The Way We Were Every month we pore
Page 33 and 34: BEFORE after photos). The couple in
Page 35 and 36: until the early ’90s. Brian, Paul
Page 37: as a coach and one year as vice-pre
Page 41 and 42: headlined by KLP supported by James
Page 43 and 44: a one-day event. From this pool, de
Page 45 and 46: Kickability on the beaches Kickabil
Page 47 and 48: values over the 12 months to March
Page 49 and 50: Art Life ‘Tabled’, ‘Held’,
Page 51 and 52: wellbeing ALL-OR-SOME- THING: Exerc
Page 54 and 55: Health & Wellbeing with Rowena Beck
Page 56 and 57: Health & Wellbeing Health & Wellbei
Page 60 and 61: Trades & Services Trades & Services
Page 62 and 63: Trades & Services Trades & Services
Page 64 and 65: Pittwater Puzzler Compiled by David
Page 66 and 67: Food Life with Janelle Bloom Food L
Page 68 and 69: Food Life Pick of the Month: Kale F
Page 70 and 71: Garden Life Garden Life Gorgeous gr
Page 72 and 73: Garden Life Garden Life and growth
show all

Pittwater Life April 2024 Issue

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?