Housing Crisis in the Electorate of Murray
Independent member for Murray Helen Dalton is calling for a tri government push to address the issue of housing in Murray.
Mrs Dalton said local, state and federal government must all work together to find immediate solutions to a problem decimating our rural communities.
Ineffectual policy over the years has finally come to roost, with lack of housing a key issue right across the electorate.
“From Wentworth in the far west to Leeton in the east and every place in between, Murray needs immediate investment in social housing, along with residential developments and on farm housing; any housing.
“We need to cut red tape and get local councils prioritising housing developments and applications because we can’t bring skilled and unskilled workers into our towns to fill labour shortages if they don’t have anywhere to live,” Mrs Dalton said.
The social housing wait list in NSW has grown by 13 per cent in the last 12 months; up to 57,000 households.
“We cannot support domestic abuse survivors because we don’t have any safe house for them to go.
“Competition for rentals are at an all-time high, and the rental market is failing to offer affordable housing to communities - it is a vicious cycle.”
Mrs Dalton said the housing issue will not be resolved quickly but that doesn’t mean we can’t make a start, and all forms of government must be part of the solution.
“My office held a housing forum in Griffith last year to address this issue and a number of solutions were offered including zoning flexibility, prefabricated or tiny homes, red tape reduction and financial initiatives for dwellings constructed on farm and industry supplied worker housing,” Mrs Dalton said.
She said she would also like to see properties available for service workers including paramedics and health workers.
“Just last week I heard paramedics were sleeping in cars and tents because they cannot find any houses and this is just unacceptable.”
Mrs Dalton is hoping to host another forum later in the year as she continues to push for genuine solutions and housing outcomes for Murray.