Keswick Estate land release a ‘drop in the ocean’, more land needed
BUILDERS Group and Real Estate Institute of NSW- Orana Division have welcomed council’s announcement of the release of 110 blocks of land in the Keswick Estate.
But it’s still a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to address the housing crisis in Dubbo, according to REI Orana spokesman, Lachlan Cusack.
“It’s a massive forward step from a council that hasn’t touched this issue for two years,” Mr Cusack told Dubbo Photo News.
“But speaking in terms of supply and demand, it’s a minor dint in our overall problem.
“Are we just going to keep on releasing 50 blocks after 50 blocks of single house land? That doesn’t address the problem of undersupply.”
Mr Cusack said part of the solution was in higher density housing.
“We’ve seen a change in what buyers want, no longer is the 1000sq metre land with a four-bedroom home what everyone is looking for,” he said.
“We’ve had an influx of 3000 people in the past 12 months to the region, and we need alternative solutions.
“The land up behind Orana Mall was council land and it was released in the early 90s, it was done rapidly and with a range of options provided – you’ll see units up there, townhouses, duplexes.
“So, we’ve done it before and we’re not reinventing the wheel here.
“The average working family would love a townhouse, with three bedrooms and no maintenance. And it’s the same for young professionals – we’re telling people ‘come to the regions, it’s a great lifestyle’ but we’ve got nowhere for them to live.”
Council has announced 50 blocks will be available for buyers in June this year and a further 60 in February 2023.
“So that solves 110 people’s problems,” Mr Cusack said.
Builders Group spokesman Brad Acheson said these new releases only went “part of the way” in making up for the undersupply in the period of the previous council from late 2017 to 2021, “when only 59 lots of Keswick land were released”.
“Although this land release will assist to meet the immediate demand of home buyers and builders, it is in no way a solution to the critical undersupply of housing in Dubbo,” he said.
“Our groups look forward to council setting out their strategy for further Keswick releases over the next two years.”
Mr Cusack added his other worry was council’s intention to auction off each block.
“My concern is, is that an affordable option for people,” he said.
“Part of council’s responsibility is to provide affordable housing.
“And my concern is that auctioning each block is going to have a negative effect, and it’s going to leave a lot of people bitterly disappointed. There could be 300 people there competing for those blocks – competing against developers, builders.
“And is there going to be a restriction on who can buy the blocks? Are we going to let one person buy all of them? That’s contrary to the spirit of this land release.”
He said it was time to “pull the trigger” on land releases and higher density housing.
“We have to also look at what people can do with the land they have – can they put a granny flat there, can they subdivide,” Mr Cusack said.
“We’re on the back foot here – we’ve had massive growth and we are taking a reactive approach, rather than a proactive approach.”