Recent research commissioned by the Property Council Illawarra aims to help the state and local governments plan for the region’s future.

The report outlines Illawarra suburbs with high and low liveability, where more housing is needed and where housing stress is a major issue.

The Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation - a collaboration of Kiama, Shellharbour, Wollongong and Shoalhaven councils - aims to help with regional strategic planning and projects. 

The JOs essentially replaced the former Southern Councils Group. 

ISJO executive officer Jim Fraser said Illawarra councils needed to ensure the right mix of density is in place, and continually look at their respective local planning controls (such as the Local Environmental Plan or Development Control Plan) to ensure they were appropriate for their various communities. 

Mr Fraser said a multi-faceted approach from all levels of government was crucial to addressing affordability.

He also said Illawarra councils needed to collaborate with each other, agencies and the private sector to help create a wider variety of housing choices.

“Shoalhaven has a newly adopted housing affordability strategy, so that council itself has looked at what they can do locally within their region,” he said.

“That council is looking at opportunities to partner with social housing providers or state government and others to try and be involved in providing more affordable housing choices. 

“So each council themselves will make those decisions appropriate for their community. 

“But planning controls, what you can do on pieces of land, go a long way to assist getting a different mix of options for housing.

“Some of the communities are looking at those controls. Wollongong CBD is a great example of that, of putting in more density around the CBD and other areas where it’s appropriate, which gets more housing choice out there that can get people into the market.”

Read more: Rental stress a reality for the Illawarra: Compass Housing reportDevelopment Control Plan