Surf Coast Shire will take a renewed focus on the challenges surrounding housing affordability and availability following an update of the council’s advocacy priorities.
Council identified a series of individual projects and five themes that will guide its advocacy actions during its February 27 meeting.
It also resolved to move motions at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) July national general assembly and the Municipal Association Victoria (MAV) May state council meeting.
Councillor Gary Allen said council would seek sector support at the MAV state council meeting to change the state government’s second dwelling provisions.
“We will be seeking an adjustment to ensure such dwellings can only be used for long-term occupancy and not short-stay rental,” he said.
“This will be in areas where there is a shortage of key worker and affordable accommodation.”
Mr Allen said the ALGA national general assembly motion would call for the federal government to take measures to “divert more material from the waste stream”.
“Currently in Australia there is no effective market for recycling soft plastics, meaning the majority ends up in landfill, or worse, is littered into the environment,” he said.
“For several years, Surf Coast Shire Council has been an active participant at ALGA and MAV meetings and has tabled motions which have been supported in both forums.
“It will inform decisions on which projects would be subject to grant applications and which topics to raise in advocacy forum.”
The council’s five advocacy action themes included stronger communities and places, climate resilience, prosperity and creativity, environment and sustainability, and housing affordability and key worker accommodation.
