By Nasik Swami.

With the local housing crisis hitting hard, Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor says the district can accommodate the construction of 150 new homes every year.

Mayor Patrick Ross is of the view that the district can accommodate the new houses beyond what is being built annually.

Mr Ross said this will allow the district’s working population to purchase a new home, which is an affordable first home.

“It is my understanding that we have enough area already zoned for urban infill with various housing classes,” he said.

“This will be a hot topic, and we are aware that the Minister (for Local Government) is looking to address this with the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA).”

He said the development of urban and rural living allotments was generally left to the developer.

Hinting at potential developers, the mayor said the council was always there to help facilitate the process and ensure any development was within the guidelines.

“Naracoorte is a vibrant and growing regional town (generally not all regional towns are growing), and with growth, you will become more prosperous, with greater opportunity to maintain and improve many services that are needed in a growing community.

“In a growing community, many more economic opportunities arise purely because of the size, this needs to be planned for, and I know that the council’s elected members are very good at planning for the future.”

Mr Ross said he was ready to discuss the district’s housing crisis with the Country Cabinet when it holds its meeting in Naracoorte later this month.

He said at the top of his list of things to be discussed with the Premier and his ministers will be the

“region’s desperate need for an extra 1,000 homes”.

“In regard to the 1000 new homes needed within the region, it’s my belief that the NLC district would be able to accommodate an extra 150 houses beyond what is being built on a yearly basis to allow our working population to purchase a new home that is an affordable first home.”