Affordable rental housing in new developments should be in perpetuity under a Planning Proposal by Georges River Council and not for the building industry's standard 15-year term.

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The Georges River LGA is experiencing significant housing affordability challenges. In the June 2025 quarter, the median house price in Georges River reached $1.97 million, compared to $1.54 million for Greater Sydney.

This would be enabled by a two per cent contribution by developers for all new residential flat building and shop top housing in the local government area.

Recent housing proposals include affordable rental housing components.

But these are typically limited to a 15-year term, resulting in the dwellings, ultimately returning to the private market.

"Implementing an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme would secure affordable housing in perpetuity, providing a consistent, long-term supply and contributing to housing diversity and community wellbeing," according to a report to this month's Georges River Environment and Planning Committee.

The council's Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme Planning Proposal seeks to amend the Georges River Local Environmental Plan (GRLEP) 2021 and would have to be approved by the Department of Planning.

A two-year delay from gazettal is also recommended to enable developers to incorporate the added costs into their feasibility and pricing when acquiring development sites.

Social and Affordable Housing; Aged housing; townhouses (up to three storeys); dual occupancies and detached dwelling developments would be exempt from the Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme.

The NSW Government requires all councils to have an affordable housing contribution scheme in place by 2027.

The Georges River LGA is experiencing significant housing affordability challenges.

Based on the most recent Census data from 2021, an estimated 3,825 households (7.3 per cent) of all households in the LGA have an unmet need for affordable housing, slightly higher than the Greater Sydney average of 7.2 per cent.

These households are primarily those unable to access market-priced rental housing, including very low, low, and moderate-income families.

The local housing market has become increasingly unaffordable. In the June 2025 quarter, the median house price in Georges River reached $1.97 million, compared to $1.54 million for Greater Sydney.

Median unit prices are also high at $790,000, while median weekly rents are $850 for houses and $656 for units.

This price escalation has resulted in only 4.1 per cent of property sales and 18.6 per cent of rentals being affordable to low-income households in the past year.

Key workers in essential occupations often cannot afford to live locally, forcing them to commute from other areas.

Additionally, 513 people were recorded as experiencing homelessness in 2021, and nearly 939 individuals were marginally housed.