A recent regional housing roundtable hosted by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) in Nowra has underscored the urgent need for a national housing plan tailored to the unique challenges faced by regional communities. Attended by local builders, developers, regional leaders, and industry stakeholders from the Shoalhaven area, the meeting highlighted the inadequacies of current housing policies in addressing the mounting supply pressures outside Australia’s capital cities.
The event drew the participation of prominent figures such as Senator Andrew Bragg, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and Christopher Rath, NSW Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, among other portfolios. Together, they examined the region’s growing struggle to deliver sufficient housing to support population growth, workforce needs, and economic development.
Simon Croft, HIA Chief Executive for Industry and Policy, articulated the concerns raised during the discussions. “Strong population growth in the Shoalhaven is being driven by people seeking affordability, lifestyle and employment opportunities outside major capitals,” he noted. However, this influx is straining the existing housing supply, which is lagging behind the burgeoning demand. “The current one-size-fits-all approach to housing policy is not working for regional Australia,” Mr Croft added, emphasising the need for a more nuanced strategy.
The roundtable shed light on the real-world repercussions of ongoing housing shortages in the region, such as severe rental constraints and escalating rents and house prices that are increasingly out of sync with local wages. “Essential workers are struggling to secure rental accommodation, young people are being priced out of their own communities, and local businesses are finding it harder to attract staff because people cannot find a place to live,” Mr Croft explained.
Builders and developers at the meeting pointed to several factors exacerbating the housing supply issue. Rising construction and finance costs, labour shortages, fragmented planning systems, and protracted approval processes are all contributing to the challenges faced by the region in meeting housing demands. “Regional New South Wales is absorbing a significant share of Australia’s population growth, yet housing policy and investment remain heavily skewed towards capital cities,” Mr Croft said. This misalignment, he argued, is worsening affordability pressures in regional communities and hampering the construction sector’s ability to deliver at the necessary scale and speed.
The discussions at the roundtable reinforced the call for a long-term, coordinated national response that takes into account the distinct challenges of regional, rural, and coastal communities. “Housing must be treated as essential economic and social infrastructure, particularly in regions that are supporting population growth and workforce expansion,” Mr Croft emphasised. He advocated for a dedicated national housing plan that sets place-based targets for regional areas, supports housing supply beyond capital cities, reduces barriers to construction productivity, and better aligns housing investment with infrastructure, health, education, and workforce planning.
Mr Croft concluded with a stark reminder for policymakers: “If governments want people to live and work in regions like the Shoalhaven, housing policy must reflect regional realities and support a construction sector that can efficiently deliver homes where they are needed.”
The roundtable has highlighted a critical juncture for regional housing policy in Australia. As regional centres like Nowra continue to experience rapid population growth, the need for a tailored national housing strategy that addresses the unique challenges of these areas becomes increasingly urgent. The call for action from industry leaders and stakeholders is clear: a one-size-fits-all approach will no longer suffice, and a dedicated effort is needed to ensure regional communities can thrive alongside their urban counterparts.