14 August 2007
Young families looking for a larger apartment are being squeezed out of Sydneys inner suburbs by local council rules according to Aaron Gadiel, CEO of the NSW Urban Taskforce. Local councils are preventing developers from building larger units with extra bedrooms to accommodate children, Mr Gadiel said.
Rents are skyrocketing as a consequence.
Inner Sydney councils have implemented controls limiting the number of three bedroom apartments that can be built.
Were asking the State Government to intervene and remove these ridiculous restrictions, Mr Gadiel said.
These councils appear to be ˜protecting their residents from living near families. Why should a local council be responding to residents who dont like hearing kids play?
The City of Sydney restricts three or four bedroom apartments to eight per cent of new unit developments in Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay. In Camperdown there can only be 15 per cent of new developments. The City of Sydneys rules affect 24 suburbs and the central business district.
The shortage of three bedroom homes in these areas has started to squeeze renters, with local rents skyrocketing, Mr Gadiel said.
In the past year, rents for three bedroom homes across the Sydney metropolitan area increased by seven per cent, but in the City of Sydney rents shot up by 14 per cent (NSW Department of Housing Rent and Sales Report.
These communities shouldnt be declared ˜off limits to families looking for larger sized homes, Mr Gadiel said.
Homebuyers should have the right to choose the kind of home they want.
The NSW Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing NSWs most prominent and important developers, builders and property financiers. The NSW development industrys annual turnover is $35 billion and employs 180,000 people, accounting for six percent of the States total employment. It is the fifth largest contributor to the State economy.
Media Enquires:
Aaron Gadiel,
Chief Executive Officer,
Phone: 0417 477 904 or (02) 9238 3955