PICTURED: Wal Edgell (Pacific Link Housing Chairman) and Rik Hart (Central Coast Council Administrator)
Pacific Link Housing will partner with Central Coast Council to deliver additional affordable rental housing at The Entrance.
The project is a key initiative from Council’s groundbreaking Central Coast Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy, which was published in 2019. Pacific Link Housing has been working with Council for many years on developing the Strategy with an objective to build new, much-needed housing on the Central Coast, including on Council-owned land.
Through the two-stage tender process, Pacific Link Housing demonstrated a clear vision, capability and capacity to deliver the project. The innovative proposal will benefit the local community by bringing together all three levels of government – local, state and federal.
Pacific Link Housing Chairman Wal Edgell, congratulated Central Coast Council on the vision and foresight in adopting the innovative approach, stating that the land dealing is the culmination of a thorough procurement process and a key outcome from the Councillor-approved Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy.
“We look forward to progressing our development pipeline with this project and working with Council, local architects, consultants, contractors and the local community in developing affordable housing and potential community space.
“The proposed development will benefit all of community, from both a social and economic perspective, and provide secure housing to those in greatest need in our community.”
Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said the Strategy is a comprehensive plan addressing initiatives across the housing continuum, from homelessness through to home ownership, providing pathways for a range of households, from very low through to moderate incomes.
Mr Hart said throughout the EOI process, Pacific Link Housing demonstrated a strong understanding and empathy, of requirements in line with Council’s Affordable Housing Strategy.
“Following the announcement of Pacific Link Housing, the intention is to move forward together to enable Council to achieve key objectives in the direct creation of affordable housing on the Central Coast.”
Pacific Link Housing CEO Ian Lynch, said the proposal contemplated would have an integrated tenancy mix, comprising largely of affordable housing for key workers, with other tenancies along the housing continuum.
“The partnership will be a positive step forward to help address the acute shortage of affordable rental housing we are experiencing on the Central Coast.”
“We are pleased to see progress made since the inaugural Central Coast Housing Forum held in September 2022, which brought together over 100 business leaders from industries affected by the housing shortage.”
In addition to its core tenancy management services, Pacific Link Housing is committed to delivering a continuous development pipeline of mixed tenancy housing.
Pacific Link Housing will work with Council and the community to finalise the proposed affordable housing project and take it to the next stage of the development process