Tweed Council seeks input on future of Kingscliff flood village land

TWEED Shire Council is calling for community feedback on the future of Kingscliff’s Elrond Street site before submissions close on December 2.

The site, currently zoned for community use, has been used for temporary accommodation following the 2022 floods. It is leased to the NSW Reconstruction Authority (formerly Resilience NSW) until December 2025 and houses 30 dwellings and 55 people.

Infrastructure on the site includes roads, utilities, and communal facilities such as barbecues and shaded play areas.

Council is considering several potential uses for the site once the lease ends, including returning it to parkland, providing affordable housing for essential workers, or using it for social or temporary housing for vulnerable community members.

Tweed Shire mayor Chris Cherry said the land’s return to Council presented an opportunity to address the region’s growing housing challenges.

“We’ve heard from our community about the increasing challenges due to the ongoing housing crisis in the Tweed, and local businesses and major employers like the new Tweed Valley Hospital are telling us they’re struggling to attract essential workers due to the lack of affordable housing in the area,” Cr Cherry said.

“Property prices in the Tweed rising at four times the rate of incomes in the past decade. In addition, the Tweed Shire has the third-highest homeless population in NSW, after the Sydney CBD and Byron Shire, with homelessness growing at a significantly higher rate than that of the rest of NSW.

“As our population continues to grow, we’re hearing loud and clear that addressing this housing shortage is more critical than ever.”

Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts during the community consultation period, which will inform the Council’s decision on the best use for the site going forward.

“This is a chance for residents across the Tweed to shape a decision that has the potential to impact the entire Shire,” Cr Cherry said.

“Your voice is crucial in determining how this land will be used in a way that benefits everyone.”

Feedback can be submitted in person or online by visiting the council’s consultation website.