Web discussions for Lorne housing solutions

LORNE residents can participate in a community conversation about the town’s housing crisis during a coming webinar series on the topic.

The Lorne Housing Solutions series is being presented by Friends of Lorne on behalf of the Committee for Lorne, with support form Surf Coast Shire Council.

The project builds on the committee’s Accommodating Lorne’s Future report released earlier this year, which is the culmination of a 10-year study into the town’s housing problems and outlines a range of potential solutions.

The strategy will focus on how Lorne can create affordable housing solutions so that key workers such as police, hospitality staff, childcare educators and teachers, and healthcare professionals can live in town to ensure the ongoing viability of key community services.

Affordable housing is a long-running issue in Lorne where property prices have skyrocketed due to its popularity as a coastal destination but further residential growth is limited due to it being landlocked.

The first meeting will include presentations from local business owner Leon Walker about how the Lorne Tourism and Business Association is housing seasonal workers, Cr Libby Stapleton on the shire’s Aireys Inlet Affordable Housing Project and Western Sydney University Associate Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes on the concept of community land trusts.

“We need your involvement as there are options, choices, trade-offs and some extraordinary creativity, if we look around and learn,” Friends of Lorne stated in its promotion of the event.

“There is no ‘one-size-fits all’ solution. We are committed to weighing up alternatives, benefits and costs, and finding the right match for different needs.”

The first online community meeting will be on June 5, from 4-5.15pm.

To submit questions or for more information, email [email protected]