Forum brings leaders together to solve housing shortage

LEADERS from government, business and community will gather in Lennox Head next week to tackle one of the Northern Rivers’ most pressing challenges — housing affordability and supply.

The 2025 Regional Leaders Forum: Housing on the Ground will be held at the Lennox Head Cultural Centre on November 7.

Business NSW Northern Rivers regional director Jane Laverty said the forum would focus on practical solutions already taking shape and what more could be done to ensure homes keep pace with the region’s growth.

“When workers can live close to where they work, businesses thrive and communities flourish,” Laverty said.

“That’s why housing must sit at the centre of our regional growth story — it’s how we build opportunity for the next generation.”

Lismore MP and Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin will open the event with a ministerial address and Q&A session.

“It takes all of us — builders, councils, community and government — working together to turn plans into homes,” Saffin said.

“I want to thank everyone who has already helped bring new housing to life across the Northern Rivers and continue to champion more. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer and more resilient region.”

The forum will also feature a presentation by Peter Bell from Par8o Property Advisory, who will share insights from his North Coast Market Report.

Bell said forums like this were vital to bringing all players together.

“The Northern Rivers is at a turning point, given continual strong population growth, but housing supply is lagging behind where it needs to be,” he said.

“This creates a number of existing and future societal challenges.”

Sessions will explore new and ongoing housing projects, including modular builds, live-work developments and master-planned communities backed by government investment in enabling infrastructure.

The event builds on a white paper submitted to Housing Minister Rose Jackson

last year and aligns with the state-funded ProspER Northern Rivers program promoting sustainable regional growth.

For more information or to register, visit https://events.humanitix.com/housing-on-the-ground-forum.