Housing Affordability Study 2010

Housing Affordability 2010


Affordable housing provides options for people who can generally not afford to rent or buy houses on the open market. We recently completed part of an affordable housing study to get a picture of housing in Bass Coast and design an affordable housing plan to implement over the next four years.

Some key findings of the study include

The median house price in the Shire is just under $280,000

House prices in Bass Coast have been increasing at a higher rate than average weekly earnings since 2000

There has been a decline in housing affordability since 2005

With the construction of the desalination plant and increases in population growth there has never been a more important time to ensure Bass Coast has affordable housing options. The Bass Coast Housing Plan addresses eight key issues:


1. Ensuring growth in and demand for holiday homes and retirement housing does not reduce access to affordable housing for people who live here permanently

2. Maintaining affordable housing for a diverse range of groups

3. Ensuring access to affordable housing is adequate and appropriate

4. Ensuring housing meets the needs of an ageing population, including local retirees as well as people who have chosen to retire in the area

5. Increase social housing and diversify its location and type so that it better meets the needs of a full range of low income households

6. Increase the range and types of houses available

7. Lessen the impact of social division between local areas

8. Promote housing affordability through land-use planning


The next stage of the Study will run from October 2010 until March 2011 and will look at the peak construction period of the desalination plant.