The Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps report 2022 has been released
In general it says of the Far South Coast:
The Far South Coast is home to an array of natural assets which attracts both tourists and residents including coastal and marine environments, green landscapes, national parks, rainforests, woodlands and farmland.
The region has experienced significant population growth driven by the rise of remote work, improved connectivity and an attractive coastal lifestyle.
The region’s economy has also diversified beyond its traditional industries of agriculture, aquaculture, manufacturing, and forestry to tourism-driven growth.
The region is looking to grow its healthcare and social services industry to support its high retiree population, as well as building greater resilience in the face of natural disasters and greater climate variability to preserve its natural assets.
Far South Coast residents also prioritise improved digital and physical connectivity.
It is anticipated that the Far South Coast region will require an additional 45,600 homes by 2031 to accommodate its growing population.
Limited housing supply across the region inhibits economic growth as businesses are unable to attract and retain workers without sufficient provision of accommodation. Beyond economic impacts, a housing shortage in the region has implications for social inclusion, as those on lower incomes are forced out of the private housing market and face an undersupplied public housing system.
As of June 2020, there was a waitlist of 5-10 years for social housing in Shellharbour. This housing shortage may be further exacerbated by an increase in migration of sea-changers and tree-changers to the regions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a circumstance which may see the migration of young people out of the region as they cannot find appropriate and affordable accommodation. This is particularly problematic in a region with an already ageing population.
Addressing this housing shortage is particularly challenging for the region because of the dispersed nature of the population, making delivery of housing and enabling infrastructure potentially costly and logistically difficult.
The rising cost of housing has led to changing demographics with an influx of retirees and sea-changers moving to the Far South Coast and young people and lower-income families moving away from the region.
It is projected that 33% of the population will comprise persons aged over 65 by 2031.
