ASPIRING homeowners and local planning experts from the Hunter were among those who participated in the Regional Housing Taskforce virtual roadshow to share ideas on how the NSW Government can unlock much-needed housing in the region.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the influx of people moving from cities to regional areas was good news, but was putting more pressure on local housing supply.

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“The housing market in the Hunter is very different to Sydney, and the roundtable was a fantastic opportunity for locals looking to rent, buy or invest to share their experiences with the taskforce,” Mr Martin said.

“Boosting housing supply will be crucial to supporting the growth of our region, particularly as more people realise the benefits of a tree change.

“I want to thank everyone from the Hunter who took part in the roundtables.

“Your ideas will be heard by the state’s key decision makers and help to keep regional NSW thriving into the future.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said despite the current lockdown, the taskforce had been overwhelmed by participation in the two-week virtual roadshow.

“We asked the taskforce to investigate the drivers of housing pressure in the regions and by the sheer level of community interest, I’m optimistic we will have a clear picture of the unique housing challenges in each region,” Mr Stokes said.

“The taskforce will take what they’ve heard and develop recommendations for how we can deliver innovative solutions to create more housing opportunities.”

The Regional Housing Taskforce will prepare an independent report with recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes, on how the NSW Government can utilise the planning system to stimulate housing supply in the regions.

For more information, visit: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/regional-housing.