Setting plans in motion for more housing
Coonamble Times
16 August 2024, 9:29 PM
An example of the type of modular home to be constructed in the new Yarran Street subdivision. IMAGES: Coonamble Shire CouncilThe Coonamble Shire Council last week announced big plans to boost the local housing market as part of what they're calling the Simmons Modular Housing Project.
The council is currently preparing contracts to enable a land deal with Simmons Global, a 'housing initiative' company formerly based in Narromine, to build modular homes in a new subdivision of 17 lots to be created along Yarran Street in west Coonamble.
The project was revealed after following an extraordinary meeting held on 6 August and will be the first major housing subdivision in the town in many decades.
On Monday 12 August, Council's General Manager Paul Gallagher confirmed that the deal involves the construction of a combination of seven affordable 3-bedroom homes, as stage one and two 2-bedroom duplexes for stage two to provide key worker accommodation and one dwelling for council staff.
Key workers include nurses, teachers, police, and agricultural workers.
"These workers are tired of living in motels," General Manager Paul Gallagher said.
"This is a demonstration to prove that we can build houses quickly in Western NSW to address the housing shortage."
The housing will be of modular construction.
Modular homes means their components will be built at a manufacturing hub and transported to their final site for erection.
Draft subdivision plan for the proposed development. The first four homes to be built will front Yarran Street. Blocks range in size from 780m2 to 1413m2.
The General Manager added that the council has been in talks with two other companies as well as Simmons Global, to build housing in Coonamble.
He says, while modular, the homes are designed to be more like on-site builds rather than 'transportable' houses.
Mr Gallagher said they are expecting to finalise the contracts for the land and first housing on site within the next three months.
The Coonamble Shire Council will bear the costs of infrastructure development including sewer, roads, and water amounting to an estimated $750,000 plus the subdivision costs.
"We picked that site because we knew it would be easy to develop," Mr Gallagher said.
He says council had already committed to put sewer in that area with funds allocated in this year's budget and tenders for the work were awarded this week at the ordinary council meeting in Quambone for a new sewer pump station and infrastructure to service that part of town.
In return for the land and infrastructure costs council gets a 3-bedroom house and a plot of land for council staff housing.
According to Mr Gallagher the project will be "almost cost neutral."
That land has been sitting on council's books and depreciating," he said. "Council will walk away with a house and a block of land for the construction of new house allowing council to potentially dispose of one its older assets back into the community.
"Plus council will play their role as a catalyst for development and going forward will receive rate revenue."
Council expects the homes to be affordable for those wanting to gain entry to the housing market and an appropriate way for council to address the housing shortage.
Barry Broe, Director of Planning & Development at Coonamble Shire Council, at the Yarran Street site. IMAGE: Coonamble Times
"This means council will get housing quickly," Director of Community, Planning, Development, and Environment Barry Broe said. "He (David Simmons) wants to demonstrate what can be done in a short amount of time."
The first four modular homes are set to be delivered within the next six months.
The constructed houses will then be on exhibition for three months so that the State and Federal Government - and the general public - can come and inspect the project's delivery.
Mr Gallagher estimated the transportation and installation of these homes will create 15 to 25 new jobs, associated with delivery, construction and horticulture.
While these homes are expected to be manufactured at Narromine, Simmons Global anticipate that they will establish a factory on the coast.
Council has hopes that as a result of the partnership Coonamble could become a distribution hub for a rollout of modular homes in towns around western NSW creating further employment opportunities.
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