Clubs Key to Solving Housing Crisis: McKell Institute

That figure would rise to 38,000 homes if the state reforms planning laws.

The report, released by the highly respected McKell Institute on Monday, models more than 1000 registered clubs across the state, including golf clubs, bowling clubs, RSLs and leagues clubs. 

This modelling assumes clubs develop only the surplus portions of their sites while continuing to operate. 

With research showing new housing supply is lagging well behind population growth in NSW, McKell Institute Head of Policy Ed Cavanough said clubs offer an obvious solution.

"NSW is not building homes at the rate necessary and our modelling shows some of the best land in the state is hiding in plain sight,” Mr Cavanough said. 

“The land held by community clubs is at the heart of our suburbs and towns near stations, near shops and near the services people rely on. And almost none of it has been counted in the housing conversation until now.

"The government has rightly said it is willing to pull every lever to fix the housing crisis. Well, here’s a great lever that has been found.

"Clubs are not-for-profit, member-owned and locally governed, which means development on club land can be shaped to deliver affordable housing and keep community facilities in place.”

ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant said the state’s club industry has a proven track record in developing community infrastructure and stands ready to help address the housing crisis.

“Once upon a time, clubs offered members affordable meals and live entertainment. Over the years, the needs of members have changed, and clubs have evolved their offerings as a result — today, they provide everything from health and wellbeing services to childcare and seniors living. Housing development is simply a natural progression of the club model,” said Ms Riant.

“Delivering retirement living facilities and affordable housing extends the role of clubs by addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing local communities and supporting the government’s housing agenda.

“Clubs can help tackle the housing crisis while diversifying their income streams and strengthening their ability to deliver the services, facilities and support that their members and the broader community value.”

The report, which can be downloaded here, makes three key recommendations:

• For the NSW Government to extend the Housing Delivery Authority fast-track pathway and amend the state's housing planning policy so clubs on constrained land can build homes, not only seniors housing, with rezoning handled at the same time as assessment. 
• For a government-funded advisory service, potentially delivered through Landcom, to help volunteer club boards navigate the development process. 
• For proportionate relief from levies and contributions where clubs retain community facilities on site. 

The report estimates the planning change alone would cut approval timeframes from between three and five years to between 12 and 18 months.

"Victoria and Queensland have already built the pathways to unlock this kind of land,” Mr Cavanough said.

“There is zero reason a club in Sydney should wait the better part of a decade for an approval that a comparable site in Melbourne can secure in months.

“This could be a win-win for the community. Many clubs are exploring ways to diversify their revenue and build a stronger, more sustainable future. Unlocking surplus land for housing is a sensible way to do that. 

“We are talking about making better use of underutilised land, whether that’s an overflow car park or an underused parcel, while the club continues to operate as normal.

"The most striking part of this is how little it would cost government,” Mr Cavanough added.

“They are sensible changes to planning rules and a modest advisory service. In return the state could unlock tens of thousands of homes on land the community already holds.”