Landcom, the New South Wales government's land and property developer, says its job now is to look ahead at how else it can ease the state's housing shortage.
Landcom chief executive Alex Wendler said the organisation's ambition was to make a positive difference to people's lives by increasing the supply, affordability and diversity of housing. He said its core product is master planning communities in complex sites with challenges such as land contamination or a lack of infrastructure.
The Airds redevelopment is one such project. For decades the suburb was a social housing estate that struggled with anti-social behaviour. Landcom partnered with landowner Homes NSW to renew the estate, moving it from entirely social housing to 30 per cent social housing, with the remaining 70 per cent of homes privately owned. Older homes are being replaced with new builds, and amenities such as parks and upgraded playing fields are being added. A local shopping centre will be renewed and improved in the coming years.
Land parcels in Airds are currently on sale from $475,000, compared with a Sydney median house price of $1.6 million. Wendler said the goal was to keep social housing tenants while bringing in a new community to create a mixed, modern neighbourhood.
It currently has construction underway on 16 of its 32 projects, from Orange to East Lismore, with major projects at Edmondson Park, Glenfield and North Wilton creating thousands of housing opportunities. The portfolio includes build-to-rent apartments, including in Annandale and Chatswood where all units are reserved for key NSW government workers such as nurses, paramedics and firefighters. In regional areas, some build-to-rent apartments will be designated as affordable rentals for low to medium income earners.
Jeledi Nyenintsinzi, a 26-year-old carpenter who migrated from Burundi to Sydney 12 years ago, bought land in Airds using the first home buyers grant after struggling with expensive property prices in the Harbour City. His home is in the final stages of construction, with keys due in February. He said Landcom offered a more affordable option than other land and home packages, and his agent listened to his story and offered a better property than he hoped for. Having a child made him want stability, and he said having a home gives him the security to plan. He said for his family it is about having a place to raise a family rather than an investment.
Analysis
Why this matters
- Addresses housing affordability and supply in New South Wales, a key concern for residents and policymakers.
- Shows how government land development can create mixed communities, potentially affecting the social fabric of suburbs like Airds.
- Highlights alternative housing models such as build-to-rent, which may influence future housing policy and market options.
Background
Landcom is the New South Wales government's land and property developer, established in 1976. It has unlocked over 110,000 homes across the state over five decades. The current housing shortage in New South Wales has put pressure on developers like Landcom to find new ways to deliver housing.
Key perspectives
- Landcom CEO Alex Wendler: Sees Landcom's role as increasing housing supply, affordability and diversity, and creating mixed, modern neighbourhoods where people can live a good life with their families.
- Jeledi Nyenintsinzi: Found Landcom's land in Airds more affordable than other options, and values the security of owning a home for his family.
What to watch
- Completion and occupancy of the Airds redevelopment, with the first homes due to be handed over in February.
- Progress on the 16 projects under construction, particularly the build-to-rent developments in Annandale and Chatswood reserved for key government workers.
- Any changes to NSW housing policy that could affect Landcom's future projects and affordability targets.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedLandcom marks 50 years and 110,000 homes.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Fifty years and 110,000 homes”
- SupportedLandcom's mixed communities aim to make housing affordable and diverse.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “its ambition is to make a “positive difference to people’s lives by increasing the supply of housing, the affordability of housing and the diversity of housing””
- SupportedLandcom is the New South Wales government's land and property developer.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Landcom is the New South Wales government’s land and property developer.”
- Partly supportedLandcom's job now is to look ahead at how else it can ease the state's housing shortage.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “But Wendler says Landcom’s job now is to look ahead at how else they can ease New South Wales’ housing shortage.”
- SupportedWendler said Landcom's ambition was to increase housing supply, affordability and diversity.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Chief executive officer Alex Wendler says its ambition is to make a “positive difference to people’s lives by increasing the supply of housing, the affordability of housing and the diversity of housing”.”
- SupportedAirds had been a social housing estate for decades and struggled with anti-social behaviour.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “For many decades, the Western Sydney suburb has been a social housing estate that has struggled with anti-social behaviour.”
- Partly supportedAirds is moving from entirely social housing to 30 per cent social housing, with the remaining 70 per cent privately owned.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “move it from entirely social housing to 30 per cent social housing, with the remaining 70 per cent of homes in the suburb to be privately owned.”
- SupportedAirds land is on sale from $475,000, compared with a $1.6 million Sydney median house price.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “currently selling plots of land in Airds with prices starting from $475,000 – a bargain in a city where the median house price is $1.6 million.”
- SupportedLandcom has construction underway on 16 of its 32 projects, from Orange to East Lismore.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The organisation currently has construction underway on 16 of its 32 projects, everywhere from Orange to East Lismore.”
- SupportedProjects at Edmondson Park, Glenfield and North Wilton are creating thousands of housing opportunities.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Major projects at Edmondson Park, Glenfield and North Wilton are creating thousands of new housing opportunities.”
- SupportedAll apartments in Landcom's Annandale and Chatswood build-to-rent developments are reserved for key NSW government workers, including nurses, paramedics and firefighters.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Landcom is currently developing build-to-rent homes in both Annandale and Chatswood – 100 per cent of apartments will be reserved for key NSW government workers, such as nurses, paramedics and firefighters.”
- SupportedJeledi Nyenintsinzi bought land in Airds using the first home buyers grant.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Using the first home buyers grant, Nyenintsinzi purchased a lot.”