Upper Lachlan Shire Housing Strategy Survey Statistics

18-03-2025

Council is pleased to share the results of last year’s Housing Strategy Plan. Survey participants identified several key challenges facing housing in the Upper Lachlan Shire, including:

  • The cost of living
  • Infrastructure and servicing issues
  • Housing affordability
  • Difficulties in obtaining Government approvals
  • The costs associated with developing land
  • Access to housing for seniors

Attributes that make the Upper Lachlan Shire a desirable location for housing and population growth include:

  • 21% of respondents believe that lifestyle and community values are key factors.
  • 18% place emphasis on the importance of people and community values.
  • 13% feel that the sense of safety in the Shire is significant.
  • 12% believe the Shire offers a strong sense of place and essential character.
  • 11% consider the proximity to nearby major cities and transport routes an important reason for choosing the Shire.

Top 4 Housing Priorities for Upper Lachlan Shire

1. Affordability: 109 survey respondents identified housing affordability as a critical issue.

2. Access to Services: 114 respondents highlighted access to public services as a priority.

3. Quality of Roads: 82 respondents pointed to the quality of streetscapes and road access as essential.

4. Quality of Housing: 81 respondents expressed concerns about housing quality.

Additionally, 23% of survey participants believe that large lot housing is a priority for the Shire, while 20% identified greenfield housing as a significant focus. Furthermore, 17% of respondents noted that the cost of developing land is a primary barrier to new housing growth in the Upper Lachlan Shire, followed closely by the cost of building new houses at 16%.

Locations for New Growth in Upper Lachlan Shire

42% of respondents indicated that new housing growth should concentrate on the three main settlements: Crookwell, Gunning, and Collector. In contrast, 14% of participants believe that all settlement locations should be considered for new housing growth.

In total, 104 surveys were completed, with 93% of the responses coming from community members, 8% from organizations or community groups, and 7% from local builders. The full report is available on the Council’s website.

If you are interested in reviewing the entire report, download here: Upper Lachlan Shire Housing Strategy Survey Statistics