In a submission to the draft budget, Chamber says it’s in the process of reporting Griffith City Council to the Office of Local Government over what it says are failures to consult the community and “deficiencies in council functions and operations”. 

Griffith General Manager Brett Stonestreet said council are in constant contact with housing developers, as well as exploring options for council owned land at Lake Wyangan. 

“Council is in regular contact with housing developers to try and advance new developments where possible,” he said. 

“There are significant areas of land that are zoned for residential development but ultimately the decision to develop is one that the private sector will undertake.”

Chamber says the housing shortage can be seen through slowing population growth between 2006 and 2016. 

Business Chamber President Paul Pierotti said there was a “significant need” to address a shortage of available housing blocks and the flow-on effects seen in Griffith’s rental market. 

“As much as it is up to private developers to develop the land, council need to make the land available for subdivision in the areas where people want to grow, build and invest,” he said. 

Griffith CIty Council Mayor John Dal Broi said council had residentially zoned land in Collina, Hanwood and Lake Wyangan, among others, but couldn’t tell developers how to use it. 

“We’ve put the building blocks in place ... council doesn’t have the power to change private-owned land,” he said. 

“Council has two farms out at Lake Wyangan that we’re looking at and talking with developers.”

He said council was working on the potential for an affordable housing sub-division near Lake Wyangan. 

Mr Pierotti said he wants to see more land available to real-estate hotspots like Collina. 

Just a few years ago, it was found found land values in Collina jumped by 18.97 per cent from 2014 to 2015 because of a “a tightening in supply of vacant land”. 

RELATED:

Mr Pierotti also raised concern with the proposal of a new sporting precinct and what the submission details as a perceived lack of community consultation in the lead up to the proposal. 

Council confirmed it undertook consultation with several Griffith sporting groups in preparing an initial Expression of Interest (EOI). 

“If council is invited to submit a detailed business case or application for this Project, a further comprehensive round of community consultation will be undertaken,” Mr Stonestreet said. 

Mr Pierotti says council needs to consult other stakeholders like schools, businesses and community groups who may utilise a potential facility for its events. 

“It could be an economic driver for the whole community. As much as it’s about sports, it’s about economy and community,” he said. 

The draft budget also raised concern with a proposed rose garden in the centre of town budgeted at around $120,000 and council’s purchase of the Clock Restaurant with $900,000.

The Business Chamber again criticised council for a perceived lack of consultation before spending money, saying it had “launched into unplanned projects without community consultation and budgeted ratepayer funds ahead of long-awaited projects”. 

​A report on the adoption of the draft budget will be presented at a council meeting on June 12. The report is set to include a response to all submissions, including that of the Griffith Business Chamber.