Written by Meaghan Burkett

There are many positive community-led initiatives being driven across Australia, and in this series, we wanted to highlight the Bellingen Shire community, a beautiful region on the North Coast of New South Wales. Led by the Housing Matters Action Group, a group of locals are working on affordable housing solutions. One of the solutions they have employed is to set up a Community Land Trust (CLT). They explain that a CLT is a form of shared home ownership that is run by and for the community that makes it possible for people on local wages to live and work here. They give residents access to many of the benefits which typify home ownership such as long-term security and greater autonomy in the use of their home. They are backing a CLT as they think it has the potential to be a game changer both locally and nationally. By taking land off the speculative market, the model keeps housing affordable for current & future generations of local people on local incomes (Waterfall Way Community Land Trust | Housing Matters). 

Having seen what can be achieved by the community, they are now exploring other possibilities and issues through a place based capital approach. Over three interactive workshops members of the Bellingen Shire community plan to: 

• Build a better understanding of capital—what it is and why it matters
• Map their capital needs and opportunities- both financial and asset based
• Identify capital solutions that will help them achieve their community goals.

For more information visit: Learning Circle: Continuing the Conversation | Housing Matters

What issues could be addressed in your community through strategic local action or place based capital?