Residents from South Dubbo will rally against planned rezoning in their area at tonight's Dubbo City Council meeting as the latest figures show rents are still increasing.
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The South Dubbo Housing Choice Plan Proposal is proving to be extremely unpopular with homeowners and after 400 people turned up to the public meeting last month, they are calling on at least as many to turn out at city hall.
The organisers of the rally hope people power will be enough to convince the council to look elsewhere for rezoning.
They say residents are concerned that allowing units, townhouses and duplexes to be built in the area could have a major impact on their community.
At the same time, figures from Housing NSW about rental bond lodgements for 2013 show that rents have continued to increase.
The Real Estate Institute of NSW Orana division has been lobbying for more flexible housing options and they say the only way that rental and housing shortages will be alleviated is if there are more smaller, affordable options available.
The council will decide whether they push ahead with the South Dubbo proposal or look elsewhere but with rents and housing prices increasing all time, a solution needs to be found or housing will become unaffordable, especially when new projects like the Zirconia mine bring new jobs into town.
Orange and Mudgee have already seen mines bringing in employees who drive up the rental market and put it out of the reach of many people. Dubbo doesn't want the same problem.