Dubbo Regional Council hosted a housing availability forum last week, attended by stakeholders from across the region.

Representatives from the Real Estate Institute - Orana Division were among those who addressed attendees.

Data from REI shows the rental vacancies for Orana in April were at 1.3 per cent. It's slightly higher than the 0.8 per cent recorded in March.

However, in comparison, April 2020 had a rental vacancy rate of 2.7 per cent.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

Orana is not alone in having such a low vacancy rate. Across the central west it was sitting at 0.8 per cent for April

Mr Berry, the former president of REI Orana, was unable to attended, but said Dubbo was currently both a "beneficiary and a victim of the regional housing performance".

"Dubbo is facing a housing outlook not seen within the last 50 years growth in the city," he said.

"It will take a new approach from all stakeholders in the residential housing sector, as the old policies will no longer achieve the outcomes required for an adequate supply of housing for the community. All stakeholders will be reliant on Dubbo Regional Council to provide the leadership, the collaboration and vision for housing the community.

"Dubbo Regional Council is the only entity in Dubbo with the capacity to institute change and create the housing policies for the next decade, needed to meet the current and anticipated demand, created by future developments."

Mr Berry said there was a requirement from young professionals who are seeking secure housing without the requirement to maintain grounds, like one or two bedroom units.

Mayor Stephen Lawrence said he could confidentially say housing supply and diversity was the most important issue council was dealing with.

"The council will take the information [from the forum] on board and move forward in developing new policies to deal with the housing supply shortage," he said.

"This is not only a question for council. There are issues there in terms of state and federal government, and the private sector. But I think what council is well-equipped to do, and this forum is an example of that, is to play a leadership role. To bring the stakeholders together and get the ideas percolating about how to deal with our housing supply shortage."

Following from the forum, Mr Berry said council needed to chart a new set of housing policies to address the issues.

Council is also investigating if there is a role for the organisation to play in property development.

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