Levelling up on housing

A new independent report commissioned by The Barossa Council has taken a deep dive into the state of housing affordability in the region.

The report was informed by a range of data and included interviews with stakeholders across health, aged care, wine industry, real estate, church and not-for-profit sectors.

Among other things, the report revealed a lack of housing diversity and density, and a mis-match between housing stock and occupancy types as the rate of couples and lone households continues to grow.

In endorsing the report, Council has supported six key actions it can influence now, while a broader housing strategy is developed.

These actions include exploring vacant land for key worker housing, engaging with developers, and developing an advocacy group with other councils in the northern peri-urban region.

Mayor Bim Lange says the research has confirmed the importance of housing availability and affordability in the region.

“We know access to housing can be a deal breaker when it comes to attracting key workers to our region, as well as staff in our hospitality, retail and wine industry sectors,” says Mayor Lange.

“It’s clear that addressing housing supply is really complex. Ultimately, we need cross-sector collaboration to achieve the scale of reform that will meaningfully impact housing availability.”

The full report and supporting documentation is available from page 196 of the December 2025 Council meeting