Council reverses its position on downsizer stamp duty exemption
City of Victor Harbor Mayor, Dr Moira Jenkins, said Council has listened carefully to community feedback following its earlier position.
“Council has heard the strong views expressed by our community, both locally and across the state, that Victor Harbor should be included in the stamp duty exemption initiative,” Mayor Jenkins said.
“Council apologises for any unintended offence that was caused and acknowledges the concerns raised by residents about housing choice, affordability, and the ability for older residents to downsize while remaining in their community.”
The City of Victor Harbor is on the cusp of significant change. As the community continues to grow and evolve, Council is focused on achieving balance and working towards a more diverse demographic that benefits everyone.
Victor Harbor has a population profile that is markedly different from most other parts of South Australia, with a median age of 60 and around 39 per cent of residents aged over 65. While this brings enormous strengths, it also highlights the importance of planning for a future that supports people at all ages and stages of life.
A key part of this work is ensuring the city has a strong local workforce to maintain the essential services the community relies on. Regional communities like Victor Harbor depend on people working locally in roles such as health and aged care, education, childcare, hospitality, construction and trades.
“Council’s earlier position was about supporting a balanced and sustainable community by strengthening our local workforce,” Mayor Jenkins said.
“However, we recognise that a balanced approach must also include supporting policies that enable people to downsize, free up housing stock, and strengthen the overall housing market.”
Supporting residents aged 60 and over to downsize to smaller homes can help unlock larger homes for families and contribute to greater housing choice across the community.
“We see a clear need to support both downsizers and first‑home buyers, in ways that complement and strengthen the broader strategic work Council is already undertaking,” Mayor Jenkins said.
Council will continue its Future Ready work to plan responsibly for Victor Harbor’s long‑term future, ensuring the city remains strong, vibrant and sustainable for decades to come.
Visit victor.sa.gov.au/future-ready for more information.