| By Catherine Watson BASS Coast Shire Council will offer six unused road reserves to two community housing organisations to build social housing. On Wednesday, councillors voted to offer three sites in Wonthaggi to Salvation Army Housing and two sites in Cowes and one in Wonthaggi to Community Housing Limited. They will be offered under a 45-year lease and remain in council ownership. The surplus land is expected to accommodate up to 16 social houses which will be offered to local people on the Victorian Housing Register. |  "We’ve been taking about affordable housing for so long in this council. Now there is an opportunity to do something." |
The land will enable the two housing organisations to apply for funding under the State Government’s Social Housing Growth Fund Regional Round grant program.
As part of the Big Housing Build the State Government has committed a $25 million minimum investment guarantee for Bass Coast.
Moving the motion to proceed, Cr Letitia Laing said she was proud of a plan that would realise the community and council vision for more affordable housing.
“We don’t have many tools at our disposal to provide affordable housing. But offering up unused surplus road reserves for these housing organisations to apply for State funds is one very clear way of signalling to the community that we are not just paying lip service to this issue.”
As part of the Big Housing Build the State Government has committed a $25 million minimum investment guarantee for Bass Coast.
Moving the motion to proceed, Cr Letitia Laing said she was proud of a plan that would realise the community and council vision for more affordable housing.
“We don’t have many tools at our disposal to provide affordable housing. But offering up unused surplus road reserves for these housing organisations to apply for State funds is one very clear way of signalling to the community that we are not just paying lip service to this issue.”
Cr Laing said that around 720 people in Bass Coast – 5 per cent of the population – are on the Victorian Housing Register.
“It’s clear that housing affordability is a major challenge for us. Almost on a weekly basis we are reading news stories of individuals who are being squeezed out of the local buying and rental market.
“In Wonthaggi alone, median house prices have gone up about 20 per cent in the past 12 months as sea change, Covid and expensive Melbourne prices push people into the regional market.”
Cr David Rooks said he had visited the two Cowes sites and they seemed very suitable. “They are amongst residential developments close to Cowes. They tick all the boxes.
“I hate to think people in our community got to the point where they required social housing and we couldn’t provide it and they had to move away from their family and community support.”
Cr Le Serve said it was an unprecedented opportunity to support local people to stay in their community. “Homelessness doesn’t just affect young people, it affects all age groups, including older women.
“We know of many cases of people having to move out of this area to get housing over in the Valley because Bass Coast has very low stocks of social housing.
“I think we should embrace the opportunity and partner with these organisations. It’s time for action.”
“It’s clear that housing affordability is a major challenge for us. Almost on a weekly basis we are reading news stories of individuals who are being squeezed out of the local buying and rental market.
“In Wonthaggi alone, median house prices have gone up about 20 per cent in the past 12 months as sea change, Covid and expensive Melbourne prices push people into the regional market.”
Cr David Rooks said he had visited the two Cowes sites and they seemed very suitable. “They are amongst residential developments close to Cowes. They tick all the boxes.
“I hate to think people in our community got to the point where they required social housing and we couldn’t provide it and they had to move away from their family and community support.”
Cr Le Serve said it was an unprecedented opportunity to support local people to stay in their community. “Homelessness doesn’t just affect young people, it affects all age groups, including older women.
“We know of many cases of people having to move out of this area to get housing over in the Valley because Bass Coast has very low stocks of social housing.
“I think we should embrace the opportunity and partner with these organisations. It’s time for action.”
Cr Bruce Kent said he would not support the strategy until the council’s own affordable housing strategy was finished, expected to be in early 2022.
“It’s my belief at the moment that we’re not taking the people with us. I’ve walked the land and spoken to the adjoining owners. Quite understandably they had concerns.
“We have time up our sleeves. I would like to see our strategy completed first.”
Cr Ron Bauer also expressed reservations about whether the sites were appropriate.
“We’ll get a lot of ‘not in my back yard’. I think we need to move more cautiously. I won’t be supporting it but I’m not against the idea.”
Cr Les Larke said he had walked the blocks in Wonthaggi, North Wonthaggi and Cowes. “I’m pleased that there is a spread across the shire.
“From time to time council needs small wins. We’ve been taking about affordable housing for so long in this council. Now there is an opportunity to do something. I implore councillors to show good faith to our commitment.
Cr Rochelle Halstead questioned whether the State Government had identified its own surplus land in Wonthaggi.
“Affordable housing was traditionally provided by the State Government. As local government we should assist where we can. My concern is the cost shifting involved in taking this on. The road reserves are a valuable asset that we will be handing over.”
She also questioned the hurry and said it would be better to wait for the council’s own strategy.
Cr Laing responded that the council’s own strategy would “add meat on the bones” but was not an essential part of making this decision.
“Delaying this any further will compromise what the community clearly want us to deliver on. This decision will start a broader conversation and give these organisations a real chance to build affordable housing in our shire.”
The motion passed six votes to three.
For: Crs Laing, Whelan, Tessari, Le Serve, Rooks and Larke.
Against: Crs Bauer, Kent and Halstead.
“It’s my belief at the moment that we’re not taking the people with us. I’ve walked the land and spoken to the adjoining owners. Quite understandably they had concerns.
“We have time up our sleeves. I would like to see our strategy completed first.”
Cr Ron Bauer also expressed reservations about whether the sites were appropriate.
“We’ll get a lot of ‘not in my back yard’. I think we need to move more cautiously. I won’t be supporting it but I’m not against the idea.”
Cr Les Larke said he had walked the blocks in Wonthaggi, North Wonthaggi and Cowes. “I’m pleased that there is a spread across the shire.
“From time to time council needs small wins. We’ve been taking about affordable housing for so long in this council. Now there is an opportunity to do something. I implore councillors to show good faith to our commitment.
Cr Rochelle Halstead questioned whether the State Government had identified its own surplus land in Wonthaggi.
“Affordable housing was traditionally provided by the State Government. As local government we should assist where we can. My concern is the cost shifting involved in taking this on. The road reserves are a valuable asset that we will be handing over.”
She also questioned the hurry and said it would be better to wait for the council’s own strategy.
Cr Laing responded that the council’s own strategy would “add meat on the bones” but was not an essential part of making this decision.
“Delaying this any further will compromise what the community clearly want us to deliver on. This decision will start a broader conversation and give these organisations a real chance to build affordable housing in our shire.”
The motion passed six votes to three.
For: Crs Laing, Whelan, Tessari, Le Serve, Rooks and Larke.
Against: Crs Bauer, Kent and Halstead.
The unused road reserves that will be offered for social housing.