Premier

Getting On With The Job Of Building More Housing

31 May 2017

The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with the job of providing more social housing, with 68 new homes to be built in Melbourne’s north.

Following the City of Darebin’s reversal of their opposition to the project, work can now begin on the $20 million redevelopment of the former Huttonham/Stokes Penola public housing estate in Preston.

This public housing site was demolished by the previous Liberal government in 2011, with no plan to replace it, and the land has been vacant ever since. Last year the government announced it would create brand new public housing on the site, built to modern standards to house more people in need.

Contractors will be appointed quickly to build the 68 properties, with the project expected to be completed by the end of next year. The homes will use best practice energy efficiency - with rainwater harvesting, PV cells and a 7 star thermal rating.

This is an excellent site for public housing development, creating more homes for vulnerable Victorians in a location that has great access to transport, health services, community support and jobs. Extensive consultations have been made with the local community about the development.

The initial project will deliver a 10 per cent lift in the amount of social housing on state-owned land in Stokes and Penola streets, south of Bell Street, where one of Victoria’s first public housing estates was built in the early 1940s.

This investment forms part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $799 million in additional homeless and housing support and $2.1 billion in financial instruments to deliver better housing opportunities for Victorians in need.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley

“I’m glad the Councillors caved in to community pressures to get on with the job of much needed, well designed, social housing.”

“I trust this sensible agreement accommodating all our social housing increase targets and minor planning amendments will be the beginning of the end of the Greens nimbyism to our much needed estate renewal program.

“We can't condemn another generation to live in housing poverty - that's why we are building more social housing and providing much needed upgrades.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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