Councils pinpoint sites that could ease social housing shortage

A number of sites across the Geelong region have been earmarked to help address the shortfall of thousands of social housing properties. SEE THE MAP

Local councils are tackling the region’s housing affordability crisis, identifying sites that could be used to address a huge shortfall.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Jenny Smith said there was a total shortfall of social housing in Geelong of more than 3500 properties.

A Homes Victoria spokeswoman said there was an urgent need for social and affordable housing right across the state.

“The Big Housing Build will invest $1.25bn across regional Victoria including a $180m minimum investment guarantee for the Greater Geelong region to create modern, accessible, energy efficient homes for people who need these most,” the spokeswoman said.

“As part of this investment, more than 360 homes have been completed or are under way throughout Greater Geelong, creating more than 1100 jobs.”

The Surf Coast was allocated a minimum investment guarantee of $20m.

Ms Smith said the state government made a great initial investment in Geelong’s social housing through the Big Housing Build, but this funding ended in 2024.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Jenny Smith. Picture: Josie Hayden

“With Geelong’s population booming, it’s clear that both the Victorian and the federal government need to keep investing to deliver the homes needed for the local community,” she said.

Surf Coast Shire is exploring bolstering housing stocks at its site at 2 Fraser Drive in Aireys Inlet.

Council has owned the land and units at the site for decades and rents the units out at below-market rate to residents allocated from the Victorian Housing Register.

The shire said it was willing to consider proposals from registered housing agencies to forgo the value of the land to develop social and affordable housing and transfer the management of existing four social-housing dwellings.

Any proposals for a land-use arrangement would be subject to a decision-making process at a future council meeting.

Community engagement is under way, with a drop-in session to be held at Aireys Inlet Hall between 11am and 1pm Saturday.

Shire placemaking and environment general manager Chris Pike said the shire had mapped council-owned sites and there were very few that might be suitable for housing.

“At this stage, the only site we’re exploring with Homes Victoria is at 2 Fraser Drive,” he said.

“What people are telling us is they know there is a real need for social and affordable housing for key worker households, families and older residents,” he said.

“Everyone seems to know someone who is struggling to find or hold on to affordable housing.”

In early 2022, the City of Greater Geelong announced three sites across Corio, Belmont and Bell Post Hill were found to be suitable for social-housing development after an audit of council-owned land.

In July, council released community-engagement results, which showed 78 per cent support for the plan to transfer the Corio land for social housing, but just 37 per cent support at Belmont and 32 per cent for Bell Post Hill.

Geelong council community life director Robyn Stevens said since releasing the results, council had created a shortlist of registered housing providers via an expressions-of-interest process.

Robyn Stevens

“Over the coming months we’ll select a preferred provider via tender,” she said.

“During 2023 we’ll co-ordinate a collaborative engagement approach between interested

community members, the city and the registered housing provider.

“After that, a proposal for each of the sites will be put to the council for a decision.

“Until then, the use of the three parcels of land for the development of social housing remains a proposal only.

“There is a major shortfall of social housing in Greater Geelong that we are seeking to help address alongside other levels of government and the development industry.”

Originally published as Councils pinpoint sites that could ease social housing shortage