Corrimal, Wollongong: New ‘Mixed housing communities’ slated for the area
Plans for new mixed housing developments the Wollongong CBD have been revealed, as the waitlist for affordable and social housing continues to skyrocket across the region.
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Plans for new social housing developments in Corrimal and the Wollongong CBD have been revealed, as the waitlist for affordable housing continues to skyrocket across the region.
Two “mixed-housing communities” are set to be developed at Robert Street, Corrimal, and Crown Street in Wollongong, delivering a total of 25 new social housing homes.
The new homes, which will be a mix of both townhouses and apartments, are valued at $36 million, and are part of the state government’s Communities Plus Program, to be developed by construction company Traders in Purple.
While the “vibrant” new blocks will create more than 100 homes, just 25 will be social housing, with the rest to be a mix of affordable and private housing.
Minister Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said mixed communities such as those planned for the Illawarra had proven to enhance prosocial outcomes for people in social housing.
However, Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair said the demand was at an all-time high, with more than 3500 people on an immediate waitlist for social housing in the Illawarra.
“Just in the Wollongong LGA we need at least 7500 additional homes,” she said.
“Tragically with COVID-19 and implications for people and their jobs, that means that number is only going to go up.”
Ms Adair said while the Housing Trust, which has been appointed to manage the properties following completion, was excited for the new developments, more properties were urgently needed.
“If we had 10,000 homes today, we would fill them tomorrow, it’s an enormous problem,” she said.
“It is a matter of fact that the availability of social housing has not kept pace with the increase in demand, those numbers are what they are but we are certainly confident that there is an increasing recognition of the need to be able to appropriately create developments quickly.”
As part of the project delivery, Traders in Purple CEO Charles Daoud said the projects will create around 70 direct and 100 indirect jobs, with a heavy focus on employing locals.
Work on the Robert Street site is set to begin within the next few months, while the Crown Street development, located next to Chicko’s, will likely begin in late 2022.